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 2

Other Documentations
Instrument Index
PFDs
SAMA drawings
Loop drawings
d
Control narratives

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SAMA Drawings

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Loop Drawings

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Limitations of P&IDs
Not to scale
Not geometrically accurate
Color blind
Not definitive
d f
Not drawn consistently

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Zoom In

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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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P&ID Symbols

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 Singal Types
Instrument supply
or connection to process

Pneumatic signal

Electric signal

Software link
or communication link
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Function Symbols
Field

control panel

DCS

PLC
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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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Identification Letters

First letter First letter Modifier

T Temperature C Conductivity D Differential
P Pressure I Current Q Totalizer
L Level S Speed
F Flow rate J Power
A Analyzer Z Position
V Vibration H Hand

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Identification Letters
Succeeding letter Succeeding letter
E Element R Recorder
T Transmitter A Alarm
I Indicator Y Computation
C Controller S Switch
V Valve H High
F F ti
Fraction L L
Low

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Examples

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 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
Square root extraction of the via an internal software or
input signal is part of FIC 101s data link (line with bubbles) to
functionality.
y the setpoint (SP) of FIC101 to
f
form a cascaded control
t l
FT101 is a field-mounted flow strategy
transmitter connected via
electrical signals
g ((dotted line)) to
flow indicating controller
FIC101 located in a control TT 101 and TIC101 are
panel similar to FT 01 and FIC101
but are measuring,
The output signal from TY101 indicating, and controlling
is a pneumatic signal (line with temperature
double forward slash marks)
making TY101 an I/P (current
to pneumatic transducer)

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