Q Why do we need specialty lubes in the cement industry?
A Cement production involves components like bearings and gears of rotary kilns, mills, roller presses, crushers, etc. The wrong choice of lubricants or the use of general-purpose lubricants may lead to premature failure of components or breakdown, resulting in loss of production and increased maintenance costs. Hence, specialty lubricants are necessary in the cement industry to optimize the efficiency and life of components and avoid unscheduled maintenance. If working conditions are studied thoroughly and then a suitable lubrication product is selected, it may improve the operating efficiency of equipment, enhance component life, and reduce downtime significantly.
Q Why is it necessary to clean the assembly before applying lubricant?
A Various reasons warrant cleaning of equipment before application of lubricant or relubrication. However, the primary reasons may be as follows: First, if the new lubricant is incompatible with the previous one, it may harm the equipment. Thus, it is important to remove all traces of the previous lubricant by completely cleaning it. Secondly, cement plants invariably operate in highdust areas, and cleaning the assembly removes dust and other contamination from the system before they start damaging the equipment.
Q How can sludge formation be controlled in gearboxes of the cement industry?