Process drawings illustrating the workflow
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A process flow diagram is a key document in process design, as well as a guiding tool during the production process. What we are going to discuss here is only the basic knowledge that everyone should understand when applying it in actual production. It uses vivid graphics, symbols, and codes to represent the arrangement and connections of the chemical equipment, pipelines, accessories, and instruments used in the manufacturing process, thereby illustrating the changes in mass and energy that occur during chemical production. Flowcharts serve as the design foundation for the fields of piping, instrumentation, equipment design, and plant layout, as well as a guide for operation, maintenance, and repair. In practical production, there are generally only two types of process drawings used to represent workflows: the PFD and P&ID, as is well known. PFD is actually an acronym for an English term; its full form is Process Flow Diagram, which translates to “process flow chart” in Chinese. P&ID is also an acronym for an English term; its full form is Piping and Instrumentation Diagram, with “&” representing and in English. The whole sentence translates to “Piping and Instrumentation Diagram”. The main difference between the two is the amount of information presented in the diagram; the PFD has simpler content compared to the P&ID. A clearer explanation is that P&ID drawings essentially include all the piping fittings, valves, instrument control points, etc., on site – they are very comprehensive – whereas PFD diagrams only need to illustrate the entire production process; there is no need to show all the valves, piping fittings, and instruments.
PFD and P&ID are commonly used process diagrams for describing processes. A PFD (Process Flow Diagram) is primarily used to illustrate the changes in mass and energy throughout a chemical production process; it focuses more on the flow and principles of the entire process. A PFD typically contains symbols for the main equipment, pipelines, and some key instruments, showing their interconnections. A P&ID (Process Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) is more detailed; in addition to the information contained in the PFD, it also includes all the fittings, valves, instrument control points, etc. P&ID diagrams illustrate the detailed relationships between various components in a system, serving as an important guide for operation, maintenance, and repair. In actual production, appropriate process drawings are selected as needed to better understand and guide the manufacturing process. .