ELM expands production with new microwave reactor


Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing, Inc. (ELM) recently announced the expansion of its grease production by adding a second, enhanced microwave reactor. ELM’s inventive use of microwave technology for process heating in biobased manufacturing improves bioproduct quality, increases production capacity, and is energy efficient.


Iowa-based ELM pioneered the use of microwaves to manufacture biobased lithium hydroxide thickened greases. The original lithium reactor relies on circulation for mixing during reaction; a method suited for greases that tend to be near liquid at high temperatures. The new microwave reactor is the first-of- its kind to include mixing arms allowing for manufacturing greases that thicken during reaction, such as aluminum or calcium-based greases.


Four Waveguides Deliver Microwaves to the Grease Reactor


Microwave transmitters and waveguides deliver high frequency waves to reactors in the plant


“Applying microwave energy to products inside a stainless steel vessel having metal rotating mixing arms is an industry first,” said Dr. Lou Honary, technology co-inventor and President of ELM. Additionally, the new reaction system will grow ELM’s product line to include greases based on aluminium or calcium complex thickeners.


“Microwave heating reduces damage to the vegetable base oils during the reaction and allows a three-fold increase in production output for the same time as conventional batch heating methods,” said Saeed Soleimani, ELM’s Production Manager. ELM expects to realize tangible cost reductions of finished products, in turn helping biolubes approach price parity with conventional products.


Microwave


Reactor Internal Mixing Paddles


Accurate and consistent temperature control


LINK www.elmusa.com


Thick grease mixing eliminates hotspots


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LUBE MAGAZINE NO.138 APRIL 2017


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