Chapter 5

Reading Piping and

Instrumentation Diagram
At the end of the lesson,
students should be able to :

1. Identify the symbols using in the

diagram
2. Apply the control system in the
diagram.
3. Analyze the piping and
instrumentation diagram.
 Piping and Instrumentation
Diagram
Also known as Mechanical Flow Diagram (MFD).
• Piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) show
interconnection of process equipment and the
instrumentation used to control the process.

• P&ID is a complete layout or diagram for the whole

process plant which is consist of instrumentation
control, utilities, control system, piping identification
system, equipments, instrument, valve, pipe line,
fitting and process line.

• P&ID schematics also show the instruments and

valves that monitor and control the flow of materials
through the pipelines.
• Shows relative location of process
equipment, sensors, actuators in a
process

• Conceptual outline of chemical plant

• Provide common language for discussing
plant

• Show control connections between

sensors and actuators
 Uses of P&ID
• Use as a reference to actual plant including the
maintenance

• To explain the position/place of equipment,

valve, control, safety valve, motor and others.

• “Sensing medium “ type to controller and

connection

• State the types of pipe

 Main components in P&ID
1. Flow path

2. Valving

3. Piping Specialities

4. Instrumentation and interlocks

 Flow path

• Consists of main
equipments/components and pipe
connection

• Showing how the liquid flowing from

tank to pump and distributed to others
in equipments/components
 Valving
• Used to isolate, vent, and main
equipments/components drain.

• Explained how the equipments and

pipe separable if maintenance is
required
 Piping Specialities
• Including strainers, expansion joint and
others component.

• how fluid is filtered before entering the

pump is also included in this section
 Instrumentation and interlocks
• Devices used to measure, control and
monitor the process variables such as
flowrate, temperature, pressure, liquid
level etc.
• Safety devices used to protect workers
from injury, damage to equipment and
give the correct reading

• Explain how the whole system is

controlled.
 Types of Symbols in P&IDs
• Equipment symbols
– Process operation units for mass transfer,
heat transfer, momentum transfer &
chemical reaction
• Piping symbols
- relevant to pipe, valves and
connections
• Instrumentation symbols
- sensing, monitoring and controlling
Examples: Instrument symbol
1st letter : shows the variable
(T:temperature,A:analysis,
F:flow, P:pressure.etc)

2nd letter : shows the output

function (I:indicator, R:record,
T:transmit.etc)
 Detect the symbol
1. Identify the symbol in P&ID layout by
determine the

i. Equipments (separator,pump,
storage.etc)
ii. Instruments
iii. Valve
iv. PIS
v. Piping
 Apply the control system
by identify the control system, which is

1. Open loop system

2. Close loop system
3. Feed forward control system
 Interpret the P&ID
1. Determine the input and output of the
plant.
2. Identify the flow direction
3. Identify the
symbol(equipment,PIS,instrument,valve,
control system,utility)
4. Knows the process flow (heating
process, cooling process, separation
process. Etc)
5. Interpret the P&ID flow step by step by
following the flow.
 Utility Service
Line Symbols

equipment

Pipe Line Identification

 Utility

PIS

Instrumentation Continuous

Control system