Mar 20 2008
With just a few keystrokes on a new online tool from Dow Corning Corp., manufacturing plant managers can estimate their energy and emissions savings if they lubricated their equipment properly.
"A typical large manufacturing plant can have more than 80,000 lubrication points, any of which can create drag and friction, meaning more energy is needed and more emissions are created," said Phil Grellier, Dow Corning global solutions development manager. "The wrong lubricant, or the correct lubricant applied in the wrong manner, can be highly inefficient and even halt plant operations. With so much at stake, making sure that the equipment is properly lubricated is critical."
When users enter the number and types of equipment, such as motors, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and fans, and other variables such as the kilowatts needed to run them, the hours per day and days per year into the Dow Corning Molykote(R) Energy Savings Calculator, they are shown potential reductions in kilowatt hours, carbon dioxide emissions and the associated cost savings.
"The calculator can help manufacturers meet environmental sustainability goals and fulfill their commitment to innovative, energy-efficient solutions by understanding where they may be wasting energy," Grellier said.
The Molykote Energy Savings Calculator is available online at http://www.dowcorning.com/content/molykote/energysavingscalculator.aspx.