Lubricating a tribological system

Abstract

A method and gas lubricant are provided for lubricating a tribological system and include providing gaseous carbon dioxide, and bringing the gaseous carbon dioxide into contact with regions of the tribological system to be lubricated. An inert gas may also contact the regions to reduce oxidation. Nitrogen may be used as the inert gas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for lubricating a tribological system, comprising:
 providing gaseous carbon dioxide;   contacting the gaseous carbon dioxide with regions of the tribological system to be lubricated; and   providing an inert gas for contacting the regions of the tribological system to be lubricated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the gaseous carbon dioxide is by expanding liquid carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous carbon dioxide and said inert gas are provided as a gas mixture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inert gas comprises nitrogen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous carbon dioxide and the inert gas are provided as a gaseous mixture brought into contact with the regions of the tribological system at a pressure between 0.1 MPa and 0.5 MPa. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a parameter of operation of the tribological system, and controlling the providing of at least one of the gaseous carbon dioxide and the inert gas based on the parameter monitored. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the parameter monitored is selected from the group consisting of energy input, energy output, power input, power output, and a speed of a moving part of the tribological system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tribological system operates during contact with a lubricant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising analyzing a composition of a lubricant resulting from the gaseous carbon dioxide and the inert gas, and controlling the providing of at least one of the gaseous carbon dioxide and the inert gas based on an analysis of the lubricant. 
     
     
         10 . Using a mixture of gaseous carbon dioxide and an inert gas as a lubricant for a tribological system. 
     
     
         11 . The use of the mixture of  claim 10 , wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen. 
     
     
         12 . The use of the mixture of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the gaseous carbon dioxide and the inert gas as a gas mixture for contacting the tribological system. 
     
     
         13 . A gas lubricant for a tribological system, comprising:
 gaseous carbon dioxide; and   an inert gas.   
     
     
         14 . The gas lubricant of  claim 13 , wherein the gaseous carbon dioxide and the inert gas are a gas mixture. 
     
     
         15 . The gas lubricant of  claim 13 , wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen.