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How to read "P&ID" : The Ultimate Handbook for Reading "PIPING AND INSTRUMENTATION DIAGRAM" in PROCESS ENGINEERING

Writer's picture: Bhargava Krishna MarripatiBhargava Krishna Marripati

Updated: Dec 16, 2024

Types of Drawings:

  • Process Flow Diagram (PFDs) -What a process does?

  • Piping & INstrumentation Diagram - How it Works?

  • Layout Diagram - How it looks?

  • Mechancial Drawing - How to build?

  • Construction Drawing - How to build ?

How to read P&ID

What is a P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram)?

A Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is a detailed diagram used in the process industry to represent the piping of a process flow, along with the installed equipment and instrumentation associated with the process.


P&ID includes:

  • Piping

  • Vessels

  • Control Valves

  • Instrumentation

  • Other process components and equipment.


As defined by Wikipedia, a P&ID "shows the piping of the process flow together with the installed equipment and instrumentation."

Example of P&ID

The primary purpose of a P&ID is to provide a comprehensive visual representation of the functional relationships between the various components in a process system, including pipes, valves, pumps, instruments, and other equipment. P&IDs are crucial for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of industrial processes, as they convey essential information about the process flow, control systems, and safety features.


While P&IDs share some similarities with Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), they differ in their level of detail and purpose. PFDs provide a high-level overview of the overall process flow, focusing on the major equipment and streams, whereas P&IDs offer a more detailed and granular representation of the piping, instrumentation, and control systems involved in the process.


Components of a P&ID


A P&ID consists of various symbols representing different components of the process system. The most common symbols include:


Basic Symbols:


These represent the fundamental elements of a piping system, such as pipes, valves (gate, globe, check, etc.), pumps, and instruments (pressure gauges, flow meters, etc.).

The instrument symbols used in these drawings are generally based on International Society of Automation STANDARD ANSI/ISA S5.1, ISO 14617-6 and ISO 10628.

These symbols are also labeled with words, letters, and numbers to further identify and specify the components that they are representing.


Note:

Symbols are NOT to scale and are NOT dimensionally accurate

diagrams do NOT always represent the physical locations and proximity of each component.


Example Symbols

Pipe symbol in p&ID
Pipe symbol in P&ID

Pipe Line No

10” – Represents the size of the line in inches, the line size is 10 inches.

PL – Represents the service fluid.

12007 – The first two digits (12) of 12007 represent a unit area or facility number. And the last three digits (007) of 12007 represent the serial number or line number.

B12B – Represents pipe classification or service class of piping.

We can further divide the class of piping service B12B as shown below

B – Represents the rating of the flange.

12 - Represents the material used for piping

B - It is a suffix to qualify the piping material.

IA – Represents the type of insulation.

50 - Represents thickness of the insulation

Pipe Line Number
Pipe Line No Example

  • Signal Lines and Instrumentation Symbols: Signal lines represent the transmission of data or control signals between instruments and other components. Instruments like transmitters, controllers, and switches have their own unique symbols on a P&ID.


  • Heat Exchanger Symbols: Heat exchangers are vital equipment in many processes and have specific symbols to represent their type (shell-and-tube, plate, etc.) and configuration.


  • Other Equipment Symbols: Depending on the process, a P&ID may include symbols for equipment such as reactors, columns, tanks, mixers, and filters. These symbols often vary based on industry standards or company conventions.


For a comprehensive understanding of P&ID symbols, it's recommended to refer to industry-specific standards or guidelines, such as those provided by the International Society of Automation (ISA).


How to Read a P&ID


Reading a Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) involves understanding the flow of process lines, interpreting the symbols and their interconnections, and identifying key information like line numbers and equipment tags.


The process flow is represented by the lines on the diagram, with the direction indicated by arrows. Tracing the lines allows you to follow the path of the process stream through various equipment and components. [Source: https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/tutorial/p-and-id]

Symbols on a P&ID represent different types of equipment, instrumentation, and components. Common symbols include pumps, valves, vessels, instruments, and heat exchangers. Each symbol has a specific meaning and provides information about the function and type of the component. [Source: https://www.realpars.com/blog/p-id]


Line numbers and equipment tags are crucial for identifying and referencing specific elements on the P&ID. Line numbers are assigned to each process line, while equipment tags uniquely identify individual pieces of equipment or instrumentation. These labels are essential for cross-referencing with other documentation and communicating about specific components.


Use Cases and Benefits of P&IDs

P&IDs serve several critical purposes across the lifecycle of a process plant or facility:


  1. Process Design and Engineering: P&IDs are essential during the design phase, enabling engineers to visualize and optimize the process flow, equipment layout, and instrumentation requirements. They facilitate communication and collaboration among multidisciplinary teams.


  2. Construction and Installation Guidance: Contractors and installation teams rely on P&IDs as a roadmap for proper equipment placement, piping routes, and instrument connections. This ensures accurate and efficient construction while minimizing errors and rework.


  3. Operation and Maintenance Reference: Plant operators and maintenance personnel use P&IDs as a vital reference for understanding process flows, equipment functions, and instrumentation readings. This aids in troubleshooting, process optimization, and preventive maintenance activities.


  4. Safety and Regulatory Compliance: P&IDs document critical safety systems, such as relief valves, emergency shutdown systems, and hazardous material handling. They help demonstrate compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and responsible operations. Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-birth-control-pill


By providing a comprehensive visual representation of the entire process, P&IDs enable effective communication, coordination, and decision-making among various stakeholders throughout the plant's lifecycle.


Creating a P&ID


Creating an effective P&ID involves several key steps. First, thorough data gathering is crucial to ensure all relevant process information is captured accurately. This includes details on equipment, piping specifications, instrumentation, control systems, and process flows. According to Lucidchart, "Remember that P&IDs represent the hardware and software necessary to design, build, and run a process industry facility."


Next, selecting the right P&ID software is important. Look for tools with extensive symbol libraries, drag-and-drop functionality, revision control, and collaboration features. As VistaProjects notes, "P&ID software can help ensure consistency and accuracy in your diagrams."


When drafting the P&ID, follow best practices for layout and organization. Use a logical flow for process lines, group related equipment, and maintain clarity in symbol placement and connections. Consistent use of line numbers, equipment tags, and other identifiers is also crucial. Additionally, adhere to industry standards for symbology and notation to ensure universal understanding.


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P&ID Examples and Templates


P&IDs are widely used across various industries, including chemical, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and more. Examples of P&IDs in these industries can illustrate their versatility and adaptability to different processes and systems.

In the chemical industry, P&IDs are essential for designing and operating complex plants and processes involving multiple unit operations, such as reactors, distillation columns, and heat exchangers. Source

Pre-built P&ID templates are available from various software vendors and online repositories, offering a starting point for creating industry-specific diagrams. These templates typically include common equipment symbols, line styles, and annotation conventions tailored to different sectors.

While templates provide a solid foundation, customization is often necessary to accurately represent unique process requirements, equipment configurations, or company standards. Most P&ID software tools allow for symbol library customization, enabling users to create or modify symbols to match their specific needs.


Limitations of P&IDs

While P&IDs are invaluable tools for process design, operation, and maintenance, they also have certain limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, P&IDs do not provide complete details about the entire process, but rather focus on the piping and instrumentation aspects. They do not depict information such as process conditions, chemical reactions, or material balances, which are typically covered in other documentation like process flow diagrams (PFDs) or process descriptions [https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mph-modules/ep/ep713_randomerror/EP713_RandomError7.html].

Secondly, P&IDs are not intended to represent the physical layout or scale of the plant or facility. They are schematic diagrams that prioritize clarity and readability over spatial accuracy. As a result, the positioning and routing of pipes and equipment on a P&ID may not correspond to their actual placement in the plant [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5012943/].

Lastly, P&IDs are typically accompanied by a range of supporting documentation, such as equipment datasheets, instrument specifications, and piping isometrics. While P&IDs provide an overview of the process, these supplementary documents are necessary to fully understand and implement the design.


Key Features of P&ID Software

P&ID software typically includes a comprehensive symbol library with drag-and-drop tools for easily creating and arranging P&ID components like pipes, valves, pumps, and instrumentation. As described in Understanding OpenAI's "Temperature" and "Top_p" Parameters in Language Models, "Top_p" or nucleus sampling is a setting that decides how many possible words to consider when generating text. A high "top_p" value means the model looks at more potential word choices.

Revision control and collaboration features allow multiple users to work on the same P&ID simultaneously, tracking changes and maintaining version history. Integration with other engineering tools like 3D modeling software, instrumentation databases, and plant design applications enables seamless data exchange and project coordination.


Putting the 'Pipe' in P&ID

Piping design and specifications play a crucial role in the creation and interpretation of P&IDs. P&IDs are primarily focused on representing the piping system, along with its associated instrumentation and equipment. Proper piping design is essential for the safe and efficient operation of any industrial process.

In a P&ID, the piping components are depicted using various symbols and notations. These include representations for pipes, fittings, flanges, valves, and other piping accessories. The piping layout, sizing, material specifications, and flow directions are all conveyed through the P&ID drawing. Additionally, piping support structures, insulation requirements, and other design details may be included, depending on the level of detail required.

The integration of piping and instrumentation is a critical aspect of P&IDs. Instruments such as flow meters, pressure gauges, and temperature sensors are strategically placed along the piping network to monitor and control the process. The P&ID clearly shows the connections between the piping system and the associated instrumentation, allowing for proper monitoring, control, and safety measures to be implemented.

Accurate representation of piping and its integration with instrumentation is essential for effective communication between various stakeholders, including engineers, designers, operators, and maintenance personnel. A well-designed P&ID serves as a comprehensive reference for piping and instrumentation, facilitating efficient installation, operation, and maintenance of the process system. [Source: Detailed P&ID Guide for Industrial Processes]


Industry Standards and Best Practices

There are several governing bodies and standard-setting organizations that establish guidelines and best practices for creating P&IDs. The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a leading authority in this area, publishing standards such as ISA-5.1 for instrumentation symbols and ISA-5.2 for binary logic diagrams. These standards provide a standardized symbology and notation to ensure consistency and clarity in P&ID creation across different industries.

Another widely recognized standard is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Y32.3 - Graphic Symbols for Fluid Power Diagrams. This standard defines symbols for fluid power components, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems, which are often represented in P&IDs.

Maintaining consistency and adhering to industry standards is crucial when creating P&IDs. Consistent use of symbols, line types, and other conventions helps ensure that the diagrams are easily understood by all stakeholders, including engineers, technicians, and operators. Additionally, following standardized practices facilitates collaboration and information exchange within and across organizations. Source: (https://www.facebook.com/pink/)

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