P&IDs and the Design Process

What a P&ID shows depends on the design process to be followed and when P&IDs are developed. Two approaches to P&ID layout will be considered here. In the first approach, the P&ID is used by all of the disciplines to detail the components needed to make the process operate as intended. nder this approach, the process designers develop all of the routing for pipes, pumps, valves, etc. The e!uipment "mechanical# engineer then selects his$her e!uipment in consultation with the process and piping engineers to ensure that process ob%ectives can be met. &nce these items have been developed, the instrumentation engineer develops how the process is to be monitored$controlled. This task re!uires some overlap with the process engineer and the piping designer. 's an e(ample, chlorine residual data of water leaving a filter is a state and national monitoring re!uirement to ensure proper treatment. In this situation, the process engineer normally determines that some form of chlorine residual measurement is needed, while the instrumentation engineer determines what method of analy)er will be used. The piping designer will develop input for the location of sample piping, where the sample will be drained to after it is taken, the valves on the analy)er for isolation and maintenance and other items "such as pressure regulators or gages# to facilitate proper operation. The electrical engineer is concerned with power and process control wiring for the various pieces of e!uipment in the facility. In the chlorine residual e(ample, the electrical engineer would want to know if the transmitter re!uires *+,-'. "or if it is a loop powered device# and he$she would want to know where the signal is wired to "distributed control system or a local control panel#. 'll of this information is then depicted on the P&ID. This approach allows a great deal of input from the various design disciplines before all of the details have been worked out. It forces the members of the design team to consider all of the issues involving successful instrumentation operation. The principle limitation to the detailed design of P&IDs before detailed design is complete is that the P&IDs must mirror the electrical, process, instrumentation and piping re!uirements as closely as possible. If there are ma%or revisions to the pro%ect during detailed P&ID development, the P&IDs must be modified. This adds time and cost to a design. &ne other limitation to this approach is the pro%ect schedule and coordination amongst the design team members. If the P&IDs are not synchroni)ed with the work of the various disciplines, design team members may use inaccurate information. The second approach to P&ID development allows the P&IDs to show the instrumentation connections only. This approach is used when P&IDs are only used among the instrumentation designers and engineers "and possibly the electrical engineers to double check instrumentation wiring re!uirements#. These diagrams do

not illustrate the same level of detail as the first approach. They are intended to show how instrumentation relates to the process and possibly show the electrical re!uirements. The advantage to the second approach is that the documents are less dependent on the other disciplines for information. This leads to simpler drawings that can be changed without impact to the other members of the design team. The principle limitation to this approach is that the instrumentation, piping, and electrical engineers tend to work more independently of the process engineers. This could lead to situations where critical interfaces are not ade!uately developed. 'n e(ample can be seen if one looks at vendor furnished packages "such as a chemical feed package for a polymer of lime system#. If the P&ID only shows instrumentation, it is harder to tell what piping, electrical, and mechanical interfaces may be re!uired. Interface .onsiderations* The detailed design approach re!uires the instrumentation, process, electrical, and mechanical "e!uipment engineers# to supply each other with a great deal of data. /isted below is a partial interface checklist for the instrumentation engineer developing a P&ID0 1nvironmental "Process# 1ngineers Define the types of unit process operations in the facility throughout the pro%ect. Develop the process parameters "normally pressures and flows# Define e!uipment scope "vendor furnished package versus individual components# Develop a general control strategy and components to be measured, interlocked, or trended Define "with mechanical engineers# configurations of chemical feed systems and other systems related to treatment Develop the necessary utilities "with the mechanical engineers# such as air for valves or water for samples, etc.

Piping$2echanical 1ngineers &nce the unit operations for the facility have been decided, the piping and mechanical engineers can begin their work. This involves selection and layout of all e!uipment and piping. Develop the type of mechanical e!uipment to be used on the pro%ect such as metering pumps, distributive pumps, compressors, valves, agitators, mi(ers, fans$blowers, etc.

Develop details associated with chemical feed systems such as tubing, valves for flow and isolation, etc. 3election and layout of piping. .ritical parameters include the materials of construction for the pipe, the location of valves$tees$fittings, heat trace re!uirements, insulation, pipeline si)es, etc. Develop mechanical e!uipment numbering system Develop piping numbering system Develop material handling schemes "for items such as cranes to allow hoists to move pumps, etc.# Develop special piping for analytical instruments such as sample and waste piping Develop special piping for large valves to allow for mechanical isolation of the valve from the line to allow for maintenance.

1lectrical 1ngineers 'fter the piping and mechanical groups have finali)ed most of their design, the electrical engineers and instrumentation engineers can begin their work. The electrical engineer will have to select and develop power distribution schemes for all e!uipment "when the P&ID shows e!uipment horsepower or kW ratings#. Depending upon the design firm4s philosophy, the electrical engineer may participate in the wiring of instrumentation interlocks and may also run control wiring from field e!uipment to the distributed control system "D.3# or to the programmable logic controller "P/.#. 5ecause the electrical engineer4s work is dependent upon the e!uipment being specified, it is important that the P&IDs be kept up to date to ensure that the !uantity, horsepower and control method are ade!uately shown on these drawings. In some cases, P&IDs may also show the following information0 - Type of control re!uired for a given piece of e!uipment "selector switches, start$stop pushbuttons, indicating lights for run$failure conditions, alarms, etc#. - Interlocks between mechanical components - Types of communications links re!uired between components "the electrical engineer will be concerned with the routing and possibly the termination of this wiring#

Instrument Engineers
Instrumentation and controls engineers have the difficult task of pulling together all of the information developed by the process, piping$mechanical, and electrical into a cohesive representation of the process. &n any pro%ect, it is recommended that the process engineer get the instrumentation and controls engineer involved in P&ID development as early as possible to ensure

that all of the process goals can be accomplished. The critical interface points that would be shown on the detailed P&ID are0 The location of the various measurements on e!uipment. 1(ample, an ultrasonic level transmitter may have a level element that is interfaced by a cable to an indicating transmitter. 5oth items should be shown on the drawings. The method of signal transmission "via an electrical, pneumatic, or digital interface#. 'n e(ample of a digital interface would be 63789: or the ;ieldbus protocol. The measured signal4s location "local control panel, distributed control system, vendor furnished mechanical package, motor control center, etc.# 3tatus inputs from each measured signal "analog input, digital input# 3ignals from vendor mechanical packages "such as running or failure status signals# Digital and analog outputs to e!uipment "valves, pumps, fans$blowers, mi(ers, agitators, etc.# for control by the P/. or D.3

Structural/Civil Engineers
P&IDs "coupled with a mechanical plan drawing# provide a general picture for structural re!uirements associated with piping support, e!uipment housekeeping pads "!uantity#, supports or pads for vessels "such as chemical bulk tanks in large water$waste water treatment facilities#. 3ometimes, P&IDs also show items like containment areas for chemicals. These types of details are important for the civil$structural engineer so that the engineer can plan their concrete drawings.