Mark Guenther, A.W. Chesterton Co., USA, advocates for the use of key performance indicators for grease selection in mining applications.
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n the mining and mineral processing industry, as well as almost every other industrial operation, proper lubrication is the uncelebrated hero of reliability. From raw material to finished final grade ore, plant reliability and profitable operation relies on equipment uptime. Using the wrong grease will shorten equipment life, increase downtime, and cost money. In mining, this impacts everything from crushers and conveyors to sag and ball mills, apron feeders to electric motors and loaders. Beyond just selecting the correct viscosity and NLGI grade, operators will ideally select the correct grease by using key performance indicators (KPIs) matched to specific application demands. How well does the lubricant withstand shock load, oil separation, and shear thinning? Does the grease prevent water ingress? Will it passivate the ferrous substrate to reduce pitting corrosion to bearing components? These are attributes that will not necessarily be found by simply selecting Lithium EP #2 grease.
Determining requirements In general, step one is to identify a comprehensive list of essential technical and non-technical requirements, and can include: Considering the type of system equipment, operating conditions, application methods, and environmental conditions. Finding out whether an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or industry standard indicates quantifiable performance pre-requisites. Determining if these standards are applicable to a ‘real world’ service condition. Using simulations, models, software, and industry knowledge to estimate both qualitative and quantitative requirements. Complying with federal, local, and company-specific regulations that can impact the transportation, handling, storage, disposal, and legality of specific greases.
Choosing a grease formulation Industrial greases can be formulated to achieve certain performance attributes measured and documented by ASTM, DIN ISO, and other standard tests. Lubricant manufacturers must conduct these tests to classify the greases they offer. These tests are fully documented and
global mining review // September 2021
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