Energy efficiency study in industrial gear oils with SpectraSyn Elite™ mPAO
Today’s industrial sector accounts for nearly half of the world’s energy con-sumption. Improved energy efficiency in this sector obviously can have a major impact on the world’s energy use, which is predicted to grow as much as 25 percent by 2040*. To help lower industrial energy consump¬tion, lubricant formulators have increased their use of synthetic base stocks, which have been known to improve energy efficiency. But limited test data existed to measure this improvement.
That’s why ExxonMobil commissioned a series of tests at the Institute of Energy of the University of Porto (INEGI). Our goals:
• Verify and quantify the energy efficiency gained by using synthetic base stocks.
• Assess the concern of some equipment builders and owners that low-viscosity, synthetic-based lubricants may result in lower wear protection. SpectraSyn™ polyalphaolefin (cPAO) and SpectraSyn Elite™ metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) synthetic base stocks have demonstrated excellent wear protection capabilities, but we wanted specific rig data.
• Compare the performance of Spec-traSyn Elite mPAO base stocks with conventional PAO, measuring energy efficiency and wear protection.
With this data, we could better guide formulators with solutions that help them innovate energy-efficient industrial lubricants for today’s changing marketplace.
