Wastewater treatment plants rely on a variety of industrial equipment, including electric motors, gear reducers, hydraulic systems, pumps, circulating systems, air compressors, generators and more. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of these different types of equipment and lubricants required to keep water management operations running smoothly.
Electric Motors
Wastewater treatment pumping systems are frequently powered by electric motors running continuously under variable loads. Electric motors typically require either grease or R&O oil, depending on the size and type of motor. To maintain optimal performance, reduce maintenance and extend equipment life, high-performance synthetic lubricants are recommended for their ability to provide excellent thermal stability and resist oxidation. Synthetic lubricants help minimize friction and wear on motor components, ensuring efficient operation and reducing the risk of overheating.
AMSOIL Industrial electric motor lubricants
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Electric Motor Grease (GREM)
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GB Series Synthetic Gear & Bearing Oil (GIS)
Gear Reducers
Responsible for reducing equipment speed and increasing torque, gear reducers operate under high stress and heavy loads, which necessitates lubricants that reduce friction under extreme pressure. Gear reducers used in wastewater treatment are frequently subjected to water contamination, so it is important to choose lubricants with superior demulsification properties. Gear reducers can be found in many applications, including:
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Wet wells, lift stations and bar-and-drum screens.
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Sludge, sewage, sump slurry, circulating and chemical-feed pumps.
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Grinders, skimmers, digestors, conveyors and collectors.
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Sludge thickeners, centrifuges, flocculators and aerators.
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Clarifier turntables.
High-quality lubricants ensure gearboxes run efficiently and reliably, minimizing downtime and extending service life. Depending on equipment-manufacturer requirements, an EP gear oil, R&O turbine-type oil or worm-drive gear oil may be specified. Synthetic gear oil is recommended for its outstanding thermal stability, excellent load-carrying capacity and superior protection against oxidation, corrosion and wear. Quality lubricants tailored to specific operating conditions can improve the efficiency and longevity of machinery.
AMSOIL Industrial gear lubricants
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EP Series-S Synthetic Extreme-Pressure Gear Oil
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EP Series-COMP Compounded Extreme-Pressure Gear Oil
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GB Series Synthetic Gear & Bearing Oil
Air Compressors and Blowers
Compressors and blowers maintain efficient airflow and pressure levels needed to support various wastewater treatment systems. By reducing friction and ensuring smooth operation, synthetic lubricants help minimize maintenance frequency and extend the service life of compressors and blowers.
High-performance synthetic rotary compressor oils and greases are designed to handle the high-pressure conditions and continuous operation typical of these systems. Their superior ability to resist moisture, minimize deposit formation and enhance cooling ensures continuous smooth operation, while providing excellent protection against component wear, rust and corrosion.
The correct lubricant viscosity for rotary screw, rotary vane and piston-driven air compressors depends on the application. For instance, rotary-screw blowers are used for low-pressure, high-volume applications and require general-purpose grease in the bearings and ISO 150 or 220 in the timing gears. Centrifugal blowers require a multi-purpose grease or an anti-wear circulating oil, depending on the size of the blower. Centrifugal air compressors are lubricated at the drive unit (pinions and bull gear), which typically requires an anti-wear ISO 32 or 46 R&O oil.
AMSOIL Industrial compressor oils are engineered to maximize performance in both normal service and extended oil-drain applications up to 16,000 hours.
AMSOIL Industrial compressor lubricants
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AMSAIR-PG Synthetic PAG Rotary Compressor Oil
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AMSAIR-PLUS Synthetic PAO Rotary Compressor Oil
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AMSAIR Synthetic Rotary Compressor Oil
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Synthetic Blower Oil
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Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease
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EP Series-S Synthetic Extreme-Pressure Gear Oil
Stationary Diesel and Natural Gas Generators
Stationary diesel engines normally require SAE 40 engine oil; however, synthetic oil is a better choice for easier and more reliable starts in mission-critical, emergency, standby and unheated applications. Additionally, stationary engines that use scrubbed natural gas often require a low-ash engine oil that supports cold-temperature operation and resists oxidation and nitration for extended oil life and protection against valve recession.
AMSOIL Industrial engine oils provide superior cold-start and anti-wear protection for piston rings, cylinder liners and bearings in continuous severe-service operation. Excellent thermal stability and low volatility help maintain viscosity to improve efficiency, reduce oil consumption and protect against valve recession and wear at a wide range of operating temperatures. They are designed to prevent carbon deposits and varnish formation to help keep components clean and protect sensitive emissions systems.
AMSOIL Industrial diesel and natural gas engine lubricants
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Synthetic Diesel Oil
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Straight-Grade Diesel Oil
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Synthetic Low-Ash Natural Gas Engine Oil
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Low-Ash Natural Gas Engine Oil
Hydraulic Systems
Hydraulic systems control the power, pressure and movement in heavy-duty sludge-handling equipment, gate and valve actuators, conveyors, lifts, mixers and aerators. Anti-wear and anti-varnish hydraulic oils are recommended to maximize performance and prevent wear and corrosion in hydraulic components. Synthetic hydraulic oils provide superior thermal stability and filtration properties that help ensure smooth operation and the enhanced reliability and efficiency of high-pressure hydraulic systems.
Specific applications or equipment manufacturers may specify oil with or without zinc additives, but mixing certain zinc and non-zinc hydraulic oil formulations can cause foaming or plugged filters. AMSOIL Industrial HELIOS-ZF Synthetic Zinc-Free Hydraulic Oil is engineered to be compatible with both zinc and non-zinc hydraulic oils for worry-free drain-and-fill and top-off substitutions. This makes it valuable for consolidating product inventory and when the type of hydraulic oil currently in service is unknown.
Varnish is a huge problem in hydraulic applications, frequently causing reduced performance and downtime, especially in systems operating at elevated temperatures. Varnish-resistant hydraulic oils not only provide long-lasting anti-wear protection, but they also help clean and protect valves where varnish is prone to accumulate. Eliminating varnish drastically reduces maintenance downtime and costs and improves operational efficiency. In fact, AMSOIL Industrial HELIOS-VR has been proven in field testing to provide up to 13.7% electricity savings (energy savings will vary based on application and maintenance practices).
AMSOIL Industrial hydraulic products:
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HELIOS-VR Synthetic Varnish-Resistant Hydraulic Oil
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HELIOS-ZF Synthetic Zinc-Free Hydraulic Oil
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PETRAULIC-VR Varnish-Resistant Hydraulic Oil
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PETRAULIC-ZF Zinc-Free Hydraulic Oil
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PETRAULIC-LT Low-Temperature Hydraulic Oil
Working Together
Treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater requires many systems working seamlessly together. Continuous equipment operation in high-moisture and high-temperature environments requires superior protection against corrosion and component wear. High-quality synthetic lubricants help water treatment facilities achieve optimal operational efficiency targets by increasing the reliability and extending the lifespan of equipment, minimizing downtime and maintenance and contributing to overall plant reliability.
AMSOIL Industrial lubricants are engineered to meet the specific operational needs of equipment used in wastewater treatment, including a complete line of high-performance greases and turbine, hydraulic, gearbox, blower, compressor and engine oils. Consult an AMSOIL Industrial Application Engineer to identify the best solutions for your specific applications.