Lubrication Program-Work Term Technical Report-APSC 310

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TECK RESOURCES LTD. APSC 310 APSC 310 - Technical Work Term Report JP Faucher 12572111 September 5, 2014 UNIVERSTIY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ENGINEERING CO-OP PROGRAM

Transcript of Lubrication Program-Work Term Technical Report-APSC 310

Page 1: Lubrication Program-Work Term Technical Report-APSC 310

TECK RESOURCES LTD.

APSC 310 APSC 310 - Technical Work Term Report

JP Faucher

12572111

September 5, 2014

UNIVERSTIY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

ENGINEERING CO-OP PROGRAM

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2703 West 11th avenue

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada, V6K 2L9

JP Faucher

Student # 12572111

[email protected]

September 5, 2014

Daria Hucal

UBC Engineering Co-op Coordinator

The University of British Columbia

2385 East Mall

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada, V6T 1Z4

RE: APSC 310 – TECHNICAL WORK TERM REPORT

I am pleased to submit my first Technical Work Term Report in accordance with APSC 310

requirements. This non-confidential report outlines the main steps and characteristics of a

lubrication program. My job as a co-op student at Teck Coal Elkview Operation Plant was to

build a strong foundation for such program since no system was in place prior to this project. My

role in this assignment was to cover over 250 pieces of equipment and define proper lubricant

type, lubricant quantities and lubrication interval according to specific operating conditions and

equipment operation.

This report presents the main steps to follow when putting together a lubrication program using

Teck Coal Elkview Operation Plant as an example. This report also provides insight into the

different characteristics to understand and consider when creating such program. It illustrates

the advantages of such program as it can be implemented in any plants where mechanical

machinery requires lubrication.

Sincerely,

JP Faucher

12572111

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LUBRICATION PROGRAM

APSC 310 – TECHNICAL WORK TERM REPORT

JP FAUCHER

Student # 12572111

September 5, 2014

Teck Resources Ltd.

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Preface and foremost

This report was written to meet APSC 310 Work Term Report requirements in order to

successfully complete my third Engineering Co-op term. The writing this report helped

me develop my technical writing abilities.

The intent of the report was to outline the main steps to follow to develop a lubrication

program and define the fundamental characteristics of lubricants that should be

understood and considered in order to create such program. Major advantages such as

cost reduction, ease of lubricant management and gains in maintenance work

availability, equipment’s life and equipment’s availability can already be anticipated

even before the completion of a full program implementation.

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Acknowledgements

The preparation and writing of this report was possible thanks to the support I received

at Teck Resources Ltd. I would like to acknowledge Bruno Barbir, my co-op supervisor

at Teck Coal Elkview Operations for his support and recommendations throughout the

completion of my project over the last 8 months. Also, I would like to acknowledge Chris

McFetridge and James M. Goodman from Imperial Oil Fuels & Lubricants for sharing

their knowledge and experience as well as Darald Shalter from Predictive Inspection Ltd

for his inputs throughout my entire project at Elkview Operations.

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Executive Summary

With the instability in market prices and the increasing global competition, plants are

looking for new ways to reduce their operating cost and reinforce their productivity. The

implementation of a lubrication program in their maintenance department is a great and

simple way to reduce maintenance cost and optimize machinery availability as well as

workers’ efficiency. This type of program can be created for any type of plant where

mechanical machinery requiring lubrication is present.

The foundation of a solid lubrication program requires a good and deep understanding

of lubricant characteristics and interactions with different metals in a large variety of

environments. The principal characteristics of lubricants are viscosity, base stocks,

additives, viscosity index and their three critical points: dropping point, flash point and

pour point. It is also necessary to recognize the difference between lubrication regimes

and lubrication methods. A good lubrication specialist must know how to interpret the

effects of operating and environmental conditions on lubricants. From there, a lubricant

type and a lubrication interval must be determined and displayed in a well-designed and

accessible document. Finally, the implementation of one or multiple monitoring systems

completes the structure of a valuable lubrication program.

At Teck Coal Elkview Operation Plant, the first steps of such program was initiated over

a list of over 250 pieces of equipment and major gains in cost reduction and

equipment’s availability can already be anticipated even before the completion of the

program.

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Table of Contents

Preface and foremost .................................................................................................................................... i

Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... ii

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... iii

List of figures ................................................................................................................................................. v

List of tables .................................................................................................................................................. v

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Discussion...................................................................................................................................................... 2

Tribology ................................................................................................................................................... 2

Lubricant specifications ............................................................................................................................ 5

Methods of lubrication and re-lubrication intervals ............................................................................... 13

Choice of lubricant and consolidation .................................................................................................... 15

Monitoring programs .............................................................................................................................. 16

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 18

Recommendations ...................................................................................................................................... 19

References .................................................................................................................................................. 20

APPENDIX A – Comparative Viscosity Classifications .................................................................................... A

APPENDIX B – Kinematic Viscosity of common products ............................................................................. B

APPENDIX C – Interpretation guidelines for lubricant elements .................................................................. C

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List of figures

Figure 1: Stribeck curve .................................................................................................. 4

Figure 2: Viscosity chart comparing Spartan EP 220 and Spartan EP 150 gear oils ...... 7

Figure 3 : Viscosity chart comparing Spartan EP 220 and SHC Gear 220 gear oils ....... 9

List of tables

Table 1: Viscosities of Spartan EP 220 and Spartan EP ................................................. 6

Table 2: Viscosity of Spartan EP 220 and SHC Gear 220 gear oils ................................ 8

Table 3 : Characteristics of different base stocks .......................................................... 10

Table 4: Viscosity Index of Spartan EP 220 and SHC Gear 220 ................................... 10

Table 5: Methods of lubrication ..................................................................................... 14

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Introduction

A global recession, combined with important global competition and fall of market prices

forces companies to reduce their overall maintenance costs while increasing reliability

and service life of the equipment. A great way to address these goals is in implementing

an effective lubrication program. Such program requires a lot of time and few clear

steps should be followed to ease its setup and implementation. This technical report will

go over the fundamental aspects of setting up a clear and reliable foundation to develop

a good lubrication program. It will also outline the key stages that should follow in order

to reach a world class lubrication program.

At Teck Coal Elkview Plant, all lubrication work was done by the only lube man working

in the plant. No lubricant names, lubrication intervals nor lubrication procedures were

documented for other employees to reference or for preventative maintenance work

(PMs). The need for such documentation was therefore critical. The first and most

important step is to gather information on all pieces of running equipment that require

lubrication and define the right lubricant, the right amount and the lubrication interval for

each of them according to a variety of factors which will be covered in the next pages.

Before this step, it is imperial to understand the core characteristics and principles of

lubrication.

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Discussion

Tribology

Equipment failure can be caused by many factors, but the knowledge of lubrication

principles, equipment operation and understanding the science behind lubricated

surface contacts are keys to develop a good lubrication program and avoid lubrication

related failures. According to Professor Peter Jost, the man who officially named this

concept, tribology is “the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative

motion and associated practices” (Fitch, 2006). This science studies the principles of

moving metal components separated by a lubricant.

It is necessary to understand the functioning of all pieces of equipment as well as

operating conditions to be able to determine the appropriate type of lubricant along with

the right application. The most common lubricated machine elements are gears (spur,

ring, helical, worm, hypoid, bevel), bearings (rolling element bearings, plain journal

bearings), piston rings, cylinder liners, cams and followers. The geometry of these

elements and the operating conditions are critical in defining the proper lubrication

regime, the proper lubricant requirements, lubrication interval and method of lubrication.

Lubrication conditions can be classified into 3 lubrication regimes: Full film, Mixed and

Boundary regime. According to the Esso Tech Lubrication Seminar document, the

Specific Film Thickness “λ” determines in which lubrication regime a lubricated element

falls into. The Specific Film Thickness is calculated differently depending on the piece of

equipment but it can be summarized in the equation that follows.

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Boundary lubrication regime defines λ values of lower than 1 where the lubrication film

is very thin and the load is entirely carried by surface-to-surface contact causing high

wear and surface deformation. Gears running at very low speed and carrying high load

are classified in the boundary lubrication regime. This type of regime is the most

undesirable since it is characterized by high coefficient of friction, increased wear, non-

uniform load and possibility of seizure between moving surfaces. Antiwear and extreme

pressure additives must be considered into the choice of lubricant for those

applications. Additives specifications will be discussed more in details in the next

section.

Mixed lubrication regime defines λ values in between 1 and 4 where the load is carried

partially by the lubricant and partially by surface-to-surface contact. In this regime, the

viscosity and the chemical reactivity of the additives play an important role in the rate at

which the lubricated elements wear out. It is imperative to understand the function of all

moving parts for equipment in this regime since the choice of a wrong viscosity and

additives can result in the wear of expensive parts such as piston rings, cylinder liners

and cam followers for example.

Full film lubrication regime defines λ values of higher than 4 where the entire load is

carried by the lubricant. Equipment in this regime experience low friction and little to no

wear since there is no surface-to-surface contact. It is also important to note that no

additives are required for this reason. This lubrication regime, also named

hydrodynamic lubrication, is the most desirable one since wear is reduced to its

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minimum, extending the life of the equipment as well as the life of the lubricant. The

Stribeck Curve is very useful to understand the relation between oil film thickness and

friction. In the figure below, the Stribeck curve illustrates the case of a bearing under the

3 lubrication regimes analyzed (Troyer, 2010).

Figure 1: Stribeck curve

Finally, along with carrying the load and preventing most of the friction between contact

surfaces, lubricants have an important role in heat removal. While a piece of equipment

is running, heat is produced by friction of contact surfaces as well as compression of the

lubricant itself. The function of the lubricant is to absorb heat and either transfers it to

the machine housing and around the other components or carry it away through a

continuous oil flow where an oil cooling system or an external oil pump and system of

lubricant flexible pipes is available.

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Lubricant specifications

The most important property of a lubricant is viscosity. It quantifies the resistance of a

fluid to flow against an imposed shear force at a given temperature as illustrated in the

equality below (Imperial Oil, 2008):

Viscosity can be described in 2 ways: absolute viscosity and kinematic viscosity.

Absolute viscosity, also called dynamic viscosity, is used to quantify the ability of a fluid

to flow at low temperatures and it is measured with a shearing type viscometer. As seen

in the equality above, the most common unit to quantify absolute viscosity is the

centipoise (cP). On the other hand, kinematic viscosity (KV) quantifies high temperature

viscosity and it is measured using a gravity-flow viscometer. All lubricants on the market

are labeled using KV and their viscosity is typically measured at 40oC and 100oC to

reflect equipment operating temperatures (Imperial Oil, 2008). All references to viscosity

in this report refer to KV. The most common unit used for KV is the centistoke (cSt)1. Its

relations to absolute viscosity can be observed in the equation below:

Viscosity can also be perceived as a measure of “thickness”. Calling highly viscous oil

thick and less viscous oil thin is misleading but it can help some people to understand

the basic of the concept. As a generalization, the highest the viscosity of a fluid is, the

thicker it is and the slower it flows. For example, water has a KV of 1 cSt as opposed to

1 Note that kinematic viscosity can be classified using different units such as ISO VG, AGMA grade, SAE, Saybolt

(SUS). Table 2 in appendix A presents a comparison between all those classifications

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2 200 cSt for honey at 20oC. A list of common products and their associated KV at 20oC

can be found in the appendix B. It is critical to understand this lubricant property and

how it behaves with temperature. A general rule of thumb says that oil viscosity goes

down as temperature goes up. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the viscosity of a

lubricant on a wide range of operating temperatures. Plotting viscosity against

temperature on a logarithmic scale graph is valuable to evaluate the behavior according

to temperature. Let’s take an example to illustrate this concept using two very common

gear oils at EVO: Mobil Spartan EP 220 and Mobil Spartan EP 150.

Mobil Spartan EP 220 Mobil Spartan EP 150

Viscosity at 40oC (cSt) 220 150

Viscosity at 100oC (cSt) 19.0 14.7

Table 1: Viscosities of Spartan EP 220 and Spartan EP

For example, on a specific piece of equipment, the operation manual states that the

lubricant viscosity must be between 195 cSt and 295 cSt at normal operating

temperature (between 30oC and 50oC). With all these criteria in mind, the following

graph can be plotted. Note that the red lines identify the normal operating temperature

range, the green lines identify the viscosity range recommended by the operation

manual, the black line represents Mobil Spartan ep 220 and the blue line represents

Mobile Spartan EP 150. The most appropriate lubricant for this application will have the

longest portion of its viscosity line passing through the box delimited by the green and

red lines. In this case, Mobil Spartan EP 220 is more suitable. In the case where

Spartan EP 150 would be used, the viscosity would be too low at operating temperature

preventing proper lubrication of all elements and causing excessive heat and wear.

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Figure 2: Viscosity chart comparing Spartan EP 220 and Spartan EP 150 gear oils

Normal operating temperature is obviously not the only factor to consider. Ambient

temperature is also a critical element since it affects directly operating temperature. Let

say that the same piece of equipment located in a non-heated warehouse goes down

fully loaded for an unexpected reason for a period of 12 hours during the winter time.

The ambient temperature reaches 15oC and after the equipment is fixed, it must be

restarted. The low temperature and the high load will affect greatly the property of the

lubricant. There are 2 very important rules to follow considering temperature and load:

At low temperature, the oil must be of low enough viscosity to flow to the internal

components requiring lubrication (Kopeliovich, 2014)

At high temperature, the oil must have sufficient viscosity to form fluid films to

separate moving material components (Kopeliovich, 2014)

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Let’s analyze the Mobil Spartan EP 220 gear oil again with Mobil SHC Gear 220 this

time for the same piece of equipment using the new conditions.

Mobil Spartan EP 220 Mobil SHC Gear 220

Viscosity at 40oC (cSt) 220 220

Viscosity at 100oC (cSt) 19.0 30.4

Table 2: Viscosity of Spartan EP 220 and SHC Gear 220 gear oils

The viscosity range for operating temperature is the same (195-295 cSt) but this time,

the temperature range takes ambient temperature into account (15-50oC). Figure 3

illustrates this new example. Note that the black line represents Mobil Spartan EP 220

and the blue line now represents Mobil SHC Gear 220. At start-up, the temperature is at

its lowest (15oC) and therefore the viscosity must be low enough to allow flow to all

components. As temperature rises, the viscosity slowly decreases but it must stay high

enough to keep a fluid film between metals components. In this case, Mobil SHC Gear

220 is more suitable. Spartan EP 220 would not be a bad option but its higher viscosity

at start-up would require high energy consumption and would therefore increase

operating cost.

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Figure 3 : Viscosity chart comparing Spartan EP 220 and SHC Gear 220 gear oils

This last example brings two other properties of lubricants: base stocks and Viscosity

Index. Base stocks can be classified into three categories and their characteristics are

described in the table 3 below.

Mineral: lubricants derived from crude oil extracted from the ground

Synthetic: lubricant synthetized from chemicals

Vegetable: lubricant derived from vegetable seeds

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Base stocks Characteristics

Mineral Inexpensive to produce May contains elements such as sulfur, nitrogen and chlorine Desirable composition not 100% pure Decrease of quality over time

Synthetic Very expensive to produce Desirable composition fairly pure Can be used in extreme operating conditions More energy efficient Lubricant life longer than mineral base stock Higher Viscosity Index

Vegetable Inexpensive to produce Biodegradable Can contain natural additive-like properties

Table 3 : Characteristics of different base stocks (Toms, 1995)

According to the Machinery Oil Analysis reference book, the viscosity index (VI)

“indicates the degree of viscosity stability with temperature change”. As a rule of thumb,

the higher the VI, the less the viscosity will change as a result of temperature change.

VI is calculated using ASTM D2270 method which is rather long and complex and not

necessary to explain in details for the purpose of this report. When selecting a lubricant,

it is preferable to use a lubricant with a high VI. When comparing the two gear oils from

the previous example, it is evident that Mobil SHC Gear 220 has a higher VI, which is a

common characteristic of synthetic lubricants.

Mobil Spartan EP 220 Mobil SHC Gear 220

Viscosity at 40oC (cSt) 220 220

Viscosity at 100oC (cSt) 19.0 30.4

Viscosity Index 97 180

Table 4: Viscosity Index of Spartan EP 220 and SHC Gear 220

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Machinery operates over a wide range of power ratings, duty cycles, temperatures,

loads and a high VI is not always enough to ensure a proper lubrication film between

the metal surfaces. Consequently, most lubricants require specialized additives

packages to sustain fluctuating operating conditions. These lubricant additives are sets

of chemicals added to base stocks to enhance performance and extend lubricant and

equipment’s life. A list of most common lubricant additives and their main characteristic

is presented below (Toms, 1995).

Friction & wear – reduce coefficient of friction and surface-to-surface contact

Extreme pressure – reduce load consequences at high load and temperature

Oxidation – increase metal stability in presence of oxygen and heat

Deposits – help settle deposit at the bottom of the reservoir

Viscosity enhancer – stabilize viscosity with variation of temperature

Demulsibility/emulsibility – manage water contamination in the lubricant

Corrosion & rust – protect metal surfaces from chemically reacting with water

Foam – reduce air bubbles in the lubricant

Lubricant additives can be very useful to enhance performance and protect the

components, but using an additive in the wrong application could accelerate wear and

even destroy a piece of equipment. The best example to illustrate this is a ball bearing

running at very high temperature and low speed. In this example, the high temperature

and the high load created by the slow speed is enough for the additive to strongly react

chemically with the ball bearing material and cause excessive and premature wear. It is

important to understand the roles and the chemical reactions that occur with the

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additives before making a selection of one lubricant over another. Some lubricant

additives react greatly with specific metals contained in the equipment or even the seals

which are present to prevent lubricant to escape. A list of the different elements and

their possible originating source can be found in appendix C.

Finally, these last three specifications should be taken into account when evaluating

lubricants:

Dropping point

The dropping point is the temperature at which a lubricant goes from a semi-solid to a

liquid state. It is an indicator of cohesion between the oil and the thickener (Nehal,

2011). This characteristic is particularly important when dealing with greases. If the

dropping point is too high, the lubricant will turn into liquid form and the lubricant film

protection will be lost.

Flash point

The flash point is the temperature at which a lubricant will ignite visibly without

sustaining a flame (Nehal, 2011). This is a critical characteristic if the lubricant is used in

a very high temperature environment. Usually, the flash point of most marketed

lubricant is high enough to ensure safety use in most normal operating conditions.

Pour point

The pour point is the lowest temperature at which a lubricant will stop flowing under the

influence of gravity (Toms, 1995). This is a very important factor to consider when an

equipment must start-up under cold conditions. If the start-up temperature is lower than

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the lubricant pour point, the lubricant will not be able to lubricate the elements and it will

create an important load and pressure on the equipment increasing energy demand,

material deformation and premature wear.

Methods of lubrication and re-lubrication intervals

The design and function of a piece of equipment define the method of lubrication and it

helps determine the best lubrication interval. The main methods of lubrication are

defined in the table 5 below. It is important to understand how each piece is lubricated

to select the most suitable lubricant. For example, a splash lubrication system (oil bath)

is used for most gearboxes and can handle gear oils very well. The use of very high

viscosity lubricant is not recommended because it would not be able to reach nor

“splash” all lubricated elements within the gearbox housing. On the opposite side, the

use of very low viscosity lubricant would not be recommended since the lubricant would

tend to stay at the bottom of the reservoir and would not be picked up by the rotating

components.

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Lubrication method

Description of method Main application

Splash lubrication (oil bath)

The oil is contained in an enclosure with the lubricated elements and is picked up by the rotating components to be distributed all over the housing. The oil eventually flows back to the bottom of the reservoir and picked up again.

Low speed systems (gearboxes, open gear systems, big motor bearings)

Circulating lubrication

The oil is contained in a separate reservoir without the lubricated elements. The oil is pumped through a filter to remove contaminants, cooled through a system of tubes and applied on the lubricated elements. The oil then flow back to tank and is pumped again.

Systems functioning at high temperature and friction (shaft bearings, some gearboxes)

Force Feed lubrication

An accurately measured quantity of lubricant is dropped on the lubricated element at a specific time interval. This system is fully automated and usually requires a lubricant barrel and a pump to function.

All systems that require a small and specific amount of lubricant and function regularly under controlled conditions

Pressure lubrication

The lubricant is directed at the lubricated element in form of a jet of lubricant at very high pressure in order to penetrate the often unstable surrounding of the lubricated element.

Very high speed systems (motor and shaft bearings)

Dripping lubrication

The lubricant is applied in form of droplets or mist over the lubricated element while it is running. This method provides a very cost-effective way to continuously deliver the require amount of lubricant.

All systems that require small quantities of lubricant and running in dry environment. (roller chains, open gears)

Manual lubrication

This method requires adding lubricant manually through a lubrication point previously installed on the equipment or by taking the equipment apart.

The most majority of systems can be manually lubricated but this method is costly, inefficient and difficult to standardize

Table 5: Methods of lubrication (Oil lubrication methods, 2014)

Once the lubrication method is defined, the lubrication interval must be selected. The

easiest way to do this is to look into the maintenance manual of the equipment. Most of

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the time, the manufacturer sets a lubrication interval for specific running and

environmental conditions. Always compare the conditions detailed in the equipment

manual to the actual equipment running conditions before setting the interval. An

equipment running 24 hours per day, 7 days per week in moist and dusty environment

require a shorter lubrication interval than equipment running only 8 hours per day, 5 day

per week in a warm and dry environment. Whenever there is a doubt, lubrication

specialists and equipment salesman are always good people to contact. This step may

seem very simple but it is critical for a good lubrication program. Even if the viscosity,

the additives, the base stock, the dropping point, the pour point and the lubrication

method are right, if the lubrication interval is wrong, the equipment may wear out more

rapidly where the interval is too long. The rolling elements may run dry of lubricant and

start to deform and cause major and more costly problems. On the other hand, if the

interval is too short, the company is wasting money in purchasing lubricant more often

than it should.

Choice of lubricant and consolidation

When all the information has been gathered and all the previous steps have been

completed, it is time to select a lubricant that suits the company’s budget and that can

be delivered by the lubricant provider. Consolidation is also very important to avoid a

long list of lubricant making the lubricant program hard to manage and also to reduce

cost for the company as purchasing in bulk is usually cheaper. Most of the time, it is

possible to put many pieces of equipment under the same category and using the same

lubricant. It can also be useful to look at similar pieces of equipment in the industry or

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even look at the previous history of the equipment to help determine the best lubricant

solution.

Monitoring programs

Once lubricant is selected, interval defined and lubricant amount quantified, it is time to

make the information easily available and accessible to all workers and maintenance

professionals. A well-thought-out table grouping all equipment with necessary

lubrication related information with restricted editing access is necessary to ensure that

this lubrication documentation stays accurate and up-to-date over the years. In order to

ensure proper functioning of all equipment over the years, it is imperial to develop

monitoring programs. There are three main programs that could be setup within the

organization to ensure proper monitoring of all pieces of equipment.

The first program is called “Preventative Maintenance” (PM). This monitoring program

has for primary goal to avoid or mitigate the consequences of failure of equipment

(Toms, 1995). It is designed to perform oil level checks, oil changes and component

wear level checks due to friction before the equipment actually fails. This is possible by

analyzing the performance, the service life and running conditions of the equipment and

then determining a specific period of time at which maintenance activities should be

performed. Checks can be done either while the equipment is running or down. This

systematic inspection and failure correction plan should the first monitoring program to

be implemented in all plants.

An oil analysis program is the second tool that can be used to monitor the life of the

equipment and the lubricant. Oil samples must be taken at regular interval and at

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appropriate running conditions to evaluate the quality of the lubricant. Lubricant samples

can tell a lot about the condition of the components inside an important piece of

equipment. For example, presence of zinc or phosphorus indicate the breakdown of

antiwear additive, presence of silicon or chromium can reveal a worn out seal and the

presence of iron and copper can show an overall wear of system components (Imperial

Oil, 2008). It is critical to take the results of these samples into account and keep track

of the evolution of the lubricant over time. High proportions of a metal in subsequent

samples may suggest that the lubricant is not doing the job it is supposed to. A different

lubricant may be required.

Finally, a vibration analysis program can be implemented to complete the monitoring

system on the plant equipment. Vibration analysis can reveal characteristics of the

equipment components that lubricant sampling delay to show such as misalignment and

looseness. Detecting misalignment between a shaft and a bearing before major material

wear occur (before it can be spotted in a sample analysis) can prevent significant part

replacements (Toms, 1995).

All these three programs constitute a great way to monitor life of equipment and life of

lubricant. If the results of one of these monitoring programs require making a

modification to the lubrication program, the change must be made on all documentation

copies and a memo update must be sent to all maintenance personnel to ensure the

viability of the program.

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Conclusion

A well-designed and efficient lubrication program is a great way for all plants to ensure

proper running condition of machinery, extend equipment’s life and reduce maintenance

costs.

To implement a good lubrication program, there are a few simple steps to follow:

Understand the different characteristics of a lubricant

Define all equipment lubrication needs

Understand equipment running condition and running environment

Define lubrication regime and lubrication method

Select the most suitable lubricant with appropriate lubrication interval and

lubricant quantity

Implement monitoring programs and keep all documentation up-to-date

The implementation of a complete lubrication program has been proven by plenty of

organization to be an efficient way to reduce maintenance cost, increase equipment’s

life and increase worker’s availability. This is a simple idea that can have positive

consequences over a long period of time.

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Recommendations

This report has covered the principal steps in implementing a complete and well-

designed lubrication program. The ability to customize this process to any type of plant

where mechanical machinery requiring lubrication is present makes this plan a versatile

solution to improve all maintenance programs.

It is clear that the biggest is the plant, the most extensive and time consuming the

implementation of such system will be. That being said, the positive impacts on budget

and mechanical availability over a long period of time is undoubtedly impressive.

Moreover, the need of a lubricant specialist in the maintenance department of large

plants should be considered.

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References

Fitch, Jim. (2006, January). Interview with Luminary Professor H. Peter Jost – The Man

who Gave Birth to the Word “Tribology”, Noria Corporation. Retrieved from

Machinery Lubrication Website:

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/834/tribology-jost

Imperial Oil. (December 2, 2008). Esso Tech Lubrication Seminar [PowerPoint

presentation]. Retrieved from Bruno Barbir Teck Coal Elkview Operation Plant

maintenance and reliability engineer’s reference book.

Kopeliovich, Dimitri. (2014, August 21). Lubrication regimes. Retrieved from SubsTech

Website: http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=lubrication_regimes

Lauer, Dennis. (2008, March). Tribology: the Key to Proper Lubricant Selection, Kluber

Lubrication. Retrieved from Machinery Lubrication Website:

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/1318/tribology-lubricant-selection

Nehal S. Ahmed and Amal M. Nassar. (2011). Lubricating Oil Additives, Tribology –

Lubricants and Lubrication, Dr. Chuang-Hung Kuo (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-371-

2, InTech, Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/tribology-lubricants-

and-lubrication/lubricating-oil-additives

SKF. Oil lubrication methods. Retrieved from SKF Website:

http://www.skf.com/group/products/bearings-units-housings/super-precision-

bearings/principles/lubrication/oil-lubrication/oil-lubrication-methods/index.html

Toms Larry A. (1995). Machinery Oil Analysis, Methods, Automation & Benefits – A

Guide for Maintenance Managers, Supervisors & Technicians. Virginia Beach,

Virginia, United States: Coastal Skills Training.

Troyer, Drew. (2010, November). A Balanced Approach to Lubrication Effectiveness.

Retrieved from Machinery Lubrication Website:

http://machinerylubrication.com/Read/27725/a-balanced-approach-to-lubrication-

effectiveness-

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APPENDIX A – Comparative Viscosity Classifications

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APPENDIX B – Kinematic Viscosity of common products

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APPENDIX C – Interpretation guidelines for lubricant elements