With a bit of smoke, a few mirrors and a

degree in hieroglyphics, anyone can learn to

read a P&ID!!

How To Read P&IDs

What are P&IDs

A. Ismail

How to read P&ID

Other Documentations

Instrument Index
PFDs
SAMA drawings
Loop drawings
d
Control narratives

A. Ismail

How to read P&ID

SAMA Drawings

A. Ismail

How to read P&ID

Loop Drawings

A. Ismail

How to read P&ID

Limitations of P&IDs

Not to scale
Not geometrically accurate
Color blind
Not definitive
d f
Not drawn consistently

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How to read P&ID

Zoom In

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How to read P&ID

P&ID Symbols
pipe

350 kW

heater

valve
l
one-way valve

vessel / reactor

solenoid valve (on/off)

analog valve
heat exchanger
pump, also

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How to read P&ID

P&ID Symbols

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How to read P&ID

Singal Types

Instrument supply
or connection to process

Pneumatic signal

Electric signal

Software link
or communication link
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How to read P&ID

10

Function Symbols

Field

control panel

DCS

PLC

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How to read P&ID

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Instrument Identification
The first letter defines the measured or initiating variables such as: Analysis (A), Flow (F),
Temperature (T), etc. with succeeding letters defining functions such as: Indicator (I), Record (R),
Transmit
a s t (T),
( ), here:
e e flow
o indicator
d cato a
and
d co
controller
to e

FIC
1528

tag name of the

corresponding
variable
here: FIC1528

valve
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How to read P&ID

12

Identification Letters
First letter

First letter
T Temperature

Conductivity

Pressure

Current

Level

Speed

Flow rate

Power

Analyzer

Position

Vibration

Hand

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How to read P&ID

Modifier
D Differential
Q

Totalizer

13

Identification Letters
Succeeding letter

Succeeding letter

Element

Recorder

Transmitter

Alarm

Indicator

Computation

Controller

Switch

Valve

High

F ti
Fraction

L
Low

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How to read P&ID

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Examples

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How to read P&ID

15

The output of FIC 101 is an electrical signal to TY101

located in an inaccessible or behind-the-panel-board location.

Example P&ID
TIC 101
101s output
t t iis connected
t d
via an internal software or
data link (line with bubbles) to
the setpoint (SP) of FIC101 to
f
form
a cascade
d control
t l
strategy

Square root extraction of the

input signal is part of FIC 101s
functionality.
y
FT101 is a field-mounted flow
transmitter connected via
electrical signals
g
((dotted line)) to
flow indicating controller
FIC101 located in a control
panel

TT 101 and TIC101 are

similar to FT 01 and FIC101
but are measuring,
indicating, and controlling
temperature

The output signal from TY101

is a pneumatic signal (line with
double forward slash marks)
making TY101 an I/P (current
to pneumatic transducer)
A. Ismail

How to read P&ID

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