Protecting The Environment

Increased awareness about environmental protection and tighter legislation, such as the recently enforced REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) Directive, have prompted Shell Lubricants to expand their Naturelle range, as part of an ongoing focus on developing environmentally considerate lubricants

It is difficult to ignore the daily dosage of coverage on climate change and the importance of reducing CO₂ emissions in the media. Energy efficiency and having an ‘eco-conscience’ are now central to any industrial operation, and Shell’s awareness of these issues has led the company to take a more proactive approach to managing the environmental and social impacts of its products.

Environmental management has also become a key prerequisite for the aggregates industry. As quarrying companies operate hydraulic earthmoving equipment, industrial oils and fluids can enter the environment either through normal use (eg open gears) or when there is a leak or damage to the machinery (eg a wheel loader with exposed hoses and cylinders).

As an alternative to conventional lubricants, biolubricants should be used where there is an environmental risk; they are far less toxic, essentially biodegradable, and easily renewable from vegetable oil-based sources (eg soya beans).

With environmental protection, sustainability and tighter regulation ranking high among public concerns, the use of biolubricants has become more widespread, especially in environmentally sensitive areas, such as inland waterways, rivers, mines, quarries, ski-areas and forests.

Shell’s Naturelle range of lubricant products has been specially developed to minimize the impact on both natural environments and ecosystems. Each lubricant has a high level of biodegradability, meaning that any accidental oil spillage is rapidly broken down by the environment’s micro-organisms, while the low eco-toxicity qualities of the oil mean that any impact on the environment, should a spillage or leak occur, is reduced.

The lubricants within the Naturelle range have undergone stringent testing and have met the rigorous internationally recognized standards set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These include: the OECD 301B test, which measures ‘ready biodegradability’ by monitoring the conversion of the substance to CO₂; and the OECD tests 201–203, which ensure that the lubricant is not harmful to aquatic organisms.

Tom Crockford, Shell Lubricants’ global mining sector marketing manager and global sector marketing team leader, said: ‘From the outset, it was important that we didn’t compromise on the technical performance offered by the Shell Naturelle range. As a result, the environmentally considerate range of lubricants provides both excellent lubrication and enhanced environmental performance.

‘The Naturelle range can achieve the same performance as conventional oils – while retaining high biodegradability and low eco-toxicity characteristics. This allows companies to operate their earthmoving machinery efficiently and preserves the environment at the same time.’

Nigel Battersby, research and technology specialist at Shell Lubricants, added: ‘Environmental legislation is increasingly being introduced to specify the use of biodegradable lubricants in machinery working in environmentally sensitive areas. What sets the Naturelle range apart is that the products are developed for the bigger picture; customers are able to fulfil their environmental responsibilities without the need to sacrifice lubrication performance.’

Shell Lubricants have recently expanded the Naturelle range. It now includes: Naturelle Hydraulic Fluids HF-E and HF-M; Naturelle Gear Fluid EP; Naturelle Chain Fluid SM (developed for chainsaw and transport chain lubrications); and Naturelle Grease EP 2 (designed for use in general industrial lubrication and heavy-duty plain/rolling element bearings operating under severe conditions).

‘Further advancement in lubricant technology and genetic enhancement to seed oils are ongoing challenges for us,’ said Mr Crockford. ‘We invest heavily each year to ensure that all our industrial lubricants continue to respond to the increasing demands of modern machinery, from energy efficiency to reduced carbon dioxide emissions to lower fuel costs. One key area that we are currently focusing on is total-loss applications.’

Hydraulic earthmoving machines operate under high pressure and any damage to hoses and cylinders or leaks from connections and seals can result in major spills. Alarmingly, Shell Lubricants have found that a small leak of one drop of oil per second can lead to a substantial loss of up to 200 litres of lubricant a month.

Technology and innovation

As one of the leading suppliers of oils and fluids to the mining and quarrying industries, Shell Lubricants are fully aware of the importance of adding value to their products. The company has five international research centres devoted to the development of advanced lubricant technologies and specifications.

Technical experts, engineers and product application specialists extensively test, analyse and develop new products using high-tech laboratory equipment at a Shell Lubricants site in Chester.

‘During product development, we collaborate with the Shell Lubricants marketing team to identify what the market needs and then develop the innovative oils and greases to meet global market demands,’ said Nigel Battersby.

‘First, we look at the formulation of blending by mixing potential additives. Once the tailored system of additives is finalized, the lubricant undergoes rigorous laboratory and rig testing, which is followed by field trials and further performance testing.’

The testing of lubricants is often carried out in the Scandinavian region, where temperatures can range from over 30ºC in the summer to –20ºC in the winter. Field trials using Shell Naturelle HF-M, for example, were carried out over the course of a year in a Caterpillar 966G wheel loader operating in Örnsköldsviks, Sweden.

The condition of the fluid and the presence of wear metals from the Eaton PVH57 piston pump were monitored during the test. After operating under arduous and wet field conditions for a year (around 4,900h), the wheel loader showed only negligible changes in total acid number (TAN) and kinematic viscosity.

This was despite the presence of over 400ppm of water in the fluid for much of the trial. Levels of copper and iron in the fluid also increased but these were below the values that would cause excessive system wear and tear. Shell Lubricants concluded that, although rape-seed oil-based hydraulic fluids can suffer from problems of poor performance at low and high temperatures and relatively short service life, performance can be extended through formulation skills and the use of modified vegetable oils.

It is, perhaps, not surprising that the company sees massive potential for the recently expanded Naturelle range. The Environment Agency has already given its endorsement to the environmentally considerate lubricants range and has been so impressed that it is now using the products in its own machinery and vehicles working in environmentally sensitive situations. The Agency is also recommending the Naturelle range to companies asking for advice on which biolubricants to use.

As environmental legislation tightens and the demand for biolubricants increases in the near future, Shell Lubricants will play a key part in meeting this unprecedented growth. OEMs and mobile plant operators are beginning to take environmental issues more seriously, and biodegradable lubricants, such as Naturelle, will help companies meet new challenges and comply with forthcoming legislation.