Advanced lubrication technology & application strategy for improved outdoor high voltage electrical equipment reliability

It is estimated by some that 6–7% of the US GDP each year is lost due to lubrication and wear related failure. While engineering and materials technology continues to evolve in a well-understood way, lubricant technology has itself evolved but in far less understood terms. Lubricant technology has been developed allowing for better performance in today´s extremely demanding applications, and with proper understanding of key features and benefits of modern lubricants and how to apply them to best realize those benefits, it is possible to improve equipment reliability and maximize total cost of ownership of today´s high performance specialty lubricants. With regard to high voltage switchgear and circuit breakers, advanced technology lubricants have been demonstrated to provide long service life and represent one possible method to increase reliable operation due to their enhanced ability to perform at temperature extremes, resist drying out and ability to help prevent wear and corrosion.