PIPE AND IDENTIFICATION DIAGRAMS (P&ID)

Documentation and Symbols

Documentation covers front-end engineering and detailed engineering drawings. Of the overwhelming amount
of documentation needed in a plant, the only documentation that will be introduced is limited to
documentation you may encounter and need to use, such as alarm and trip Systems, PLC documentation, and
pipe and identification diagrams (P and ID). Of these the P and ID is the detailed documentation covering
instruments, their location, process control loops, and process flow details. Documentation standards and
symbols have been set up and standardized.
Standardization
P and IDs or engineering flow diagrams were developed for the detailed design of the processing plant. The
diagrams show complete details of all the required piping, instruments and location, signal lines, control loops,
control systems, and equipment in the facility. The process flow diagrams and plant control requirements are
generated by a team from process engineering and control engineering.
Standardized instrument symbols: Symbols for instrument line interconnection:

Instrument symbols should also contain letters and numbers. The letters are a shorthand way of
giving the type of instrument, its use in the system, and the numbers identify the control loop.
Usually 2 or 3 letters are used. The first letter identifies the measured or initiating variable, the
following is a modifier, and the remaining letters identify the function.
Examples of instrument identification are shown in a,b,c and d:
a The first letter T indicates that the instrument is in temperature loop number 178.
The second letter Y denotes conversion, which from the line description gives the conversion
from a current of 4 to 20 mA to a pressure of 3 to 15 psi. The instrument is a discrete
instrument located in the field.
b The designation of F indicates flow, R is for recorder, and C is a controller indicating a
recording flow controller in loop 97. This is an accessible computer function.

c The letter P denotes pressure, R is recorder, and the third letter T is transmitter, giving a
recording pressure transmitter in loop 89 which is located in a secondary accessible location
and is a PLC function.
d The first letter L stands for level, A indicates alarm, and H is high, which is an alarm for high
liquid levels located in loop 222 and is not accessible.
Instrument Identification Letters:

First Letter + Modifier Succeeding Letters

Initiating or measured
Modifier Readout or passive Output function Modifier
variable
function
A Analysis Alarm
B Burner, combustion User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice
C User’s choice Control
D User’s choice Differential
E Voltage Sensor
F Flow rate Ratio
G User’s choice Glass, viewing device
H Hand High
I Current Indicate
J Power Scan
K Time Time rate of change Control station
L Level Light Low
M User’s choice Momentary Middle
N User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice
O User’s choice Orifice
P Pressure
Q Quantity Integrate totalize
R Radiation Record
S Speed, frequency Safety Switch
T Temperature Transmit
U Multivariable Multifunction Multifunction Multifunction
Valve, damper,
louver
V Vibration, mechanical
analysis
W Weight, force Well
X Unclassified x-axis Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
Y Event, state or presence y-axis Ready, compute,
convert
Z Position, Dimension z-axis Driver Actuator

Functional Symbols
A number of functional symbols or pictorial drawings are available for most P and ID elements. A few
examples are given here to acquaint the student with these elements. They have been divided into actuators,
primary elements, regulators, and math functions for clarity.

Actuators:
Examples of basic and actuator symbols
The first row of examples and the last three drawings shown in
Fig. are the basic sections used in some of the actuator
diagrams. The other drawings show how these basic sections
can be combined to form families of actuators. For instance,
the hand actuator and the pneumatic actuator are shown
combined with the control valve symbol to give a
representation of a hand operated valve and a pneumatic
operated valve in the second row. Note should also be taken of
the arrows to represent the state of the valve under the system
“fail” conditions.
Primary elements

By far the largest numbers of elements used in P and ID are the primary elements; a sampling of these elements
is given in Fig. Lettering and numbers are included in the examples.
Examples of primary elements used in P and Symbols for Compressor
ID:

Symbols for heat Exchanger

Examples of regulators and safety valve Symbols for Static Equipment

symbols used in P and ID:

Examples of math symbols used in P and ID:

Symbols for Lines

Symbols for Pumps and Turbines

Tower Internal

Symbols for Valve

Instrument Symbols