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How to Read Piping and Instrumentation Diagram

Akiko
Akiko Originally published Dec 28, 22, updated Feb 17, 23
In this article
  1. What is Piping and Instrumentation Diagram?
  2. How to Read Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams
    1. Know the Letter and Number Combinations of a P&ID
    2. Identify and Understand Standard Equipment -Instruments
    3. Learn to Use Graphical Elements and Connecting Lines
  3. Piping and Instrumentation Diagram Examples

What is Piping and Instrumentation Diagram?

Piping and instrumentation diagram, also called P&ID, is a diagram used to show a graphical display of a complete system. It includes all piping, instruments, valves and equipment that the system consist of. Through a P&ID, you can get the following information:

  • The mechanical and electrical details of a given system or process,
  • Piping information such as sizes and material specifications,
  • Continuation flags leading to the connecting P&ID's,
  • Flow arrows, DCS alarm types
  • The connection types from the controllers to the field devices.
Process P&ID

How to Read P&IDs

Here are a few aspects that you should pay attention to while reading a piping and instrumentation diagram. You need to know what P&ID symbols mean in a P&ID and tell how each symbol is constructed using graphical elements and connecting lines. If you manage to do this, it wouldn't be difficult for you to read a piping and instrumentation diagram at all.

image / video 16:9

#1 Know the Letter and Number Combinations of a P&ID

Letter and number combinations appear inside each graphical element and letter combinations are defined by the ISA standard. Numbers are user assigned. The first letter defines the measured or initiating variables such as Analysis (A), Flow (F), Temperature (T), etc. with succeeding letters defining readout, passive, or output functions such as Indicator (I), Record (R), Transmit (T), and so forth.

factory P&ID Example

Tag numbers are a combination of alphabets and numbers with varying lengths aiding in identifying the device, what it controls, the type of device, and the number with what it is registered on the P&ID. Physical instruments are indicated by a tag number and a circle around it. These numbers are also used to locate the position of equipment.

The order and letters in tag numbers are highly specified and unique for each device. The first digit/letter specifies the factors controlled and monitored by the device, while the second digit indicates the type of device. The letters constituting from 3,4 and 5 further elaborate the device’s function and hint about the following few numbers in the series.

Common Abbreviations Used in P&ID

Abbreviations are introduced in a P&ID to keep the diagrams concise and simple. The table below constitutes some commonly used abbreviations.

Common Abbreviations Used in P&ID
AC Analysis Controller PB Push-button
AE Analyzer Element P/I Pneumatic To Current Converter
AAH Analysis Alarm [High] POV Pneumatically Operated Valve
BE Burner Element pHT pH Transmitter
BDV Blowdown Valve PSE Rupture Disk
CR Conductivity Recorder PR Pressure Recorder
ES Electrical Switch PZV Pressure Relief Valve
FIT Flow Indicator Transmitter RC Ratio Controller
FY Computer, Relay, Amplifier or I/P Converter, etc. in Flow Loop RO Restriction Orifice
I/I Current Indicator RTD Resistance Temperature Detector
KI Clock/Timer SA Speed Alarm
LCV LCV Level Control Valve SD Shutdown Panel
LIT Level Indicator Transmitter SV Solenoid Valve
LO Lock Open TA Temperature Alarm
MCC Motor Control Center TCV Temperature Control Valve
MT Motion Transmitter TH Thermostat
MTU Master Terminal Unit US Utility Station
NC Normally Closed WE Weight Measuring Element
NO Normally Open WS Water Supply
PA Pressure Alarm ZV Safety Shut-down (Pilot) valve
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#2 Identify and Understand Standard Equipment -Instruments

It is also important to know how to read its symbols and shapes in the drawing. EdrawMax provides all kinds of symbols required in P&IDs.

Equipment Instrument

All the instruments in a P&ID are marked by a circle with an assigned tag number and line inside it. The tag number helps in identifying the device, whereas the line is the location indicator. Lines are classified into different types, each describing the device's location with respect to the field. Given below are the types of lines used in a P&ID.

Instruments Location

  • No line: A simple circle indicates that the device is in the field and is a locally mounted instrument. The device is observable in the field and is accessed by the operator.
  • Solid Line: A solid line in the center signifies that the instrument is placed in a primary location in the control room. The instrument is visible on the front of the panel or video display.
  • Dashed Line: The dashed line specifies that the instrument is in a secondary position in the control room and is not accessible by the operator. The instrument is not visible on the front of the panel or video display.
  • Double Solid Line: A double solid line tells that it is in a primary position in the local control center and is operator accessible at the panel front or console.
  • Double Dashed Line: A double dashed line describes that the instrument is in a secondary position in the local control center and is not operator accessible. The device is located in the field cabinet and is not visible on the front of the panel or the video display.

Shared Display and Shared Control

Shared display means when the same information can be viewed and accessed from different locations in a network. Shared control indicates that the user can interact with the system and modify the operational conditions remotely. For representing an instrument with a shared control and display system, take the tag number and draw a square around it. This indicates that now the instrument can be accessed remotely in a Distributed Control System (DCS).

Shared Display and Shared Control

According to ISA S5.1, there are mainly 4 four graphical elements: discrete instruments, shared control/display, computer function, and programmable logic controller. Discrete instruments are indicated by circular elements. Shared control/display elements are circles surrounded by a square. Computer functions are indicted by a hexagon and programmable logic controller (PLC) functions are shown as a triangle inside a square. These shapes represent both the physical or the software devices. In either case , it implies all the shapes needed in a piping and instrumentation diagram. You will see these shapes anytime a system is shown on the P&ID.

    • Discrete instruments
Discrete Instruments
    • Shared control/display
Shared control/display
    • Computer function
Computer function
    • Programmable logic controller
Computer function

#3 Learn to Use Graphical Elements and Connecting Lines

The connections between elements is a way for engineers to identify a particular pipe in a standardized way. And different color indicates different pipes to avoide confusion. Adding a single horizontal bar across any of the four graphical elements indicates the function resides in the primary location category. A double line indicates an auxiliary location, devices located behind a panel-board in some other inaccessible location are shown with a dashed horizontal line.

Piping and Connection Symbols

The connection lines on a P&ID elaborate about the associations between instruments: how they connect to each other and the type of signal being transmitted. For example, a solid line signifies the connection is via pipes, while a dashed line indicates the electrical transmission. Knowing about the symbols is essential to understand the P&ID charts correctly. Here are the primary line types that are used to connect different devices/instruments.

Major Process Piping Major Process Piping
Minor Process Piping Minor Process Piping
Electrical Signal Electrical Signal
Mechanical Link Mechanical Link
Electromagnetic (Guided) Wave Electromagnetic (Guided) Wave
Electromagnetic (Unguided) Wave Electromagnetic (Unguided) Wave
Pneumatic Signal Pneumatic Signal
Software or Data Link Software or Data Link
Capillary Tubing Capillary Tubing
Hydraulic Tubing Hydraulic Tubing

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Piping and Instrumentation Diagram Examples

Here are some popular P&ID examples created by EdrawMax, which you can free download and customize on your needs. To get more P&ID examples and templates, you can visit our Template Community.

    • Plant P&ID
Plant P&ID
    • Water Boiling Process P&ID
Water Boiling Process P&ID
    • System P&ID
System P&ID
    • Thermal System P&ID
Thermal System P&ID
    • Power Generation P&ID
Power Generation P&ID
    • Air Condition Process P&ID
Air Condition Process P&ID
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Akiko
Akiko Feb 17, 23
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