p&id abbreviations

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08-10-2024

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Demystifying P&ID Abbreviations: A Guide for Beginners

Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) are the blueprints of process plants and facilities. These complex diagrams are filled with abbreviations, making them seem like a foreign language to those unfamiliar with the industry. This article aims to demystify common P&ID abbreviations, helping you navigate these essential documents with ease.

Common P&ID Abbreviations:

Equipment and Instruments:

• P - Pump (e.g., P-101 indicates Pump number 101)
• V - Valve (e.g., V-202 indicates Valve number 202)
• T - Tank (e.g., T-303 indicates Tank number 303)
• F - Filter (e.g., F-404 indicates Filter number 404)
• E - Exchanger (e.g., E-505 indicates Exchanger number 505)
• C - Compressor (e.g., C-606 indicates Compressor number 606)
• TI - Temperature Indicator (e.g., TI-707 indicates Temperature Indicator number 707)
• TC - Temperature Controller (e.g., TC-808 indicates Temperature Controller number 808)
• PI - Pressure Indicator (e.g., PI-909 indicates Pressure Indicator number 909)
• PC - Pressure Controller (e.g., PC-1010 indicates Pressure Controller number 1010)
• FIC - Flow Indicator Controller (e.g., FIC-1111 indicates Flow Indicator Controller number 1111)
• FC - Flow Controller (e.g., FC-1212 indicates Flow Controller number 1212)
• LIC - Level Indicator Controller (e.g., LIC-1313 indicates Level Indicator Controller number 1313)
• LC - Level Controller (e.g., LC-1414 indicates Level Controller number 1414)

Piping and Lines:

• L - Line (e.g., L-101 indicates Line number 101)
• H - Header (e.g., H-202 indicates Header number 202)
• S - Stream (e.g., S-303 indicates Stream number 303)
• D - Drain (e.g., D-404 indicates Drain number 404)
• V - Vent (e.g., V-505 indicates Vent number 505)

Signals and Control:

• SP - Setpoint (e.g., SP-101 indicates Setpoint number 101)
• PV - Process Variable (e.g., PV-202 indicates Process Variable number 202)
• CV - Control Valve (e.g., CV-303 indicates Control Valve number 303)
• MV - Manual Valve (e.g., MV-404 indicates Manual Valve number 404)

Other:

• BOP - Bottom of Piping
• TOP - Top of Piping
• M - Motor
• A - Air (e.g., A-101 indicates Air line number 101)
• W - Water (e.g., W-202 indicates Water line number 202)

Decoding the System:

Understanding the system behind the abbreviations is key to reading P&IDs effectively. Here's a breakdown:

• Numbering System: Numbers are often assigned sequentially for easy identification.
• First Letter: This letter usually signifies the type of equipment, instrument, or piping element.
• Second Letter: This letter can indicate the specific function of the instrument (e.g., "I" for Indicator, "C" for Controller).

Example:

Let's analyze the abbreviation FIC-1111:

• FIC - Flow Indicator Controller
• 1111 - Unique identifier number.

This indicates a Flow Indicator Controller with a specific identification number.

Additional Considerations:

• Companies and industries often use specific, internal standards for their P&ID abbreviations, leading to some variations.
• P&ID symbols: Learning common P&ID symbols alongside abbreviations is crucial to understand the relationships between various components.
• Context matters: The meaning of abbreviations is highly dependent on the context within the P&ID.

Remember:

While this guide provides a solid foundation, it's always a good practice to consult the P&ID legend or a company's specific documentation for a complete understanding of abbreviations used in a particular project.

By learning these fundamental P&ID abbreviations and recognizing the system behind them, you will gain a significant advantage in understanding and interpreting these crucial documents.

Source:

• This article incorporates information from "Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams: A Comprehensive Guide" by [Author name](link to author's Academia.edu profile) which can be accessed at [link to article].