Title

TRIBOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF PAG FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS

TRIBOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF PAG FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS

Authorship

Khemchandani, Govind; Merryweather, Stephen; Marques, Yuri Alencar

Khemchandani, Govind

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Merryweather, Stephen

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Marques, Yuri Alencar

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DOI

10.5151/5463-5463-17100

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Abstract

Emerging demanding tribo systems and new fluid introductions has put a pressure on lubricant formulators to study tribological characteristics of fluids for proper applications in these systems. The focus of this paper is to evaluate polar, non varnishing polyalkylene glycols chemistry and their tribological characteristics useful for high temperature, high pressure turbo machinery applications. Friction and wear characteristics of PAG’s are determined and compared with hydrocarbon oils for efficient operation of heavy duty gas turbines and steel plants machinery. The most common PAGs are water soluble and water insoluble types. However, recently new oil tolerant and oil soluble PAG’s have been introduced to fill the gap in PAG chemistry. The approach of this paper is to subject PAG’s and PAG based synthetic lubricants to MTM rig, Four ball wear, SRV and vane pump test to explore their low coefficient of friction and wear rates. On the basis of these tribological characteristics, PAG lubricants were recommended in three different tribo systems wherein hydrocarbon based lubricants have not met performance specifications. These systems involved heavy duty gas turbine, steel plant machinery and environmentally sensitive tunnel boring operations. Theses trials clearly demonstrate and confirm advantage of using PAG based lubricants in meeting tribological demands of these systems.

Emerging demanding tribo systems and new fluid introductions has put a pressure on lubricant formulators to study tribological characteristics of fluids for proper applications in these systems. The focus of this paper is to evaluate polar, non varnishing polyalkylene glycols chemistry and their tribological characteristics useful for high temperature, high pressure turbo machinery applications. Friction and wear characteristics of PAG’s are determined and compared with hydrocarbon oils for efficient operation of heavy duty gas turbines and steel plants machinery. The most common PAGs are water soluble and water insoluble types. However, recently new oil tolerant and oil soluble PAG’s have been introduced to fill the gap in PAG chemistry. The approach of this paper is to subject PAG’s and PAG based synthetic lubricants to MTM rig, Four ball wear, SRV and vane pump test to explore their low coefficient of friction and wear rates. On the basis of these tribological characteristics, PAG lubricants were recommended in three different tribo systems wherein hydrocarbon based lubricants have not met performance specifications. These systems involved heavy duty gas turbine, steel plant machinery and environmentally sensitive tunnel boring operations. Theses trials clearly demonstrate and confirm advantage of using PAG based lubricants in meeting tribological demands of these systems.

Keywords

Non-varnishing; Poly alkylene glycol; Traction coefficient; Tunnel boring.

Non-varnishing; Poly alkylene glycol; Traction coefficient; Tunnel boring.