P&ID SYMBOLS

ISA Symbols and Loop Diagrams

Process & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)

Purpose
1. To indicate the instruments or control devices attached to the process.
2. To indicate the control system architecture associated with the process.

How it is done?
Standard symbols and notations representing instruments or control devices are placed to the
pipings and vessels. Standard symbols and notations are available from ISA-5.1(1984) standard.

Methodology?
Process piping and sub-piping
A thick straight line represent main process piping

A thin straight line represent process sub-piping either

to instruments or by-pass process line.

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

PG

Identification letters
First letter
Measured or
initiating variable

Succeeding letters
Modifier

Readout or
passive function

A Analysis

Alarm

B Burner, combustion

User's choice

C User's choice
D User's choice

User's choice

Sensor (primary
element)
Ration
(fraction)
Glass, viewing
device

H Hand

High

Current (electrical)

J Power
Time, time
schedule

Indication
Scan
Time rate of
change

L Level
M User's choice

Control station
Light

Middle,
intermediate
User's choice

O User's choice

Orifice, restriction

P Pressure, vacuum

Point (test
connection)

Safety

Switch
Transmit

U Multivariable

Multifunction

Vibration,
V mechanical
analysis

Event, state, or
presence

Multifunction

Multifunction

Valve, damper,
louver

W Weight, force

User's choice

Record

T Temperature

X Unclassified

User's choice

Integrate,
totalizer

R Radiation
S Speed, frequency

Low

Momentary

N User's choice

Q Quantity

User's choice

Differential

G User's choice

Modifier

Control

E Voltage
F Flow rate

Output
function

Well
X axis

Unclassified

Y axis

Z Position, dimension Z axis

Unclassified

Unclassified

Relay, compute,
convert
Driver, actuator

Source: Cont rol Engineering wit h dat a from I SA S5.1 st andard

Naming rule

'

"
#

"
#

$ " %

'

' &$

' &$

&

Complete guide on P&ID symbols & notations are available from ISA 5.1 (R1984)

Examples

!
#

!
&

&
)

'

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

' &$

$
*

Symbols
Instruments / control devices:

A circle representing locally

mounted instrument

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

A circle with horizontal line

representing control room
panel mounted instrument.

A circle with horizontal line

inside a square representing
its function in DCS.

Piping and Connection Symbols

These symbols are
used to identify how
the instruments in
the process connect
to each other.
And what type of
signal is being
used. (electrical,
pneumatic, data,
etc)

Final control elements

Control
valves

Manual
valve

OR

Not darkened

Manual
valve

OR

Darkened

Always open

Always closed

NC

Solenoid
valve

=
NO

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

NO

Normally open

NC

Normally closed

NC

Device names

Devices (hardware)

Current to pneumatic
transducer

Pressure relief valve /

Pressure safety valve

Symbols

Notations

I/P

I/P

PRV

PSV

Thyristor

TY

TY

Inverter

VY

VY

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

Examples

PG

= Pressure Gauge

PIC

= Pressure Indicating Controller

FT

= Flow Transmitter

TT

= Temperature Transmitter

TE

= Temperature Element (RTD/TC)

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

Can you read the following P&ID?

Main process line
Process instrument piping
Temperature transmitter
Temperature controller

product
Feed

Flow controller
Current to pnuematic transducer

TT

TC

Fuel

Control valve

I/P

FC

TC

SP

Electrical signal
Pneumatic signal
Temperature controller DCS function

FT
12

11
ASD

11 Automatic shut down PLC unit

12 Solenoid valve

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

SP,
Set point

Controller

Final
Control
Element

Process

PV,
Controlled
Variable

PV,
Controlled Variable
Sensor

What is feedback control?

Outcome of an action is fed back to
the controller for corrective action.

Merit?
Simple design. Easy to tune (for linear, fast & short dead time
processes: flow, level & pressure).
Demerits?
Slow recovery for slow process upon load disturbance or change in
set point (such as temperature control). A process with long dead
time may exhibit oscillatory process response and with longer
settling time.

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

SP,
Set point

Controller
1

Controller
2

PV,
Controlled Variable

PV,
Controlled Variable

Final
Control
Element

Process 2

Process 1

Sensor
2

Sensor
1

What is cascade control?

The inner loop controller obtains its set point
from the outer loop controller.

Merit?
Faster recovery time as compared to SISO feedback
control.

The purpose is to eliminate the effect of

disturbances.

Demerits?
Controllability will be worst than SISO if both
controllers were not properly tuned.

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

PV,
Controlled
Variable

10

D,
Disturbance

SP,
Set point

Feedforward

Disturbance

Controller

Sensor

Final
Control
Element

Feedback

Controller

Process

PV,
Controlled
Variable

PV,
Controlled Variable
Sensor

What is feed forward control?

A method of control based on process
model: mass and energy balances.
Purpose
To compensate disturbances (D) before they
affect the controlled variable (PV).

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

Demerit
a) Fail to work if any of the sensor broke
down.
b) Poor process controllability due to
inaccurate process model.

11

TC

I/P

TT
Heated
product out

Product
in

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

Steam in

Steam out

12

TC

FC

TT

FT

Heated
product out

Product
in

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

I/P

Steam in

Steam out

13

TC

TT

FC

I/P

FT
L/L

Heated
product out

TT
Product
in

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

Steam in

FT
Steam out

14

FC

I/P

FT
Steam in

Heated
product out

FT
Product
in

Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2011)

Steam out

15

Using correct P&ID symbols, draw the following

instruments to the reboiler as shown in figure
below.
(i)

Steam pressure gauge

(ii) Reboiler vapor pressure gauge

Reboiler vapor

(iii) Steam temperature gauge

(iv) Vessel over pressure relief valve
Steam

(v) Steam over pressure relief valve

(vi) Liquid level gauge at overflow
compartment
(vii) Liquid level gauge at liquid boiling
compartment

Condensate
Bottom product

(viii) Temperature gauge at liquid boiling

compartment.
Tower bottoms

Install appropriate control systems for the

following tasks:
(i)

Liquid level control at over flow

compartment
Reboiler vapor

(ii) Reboiler vapor pressure control

(iii) Liquid temperature control
(iv) Reboiler vapor pressure alarm high
(v) Liquid temperature alarm high

Steam

(vi) Low and high level liquid alarm at

liquid over flow compartment
(vii) Low liquid level alarm at boiling liquid
compartment

Condensate

(viii) Steam flow cut upon low liquid level.

Bottom product
Tower bottoms

BACK TO BASICS

How to read
P&IDs
Instrumentation detail varies with the degree of design complexity. For example, simplified or
conceptual designs, often called process flow diagrams, provide less detail than fully developed
piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs). Being able to understand instrumentation symbols
appearing on diagrams means understanding ANSI/ISAs S5.1-1984 (R 1992) Instrumentation
symbols and identification standard. S5.1 that defines how each symbol is constructed using
graphical elements, alpha and numeric identification codes, abbreviations, function blocks, and
connecting lines.
D e ciphe r ing sym bols
ISA S5.1 defines four graphical elementsdiscrete
instruments, shared control/display, computer
function, and programmable logic controllerand
groups them into three location categories (primary
location, auxiliary location, and field mounted).
Discrete instruments are indicated by circular
elements. Shared control/display elements are
circles surrounded by a square. Computer functions
are indicted by a hexagon and programmable logic
controller (PLC) functions are shown as a triangle
inside a square.
Adding a single horizontal bar across any of the
four graphical elements indicates the function
resides in the primary location category. A double
line indicates an auxiliary location, and no line
places the device or function in the field. Devices
located behind a panel-board in some other
inaccessible location are shown with a dashed
horizontal line
Letter and number combinations appear inside
each graphical element and letter combinations are
defined by the ISA standard. Numbers are user
assigned and schemes vary with some companies
use of sequential numbering, others tie the
instrument number to the process line number, and
still others adopt unique and sometimes unusual
numbering systems.
The first letter defines the measured or initiating
variables such as Analysis (A), Flow (F),
Temperature (T), etc. with succeeding letters
defining readout, passive, or output functions such
as Indicator (I), Record (R), Transmit (T), and so
forth.

Ex a m ple sh ow s t h e st or y
Referring to the Example P&ID diagram, FT 101 represents a field-mounted flow transmitter
connected via electrical signals (dotted line) to flow indicating controller FIC 101 located in a shared
control/display device. A square root extraction of the input signal is applied as part of FIC 101s
functionality. The output of FIC 101 is an electrical signal to TY 101 located in an inaccessible or
behind-the-panel-board location. The output signal from TY 101 is a pneumatic signal (line with
double forward slash marks) making TY 101 an I/P (current to pneumatic transducer). TT 101 and
TIC 101 are similar to FT 101 and FIC 101 but are measuring, indicating, and controlling
temperature. TIC 101s output is connected via an internal software or data link (line with bubbles) to
the setpoint (SP) of FIC 101 to form a cascade control strategy.
Often P&IDs include a cover page where common and typical terms, symbols, numbering systems,
etc., are defined. On the example, Typical YIC would likely appear on the cover page and the
simplified form of YIC would appear throughout the P&IDs.
Typical YIC indicates an on/off valve is controlled by a solenoid valve and is fitted with limit switches
to indicate open (ZSH) and closed (ZSL) positions. All inputs and outputs are wired to a PLC thats
accessible to the operator (diamond in a square with a solid horizontal line). The letter "Y" indicates
an event, state, or presence. The letter "I" depicts indication is provided, and the letter "C" means
control takes place in this device.
Adherence to ISAs S5.1 Instrumentation Symbols and Identification standard ensures a consistent,
system independent means of communicating instrumentation, control, and automation intent is
developed for everyone to understand.

General instrument or function symbols

Primary location
accessible to
operator

Field mounted

Auxiliary location
accessible to
operator

Discrete
instruments

Shared display,
shared control

Computer
function

Programmable
logic control
1. Sym bol size m ay vary according t o t he user's needs and t he t ype of docum ent .
2. Abbreviat ions of t he user's choice m ay be used when necessary t o specify locat ion.
3. I naccessible ( behind t he panel) devices m ay be depict ed using t he sam e sym bol but wit h
a dashed horizont al bar.
Source: Cont rol Engineering wit h dat a from I SA S5.1 st andard