QUESTION 1:

Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is one of the important components of process control. As a
group of control engineers in a new plant, explain thoroughly about P&ID, its functions as well as
emphasize of the importance of P&ID in a plant. If possible, provide examples to support your answer.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Definition and Background of P&ID

A piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) is a diagram in the process industry which shows
the piping of the process flow together with the installed equipment and instrumentation. The P&ID are
also used to operate the process system. P&ID shows all of piping including the physical sequence of
branches, reducers, valves, equipment, instrumentation and control interlocks.

Based on Institute of Instrumentation and Control, a piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID)
is defined by the diagram which shows the interconnection of process equipment and the
instrumentation used to control the process. In the process industry, a standard set of symbols is used
to prepare drawings of processes. The instrument symbols used in these drawings are generally based
on International Society Automation (ISA) Standard S5.1 (Wikipedia, 2012). The P&ID also is the primary
schematic drawing used for laying out a process control installation.

P&ID diagram has to show the interconnection of all the process equipment and the
instruments that used. It is critical to show the actual sequence of equipment and other assets of the
process, as well as how they are connect. During the design stage, the diagram also provides the basis
for the development of process. P&IDs play a very significant role in the maintenance and modification
of the process (Kalbhor, 2008).

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1.2 Functions of P&ID

The main function of P&ID is related with a significant role in the maintenance and
modification of the process that it describes. It is critical to demonstrate the physical sequence
of equipment and systems, as well as how these systems connect. During the design stage, the
diagram also provides the basis for the development of system control schemes, allowing for
further safety and operational investigations, such as the hazard and operability study (HAZOP).

For processing facilities, it is a pictorial representation of key piping and instrument

details, control and shutdown schemes, safety and regulatory requirements and the last one is
basic start up and operational information (Wikipedia, 2012).

1.3 Importance of P&ID

P&ID are importance tools for working safely, maintaining a process operation and also
understanding and communicating about a process. P&IDs must be kept accurate and up-to-
date. Any changes made in a process system must be noted on the diagram (not usually the
responsibility of an operator). For example, if an additional pump is installed, the change must
be noted on a new issue of the P&ID for the system. It is important to keep information
recorded on the P&IDs for specific areas consistent with actual plant operations. Other than
that, P&IDs shows pipelines interconnecting all equipment, instruments, control systems,
valves, etc. for the completeness of the process plant (Chang, 2008).

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2.0 P&ID ITEMS

2.1 Symbols of Chemical Apparatus and Equipment

There are a few rules in preparing a P&ID whereby there are item that should be included and
some items should not. A P&ID should include:

 Instrumentation and designations

 Mechanical equipment with names and numbers
 All valves and their identifications
 Process piping, sizes and identification
 Miscellaneous - vents, drains, special fittings, sampling lines, reducers, increasers and swagers
 Permanent start-up and flush lines
 Flow directions
 Interconnections references
 Control inputs and outputs, interlocks
 Interfaces for class changes
 Seismic category
 Quality level
 Annunciation inputs
 Computer control system input
 Vendor and contractor interfaces
 Identification of components and subsystems delivered by others
 Intended physical sequence of the equipment
 Equipment rating or capacity

These are some items that a P&ID should not include:

 Instrument root valves

 control relays
 manual switches
 primary instrument tubing and valves

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  pressure temperature and flow data
 elbow, tees and similar standard fittings
 extensive explanatory notes(The Engineering Toolbox, 2012)

The Table 2.1 below shows the commonly used symbols of chemical apparatus and equipment
in a P&ID. It is important to know all the symbols in order to understand the diagram better.

Table 2.1: Symbols of chemical apparatus and equipment (Wikipedia, 2012)

Thermally Cooled or
Jacketed
Pipe insulated heated
pipe
pipe pipe

Jacketed
Half pipe Pressurized Pressurized
mixing
mixing horizontal vertical
vessel
vessel vessel vessel
(autoclave)

Vacuum
Pump pump or Bag Gas bottle
compressor

Fan Axial fan Radial fan Dryer

Packing Tray Cooling

Furnace
column column tower

Plate &
Heat Heat
Cooler frame heat
exchanger exchanger
exchanger

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 Fixed
Double U shaped
straight Spiral heat
pipe heat tubes heat
tubes heat exchanger
exchanger exchanger
exchanger

Covered Curved gas

(Air) filter Funnel
gas vent vent

Pressure
Viewing Flexible
Steam trap reducing
glass pipe
valve

Control Manual Back draft

Valve
valve valve damper

Needle Butterfly Diaphragm

Ball valve
valve valve valve

2.2 Instrumentation Identification

The letter combinations in PI&D diagrams are done according to the ANSI/ISA S5.1-1984 (R1992)
"Instrumentation symbols and identification" standard which also include a succeeding number as a
unique identification of the actual instrument. There are two ways of numbering practice which are
either using a sequential number orusing a number related to the process line number or similar(The
Engineering Toolbox, 2012).

First letter indicates a measured or initiating variable, or a modifier, such as Current (I), Speed
(S) or Flow (F) and the second or succeeding letters indicates readout or passive function, output
function or a modifier function. Table 2.2 below summarizes all the letter indications in P&ID.

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 Table 2.2: Letter indication for instrument identification

First Letter Second or Succeeding Letters

Measured or Initiating Readout or Output Modifier
Modifier
Variable Passive Function Function Function
A Analysis - Alarm - -
B Burner, combustion - User's choice User's choice User's choice
C User's choice - - Control -
D User's choice Differential - - -
E Sensor (primary
Voltage - - -
element)
F Ration
Flow rate - -
(fraction)
G Glass, viewing
User's choice - - -
device
H Hand - - High
I Current (electrical) - Indication - -
J Power Scan - - -
K Time rate of
Time, time schedule - Control Station -
change
L Level - Light - Low
M Middle,
User's choice Momentary - -
intermediate
N User's choice - User's choice User's choice User's choice
O Orifice,
User's choice - - -
restriction
P Point (test
Pressure, vacuum - - -
connection)
Q Integrate,
Quantity - - -
totalizer
R Radiation - Record - -

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 S Speed, frequency Safety - Switch -
T Temperature - - Transmit -
U Multivariable - Multifunction Multifunction Multifunction
V Vibration, mechanical Valve, damper,
- - -
analyses louver
W Weight, force - Well - -
X Unclassified X-axis Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
Y Relay, compute,
Event, state or presence Y-axis - -
convert
Z Position, dimension Z-axis - Driver, actuator -

Some examples of P&ID codes are FI 001 for Flowmeter-Indicating, TT 001 for Temperature-
Transmitter, FV 001 for Control Valve and ZSH 001 for Position Switch-High Level. Figure 2.1 below
shows a simple instrument identification using letter.

The first letter defines the measured or

initiating variables such as Analysis (A),
Flow (F), Temperature (T), etc. with Tag name of the
succeeding letters defining readout, corresponding
passive, or output functions such as variable
Indicator (I), Record (R), Transmit (T),
etc.

Mover (solenoid)

Function (valve)

Figure 2.1: Instrument Identification(Kirrmann, 2011)

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2.3 General Instrument or Function Symbols and Lines

Besides the common symbols in P&ID, there are few other function symbols that should be
noted as well as the common connecting lines used in P&ID. Table 2.3 and Table 2.4 below shows some
symbols with theirfunctions and common connecting lines respectively.

Table 2.3: General instrument or function symbols (Kirrmann, 2011)

Primary location Auxiliary location

Field mounted
accessible to operator accessible to operator

Discrete instruments

Shared display, shared control

Computer function

Programmable logic control

1. Symbol size may vary according to the user's needs and the type of document.
2. Abbreviations of the user's choice may be used when necessary to specify location.
3. Inaccessible (behind the panel) devices may be depicted using the same symbol but with a dashed
horizontal bar.
Source: Control Engineering with data from ISA S5.1 standard

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 Table 2.4: Common connecting lines (Kirrmann, 2011)

Connection to process, or instrument supply

Pneumatic signal

Electric signal

Capillary tubing (filled system)

Hydraulic signal

Electromagnetic or sonic signal (guided)

Internal system link (software or data link)

Source: Control Engineering with data from ISA S5.1 standard

3.0 APPLICATION: EXAMPLE OF P&ID

Figure 3.1: A small and simplified P&ID

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 The output of FIC 101
is an electrical signal
TIC 101’s output is connected via an
to TY 101 located in an
internal software or data link (line
inaccessible or
with bubbles) to the setpoint (Sp) of
Square root behind-the-panel-
FIC 101 to form a cascade control
extraction of the board location.
strategy.
input signal ispart of
FIC 101’s
functionality.
TT 101 and
TIC 101 are
FT 101 is a field- similar to FT
mounted flow 101 and FIC
transmitter 101 but are
connected via measuring,
electrical signals indicating
(dotted line) to and
flow indicating controlling
controller FIC 101 temperature.
located in a
shared
control/display
device.

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)

Figure 3.2: A small and simplified P&ID(Kirrmann, 2011)

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Figu
re
3.3:
A
co
mpl
ex
and
co
mpl
icat
ed
P&I
D

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CONCLUSION

The development process of piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) is inefficient and
problematic. P&ID is indispensable as transmitters of information, essential in the design stages. They
can also be considered as the instruments of communication. In the final analysis, process diagrams
communicate an astonishing amount of engineering information about many things to many groups for
a variety of uses. It is not surprising that preparations of P&ID have assumed great importance in
chemical process industry. Process engineers can produce innovative designs which can be well
presented by these diagrams. Time spent on preparation can easily result in cost savings, efficient plant
layout and safer plant operation.

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REFERENCE

Chugh, A. (2012). Making and Importance of Process P & ID (Piping & Instrumentation Diagram)
[Online]. Available at: http://www.pipingguide.net/2009/10/making-and-importance-of-process-p-
id.html [Accessed 30 October 2012].

Chang, D. (2008). Piping & Instrument Diagram (P&ID) [PDF]. Available

at:http://osewiki.kaist.ac.kr/images/9/94/Week_11-Piping_&_Instrument_Diagram.pdf [Accessed 29
October 2012].

Kalbhor, M. (2008).What is P&ID?(Piping and Instrumental Drawing)[Online]. Available at:

http://mangeshkalbhor.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/what-is-a-pid-piping-and-instrumentation-
drawing/ [Accessed 30 October 2012].

Kirrmann, H. (2011). Instrumentation and Control[Online]. Available at:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/58561597/AI-210-Instrumentation[Accessed 30 October 2012].

The Engineering Toolbox (2012).Piping and Instrumentation Diagram [Online]. Available at:
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/isa-intrumentation-codes-d_415.html [Accessed 30 October
2012].

Wikipedia (2012).Piping and Instrumentation Diagram [Online]. Available at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping_and_instrumentation_diagram [Accessed 30 October 2012].

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