Method for lubricating a sootblower

1. A method for lubricating a sootblower wherein the sootblower comprises (a) a lance tube having one or more nozzles at the forward end of the tube; (b) a lance hub rigidly attached to the rear end of the lance tube; (c) lance support bearings, which attach to the lance tube through the lance hub, allowing for the rotation of the lance tube; (d) a drive train connected to the lance hub wherein the drive train is housed in a gearbox and comprises a set of gears or chains or combinations of these; (e) shafts on which the gears or chains of the drive train are mounted; and (f) shaft bearings and seals on which the shafts are mounted, the method comprising charging the gearbox with a thermally and oxidatively stable grease having a viscosity of at least 25 centistokes at 40° C. wherein the grease comprises a halogenated oil and a thickening agent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein grease is thermally and oxidatively stable at temperatures of at least 204° C.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the grease is thermally and oxidatively stable at temperatures of at least 250° C.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the grease has a viscosity of at least 100 centistokes at 40° C.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the grease has a viscosity of at least 220 centistokes at 40° C.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the grease has a viscosity of at least 460 centistokes at 40° C.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the drive train comprises a set of gears.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising lubricating more than one of the lance support bearings, gears, chains, seals, and shaft bearings with the grease.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each of the lance support bearings, gears, chains, seals, and shaft bearings are lubricated with the grease.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the halogenated oil is a perfluoropolyether oil.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the perfluoropolyether is a poly(hexafluoropropylene oxide).

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the thickening agent is polytetrafluoroethylene, talc, silica, clay, boron nitride, metal soaps, titanium dioxide, polydimethylsiloxane, polyurea, polyurethane or combinations of two or more thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the halogenated oil is a perfluoropolyether.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the perfluoropolyether is a poly(hexafluoropropylene oxide).

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the grease further comprises one or more additives.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the additive is as a stabilizer, anticorrosive agent, or anti-wear agent.

17. A method for lubricating a sootblower wherein the sootblower comprises (a) a lance tube having one or more nozzles at the forward end of the tube; (b) a lance hub rigidly attached to the rear end of the lance tube; (c) lance support bearings, which attach to the lance tube through the lance hub, allowing for the rotation of the lance tube allowing for the rotation of the lance tube; (d) a drive train connected to the lance hub wherein the drive train is housed in a gearbox and comprises a set of gears or chains or combinations of these; (e) shafts on which the gears or chains of the drive train are mounted; and (f) shaft bearings and seals on which the shafts are mounted; the method comprising charging the gearbox with a grease comprising a halogenated oil and a thickening agent having a viscosity of at least 460 centistokes at 40° C., wherein the grease is thermally and oxidatively stable at temperatures of at least 250° C.

18. A method to clean and lubricate a sootblower wherein the sootblower comprises (i) a lance tube having one or more nozzles at the forward end of the tube; (ii) a lance hub rigidly attached to the rear end of the lance tube; (iii) lance support bearings, which attach to the lance tube through the lance hub, allowing for the rotation of the lance tube; (iv) a drive train connected to the lance hub wherein the drive train is housed in a gearbox and comprises a set of gears or chains or combinations of these; (v) shafts on which the gears or chains of the drive train are mounted; and (vi) shaft bearings and seals on which the shafts are mounted, the method comprising (a) contacting the gearbox with an oil and grease solubilizing solvent to clean the surface; (b) drying the cleaned gearbox; (c) charging the dried gearbox with a thermally and oxidatively stable grease comprising a halogenated oil and a thickening agent having a viscosity of at least 25 centistokes at 40° C., and (d) assembling the components to provide a lubricated sootblower.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the sootblower had not been in operation.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the sootblower had been in operation and the method comprises prior to step (a), the steps: (e) removing a sootblower from operation and (f) disassembling the sootblower.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the grease is thermally and oxidatively stable at temperatures of at least 204° C.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the grease is thermally and oxidatively stable at temperatures of at least 250° C.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the grease has a viscosity of at least 100 centistokes at 40° C.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the grease has a viscosity of at least 220 centistokes at 40° C.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the grease has a viscosity of at least 460 centistokes at 40° C.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein the halogenated oil is a perfluoropolyether oil.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the perfluoropolyether is a poly(hexafluoropropylene oxide).

28. The method of claim 18 wherein the thickening agent is polytetrafluoroethylene, talc, silica, clay, boron nitride, metal soaps, titanium dioxide, polydimethylsiloxane, polyurea, polyurethane or combinations of two or more thereof.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein the grease further comprises one or more additives.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the additive is as a stabilizer, anticorrosive agent, or anti-wear agent.