Energy and Lubricants
A view to the future part 3 Lubricant Trends and Demand
In part 1 of this series of articles, we explained the important role energy plays in our lives and how population growth, urbanization, increasing living standards, and economic prosperity continue to increase the global demand for energy. In part 2, we described how synthetic lubricants can help save energy and extend oil drain intervals. Depending on the type of equipment, measurable energy savings can be obtained when switching to a synthetic lubricant. The improved oxidative and thermal stability of synthetic lubricants give them a longer oil life than mineral oil-based lubricants.
Finally we will turn our thoughts to the lubricant market and discuss the trends which will affect lubricant design and demand over the next 5-10 years. Here are a few trends that are changing the way automobiles and industrial equipment consume oil and drive demand for synthetic lubricants.
More severe operating conditions In the search for higher performance, higher temperatures and pressures put more demand on the lubricant. Automotive engines are being downsized with turbochargers used to boost the power output, leading to higher bearing loads and higher oil temperatures. Industrial equipment operates at higher speeds and/or loads in order to improve productivity. Machinery sizes are becoming smaller while delivering a higher amount of power output, i.e. higher power density.
Lower oil volumes
Smaller machines usually have less oil in circulation than their larger counterparts, which increases the stress on the oil when subjected to more severe operating conditions. With higher temperatures, the lubricant needs to be more thermally and oxidatively stable. Higher circulation rates mean that the oil has less residence time in the tank or sump, increasing the importance of air release, foaming and water separation properties.
More complex equipment As machinery becomes increasingly more complex, lubricants must provide more functions than just friction/wear reduction and cooling. For example, modern automatic transmission oils must not only lubricate the gears, but also act as hydraulic oils for the complex control systems and maintain the desired friction performance needed to operate the clutches. Hybrid developments introduce components such as electric motors and flywheel energy recovery systems to further add to the lubrication requirements.
Changes in base oil types With higher performance demands on the lubricant, the use of more oxidatively stable base oils such as API group II and III oils have increased. Figure 1 shows the change in global base oil capacity by API classification over the last 45 years. Particularly over the last 15 years, we can see the increasing availability of Group II and III products displacing Group I base oils. The pursuit of fuel efficiency in the automotive market is driving down lubricant viscosity grades. Traditional 15W-40 grades have now become 5W-40 or 5W-30 oils, and there are even 0W-8 grades in commercial use. Transmission oils are also becoming thinner. Part synthetic and fully synthetic oils are now more commonplace, shedding the label of “specialty” oils, although many are now typically based on GP III oils rather than traditional PAO/ester combinations.
Increasing use of alternate fuels
In the automotive market, the use of diesel fuels for passenger cars has increased dramatically, and in some countries it has become the dominant fuel [1]. We also see growing use of bio- derived fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol. The use of these fuels can have an impact on the performance of the lubricant. Three main potential issues associated with the use of bio- derived fuels have been identified: increased oxidation, increased piston deposits and increased corrosion [2].
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LUBE MAGAZINE NO.128 AUGUST 2015
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