By Michelle Froese | Senior editor Windpower Engineering & Development Oil has been called the “lifeblood” of a wind turbine, and for good reason. Proper lubrication mitigates friction between key components, such as the bearings in a gearbox, and keeps a turbine running reliably. What is less well known is that lubricants also help control…
Wind Turbine Reliability: Why operators need a lubrication strategy based on balanced formulation
Proper lubrication is fundamental to equipment reliability, so implementing the right lubrication strategy can help deliver long-term results.
ExxonMobil launches new educational video series “The Grease Experts”
Operators often associate their industrial grease with a specific color, but does color have anything to do with grease performance?
Why lubricant formulation beats additive top treating?
Quality components are integral to a high-performing wind farm, and ongoing care and maintenance of its parts is just as important. Turbines are exposed to some of the harshest conditions in the industrial world, such as extreme temperatures, vibration, and debris. In these conditions, proper equipment lubrication is essential. It can help protect system components,…
ExxonMobil intros advanced wind-turbine grease for cold weather
ExxonMobil is introducing Mobil SHC Grease 102 WT, a synthetic wind turbine grease that can protect pitch, yaw, and generator bearings from extreme temperature conditions as high as 248ºF (120C) down to -58ºF ( -50C).
ExxonMobil launches Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis in the United States and Canada
ExxonMobil is launching Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis, a new mobile-enabled used oil analysis service, in the United States and Canada. The new service streamlines the entire used oil analysis process, from initial sample gathering to final reporting, as the mobile-enabled platform eliminates the need for paperwork.
A little flexing and synthetic lube may be better for wind-turbine and tidal-water gearboxes
A flexible-pin gearbox that improves load sharing between the various gear elements makes it valuable for high peak load applications, such as wind and tidal-power turbines.
Improving wind safety by improving reliability of wind turbine components
Tom Schiff, Global Field Engineering Support Manager for ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants & Specialties Marketing Company, www.exxonmobil.com/lubricants Wind turbine gearboxes are challenging to maintain because they are often in remote locations at elevated heights and they operate under extreme conditions. But, regular gearbox oil changes are required to protect components from micropitting and wear. To make…
ExxonMobil e-book provides wind tips on lubricating a wind turbine
ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants has been at the forefront of development in the wind energy sector for more than 30 years, championing thought leadership and best practices from the advent of wind power to the sector’s current burgeoning growth. We understand the challenges equipment builder engineers and wind farm operators face. Our advanced lubrication products…
A conversation with AWEA’s Peter Kelley on recent EPA proposed rules and Clean Air Benefits, an AWEA white paper
You might think the U.S. wind industry could not be busier. Even without the PTC, construction is booming, for this year at least. The recently proposed EPA rules may provide some of the stimulus previously delivered by the tax credit. Although that remains to be seen, what is visible it that the air is getting…
Webinar: Planning for Substation Maintenance and Reliability
It can be difficult to determine exactly what is needed to properly plan preventative and routine substation maintenance. Owners and contractors must work together to ensure a successful outage period during maintenance. Properly planning substation maintenance is key in reducing outage downtime. In this webinar, Chris Petrola of Acciona Energy and Paul Idziak of Shermco…
The right synthetic lube can save an owner $600,000 over 20 years
Synthetic lubricants have a reputation for longevity and providing good protection in a variety of equipment. To lend more credence to the reputation in wind turbine gearboxes, engineers at ExxonMobil have released their finding from more than 38,000 oil samples of Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 that go back 12 years. Researchers looked at metal content, total…
Think synthetic lubricants for improved wind turbine availability
Synthetic lubricants have a reputation for improved performance over conventional mineral based oils. This study of one confirms the reputation by closely examining several key characteristics. Kevin Harrington, Sandra Legay, Rick Russo ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants & Specialties Marketing www.exxonmobil.com Wind turbines are sophisticated machines that labor in demanding environments. As such, selecting the right lubricant…