Interpreting Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams

With a Bit of Smoke, a Few Mirrors and a Degree in Hieroglyphics, Anyone Can Learn to Read a P&ID. This is Part 1 of a five-part series.

Part 1 - Introduction

P1F2

Engineers love to draw. Not necessarily in an artistic sense of the word, although beauty is, as they say, in the eye of the beholder. As for me, well, I've never been accused of having a particular gift in the arts, or photography for that matter (see bio mug shot taken in my natural habitat), but I have done a few process drawings in my 25? years as a process engineer. I guess that's earned me my vice, VP of Engineering and Technology Development to be precise. Hi there. I'm Bob Cook and I'm glad to have you along for my premier entry here on ChEnected.com where we explore the interpretation of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, or P&IDs for those in the know. This is a topic that can benefit process, project and design engineers, business developers, operators, safety, maintenance and even management. Wow, that a lot of folks! However, consider this - all of the members listed above will either come across P&IDs intermittently or have to work with them as a core aspect of their job. And if I still have your attention then, yes, you too should have a solid understanding of how to read them! Hey you hiding the back...don't be bashful. You say that you are two, three...five years out of school and still not sure you really have a good handle on P&IDs? You're not alone. Having worked for many companies and provided services to a variety of industries over the years, I find it curious how P&IDs are often poorly understood by those who should know them better. In some cases, they exude this aura of intimidating, complex documents that only ChE geeks (and the like) really know how to read. I believe this is simply due to a dearth of formal training. Folks are just expected to pick it up "on the fly". Given the variability in career direction our backgrounds in the best engineering field afford us, this works well for some but leaves others playing catch-up later on. So even experienced engineers and operators may one day discover their lack of knowledge on the topic puts them at a disadvantage. So let's just put a stop to all that by taking P&IDs apart in this multi-part series.

    Regardless of experience level, you will find many of the symbols are obvious. Others need a bit more explanation. In much the same way ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics thousands of years ago, we process folks (in conjunction with our peers in the electrical, controls and other departments) just come up with our own set of symbols to represent the various equipment, devices and control concepts that go into our plants. When you look at it that way, one could argue that not much has changed in a few thousand years. I suppose that's true. Hey, if it isn't broke, why fix it? Enough of my bantering, let's get started already. I look forward to a healthy exchange. Part 2 will dig into P&IDs - The Fundamentals. I'll include a few example drawings that we can use as we venture forth down that path of process knowledge. If you want to get a head start, download them here. Stay tuned!

    Comments or Questions? Just make/ask them in the comments field.

    Answers will probably come in a future post in the series but I'd love to see your questions or observations.

    Comments

    Abbas's picture

    Very eye catching language so far apart from technical matters.:) I have a question as I m a debutant in this field. Why do we need P&ID's in the first place when we have PFD's and mechanical drawings etc.? Thank u

    RGCook's picture

    Abbas - the comment system is giving me fits. For now, I will simply say that this is a topic of Part 2 in the series (although I drafted up a thorough response to your question). I just can't get it to post, maybe owing to text limitations.

    Naji's picture

    PFD tells what the process does P&ID shows how the process can be operated Mechanical drawing for how to build it

    RC Ramaswamy's picture

    Nice Start! Eager to follow this series.....

    RGCook's picture

    Thanks for the feedback. My foray into the so-called blogosphere. I need to look that up and see if that term actually made the leap in Webster's. I'm having fun with it.

    Dale's picture

    I agree, I look forward to the remainder of the series as well.

    Supo Abdul's picture

    This is quite enlightening.I am eager to see the remaining series. Keep up the good work.

    BrendanOKeeffe's picture

    Ref P&ID no. D100 . the HS symbol next to pump (1101) motor has DSC over it . What does this mean? As a PE who is rusty on P&ID symbology -- Congratulations on writing these user friendly articles. They will help me .

    greg pajak's picture

    what is the preferred way to show SIS functions on the P&ID? I have seen a number of ways and don't see a standard being followed

    RGCook's picture

    Greg, Peferred? I suppose that depends on who you ask because their is no standard that I am aware of. I suggest that when the P&IDs are developed in CAD, any SIS-related systems/symbology be developed on a separate layer so that it can be easily compared and viewed alongside the process controls. Attempting to illustrate process and SIS control systems might get complicated fast since the clarity of the P&ID will be sacrificed. I'd be interested in seeing some of the examples and maybe hearing from the larger group on this topic.

    theo p.'s picture

    Wow! These are huge words for beginners like me. Thanks Greg! I'm lightened up

    Henry's picture

    COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE THE DWG FILES INSTEAD OF THE PDF.

    RGCook's picture

    Henry, Shoot me your email address and I will send you the dwg's. Best regards, Bob

    ibrahim khleifat's picture

    MY e-mail is khleifat_61@yahoo.com, please send me all parts with PDF and the drawings.

    Henry's picture

    Please post a link to the DWG . It would be very useful to all to just download the DWG files and use the symbols and blocks.

    Emmanuel's picture

    Thank Sir for your great work, especially for we beginners. Pls sir i will want you to forward a copy of your P&ID drawings and symbols to my mail (emma4greatness@gmail.com). Thank you verymuch Sir

    kelvin's picture

    pls I need a sample of your P&ID. me email is katuruemu@gmail.com

    Na re Na's picture

    CAn you send me the drawings on ali.datwani@gmail.com

    Ray's picture

    Robert - would appreciate the *.dwg files to lokery@hotmail.com

    ANIEKAN OTONGARAN's picture

    I am not able to download the drawings. Please forward them to me (email: aniekanotongaran@gmail.com). Thank you

    ANIEKAN OTONGARAN's picture

    Many thanks for this training material. Please send me the drawings as I am unable to download (email: aniekanotongaran@gmail.com)

    Thomas Eades's picture

    These are an excellent example, is it possible also to have the documents in dwg format ?

    YOGENDER SHARMA's picture

    Profile : Instrumentation & Control Engineer Experience : 7 Years Having good knowledge of P&ID , Process Loop Diagrams , Data Sheet , Control Wiring Diagarms ,control valves , pneumatic on off valves , solenoid valves , PID controller , FlowMeters , flow switch , pressure transmitter,Level Transmitter RTD, Thermocouple ,PLC, HMI & DCS Systems , MCC & Control Panels. VFD , Soft starters. Completed various chemical , oil , gas & food industry projects. Having passport , willing to work any where. SKYPE ID: yogender472. Waiting for your Kind reply.

    YOGENDER SHARMA's picture

    Dear RG COOK Sir , Please send me the PDF file of Instrumentation Symbols and Sample P&ID for better understanding. my mail ID: YOGENDER.JK@GMAIL.COM Thanks YOGENDER SHARMA INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEER

    brett campbell's picture

    Hi, can you please email me the PDF for example P&IDS/ lead sheets? brett.campbell@stagelectrical.com.au Thanks.

    brett campbell's picture

    Hi, can you please email me the PDF for example P&IDS/ lead sheets? brett.campbell@stagelectrical.com.au Thanks.