Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No.

5 - P&ID symbols

UNITS IN THIS COURSE

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UNIT 1 INDUSTRIAL DRAWINGS

UNIT 2 ENGINEERING DRAWINGS

UNIT 3 ORTHOGRAPHIC DRAWINGS

UNIT 4 ISOMETRIC DRAWINGS

UNIT 5 P & ID SYMBOLS

UNIT 6 DIMENSIONS AND SCALES

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Para Page

5.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES 3

5.1 P & ID GENERAL SYMBOLS 4

5.2 GENERAL SYMBOLS FOR VESSELS, PUMPS, COMPRESSORS 5

AND TANKS

5.3 GENERAL PIPING AND INSTRUMENT LINES 7

5.4 GENERAL SYMBOLS FOR FIELD DEVICES 8

5.5 GENERAL SYMBOLS FOR VALVES 9

5.6 INSTRUMENT SYMBOLS 11

5.6.1 Instrument Symbol Examples 13

5.7 PIPELINE DESIGNATION 14

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Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols
Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings

5.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course explains the reasons why industrial drawings are needed, and the

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different types of industrial drawings which are used. Other units in this course give
more detailed information so that, on completion of the course, the student will be
able to:

• Identify and explain the basic information given on industrial drawings,

blueprints and engineering drawings.

• Recognise an orthographic drawing and be able to draw an object in

orthographic views.

• Recognise an isometric drawing and be able to draw an object in isometric

view.

• Identify and explain the reasons for exploded and assembly drawings.

• Recognise and explain the symbols used on piping and instrumentation

diagrams.

• Take dimensions off a drawing and understand the use of scale drawings.

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

5.1
P & ID GENERAL SYMBOLS

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Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P & ID) show the instrumentation which is
fitted to a particular plant. Depending on the size of the plant there may be only two
or three diagrams or many hundreds. They must be used when any plant
maintenance work is carried out. Unfortunately there is no standard method for
drawing P & IDs and only the basics of the system can be shown. This Unit shows
the general symbols.

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Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols
Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings

5.2 GENERAL SYMBOLS FOR VESSELS, PUMPS, COMPRESSORS AND TANKS

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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5.3 GENERAL PIPING AND INSTRUMENT LINES

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

5.4
GENERAL SYMBOLS FOR FIELD DEVICES

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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5.5 GENERAL SYMBOLS FOR VALVES

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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5.6 INSTRUMENT SYMBOLS

The instruments fitted into a control loop on a P & ID are shown by a circle. Letters
and numbers are written inside the circle to show the function of the instrument and
its identification (tag) number. The first letter indicates the process variable being
measured and the following letters indicate what it does (what its function is).
Normally the maximum number of letters is 4.

All instruments in the same loop, for example, transmitter, controller and control
valve, have the same tag number.

The letters used on a P & ID to show the operation of an instrument are not always
the same in every diagram.

Table 1 shows a list of common letters and their meanings. Lines are drawn in the
circle to show the instrument's position in the plant as follows :

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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 TABLE 1 COMMON INSTRUMENT IDENTIFICATION LETTERS

Table 1 is FOR INFORMATION ONLY and does not need to be learnt in

this course.

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

5.6.1
Instrument Symbol Examples

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 Module No. 3 : Basic Technical Drawings Unit No. 5 - P&ID symbols

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5.7 PIPELINE DESIGNATION

Piping on a P & ID is indicated by:

• Usage: For example, process, drain, nitrogen, blowdown, etc.

• Line Number: The identification number of the line on the plant.

• Size: Usually in inches.

• Piping Class: The piping specification, both material and pressure

rating.

The specification is usually given using American standards e.g. American Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). or American Petroleum Institute (API).

Each installation uses slightly different methods to do this but the end result is the
same. A typical example is given below.

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