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Explaining the fundamental concepts behind each recommendation made by API 687.
API 687 does a wonderful job issuing recommendations to follow when performing turbomachinery repairs.
In this website, I go page by page chapter by chapter explaining the fundamental concepts and reasons for each recommendation.
API suggests WHAT to do, I explain WHY.
API RP 687 Chapter 1, Section 10: Phase I Inspections and my first API conference
Why inspect? For someone in charge of an asset in a plant the answer may be obvious. But to understand WHAT we inspect and HOW we do it,...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
May 106 min read
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Expected equipment lifespans and typing gloves.
In the next post, we will definitively get back to discussing API RP 687. Today, I want to get us ready by discussing equipment lifespans...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Apr 53 min read
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A knight’s tale about compressors and a plug on stoichiometry (or magic math as I call it)
A few weeks ago, I was trying to illustrate how centrifugal compressors actually increase the pressure of a gas by accelerating and then...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Feb 225 min read
48 views
1 comment
Compressors, running towards elevators, and dreaming of curly hair
In my last posts, we spent some time learning about steam turbines, and how useful they are because they can produce mechanical work....
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Feb 14 min read
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Understanding how steam turbine blades work and the wonderful world of patents
In the last post, we saw how we use water and steam to generate power in the Rankine cycle. Today we dive inside the steam turbine itself...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Dec 14, 20245 min read
284 views
1 comment
The Rankine Cycle
In my last post, we met the guys that set the modern foundation for the steam cycle. Today we are going to dive a little deeper into what...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Nov 28, 20247 min read
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How can we talk about rotors in turbomachinery without a proper introduction!
(I had some help from the non-registered and unlicensed engineers in the family, coming up with these Pokémon inspired cards for my...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Nov 7, 20245 min read
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API RP 687 Chapter 1: Rotors – General Sections 1 through 9
There is no get out of Phase I free card! We have finally made it through Chapter 0, or as I call it, “the Introduction.” Today we begin...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Oct 13, 20247 min read
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API RP 687 - Chapter 0, Annex F: Coatings
On my last post, I was celebrating having completed the review of Chapter 0, API RP 687. It may have been a bit premature, since today I...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Oct 5, 20244 min read
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API RP 687 Chapter 0: Sections 15 thru 17 and a summary of the Annexes
We see the light at the end of the Chapter 0 tunnel! These three sections provide a comprehensive roadmap for developing a precise work...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Sep 28, 20246 min read
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1 comment
API RP 687 Chapter 0: Section 13 Assembly and Section 14 Shipment and Storage Containers
This week we get some interesting topics in our journey through API RP 687 Chapter 0. Section 13: Assembly Section 13: Assembly is more...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Sep 24, 20244 min read
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API RP 687: Chapter 0 Annex G - Restoration Methods
Annex G describes several restoration methods; in particular, methods that allow us to add material to a part. API RP 687 does not really...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Sep 15, 20243 min read
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API 687: Chapter 0, Section 12 - Repair Processes and New Component Manufacture
This week, we tackle Chapter 0 Section12, which covers requirements for Repair Processes. Section 12: Repair Processes and New...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Sep 8, 20247 min read
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Demystifying Maximum Continuous Speed (MCS or MCOS)
A few months ago, while I was still discussing Terms and Definitions from Chapter 0, I explained the term Maximum Continuous Speed (MCS)...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Aug 31, 20244 min read
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API 687: Chapter 0, Section 11 Inspections Methods and Testing
The word method is an awesome word. It has Greek origins, composed of two terms, meta : “in pursuit” and hodos : “a way”. Method = “in...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Aug 29, 20246 min read
82 views
0 comments
API 687: Chapter 0, Section 10 - Inspections (ITPs, PMI and Hardness)
The first statement in Section 10 is a “Statement of Purpose”, and I have a bit of trouble with it because it contains the word “should”....
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Aug 4, 202410 min read
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API 687: Chapter 0, Section 8 thru Section 9: Guidelines for Disassembly and a bonus! The Eddy Probe
Remember that Chapter 0 will issue recommendations that apply to complete machines (case + rotor). Section 8: Receiving This short...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jul 19, 20249 min read
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API 687 Chapter 0, Section 4 thru Section 7: Process, Partnership, Communication, and Shipping
Section 4: The Process Chapter 0, Section 4 opens with a powerful statement that summarizes what I think reinstates the objective of the...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jul 9, 20245 min read
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API 687: A little RECAP and a Preview of What’s to Come Next in Chapter 0
I think it’s worth doing a little recap of the journey so far into API 687.In terms of our journey, measured in number of pages, we have...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jun 29, 20245 min read
29 views
0 comments
API 687 Chapter 0: Definitions (conclusion) – Welding terms: PQR, WPS, and WQR
We have finally reached the end of the definitions in API 687 Chapter 0. Out of the 41 definitions, I have chosen to focus on 10 terms...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jun 22, 20244 min read
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API 687 Chapter 0: Definitions (continued) – Phase I Inspections, Phase II Inspections, and Phase-Referenced
This week we take on three compound terms that begin with the word Phase. The first two, Phase I Inspection and Phase II Inspection, will...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jun 16, 20244 min read
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API 687 Chapter 0: Definitions (continued) – Indications and Maximum Continuous Speed
(AI does not how to spell! ) Today we tackle two terms: Indications and Maximum Continuous Speed. Indications Non-destructive testing...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jun 9, 20246 min read
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API 687 Chapter 0: Definitions (continued) – Hydrodynamic Bearings
Thank you for reading my posts and for your positive feedback! While I think of the next topics and posts, it feels like an endless list....
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Jun 1, 20245 min read
135 views
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API 687 - Chapter 0: Normative References and Definitions
The last post summarized the structure for Chapter 0. As I previously shared, I think it would have been best named “Introduction”....
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
May 25, 20244 min read
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what vs. why and API 687 Intro
This is a quick disclaimer, so people don’t start to worry. My intention is not to copy word-for-word or violate any copyrights on API...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
May 19, 20244 min read
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a bit about the API RP 687
I will begin with American Petroleum Institute (API) 687, because its first edition was just hot off the press when I joined the world of...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
May 8, 20243 min read
171 views
4 comments
What I am doing and why...
I've been in the rotating equipment service business for 23 years now. I have had the privilege of working alongside exceptional...
Fernando E. Romero, P.E.
Apr 28, 20241 min read
54 views
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