282016

Piping&InstrumentationDiagram,P&IDProcessFlowSystems

Process Flow Systems

COMPANY PROFILE

WHAT WE DO

WHERE WE WORK

CONTACT US

Aboutus

Servicesoffered

Fieldsofexpertise

Getintouch

Piping&InstrumentationDiagram,P&ID

Home

Piping&InstrumentationDiagram,P&ID

Search

AnIntroduction
Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) use specific symbols to show
the connectivity of equipment, sensors, and valves in a control system. These
symbols can represent actuators, sensors, and controllers and may be apparent
in most, if not all, system diagrams. P&IDs provide more detail than a process
flowdiagramwiththeexceptionoftheparameters,i.e.temperature,pressure,and
flow values. Process equipment, valves, instruments and pipe lines are tagged
with unique identification codes, set up according to their size, material fluid
contents,methodofconnection(screwed,flanged,etc.)andthestatus(Valves
Normally Closed, Normally Open). These two diagrams can be used to connect
the parameters with the control system to develop a complete working process.
Thestandardnotation,varyingfromletterstofigures,isimportantforengineersto
understand because it a common language used for discussing plants in the
industrialworld.
P&IDscanbecreatedbyhandorcomputer.Commonprograms,forbothPCand
Mac,thatcreateP&IDsincludeMicrosoftVisio(PC)andOmniGraffle(Mac).AswithotherP&IDs,theseprogramsdonotshowtheactualsizeandpositionof
theequipment,sensorsandvalves,butratherprovidearelativepositions.TheseprogramsarebeneficialtoproducecleanandneatP&IDsthatcanbestoredand
viewedelectronically.SeebelowforP&IDtemplatesfortheseprograms.
Thissectioncoversfourmaintypesofnomenclature.Thefirstsectiondescribestheuseoflinestodescribeprocessconnectivity.Thesecondsectiondescribes
lettersusedtoidentifycontroldevicesinaprocess.Thethirdsectiondescribesactuators,whicharedevicesthatdirectlycontroltheprocess.Thefinalsection
describesthesensors/transmittersthatmeasureparametersinasystem.
AListofP&IDitems

AgoodP&IDshouldinclude:

AP&IDshouldnotinclude:

Instrumentationanddesignations

Instrumentationanddesignations

Instrumentrootvalves

Mechanicalequipmentwithnamesand

Mechanicalequipmentwithnamesand

controlrelays

numbers

numbers

manualswitches

Allvalvesandtheiridentifications

Allvalvesandtheiridentifications

primaryinstrumenttubingandvalves

Processpiping,sizesandidentification

Processpiping,sizesandidentification

pressuretemperatureandflowdata

Miscellaneavents,drains,special

Miscellaneousvents,drains,specialfittings,

elbow,teesandsimilarstandardfittings

fittings,samplinglines,reducers,increasersand

samplinglines,reducers,increasersand

extensiveexplanatorynotes

swagers

swagers

Permanentstartupandflushlines

Permanentstartupandflushlines

Flowdirections

Flowdirections

Interconnectionsreferences

Interconnectionsreferences

Controlinputsandoutputs,interlocks

Controlinputsandoutputs,interlocks

Interfacesforclasschanges

Interfacesforclasschanges

Computercontrolsysteminput

Seismiccategory

Identificationofcomponentsandsubsystems

Qualitylevel

deliveredbyothers

Annunciationinputs
Computercontrolsysteminput
Vendorandcontractorinterfaces
Identificationofcomponentsandsubsystems
deliveredbyothers
Intendedphysicalsequenceoftheequipment
Equipmentratingorcapacity

LineSymbols
Linesymbolsareusedtodescribeconnectivitybetweendifferentunitsinacontrolledsystem.Thetabledescribesthemostcommonlines.

http://processflowsystems.com/pipinginstrumentationdiagrampid/

1/3

282016

Piping&InstrumentationDiagram,P&IDProcessFlowSystems

In Table table above, the main process refers to a pipe carrying a

chemical. Insulated is straightforward, showing that the pipe has

insulation.Traceheatedshowsthatthepipehaswiringwrappedaroundittokeepthecontentsheated.LaggedindicatesonaP&IDthatthepipeiswrappedin
aclothorfiberglasswrapasanalternativetopaintingtoimprovetheappearanceofthepipe.ThelastcolumnintheTableshowspipesthatarecontrolledbya
controller.Electricalimpulseshowsthatthemannerinwhichinformationissentfromthecontrollertothethepipeisbyanelectricalsignal,whereaspneumatic
impulseindicatesinformationsentbyagas.
In addition to line symbols, there are also line labels that are short codes that convey further properties of that line. These short codes consist of: diameter of
pipe,service,material,andinsulation.Thediameterofthepipeispresentedininches.Theserviceiswhatisbeingcarriedinthepipe,andisusuallythemajor
componentinthestream.Thematerialtellsyouwhatthethatsectionofpipeismadeoutof.ExamplesareCSforcarbonsteelorSSforstainlesssteel.Finallya
YdesignatesalinewithinsulationandanNdesignatesonewithoutit.ExamplesoflineshortcodesonaP&IDarefoundinthefigurebelow.

Thisisusefulforprovidingyoumorepracticalinformationonagivenpipesegment.
Forexampleinstream39inFigureabove,thepipehasa4diameter,services/carriesthechemicaldenotedN,ismadeofcarbonsteel,andhasnoinsulation.
Instrumentationidentificationletters
The following letters are used to describe the control devices involved in a process. Each device is labeled with two letters. The first letter describes the
parameterthedeviceisintendedtocontrol.Thesecondletterdescribesthetypeofcontroldevice.

First
Letter

Measurement

Second
Letter

TypeofControl
Device

Analysis

Alarm

Burner,Combustion

Control

UsersChoice(usually
Conductivity)

Indicator

Transmit

UsersChoice(usually
Density)

Valve

Voltage

Flow

UsersChoice

Hand

Current

Power

Time,TimeSchedule

Level

UsersChoice

UsersChoice(usually
Torque)

http://processflowsystems.com/pipinginstrumentationdiagrampid/

2/3

282016

Piping&InstrumentationDiagram,P&IDProcessFlowSystems

UsersChoice

Pressure

Quantity

Radiation

Speed,Frequency

Temperature

UsersChoice(usuallyAlarm
Output)

Vibration,MechanicalAnalysis

Weight,Force

UsersChoice(usuallyonoff
valveasXV)

Event,State,Presence

Position,Dimension

Forexample,thesymbolFI,isaFlowindicator.
ValveSymbols
Thefollowingsymbolsareusedtorepresentvalvesandvalveactuatorsinachemicalengineeringprocess.Actuatorsarethemechanismsthatactivateprocess
controlequipment.
ValveSymbols

ValveActuatorSymbols

SEARCHOURWEBSITE

Search

USEFULLINKS

English

Careers
EngineeringToolbox

CopyrightProcessFlowSystems,Allrightsreserved.

http://processflowsystems.com/pipinginstrumentationdiagrampid/

Sitemap

backtotop

3/3