Introduction to Process Design

NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION

 Definitions

 Design:

Is defined as creation activity or idea or as creation

manufacturing process to fulfill public need or
commercial opportunity.

 Process design:

It includes group of items which could be prepared on paper

before implementing it, such as flow sheets, material
balance, energy balance, and specification sheets.

 Plant design:

It includes plant location and plant layout.

 Aim of Chemical
Engineering Design

 Construction of new chemical plants.

 Expansion or revision of existing plants in order to
increase the productivity.
 Modification of existing plant in order to change the
product or the way of production.
 Practical considerations
in design
The chemical engineer must never lose sight of the
practical limitations involved in a design.

 It may be possible to determine an exact pipe diameter for an

optimum economic design, but this does not mean that this exact
size must be used in the final design.
 Suppose the optimum diameter were, 3.43 in. (8.71 cm). It would be
impractical to have a special pipe fabricated with an inside diameter
of 3.43 in. Instead, the engineer would choose a standard pipe size
which could be purchased at regular market prices. In this case, the
recommended pipe size would probably be a standard 3 in.-diameter
pipe having an inside diameter of 3.55 in. (9.02 cm).
 Practical considerations
in design
 If the engineer happened to be very conscientious about getting an
adequate return on all investments, he or she might say, “A standard
3-in.-diameter pipe would require less investment and would
probably only increase the total cost slightly; therefore, I think we
should compare the costs with a 3-in.pipe to the costs with the 3.5 in.
pipe before making a final decision.” Theoretically, the conscientious
engineer is correct in this case.

 Suppose the total cost of the installed 3.5-in. pipe is $5000 and the
total cost of the installed 3-in. pipe is $4500. If the total yearly
savings on power and fixed charges, using the 3.5-in. pipe instead of
the 3-in. pipe, were $25, the yearly percent return on the extra $500
investment would be only 5 percent. Since it should be possible to
invest the extra $500 elsewhere to give more than a 5 percent return,
it would appear that the 3-in.-diameter pipe would be preferred over
the 3.5 in.-diameter pipe.
 Practical considerations
in design
 The logic presented in the preceding example is perfectly sound. It is a
typical example of investment comparison and should be understood by
all chemical engineers. Even though the optimum economic diameter
was 3.43 in., the good engineer knows that this diameter is only an
exact mathematical number and may vary from month to month as
prices or operating conditions change. Therefore, all one expects to
obtain from this particular optimum economic calculation is a good
estimation as to the best diameter, and investment comparisons may not
be necessary.

 The practical engineer understands the physical problems which

are involved in the final operation and maintenance of the designed
equipment. In developing the plant layout, crucial control valves
must be placed where they are easily accessible to the operators.
Sufficient space must be available for maintenance personnel to
check, take apart, and repair equipment.
 Practical considerations
in design
 The engineer should realize that cleaning operations are simplified
if a scale-forming fluid is passed through the inside of the tubes
rather than on the shell side of a tube-and-shell heat exchanger.

 Obviously, then, sufficient plant-layout space should be made available

so that the maintenance workers can remove the head of the installed
exchanger and force cleaning worms or brushes through the inside of
the tubes or remove the entire tube bundle when necessary.

 The theoretical design of a distillation unit may indicate that the

feed should be introduced on one particular tray in the tower.
Instead of specifying a tower with only one feed inlet on the
calculated tray, the practical engineer will include inlets on several
trays above and below the calculated feed point since the actual
operating conditions for the tower will vary and the assumptions
included in the calculations make it impossible to guarantee
absolute accuracy.
 Practical considerations
in design
 The preceding examples typify the type of
practical problems the chemical engineer
encounters.
 Thus in design work, theoretical and economic
principles must be combined with an
understanding of the common practical problems
that will arise when the process finally comes to
life in the form of a complete plant or a complete
unit.
 Process design
development
1. TYPES OF DESIGNS:

The methods for carrying out a design project may be

divided into the following classifications, depending on
the accuracy and detail required:

1. Preliminary or quick-estimate designs.

2. Detailed-estimate designs.
3. Firm process designs or detailed designs.
 Process design
development

1. Preliminary designs
2. Detailed-estimate design:
are ordinarily used as a basis for
In this type of design, the cost
determining whether further
and profit potential of an
work should be done on the
established process is determi-
proposed process. The design is
ned by detailed analyses and
based on approximate process
calculations. However, exact
methods, and rough cost
specifications are not given for
estimates are prepared. Few
the equipment, and drafting-room
details are included, and the
work is minimized.
time spent on calculations is
kept at a minimum.
 Process design
development
Important factors to be considered before entering in
Detailed-estimate design:
1. Manufacturing process
2. Material and energy balances
3. Temperature and pressure ranges
4. Raw material and product specification
5. Yield, reaction rate and time cycle
6. Material of construction
7. Utilities (Steam , water and fuel)
8. Plant site (Plant location)
 Process design
development
3. Firm process design:

is the final step before developing

construction plans for the plant. It
is characterized with complete
specifications for all components
of the plant, accurate costs based
on quoted prices are obtained,
blueprints and sufficient informa-
tion to permit immediate develop-
ment of the final plans for cons-
tructing the plant, and complete
flow sheet is presented.
 Feasibility survey
 Before any detailed work is done on the design, the technical and
economic factors of the proposed process should be examined.

 The various reactions and physical processes involved must be

considered, along with the existing and potential market conditions for
the particular product.

 A preliminary survey of this type gives an indication of the probable

success of the project and also shows what additional information is
necessary to make a complete evaluation.
Following is a list of items that should be considered in making a
feasibility survey:

1. Raw materials (availability, quantity, quality, cost)

2.Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions involved
(equilibrium, yields, rates, optimum conditions)
3. Facilities and equipment available at present
4. Facilities and equipment which must be purchased
5. Estimation of production costs and total investment
6. Profits (probable and optimum, per pound of product and per year, return
on investment)
7. Materials of construction.
8. Safety considerations.
9. Markets (present and future supply and demand, present uses, new uses,
present buying habits, price range for products and by-products, character,
location, and number of possible customers)
Following is a list of items that should be considered in making a
feasibility survey:

10. Competition (overall production statistics, comparison of various

manufacturing processes, product specifications of competitors)
11. Properties of products (chemical and physical properties, specifications,
impurities, effects of storage).
12. Sales and sales service (method of selling and distributing, advertising
required, technical services required).
13. Shipping restrictions and containers.
14. Plant location.
15. Patent situation and legal restrictions.
 Flow diagrams

 The chemical engineer uses flow diagrams

 to show the sequence of equipment and unit operations in the overall
process,
 to simplify visualization of the manufacturing procedures, and
 to indicate the quantities of materials and energy transfer.

 These diagrams may be divided into three general types: (1)

qualitative, (2) quantitative, and (3) combined-detail.
 A qualitative flow diagram indicates the flow of materials, unit
operations involved, equipment necessary, and special information on
operating temperatures and pressures.
 A quantitative flow diagram shows the quantities of materials
required for the process operation. An example of a qualitative flow
diagram is shown in the following figure:
[Qualitative process flow diagram for the manufacture of nitric acid by the
ammonia-oxidation process].
An example of a quantitative flow diagram is shown in the following
figure:

[Quantitative process flow diagram for the manufacture of nitric acid by the ammonia-
oxidation process].
An example of a combined flow diagram is shown in the following figure:

[Combined flow diagram for the manufacture of nitric acid by the ammonia-
oxidation process].
 The flowsheet importance

 Shows the arrangement of the equipment selected to

carry out the process.
 Shows the streams concentrations, flow rates &
compositions.
 Shows the operating conditions.
 During plant start up and subsequent operation, the
flow sheet act as a basis for comparison of operating
performance with design. It is also used by operating
personnel for the preparation of operating manual and
operator training.
 Flowsheet presentation

1- Block diagram
 Represent the process in a simplified form.
 No details involved.
 Don’t describe how a given step will be achieved.

When is it used?
 In survey studies.
 Process proposal for packaged steps.
 Talk out a processing idea.

2- Pictorial Flow Sheet

The equipment's are normally drawn in a stylized pictorial form. For tender
documents or company brochures actual scale drawing of the equipment are
sometimes used.
Typical Block Flow Diagram
 Types of pictorial
flowsheets
a) Process Flow Diagram (PFD)
b) Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P & ID)
(mechanical flow diagram)
c) Utility Flowsheet (Process Engineering Utility Flow
Diagram (PEUFD))

A Typical Block Flow Diagram

 Process Flow Diagram
(PDF)
 A PFD is a simplified flow diagram of a single process unit, a utility
unit, a complete process module.

 The purpose of a PFD is to provide a preliminary understanding of the

process system indicating only the main items of equipment, the main
pipelines and the essential instruments, switches and control valves.

 A PFD also indicates operating variables, such as mass flow,

temperatures and pressures, which are tabulated at various points in the
system.
 Process Flow Diagram
(PDF)
The PFD is a document containing information on:
 Process conditions and physical data of the main process streams.
 Main process equipment with design data.
 Main Process lines.
 Mass (material) balance.
 Heat balance (if applicable).

NOTE: If the PFD doesn’t contain any data about the flow rates, it
is called a qualitative flowsheet, while if the flow rates are involved
the PFD is called a combined flowsheet in which qualitative
information and quantitative data are combined on the basis of one
flowsheet.
Qualitative process flow diagram (PFD) for the manufacture of nitric acid
by the ammonia-oxidation process.
[Combined process flow diagram for the manufacture of nitric acid by the
ammonia-oxidation process].
 Contents of Process Flow Diagram
(PFD)
A PFD should normally contain the following information about the plant process.
 Main process equipments with reference tag numbers, name. Process
operating and design conditions are also usually provided.
 Main process streams are normally provided with reference stream
numbers. It should be noted that streams are different than lines and stream
numbers are not related to line numbers in any way. The streams that normally
do not have any flow are indicated with an abbreviation NNF (Normally No
Flow).
 Basic process data for each stream is sometimes given in the PFD against
each stream number. This includes data such as operating temperature, pressure,
flowrates, compositions etc. for each process stream. Sometimes, this process
data is represented for each stream number, in a separate drawing known as heat
and mass balance sheet. Design conditions for a stream are not normally
indicated in a PFD.
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“Analysis, Synthesis and Design of Chemical Processes”, Turton, 4 th Ed. 2016
 Important isolation valves are also indicated in the PFD. Not all manual
valves appear in the P&ID, only a few which can improve the understanding of a
process from the PFD. Some valves are indicated as normally closed or locked
closed depending on requirement.
 Automatic valves - motor operated valves / emergency shutdown valves
/ control valves appear on the PFD without the associated tag numbers. The
purpose is better description of process. Associated control elements are also
represented very briefly on the PFD.
 Notes are added wherever required to improve the understanding of the
process from PFD.
 Legend is a list of symbols used on the PFD with brief explanation. This
'legend' can appear on each sheet of PFDs or can appear on a single sheet with
other sheets referring to a 'Legend Sheet'.
 Interconnections from one PFD sheet to another are used for process
streams and instrument control signals to maintain continuity between different
drawings.
Some items which appear on the P&ID but may not appear on the PFD are - safety
valves, detailed instruments, lines, fittings, drains vents and tag numbers for all of
them.
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram
(P & ID)
A P&ID diagram also called mechanical flow diagram shows the arrangement of
the process equipment, piping, pumps, instruments, valves and other fittings. It
should include:

 All process equipment identified by an equipment number.

 All pipes identified by a line size, material code and line number.
 All valves with an identified size and number.
 Fittings.
 All pumps identified by a suitable code number.
 All control loops and instruments.
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram
A P&ID should provide following data to piping and instrument engineers, to
construction teams and to the operators:
1. Equipment's - tanks, vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors,
columns etc. have to be indicated with type, reference tag numbers,
basic design data, spares etc.

2. Lines - reference tag numbers, piping material class, line size, fluid
service, insulation type and thickness etc. Sometimes process data
such as line operating pressure, temperature and flowrates is also
represented on the P&ID lines.

3. Some other piping requirements - such as slope, special insulation such

as heat tracing, minimum / maximum piping distance requirements along
with their values are also shown on P&IDs.

4. Manually operated piping valves - valve type (ball valve, gate valve,
check valve etc.), valve size, Locked closed/open, sealed closed/open,
normally closed/open etc.

5. Piping fittings - Flanges, reducers/expanders, spectacle blinds,

spacers, strainers etc. along with their size wherever necessary.
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram
(P & ID)
6. Drains and Vents - are usually indicated using typical symbols along with
their size and type (single valve, double valve etc.).

7. Automated valves - Shutdown valves (SDV), control valves, blowdown

valves (BDV) are indicated with size if it is known. Also fail position (fail
open/fail close/fail in position) is indicated for each of these
valves. Actuator connection and type is indicated. Reference instrument
tag numbers are attached to every automatic valves.

8. Safety Valves - Pressure relief valve (PRV) or Temperature relief valve

(TRV) are indicated with their instrument tag numbers, set-points, types
are indicated by different symbols.

9. Instruments - Gauges, transmitters, local indicators, DCS indicators,

interlocks and other functions have to be shown in detail on the P&ID.
Interconnection between these elements has to be indicated by different
types of instrument signals (hardwired signal, soft signal, pneumatic or
hydraulic signal etc.). The location of the instrument elements (field
mounted or DCS) is indicated by difference between symbols.
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram
(P & ID)
10. Notes - are written wherever required to improve clarity for anyone
referring to the P&ID. Sometime 'Hold' is used to indicate uncertainty
about relevant data.
11. Interconnections (OPC) - are shown between lines (piping OPC) and
instrument signals (Instrument OPC) present on two different P&ID
sheets. Sometime these interconnectors are also assigned with a unique
tag number. For easy identification of the connections between two
P&IDs. A connector present on two different drawing connection a line or
a signal carries the same tag number.

Because of the numerous details involved in P&IDs for each equipment,

usually only one main equipment is shown on one P&ID sheet with related
instruments and piping.

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Sample P&ID of Separator
 Line Number Designation

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numbering.html
Line Number Designation
A typical line number or line designation would be as follows:
3" PV-500-40-A1-2"HC-ST
Where:
3" = Nominial diameter of the line,
PV = Service Classification,
500 = Line Number,
040 = Pipe Schedule,
A1 = ANSI Pressure Rating with material class designation,
2"HC = Coating or Insulation thickness and function
ST = Type of heat tracing to be used.
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Control Valves – Typical P&ID arrangement

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Control Valves – Typical P&ID arrangement
 The sample drawing presented here represents a typical arrangement generally
used to represent control valves on P&ID. Depending on the projects legend
sheets, control valves may be represented by globe or gate valves. Here a globe
valve symbol is used. First of all a proper valve symbol should be selected to
represent the control valve as per the project standards.
 Generally, the control valve size is smaller than the corresponding line size. This
change in diameter should be clearly indicated in the P&ID with reducer and
expander.
 Block valves should be provided upstream and downstream of the control
valves in case of shutdown and maintenance.
 A drain valve is normally provided between the control valve and upstream
block valve. If the control valve is of 'Fail Open' type, this drain valve is
sufficient to drain the piping segment. If the control valve is of 'Fail Close' or
'Fail in Position' type, then additional drain valve is required between the
control valve and downstream block valve as shown in the sample drawing.
Control Valves – Typical P&ID arrangement
 Normally, either a bypass or a handwheel is provided for control valves which
are under continuous service. If two or more control valves are installed in
parallel, bypass or handwheel is not required.
 The choice between providing either a bypass or a handwheel for
the control valve is made based on the size of the control valve. For control
valves bigger than a certain size, provision of handwheel is preferred. For
control valves smaller than certain size, provision of bypass with block valves is
preferred. For control valves on certain critical services, a spare control valve
may be installed on the bypass of main control valve. This limiting control valve
size between handwheel and bypass is specific for a project and may vary from
one project to another.
Control Valves – Typical P&ID arrangement
 If the control valve is equipped with a handwheel, then only the drain between
control valve and upstream block valve is sufficient for draining by opening the
control valve using handwheel.
 Normally globe valve is selected as the bypass valve on the control valve as it
allows better control with opening.
 Additional details such as failure position, # rating etc. are also indicated on the
P&ID for control valves, as per the project standards.
Typical P&ID arrangement for Heat
Exchangers

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Typical P&ID arrangement for Heat
Exchangers
 Proper equipment symbol should be selected first of all, as shown in the
presented drawing. This should be selected from the list of equipment symbols
on the legend sheets of a particular project.
 All the nozzles on the exchanger should then be correctly represented with size
and flanges. This includes inlet and outlet nozzles, drains, vents, utility
connections etc.
 Inlet and outlet lines are the next to be drawn up. Line number, material class,
size etc. is to be correctly assigned to each of the lines. If the unit is envisaged to
be in operation while the exchanger is under maintenance, then bypass lines
should be drawn up on shellside, tubeside or on both sides as shown in the
drawing presented here.
 Isolation valves, spectacle blinds, spacers etc. to be used for maintenance should
be drawn up next on the inlet / outlet lines. Bypass lines to be fitted with
normally closed isolation valves.
Typical P&ID arrangement for Heat
Exchangers
 Thermal relief valve should be provided where required. Generally thermal
relief valves are required on the cold liquid streams, when there is a possibility
of blockage in the heating medium on the other side of exchanger. In case of
such blockage, there is possibility of overheating the cold stream and hence
requirement for thermal relief valve. Discharge of a relief valve to be routed to
an appropriate, safe location.
 Drains and vents to be provided on both sides of the exchanger (hot and cold
sides), either on the exchanger itself or inlet / outlet piping, so that the
equipment can be completely drained for maintenance.
 For fouling service on the tubeside, utility connections should be provided as
indicated in the presented drawing, for cleaning purpose.
 Temperature and pressure gauges and transmitters to be provided as per
requirements for operating and controlling the equipment. Normally
temperature monitoring is required for the process side of the heat exchanger.
Also generally temperature control is implemented on the process side of the
exchanger.
Typical P&ID arrangement for pumps

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Typical P&ID arrangement for pumps
 Proper pump symbol should be selected first of all, as shown in the presented
drawing. This should be selected from the list of equipment symbols on the
legend sheets of a particular project.
 All the nozzles on the pump should then be correctly represented with size and
flanges. This includes inlet and outlet nozzles and casing drains and vents as
shown in the sample drawing presented here. Generally, the suction and
discharge nozzles on the pump are smaller than suction and discharge line sizes.
Appropriate reducer / expander to be clearly indicated in such cases.
 Inlet and outlet lines are the next to be drawn up. Line number, material class,
size etc. is to be correctly assigned to each of the lines.
 Isolation valves, spectacle blinds, spacers etc. to be used for maintenance should
be drawn up next on the inlet / outlet lines. The isolation valves on suction and
discharge lines should be 'Locked Open' in case of automatic pump start-up.
 Inlet line to the pump is to be fitted with a strainer for pump protection. This
strainer can be equipped with a pressure differential gauge to monitor blockage
in the strainer.
Typical P&ID arrangement for pumps
 Pressure gauges are normally to be provided on suction and discharge of the
pump. In addition, pressure transmitters connected to Emergency Shutdown
(ESD) system can also be provided as per requirements.
 A check valve should be normally provided on the pump discharge to avoid
reverse flow when the pump is not in operation.
 Downstream to the check valve on the pump discharge, minimum flow
recirculation line for the pump needs to be provided. A flowmeter should be
provided before the minimum flow line, as shown on the presented sample
drawing.
 A flow control valve with or without bypass is then to be provided on the
minimum flow recirculation line. The isolation valves for this control valve need
to be locked open or sealed open and the FCV should be of 'Fail Open' type.
The minimum recirculation line is normally routed back to the suction vessel of
the pump.
Typical P&ID arrangement for pumps
 Drains and vents to be provided on the suction / discharge lines, minimum flow
line and on pump casing, so that the pump and associated piping can be
completely drained for maintenance.
 For purging the pump with nitrogen, a connection should be provided right
after isolation valve on the suction line. This connection can also be used as a
drain.
 Temperature gauges and transmitters to be provided as per requirements for
operating and controlling the equipment.
Pressure Safety Valves – Typical P&ID
arrangement

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Pressure Safety Valves – Typical P&ID
arrangement
The sample drawing presented here represents a typical arrangement generally
used to represent safety valves or relief valves on P&ID. First of all a proper safety
valve symbol should be selected to represent the control valve as per the project
standards.
 For protecting equipment's that are not spared and equipment's that cannot be
isolated without disrupting the plant / unit a spare safety valve is recommended
to be provided as shown in the sample drawing.
 Generally, the safety valve inlet / outlet nozzles are smaller than the
corresponding line sizes. This change in diameter should be clearly indicated in
the P&ID with reducer and expander.
 Block valves should be provided upstream and downstream of the safety valves
in case of shutdown and maintenance. Normally provision is made to keep these
valves locked or sealed open. The spare safety valve is kept locked or sealed
closed, as indicated in the sample drawing.
Pressure Safety Valves – Typical P&ID
arrangement
 A vent valve is normally provided between the safety valve and upstream block
valve.
 Normally, bypass should provided for safety valves for process or start-up
requirements. Type, number and size of bypass valves will depend on the project
standards.
 Depending on the service handled, the discharge from PSV can be either routed
to flare system for hydrocarbon service, for closed/open drain systems or to
atmosphere at a safe location for non-hazardous service.
 The inlet lines to the safety valves are always sloped toward to protected
equipment and the outlet lines from the safety valves are always sloped towards
the flare header / the knock out drum or the safe location.
 When a PSV is connected to the flare system, the inlet line piping should be
equipped with a spool piece to facilitate dismantling, as indicated in the sample
drawing. For PSVs discharging to atmosphere, this is not required.
Typical P&ID arrangement for 3
phase separator vessels

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Typical P&ID arrangement for 3
phase separator vessels
 3 phase separators are commonly used in upstream oil and gas industry to
separate oil, gas and water stream coming from the oil wells. This typical P&ID
arrangement can be modified and used for other separator vessels as well.
 Proper vessel symbol should be selected first of all, as shown in the presented
drawing. This should be selected from the list of equipment symbols on the
legend sheets of a particular project.
 Separator vessel internals should then be indicated as per proper symbols on the
legend sheets. These internals can be inlet vane, vortex breaker on the outlet
lines, demister pads on gas outlets, weir plate separating the oil and water
compartments etc.
 All the nozzles on the separator vessel should then be correctly represented
with size and flanges. This includes inlet and outlet nozzles, drains, vents, PSV
connection and instrument nozzles, as shown in the sample drawing presented
here. Typical instrumentation on the vessel would be level gauges and
transmitters on oil and water compartments of the vessel plus pressure gauge
and transmitters linked to pressure control or alarms as applicable.
Typical P&ID arrangement for 3
phase separator vessels
 Inlet and outlet lines are the next to be drawn up. Line number, material class,
size etc. is to be correctly assigned to each of the lines.
 Isolation valves, spectacle blinds, spacers etc. to be used for maintenance should
be drawn up next on the inlet / outlet lines. The spectacle blinds, spacers etc.
are usually connected right next to the isolation valves and equipment nozzles,
as indicated in the sample drawing presented here.
 Instrumentation on the vessel should be drawn up next. Typically this would
include level gauges, level transmitters, pressure gauges, pressure transmitters
as per requirement for control, alarm and trip if applicable. The sample drawing
presented here only indicates transmitters, but generally they are accompanied
by gauges for local indication and also transmitters for alarms and trips.
 Various control valves should be drawn up next wherever applicable. Sample
drawing indicates level control on oil and water outlet lines. Plus pressure
control is indicated on the vapor outlet to flare. These control valves should be
equipped with either a bypass or handwheel as per project standards, to
continue vessel operation in case of control valve maintenance.
Typical P&ID arrangement for 3
phase separator vessels
 Drains should be provided either on the vessel or on the bottom outlet lines for
complete draining of the vessel and associated piping for maintenance purpose.
Sample drawing has indicated drains on the outlet lines through which the
vessel and piping can be completely drained. Usually the vessel also has nozzles
connecting it directly to the draining system.
 Vents can be present either on the vessel itself or on the vapor outlet line, so
that the vessel and associated piping can be completely vented for maintenance.
Vent connected directly to vessel is indicated in the sample drawing.
 In most cases the vessel is provided with a blanketing gas connection. This
blanketing connection can be with or without pressure control. Although not
indicated in the sample drawing, it is important to consider the blanketing gas
connection to the vessel.
 For purging the vessel with nitrogen, a connection can be provided directly on
the vessel. In some cases purging can be done with steam.
Typical P&ID arrangement for
Storage Tanks

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Typical P&ID arrangement for
Storage Tanks
 Storage tanks of various kinds are used to store process fluids of various types,
under different process conditions. But the basic arrangement remains roughly
the same for different types of storage tanks.
 Proper tank symbol should be selected first of all, as shown in the presented
drawing. This should be selected from the list of equipment symbols on the
legend sheets of a particular project.
 Tank internals should then be indicated as per proper symbols on the legend
sheets. These internals can be inlet pipe, vortex breaker on the outlet lines etc.
 All the nozzles on the storage tank should then be correctly represented with
size and flanges. This includes inlet and outlet nozzles, overflow line, minimum
recirculation line, blanketing gas line, drains, vents, PSV connection and
instrument nozzles, as shown in the sample drawing presented here. Normally
for large enough tanks a manway has to be provided as indicated in the sample
drawing for maintenance access.
 Inlet and outlet lines are the next to be drawn up. Line number, material class,
size etc. is to be correctly assigned to each of the lines.
Typical P&ID arrangement for
Storage Tanks
 Typical instrumentation on the tank would be level gauges and transmitters
plus pressure gauge and transmitters. For tank under continuous operation a level
control valve has to be provided as indicated in the sample drawing. For tank with
blanketing gas a self regulating pressure valve has to be provided on the blanketing gas
inlet line. Normally alarms / trips are provided for High High Pressure, High High
Level, Low Low Pressure and Low Low Level.
 Isolation valves, spectacle blinds, spacers etc. to be used for maintenance should be
drawn up next on the inlet / outlet lines. The spectacle blinds, spacers etc. can be
connected right next to the isolation valves and equipment nozzles, as indicated in the
sample drawing presented here.
 Drains should be provided on the tank bottom and on the bottom outlet lines for
complete draining of the tank and associated piping for maintenance purpose.
 Vent has to be provided on top of the tank for complete venting of the tank for
maintenance purpose. In some cases the tank may be open to atmosphere through vent
during normal operation. In such cases a bird screen has to be provided on the vent line.
 For purging the tank with nitrogen or steam, a utility connection can be provided
directly on the tank.
Utility Flowsheet (Process Engineering
Utility Flow Diagram (PEUFD))
 Used to summarize and detail the interrelationship of utilities such as air,
water (various types), steam (various types), heat transfer mediums, process
vents and purges, safety relief blow-down, etc., to the basic process. The
amount of detail is often too great to combine on other sheets, so separate
sheets are prepared.
 The PEUFD is a document containing information on:
 Main distribution or arrangement of each individual utility system, expect
electrical systems.

PEUFD Function:
The PEUFD shall state characteristics and consumption figures of the
particular utility concerned, cooling water, fire water, drinking water,
steam, plant air, instrument air, fuel oil/gas, inert gas and similar
utilities.
 Equipment designation
Equipment code designations can be developed to suit the particular process, or as
is customary a master coding can be established and followed for all projects.
 A suggested designation list (not all inclusive for all processes) for the usual
process plant equipment is given in the following table.
 Flowsheet symbols

 To reduce detailed written descriptions on flowsheets, it is

usual practice to develop or adopt a set of symbols and codes
which suit the purpose.

 Many symbols are pictorial which is helpful in representing

process as well as control and mechanical operations.
 Legends and Symbol
(See: Process_20diagrams_20HB)
Equipment Location Drawing (Plot Plan)

See: Process Diagrams.pdf

 Process Deliverables
Equipment Process Datasheets - Process datasheet formats of
equipments typically used in process and petroleum plants.

Heat & Mass Balance - Definition and description of heat and mass balance
charts.

Instrument Process Datasheets - Process datasheet formats of

instruments typically used in process and petroleum plants.

Material Selection Diagrams (MSDs) - Definition, objective and typical

contents of a material selection diagram.

Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) - Definition, Typical P&IDs

for various systems, Typical P&ID symbols for different equipments,
instruments, fittings etc.

Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) - Definition and description of PFDs and

typical P&IDs of various process plants.

Safeguarding Memorandum - Definition, objective and typical contents of a

safeguarding memorandum document.
Equipment Process
Datasheets
See Datasheets Zip File
 References
1. http://www.enggcyclopedia.com/2011/01/process-flow-diagram-pfd/
2. “Analysis, Synthesis and Design of Chemical Processes”, Turton, 4 th Ed.
2016
3. http://www.piping-designer.com/Line_Designation
4. http://pipinginstrumentationdiagram.blogspot.com/2013/10/line-
designation-or-line-numbering.html