API St 613-2021 PDF

Full title and description

API Standard 613 — Special‑Purpose Gears for Petroleum, Chemical and Gas Industry Services. This edition (2021) defines minimum requirements for enclosed, precision involute helical gear speed increasers and reducers (single‑ and double‑helical, one‑ and two‑stage, parallel‑shaft) and associated lubricating, control and auxiliary systems intended for continuous service in petroleum, chemical and gas industry applications.

Abstract

Specifies design, materials, manufacturing, inspection, testing, documentation and auxiliary system requirements for matched gear sets and complete gear units used in heavy industrial hydrocarbon service. Excludes general‑purpose gear units (covered by API 677), gears integral with other rotating machinery (integrally geared compressors/expanders) and non‑involute/helical gear types. Intended to ensure reliability, maintainability and safe operation of special‑purpose gear units in continuous process service.

General information

• Status: Active.
• Publication date: July 2021 (Sixth edition published in 2021).
• Publisher: American Petroleum Institute (API).
• ICS / categories: Gears and transmissions (ICS 21.200), equipment for petroleum and natural gas industries (ICS 75.180).
• Edition / version: Sixth edition (2021).
• Number of pages: 124 pages (document page count as listed in standards catalogues).

Scope

Applies to special‑purpose, enclosed, precision involute helical gear units (single‑ and double‑helical; one‑ and two‑stage; parallel‑shaft) for continuous service in petroleum, chemical and gas industry facilities. The standard covers matched gear sets and complete gear units, related lubrication systems, controls, instrumentation and auxiliary equipment. It does not apply to general‑purpose gear units (API 677), gears integral to other machines (for example integrally geared compressors covered by API 617 or API 672) or gear forms other than involute helical.

Key topics and requirements

• Design and configuration of single‑ and two‑stage parallel‑shaft gear units, including geometry, tolerances and matched gear set requirements.
• Material selection and heat treatment for gears, shafts and housings to achieve required strength and wear resistance.
• Lubrication and oil‑control systems, seals and shaft‑sealing arrangements suitable for hydrocarbon service.
• Vibration, alignment, bearing selection and balancing requirements to ensure reliability in continuous service.
• Inspection, non‑destructive testing, run‑in, acceptance testing and documentation (data sheets, drawings, certificates).
• Controls, instrumentation and auxiliary equipment requirements (monitoring, safety interlocks and control interfaces).
• Exclusions and interface guidance where other API standards apply (e.g., API 677, API 617, API 672).

Typical use and users

Used by rotating‑equipment engineers, procurement/specification teams, OEM gear manufacturers, maintenance and reliability engineers, and project EPCs specifying or supplying special‑purpose gear units for refineries, petrochemical plants, gas processing facilities and offshore/onshore hydrocarbon service. Commonly referenced when preparing purchase specifications, procurement data sheets and inspection/test plans.

Related standards

Commonly used with other API standards covering related machinery and systems: API 677 (general‑purpose gear units), API 617 (integrally geared compressors), API 672 (integrally geared air compressors), API 614 (lubrication, shaft‑sealing and oil‑control systems), and API 670 (machinery protection). Industry guidance and procurement templates (for example IOGP/JIP33 S‑713) reference API 613 requirements for coordinated procurement.

Keywords

API 613; special‑purpose gears; gear units; helical gears; speed increasers; speed reducers; matched gear sets; lubrication systems; petroleum industry; petrochemical; gas processing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: API Standard 613 (2021) is the API specification that sets minimum requirements for special‑purpose, enclosed, involute helical gear units used in petroleum, chemical and gas industry services.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers design, materials, manufacturing, inspection and acceptance testing, lubrication and auxiliary systems, controls and documentation for single‑ and two‑stage parallel‑shaft special‑purpose gear units; it excludes general‑purpose gear standards and gear types covered by other API standards.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Rotating‑equipment engineers, gear OEMs, procurement/specification teams, maintenance and reliability departments, and EPC/project teams in the hydrocarbon industry.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2021 sixth‑edition is the current API 613 edition referenced in industry procurement guidance (published July 2021) and listed as active in standards catalogues. Users should check API or their standards office for any amendments or errata published after 2021.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — API 613 is part of API’s rotating‑equipment family of standards (for example API 610, 612, 614, 617, 672, 677) that together cover pumps, turbines, compressors, gear and auxiliary systems for petroleum, chemical and gas services.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Special‑purpose gears, helical gears, matched gear sets, speed increasers/reducers, lubrication systems, API 613, petrochemical, gas industry, gear unit procurement.