Lubrication Strategies For The Cement Industry

March 18, 2022

Lubrication in the cement industry is difficult not because the machines are complicated but because of the environment they have to operate in. The working conditions can vary from season to season depending on the plant’s location. The worrying factor is that lubricants like oil and grease that work well on similar machines, might not be as effective in some of the conditions that the cement industry often faces. So, lubrication strategies and lubricating frequencies that work well for other industries can be a wrong fit for the cement industry. The unique environment and nature of cement plants require unique lubricating strategies to achieve the desired results. The following blog post enlists top lubrication strategies that work for the cement industry. Also read: Know about the Basics of Automatic Lubrication System

Transporting Raw Materials

Generally, a cement plant is near or adjacent to a quarry. The raw materials are transported from the quarry to the cement plant and then to the large storage hoppers. The mode of transportation is often conveyors, with belt conveyors being the most common type used. Even if the materials are carried from some distance, there are still a lot of conveyors involved in the process. These conveyors are driven by electric motors, some of which are largely due to the power needed to pull the belt. The larger belts require infrequent greasing because they have grease nipples. They have greasing bearings on both the drive and no drive end along with tension rolls. Many different types of cement lubricants are found efficient for greasing these conveyors but what matters is the greasing frequency. Only optimal greasing can help keep the dust and unwanted particles out of the machines and reduce wear rates.

Greasing Frequency

In cement plants, greasing is a seldom phenomenon due to the location of the plant and distance from the ground. Lack of labor availability can also add to the problem. The use of a greasing system that uses a central reservoir and feeds through numerous points is preferable in these circumstances. However, in a cement plant, the pipe runs are long and you may need various greasing systems working together. The other option is to use a single-point grease lubricator attached to each bearing. These lubricators help you grease according to the required time and bearing size.

Lubricating Gearboxes

Conveyors are driven by various types of reduction gearboxes adjacent to the electric motors that won’t protrude excessively. Gearboxes and bearings can also be found in several crushers within the section of the quarry where materials are fed to be processed. These components face issues in terms of dust as conveyors do. Since the bearings are located close to each other in the centre, therefore, centralized greasing systems are commonly used. It ensures that the grease reservoir is easily housed in and pipe runs are not too long. So, lubricating them properly is also needed for the proper functioning of the cement plant conveyor system. Also Read: Top 4 Tips To Properly Maintain Your Machines Bearings

Open Gears

There are different open-gears associated with the cement plant. Along with specific lubricants and automation types. The main requirement for these open gear lubrication systems is that the lubricant must be able to adhere to the entire revolution of the driven gear. Only then it will be able to provide the required protection.

About Micro-Lube

Micro Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication Company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to our diverse customers. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for more information.