Shell PurePlus Technology
Shell has developed a new technology to make base oil from natural gas. This base oil, together with an advanced additive package, is used in the latest fully synthetic Shell Helix Ultra motor oil portfolio. To learn about this technology and motor oil developments in general, the CI department organised the lecture on September 22. The revenue model of garage owners mainly relies on workshop revenue where engine oil has an important share.
What the Shell PurePlus technology entails and its benefits Maarten Beckers presented to an enthusiastic group of participants in an evening lecture. But it went beyond the Shell PurePlus technology; Maarten spoke enthusiastically about the development of engine oils in general and the various specifications associated with them. The various aspects of motor oil and what this means in practice were discussed in detail. After mainly listening at first, questions soon came up and an interactive presentation ensued. The evaluation forms therefore appreciated that there was plenty of room for questions.
Given the participants' backgrounds, it was decided by mutual agreement not to present the commercial part. The participants were offered the opportunity to have this presented in a personal interview.
From the presentation, we learned that there is a complex technology behind engine oil and that it has become one of the new design criteria when designing a new engine. It was also good to hear that the basis for this technology was laid at Shell Research in Amsterdam and that many Dutch engineers are (have been) involved in its development.
After the presentation, there was an enjoyable networking drink in bar of the venue "the Black Box" on the TU/e grounds which was well used. The board of the Commercial Engineering Department thanks the participants for attending the lecture and of course Maarten Beckers and his colleagues from Shell for providing this interesting evening lecture.
Description
Introduction
Shell launches the first natural gas-based motor oil. The result of nearly forty years of research in gas-to-liquid technology. The PurePlus technology was developed at the Shell Technology Centre Amsterdam (where the GTL or gas-to-liquid process has been worked on since the oil crisis in the mid-1970s). One of the differences from conventional base oil is that GTL oil is as clear as water.
What is PurePlus Technology?
Shell PurePlus technology is an innovative patented technology that converts natural gas into crystalline base oil. This very pure base oil therefore contains no impurities as opposed to crude oil. The crystalline base oil forms the basis of the new Shell Helix Ultra portfolio.
How is PurePlus base oil made?
The gas-to-liquid process used to turn natural gas, among other things, into base oils for lubricants, and called PurePlus technology at Shell, involves a number of steps. After the natural gas is purified, the remaining methane is combined with pure oxygen to make syngas by heating (a so-called 'incomplete combustion'). That 'syngas' (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) is converted into long chains of waxy hydrocarbons and water via so-called Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. That conversion process is accelerated using a catalyst developed by Shell in long vertical tubes. In a "hydrocracker", the long hydrocarbon chains are then "cracked" into a number of smaller molecules, which are then eventually distilled into GTL products, such as fuels, paraffin and base oils for Helix Ultra lubricants, among others.
All this is done at the "Pearl" plant in Qatar.
Why did Shell develop this technology?
Engine technology has undergone tremendous developments globally over the past few years, with car manufacturers demanding better performance from engine oils. This has led to a general shift within the industry towards fully synthetic motor oil (oil with lower viscosity, less friction, lower evaporation and consistently high quality).
Only with this motor oil can the utmost be achieved from today's high-performance engines. With a natural gas-based technology, Shell claims to have significantly improved the performance of synthetic motor oil.
Motor oil in (aftersales) practice
On the one hand, car manufacturers continue to develop their engines, making new requirements (specifications) for motor oil all the time. As far as engine oils are concerned, there is a huge choice in types (specification and viscosities) and brands.
On the other hand, returns at car companies are under strong pressure. Declining car usage and longer maintenance intervals are a major concern for the garage owner.
Please note that the location at TU/e has changed to the Black Box, room 1.04 (TU/
18.30-19.00 walk-in with coffee and tea
19.00 start lecture
21.00-21.30 closing drinks
How do you decide which motor oil(s) to use best?
Shell has introduced a new line of synthetic Helix motor oils based on Pure Plus Technology. The benefits of products based on this new technology can help you increase sales in the workshop/warehouse.
Contents of the lecture
The lecture consists of three parts:
1) Technical part about automotive motor oils and specifications
2) Explanation of the new Shell Pure Plus Technology and Active Cleansing Technology
3) How to get more return from after-sales activities
Target audience
People working in the automotive industry such as garage owners, after-sales (workshop and warehouse) managers, marketing managers, and car technicians.
Speaker(s)
Maarten Beckers; Shell Lubricants technical expert.
Maarten has been working at Shell Netherlands Sales Company for many years as a lubricants technical expert. He supports the Shell (sales) people when it comes to technical issues, gives internal and external training on lubricants and is the go-to person when it comes to automotive lubricants. Maarten is one of the links between practice and development.
In addition, people from the Shell organisation will be present to tell you more about how to get more return from after-sales activities
Location
Eindhoven University of Technology, Black Box
New location TU/e: Room 1.04 in the Black Box
Organiser
Vehicle Engineering
Commercial Engineer
Name and contact details for information
Stache Bancken at the e-mail address below