Efficient Oil Cooling for Gearbox in the Cement Industry. How a High-Performance Plate Heat Exchanger Ensured Thermal Stability and Operational Continuity.

Contributed by: Narendra Joshi and Sourabh Mishra

Application: Gearbox Oil Cooling
Objective: To maintain optimal oil temperature in high-viscosity lubrication systems for gearboxes in cement plants, ensuring uninterrupted operations and minimizing production losses due
to overheating.
Challenge: A prominent cement manufacturing company’s conventional cooling systems were failing to maintain the oil temperature within the optimal range, jeopardizing equipment performance and leading to avoidable downtime.

Background with the Existing System
In heavy-duty industrial applications, particularly in the cement industry, gearboxes are critical components that must operate under high mechanical loads and harsh conditions. These gearboxes rely on lubrication systems where oil plays a dual role, lubrication and heat dissipation. A recurring challenge in such setups is managing the temperature of the gearbox oil. When oil heats beyond a critical limit, its viscosity drops, reducing its ability to form a protective film. This leads to increased friction between components, heat generation, and eventual damage to gearbox components — directly impacting plant uptime and production output.

Delivering Sustainable Heat Transfer Solution with HRS FUNKE High Efficiency Heat Exchanger
This system was selected for its:

• Excellent thermal performance, ensuring rapid and efficient oil cooling even with high-viscosity fluids.
• Leakage-proof operation, with no cross-contamination between cooling water and lubrication oil.
• Robust design, capable of withstanding high operating pressures and variable flow conditions.

The plate exchanger was custom configured based on the oil’s properties, desired outlet temperature, and ambient heat load, ensuring that the oil remained within the specified viscosity range necessary for maintaining gearbox operation and lubrication integrity.

Performance Benefits Delivered

• Oil temperature control and maintained consistently within target range
• Viscosity stability and prevented breakdown of lubrication film
• Equipment reliability and reduced risk of gearbox overheating or failure
• Production continuity and eliminated unplanned stoppages
• Long-Term savings and lower maintenance costs and extended oil life

Solution: To address the problem, HRS Process Systems Ltd recommended the installation of a Funke Plate Heat Exchanger a compact, high-efficiency thermal solution engineered specifically for industrial lubrication oil cooling.

Conclusion: The customer achieved precision oil temperature control, ensuring that the gearboxes operated at optimal conditions. This not only safeguarded the mechanical integrity of the gearbox but also directly contributed to higher plant uptime and improved production efficiency in heavy industries like cement manufacturing.

(Communication by the management of HRS Process Systems Ltd)