PIPING AND INSTRUMENTATION DIAGRAM (P&ID)

Objectives:
At the end of this session you will be able to know

What is a P & I Diagram

List of P & ID items

Format of P & ID

General guidelines to prepare a P & ID

Equipment identification in a P & ID

Piping & line number identification in P & ID

P & I Diagram is defined as follows:

1. P&I Diagram is a Process and Instrumentation Diagram giving schematic
illustration of functional relationship as envisaged by Process Engineer of
piping, instrumentation and system equipments. P&ID shows all of piping
including the physical sequence of branches, reducers, figure of valves,
equipment, instrumentation and control interlocks. The P&ID are used to operate
the process system .
2. The primary schematic drawing used for laying out a process control installation.
P&IDs play 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 Hazards and Operability (HAZOP)
study.
For processing facilities, it is a pictorial representation of

Major equipment details

Key piping and instrument details

Control and shutdown schemes

Safety and regulatory requirements and Slopes, vents and drain details

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Basic start up and operational information

It is not expected for a Piping Engineer to know reaction kinetics or sizing of control
valve or safety valve. The basic understanding of the process is essential as thinking
concept is made into reality by Detailed Engineering Group. To understand P&ID,
understanding of flow concept & instrumentation loops are essential.
Simple details like vent of safety valves, flare height, siphon loop height etc. as shown in
P&ID can be cross checked by piping in order to ensure that the concept is a reality and
is acceptable as per the Standards.
The utility requirement at different points must be understood clearly as utility flow
distribution chart is made by piping department based on Eg. Layout and P & I diagram
and location of that particular utility w.r.t. main plant.
In all process flow diagrams, the process department gives line size and fluid media and
material. Further filling of P&ID line list is by a piping engineer. A thorough study of the
process can help in proper selection of rating and thus reduce the overall cost of the
project.
The other important items to be noted in the P&ID are the Symbols. The Symbols used
must be of International Standard so that there is no confusion in understanding.
Knowledge in fluid flow and pressure drop is essential. Generally 1 st sheet of P & ID is
reserved for all symbols to be used in the particular project.
It is essential that sufficient thought is given for understanding the complete P&ID in all
respects. Although P&ID is the document issued by process wing, it forms the basic
document for detailing.

List of P&ID items

Instrumentation and designations

Mechanical equipment with names and numbers and overall sizes.
All valves and their identifications and types.
Process piping, sizes and identification including space symbol
Miscellanea - 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
Computer control system input
Identification of components and subsystems delivered by others

Format of P & ID

Equipment, Instrumentation and Process piping are shown in the center portion.

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Streams originating from a different sheet or going to a different sheet are shown
at the edge. Reference to the other drawing is shown.
Utility streams are either shown as originating from utility headers that run across
the drawing sheet at top or bottom or at the equipment at which utility is required.
Reference is made to appropriate utility flow diagram.
Line tabulations, last line no. used, last valve no. used
Special notes
Revision details

Preparation of P&ID

The number of main processing equipments are limited in order to avoid

crowding (two to three)
Relative elevations of equipment are shown. If they have some importance.
The main equipment is spaced evenly across the sheet. Related piping and
instrumentation are added.
Standard equipment symbols are used (symbols that give an idea of shape,
configuration etc.)
Drawing is scaled to give a rough idea of size. (but should not be scaled by
others)
Orientation & Nozzle locations should be as close to actual as possible i.e. a
horizontal vessel should be shown horizontally and not vertically; a drain nozzle
should be near the bottom of the vessel etc.

Equipment Identification in P & ID

An item number is assigned to each piece of equipment.

Item number is entered within the equipment symbol or adjacent to it. It is
sometimes repeated at top directly above the equipment or close by.
Item name gives a short description of the equipment
Pertinent design information may also be included.

Example
V 301

01 Unique Number In PID 3

3 Equipment Located In PID 3
V Equipment Type Vessel D Drum etc.
Similarly
P PUMP, C COLUMN, E HEAT EXCHANGER

Piping Identification in P & ID

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Pipes are depicted by lines

Thick lines are employed for main process-flow piping and thin lives for rest of
the diagrams.
Pipes are not drawn to scale

Usually, a complete description of a line is given by using a conventional notation.

The description includes

Line size
Line identification number
Fluid contained in the pipe
Material of construction and line class
Insulation and heat tracing requirements (not always included)
Example
50 HW 301 B1A IH 65
Thickness of Insulation
Insulation H for Hot C for Cold
Material specification and line class
Unique line No in the PID
PID No where the line originates
Process fluid identification
Line size

Piping & Instrumentation Symbols Diagram

It is a standard set of symbols used to prepare P & I diagrams. (refer attached table)
and generally made 1st sheet of the set of P & I diagram.

Gives a key to the various symbols and acronyms that appear on the P&ID
Key to line identification symbols
Pipe line legend
Piping system designations
Definitions of abbreviations
Instrumentation and control symbols
Valve types and related conventions
Symbols used for special piping applications

Title

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Generally the Chemical Unit operation which takes place in that P & I is generally given
as title such as
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

Distillation Unit
Polymerization Unit
Reaction Unit
Filtration etc

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