Instrumentation

Symbols
Instrument Symbols
• Instrument symbols such as circles, lines,
letters, and numbers are used to provide
information about the process.
• Symbols may represent devices in the
system or indicate how the devices are
connected to each other or to the process
and also indicatess its function. (i.e.
measure, indicate, record or control)
Purpose of Symbols
• The purpose of this standard is to
establish a uniform means of designating
instruments and instrumentation systems
used for measurement and control.
• For explicit and precise communication
The universally used standard
Instrumentation Symbols is established by
ISA.

ISA - International Society for

Automation(Y2011)
Instrumentation, Systems & Automation
(Y2000)
Instrument Society of Amaerica (original)
Types of Basic Symbols Used
1. Balloon symbols
2. Tag symbols
3. Line symbols
4. Field device symbols
5. Process equipment symbols
1. The balloon or bubble symbol
– This represents an instrumentation & control
device

– The size is 5/6” or 10mm in diameter, but can

be smaller due to the quantity shown in a
drawing.
– The text inside must be readable
Balloon Symbol - No line inside
Balloon Symbol - With solid line inside
Balloon Symbol - With broken line
inside
2. The Tag symbol
– Instrumentation Identification Number or Tag
Number is an alphanumeric code that
provides specific information about an
instrument or its function. This represents a
unique name given as an identification

– It contains two information

• Functional Identification
• Loop Identification
Functional Identifier

• A functional Identifier is a series of letters, or letter

code, that identifies the function of the instrument.

• The first letter identifies the measured or initiating

variable.

• The succeeding letters designate one or more

readout or passive functions and/or output functions.
Loop Identification

• Loop identification numbers indicate the

loop/system in which an instrument belongs.
• The loop identification number is assigned to all
of the instruments included in the loop
regardless of their function or location.
 2nd & 3rd Letters
Example: FUNCTIONS

1st Letter
PROCESS VARIABLE PIC-069 LOOP NO.

Where is it placed?
• Inside the balloon symbol
Example:
PIC
069
1st Letter
PROCESS LOOP NO.
VARIABLE

P IC - 069 A
Suffix Letter

2nd & 3rd Letters

FUNCTIONS
Tag Prefix and Suffix

• A prefix may be added to the Tag Number to

denote area or plant location.
• A suffix may be added to the loop number in
loops that contain more than one instrument
with the same functional identification.
3. The line symbol
– This represents an interconnection (signal)
between instruments

Example: PIC-069

PT PIC
069 069

PT is connected to PIC
by an electrical or
electronic wired signal
An instrument capillary line can serve a dual purpose. First, capillary
lines, or tubes, are a convenient method for separating a pressure
instrument such as a gauge or transmitter from the process connection
so the reading can be taken at a more accessible location.
Second, capillary lines also serve the function of a cooling element in
that a very hot or cold fluid equilibrates to a less extreme temperature as
it travels through the line.
• Line symbols indicate how instruments are
connected to each other and to the process and
represents the types of signals transmmited in
the process.

• Line Symbols could either be a process line

symbol or a signal line symbol.
Process Line Symbols
• Used to represent process lines and
instrument connections.
• Process piping is generally shown with thick
solid lines.

• Thin solid lines indicate instrument-to-process

connections or instrument tubing.
Signal Line Symbols

• Signal line symbols indicate the type of signal

that connects two instruments.
4. The Field Device specific symbol
– This represents a special or unique symbol
given to a field device, usually for sensors and
valves
Example:

Orifice plate Pneumatic diaphgram

flow sensor control valve

Note: a field device symbol must be accompanied by a balloon

5. The Process Equipment symbol
– This represents a special or unique symbol
given to a process equipment, such as tanks,
pumps, compressor, etc. These symbols are
common with the mechanical and chemical
engineering fields.
Examples:

Compressor Vessel or
Tank
Different Engineering Documents

• Process Flow Diagram

• Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)
• Instrument List
• Logic Diagrams
• Instrument Loop Diagram
• Installation Details
• Location Plans
Process Flow Diagram
• It is the fundamental representation of a process
that schematically depicts the conversion of raw
materials to finished products without delving
into details of how that conversion occurs.

• It defines the flow of material and utilities, basic

relationships between major pieces of
equipment, and establishes the flow, pressure
and temperature ratings of the process.
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram
• It is the overall design document for a process plant

• It shows the interconnection of process equipment

and the instrumentation used to control the process.

• Set of symbols are used to depict mechanical

equipment, piping, piping components, valves,
equipment drivers and instrumentation and controls.
Instrument List
• Is an alphanumeric list of date related to a
facility’s instrumentation and control systems
components and functions.

• Reference the various documents that contain

the information needed to define the total
installation.
Logic Diagrams
• Drawings used to design and define the on-off or
sequential part of a continuous process plant.

• May involve the action of a simple switch or it

may entail a series of steps comprising a
complex automatic system.
Instrument Loop Diagrams

• A schematic representation of a single control

loop including its hydraulic, electric, magnetic
and pneumatic components.
Installation Details
• Used to show how the instrumentation and
control system components are connected and
interconnected to the process
• Define the requirements to correctly install an
instrumentation and control component.
Location Plans
• Orthographic views of the plant, drawn to scale,
that show the locations of instruments and
control system components.

• Show other control system hardware including

marshalling panels, termination racks, local
control panels, junctions boxes, instrument
racks, and power panels.