Stage 3 Chemical & Process Engineering B49CA/CC

P&ID Diagrams using Visio

Session 1: Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams on Vision

1. Overview

The 3rd year laboratory sessions offer the real opportunity to look not only at the theory applied to
complex systems but also the infrastructure, the hardware in terms of vessels, valves pumps etc. So
part of an introduction to the laboratory sessions in stage 3, we are holding a series of classes before
the lab starts to look at

a) Drawing exercises – specifically flow diagrams and the more complex Piping and
Instrumentation Diagrams
b) Using design calculation software to help process sample calculations in the lab – using
MathCAD as a way to present sample calculations for lab experiments

These notes cover drawing exercises to help convert the laboratory drawing that is in the majority of
the lab notes into something which looks more like a P&ID.

2. Introduction

As a process engineer, you will see about 4 different types of drawing that communicate ideas:

1. A block diagram – a very simple block type structure with lines which more or less represent
pipelines and blocks that represent processing stages or a collection of stages. They are
commonly used as an initial overview of a process but also can be used to describe an
organisational type process. Many engineering and management professionals use block A
flow diagram – is the next level from a block diagram which for a process engineer is used to
describe
2. Flow Diagram
3. A Piping and Instrumentation Diagram is one of the most detailed type of diagram than a
process engineer is expected to be able to read and produce for a process or any process
unit operation. If we think of a hierarchy of typoes then the P&ID
4. Mechanical Diagram

3. Task 1

The block diagram below represents a process that takes water from a tank, pumps this through a
heat exchanger which partially vaporises this liquid and then separates the gas and liquid. The notes
that go along with this diagram suggest there is a valve between the pump and heat exchanger that
regulates the flowrate through the system.

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Pump Heater Separator

Task 1: Using Viso, re-produce this diagram and draw a Process Flow Diagram using the
appropriate symbols in Viso. Take note of the following:

a) The way Viso places the ID numbers for each process line, each vessel.
b) Make sure that you use connection points for the “major” process lines, so that when you
re-position vessels, the process line connection does not change
c) See if you can add text to describe what each unit is, rather than rely on Viso’s numbering
scheme.

Ans

The diagram shows only one valve on the discharge side of the pump, and no valves of controls on
the heat exchanger or separation drum. In real life each item of equipment will have associated
instruments for measuring things like pressure, temperature, liquid level. Measuring flowrate needs
its own “unit operation” and the diagram would be modified to reflect the addition of say a turbine
meter or other flow metering system.

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4. P&ID Symbols

This section presents the symbols used for the equipment in task 1. You should try and draw these
symbols using Viso so that you can have these ready for task 2.

4.2 Separation vessel

Let’s look at the separation vessel in more detail. The diagram above shows a vertical drum – which
would imply a vertical horizontal separator of some description. The problem in selection the correct
one from Viso, is which one to pick.

Look at Viso and drag out the following onto the drawing page:

a) Vessel
b) Column
c) Tray Column
d) Fluid Contacting (column)

Now, which one to select for the separator drum. E-11, and E-12 as shown above are clearly for
other purposes than a simple drum so E-9 or E-10 can use used.

What else needs to be put on this drum.

4.2.1 Connectors

The drum is likely to have two “nozzles” on it, two ports which you can connect a pipeline to, one for
the gas side the other for the liquid side. These are usually welded into the drum and have a pipe
stub and flange joint (more about flanges later). To represent these on a P&ID, we use the following
type of symbols:

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E-13

This example E-13 shows a vertical drum with one feed port (left side), two exit ports (top and
bottom) , and two additional ports which we can use for things like level sensors.

If we want to be quick, we can often forget about drawing to this level of detail so that we can
rapidly do a very detailed flow diagram rather than a full P&ID.

4.2.2 Access Ports

If we build this vessel, how do we get access to it? Some vessels are completely welded so need
some sort of entrance way to gain access. Others have flanges on them which in theory we can
remove for access. Others have combinations of the two. Viso allows us to place access ports but
cannot go down the showing a bolted flanged hatch.

E-14

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For E-14 we have added a flanged access point on the right side, and a general access point on the
left. Normally a flanged access point is what we would normally put onto these vessels.

4.2.3 Basic Sensors

What level of sensors do we want on a drum of this type. Often this depends on what the drum is
used for but if its liquid and gas that’s inside the drum we need to know:

a) The liquid level – which means we need a level sensor of some type
b) Pressure – important to know what the pressure in the gas space above the liquid is like.
Using the liquid level and the gas pressure we can always calculate the pressure on the base
of the drum
c) Temperature – is likely to be the other value we need.

So let’s modify our diagram with these basic symbols for instruments.

PI
I-5

TI
I-4

LI
I-1

E-15

The diagram shows three instruments placed on their own nozzle connection points. Note that each
instrument is labelled in the sensor – use <Data..Shape Data..Instrument Type> to set this. Also note
that’s some instruments have a horizontal line, others don’t – try and see if you can find out how
this is set (it tells you more about the type of sensor and how it displays information)

4.3 Heat Exchanger

You will know that a heat exchange takes a hot fluid at a high temperature and cools is down, by
transferring energy to a cold fluid so that its temperature increases. We make sure the two fluids are
separated by a metal barrier through which heat is conducted. You will also know that there are
several types of heat exchanger; shell and tube, plate, spiral and there other exchanges that are
used for vaporisation and condensation. The general symbol for a heat exchanger in Viso is:

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E-16 E-17

..very similar to the usual way we draw one by hand. Of course there are others:

E-18 E-19 E-20

E-22 E-23
E-21

E-19 is described as a “shell and tube” exchanger but looking at the diagram, this could be a flanged
pressure vessel for all that it tells use. A shell and tube is more like E-20 which in Viso is described as
a “tube bundle”.

So the advice here is to use E20 for all those units that are shell and tube.

4.3.1 Connections

In much the same way as we did for a separator, we can put on connection points for the main
pipelines. Taking the shell and tube as the example unit we have:

E-24

Here there are a number of connection points for the inlet/outlet lines on the tube and shell side.
There are also a number of temperature connection points on the vessel itself. Note that sometimes,
it’s easier to install temperature sensors on the pipeline that’s connected to the vessel so we cannot
really show these on the vessel itself.

4.3.2 Access Ports

Note that we’ve not shown any access ports on the exchanger, so we should not expect to see any
on the actual vessel. If you know about shell and tube exchangers, then you will realise the end
flange can usually come off for inspection of the tube bank and inside of the shell.

4.3.3 Basic Sensors

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As with the separator, we have a basic list of instruments:

a) Temperature is a critical one for inlet and out let pipelines

b) Pressure inside the shell and in the tube bank flanges would also be something we want to
know.

TI
TI I-7 PI PI
I-6 I-8 I-9

TI
I-10

E-24

This is our completed vessel showing the temperature sensors on I-6, I-7 and I-10, pressure sensors
I-8 and I-9. Question, why should there be 2 temperature sensors connected to the same connection
point?

Here, think about reliability. The heat exchanger depends on temperature for its operation If your
unit depends on one sensor being 100% reliable, then a better way to improve against the risk of this
failing is to use two sensors not just one.

4.4 Pump

A pump can be a positive displacement unit, or rotary type pump such as a centrifugal pump. Viso
has several pumps and includes gas “pumping” units such as compressors and blowers. Strictly, the
term pump should be placed as fluid conveying when talking about liquid pumps and gas
compressors.

E-25 E-26 E-27

E-25 and E-26 are standard symbols for a centrifugal and positive displacement pump. One point you
should notice is the lack of flange connections which all pumps will have. If you use Visio, and see
the pump, then you should think that it should have a flange connection for the feed and discharge
line. E-27 is a one that is made up to show the flange connection (adding two small lines to the feed
and discharge line).

There are no sensors and access ports needed of course because at the level of the pump, these
items are separate units themselves – you don’t see a flowmeter combined with a pump. Having said
that you sometimes get pumps with pressure sensors or indicators for the speed of the motor but
that is going to a level beyond what is needed for a P&ID.

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5. Task 2

Now that you know some of the symbols, your next task is to:

Task 2: Change the flow diagram in task 1 to include the P&ID representation of the three unit
operations. Remember to put in the valve as well.
P-15

TI
TI I-17 PI PI
I-18 I-14 I-16 PI
I-13
TI
I-15 TI
I-12
P-17 P-14

V-2

E-29 LI
E-30 I-11

P-16

E-28

This P&ID shows the three units with flanged pipelines. To connect pipeline to the vessel, the
pipeline itself needs to be flanged but it could be welded. Drawing the flange connections for every
pipeline using Visio is unfortunately tedious since Visio is not that good at realising pipelines have
flanges. Normally at the P&ID stage, we will know the diameter of all pipelines, we will know how
long these are so we will know where all the flange joints go. Sometimes especially in early stage
P&ID’s details like the flange connections are missed. If using Visio, then it is acceptable to miss
some of the lower level detail to save some time but if using a conventional 2D CAD package for
more detailed P&ID’s then you should put in the flange joints.

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P-20

TI
TI I-19 PI PI
I-25 I-24 I-21 PI
I-26
TI
I-23 TI
I-22
P-22 P-19 P-21

V-3

E-32 LI
E-31 I-20

P-18

E-33

The diagram above shows an acceptable level of detail in terms of Visio for this exercise.

6. Additional Exercise
The following flow diagram shows the layout for the “Heat Transfer in a Concentric Tube”
experiment in stage 2 of the programme. Your next task as an additional exercise, is to convert this
into a P&ID diagram. Note that there will be no standard symbol for the concentric tube exchange so
you will have to use rectangles and lines to get this right. As this element is critical to understand the
process, then it needs to be included in the diagram.

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