High performance hydraulic oil can help reduce energy consumption of equipment by up to 6.2 percent*
• At -400C Mobil SHC 500 is four times thinner than similar viscosity grade conventional mineral hydraulic oils
• Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 can enable wind turbines to operate at lower temperatures during winter months
• Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 is used to protect more than 40,000 wind turbines worldwide
(Glasgow, UK – October 2012) – In addition to being designed to help wind farm operators dealing with extreme weather conditions improve the productivity and safety of operations, Mobil SHC 500 hydraulic oils has a potential to offer energy efficiency benefits in hydraulic equipment. Compared to standard mineral hydraulic oils, Mobil SHC 500 can help to reduce hydraulic system energy consumption by up to 6.2 percent*, and as a result it displays the company’s proprietary “Energy Efficiency” logo on packaging. Collectively, the benefits enable wind turbines to reach peak performance and help wind energy production compete more cost-effectively with traditional power sources.
The Mobil SHC 500 Series has been engineered to help protect hydraulic equipment operating in extremely cold conditions in offshore wind farms such as the North Sea or in remote onshore locations. At -40C Mobil SHC 500 is four times thinner than similar viscosity grade conventional mineral hydraulic oils**, allowing it to circulate around the hydraulic system faster at start up, ensuring the lubricant is in place to protect machine components. For hydraulic equipment operating in even colder conditions, ExxonMobil offers specialist products such as Mobil Univis HVI or Mobil Aero HF-A. Although wind farms are unlikely to be exposed to such extreme arctic temperatures, the extent of the lubricant’s cold temperature performance demonstrates that operating within UK weather conditions and wind chill factors can be easily met.
Mobil SHC 500 is part of the Mobil SHC brand of high performance synthetic lubricants, which have been formulated to help wind energy companies operating in extreme environments to reduce unscheduled downtime and maximise availability. The Mobil SHC range includes gear, bearing, compressor and wind turbine oils, which alongside their cold temperature performance and energy efficiency potential, have been developed to help extend the service life of machine components and last between three-to-six times longer than mineral oil based products, helping to reduce maintenance shutdowns.
For example, the Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 high performance gear oil can enable wind turbines to operate at temperatures up to 8°C lower than compared with traditional mineral gear oils[1]. This means that even in cold environments, wind farms can start working sooner to improve productivity and minimise expensive downtime. This is just one of the reasons why Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 is now used to protect 40,000 wind turbines worldwide and is the initial fill gear oil for many of the world’s top wind turbine operators. Some of the latest wind energy companies to switch to this oil are three North-Sea based wind farms – Alpha Ventus, Borkum West and Thornton Bank[2].
“Efficiency and reliability are the key concerns for remotely located wind farms, particularly those that are offshore. ExxonMobil’s innovative wind lubricant technology and application expertise can support the growing industry by helping reduce both maintenance requirements and operational costs while ensuring that turbines keep working despite cold temperatures,” said Phil Riley, Lubrication Field Engineer, ExxonMobil Lubricants and Petroleum Specialties.
He added: “Our industry-leading products are ideal for gearboxes used in wind turbines because they exceed the performance of conventional, mineral-based oils by extending the interval between oil changes from 18 months up to three years or more.”
Alongside Mobil SHC 500 and Mobilgear SHC XMP 320, a range of high performance greases have been developed for wind farm operations, including Mobil SHC Grease 460 WT. This synthetic grease offers potential performance benefits in specific wind turbine applications and is suitable for a wide temperature range while providing outstanding protection against rust, corrosion and wear
Phil Riley concluded: “The UK is leading in the development of offshore wind energy and to support this, ExxonMobil works in close cooperation with leading OEMs and energy companies to develop advanced lubricant technology that addresses operational challenges and lowers the cost of production. As a result, our Mobil SHC range is designed to help operators secure significant productivity benefits and to continue demonstrating the viability of wind generated electricity.”
For more information about Mobil SHC branded synthetic lubricants, or any other Mobil-branded products and services, visit mobilindustrial.com.
About ExxonMobil Lubricants and Petroleum Specialties Company
ExxonMobil is a leading marketer of finished lubricants, asphalts and specialty products, as well as one of the world’s largest suppliers of lubricant base stocks.
About Mobil Industrial Lubricants
The team behind Mobil Industrial Lubricants delivers advanced products to major industrial equipment manufacturers to protect their customers’ engines and machinery, helping to enable peak performance while improving energy efficiency. This dedicated work force focuses on delivering a reliable supply of high-quality lubricants through its strong distribution network while also providing technical application expertise to customers around the world.
