Powerful Symbol Properties Turn Simple P&ID’s into Intelligent Process Diagrams

Cambridge, UK and Pittsford, NY – 18 February 2019: Plant design encompasses many areas of responsibility. One such area is process design which involves the creation of Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs). These important process diagrams are fundamental to the design process. 

When designing plant, process diagrams are used to illustrate the chemical process and the equipment used. When complete they fully define the process and contain detailed information about the individual components utilised in the process.

Process Diagrams define the process

Process diagrams use standardized graphical symbols to depict process equipment and instrumentation. For example, symbols will typically be used to represent tanks, pumps, gauges, valves, reducers, and other types of piping component. Symbols are connected by simple lines which represent the pipework. These lines also illustrate how fluids flow through the system. In addition, the process diagram may contain other important information such as materials, operating pressures and temperatures. This information can appear as text on the process diagram or be displayed in a table. The lines connecting the symbols also have properties such as nominal size, pressure, material, specification and insulation. A key challenge when documenting a process is to capture all of the detailed information as quickly and accurately as possible when creating the process diagram.

Process diagrams with hidden detail

Conventionally, not all of the above information is shown on a process diagram, but it still has to be captured somewhere for later use. The solution to this challenge is attributes. Attributes are invisible properties that can be applied to individual components, pipelines and instruments. They can be queried and amended as often as required. Attributes can be set to user-specified or pre-defined values, and can be automatically output to parts lists or customizable reports at any time during the design process.

Attributes – the key to intelligence

Attributes are a very powerful tool because they turn traditional P&ID schematics into intelligent design documents. The resulting process diagrams are no longer mere graphical representations, they become a rich source of analysable, reportable design data that can be used to support downstream tasks, such as parts listing, cost analysis and procurement.

The power of attributes

M4 P&ID FX is a P&ID system that fully exploits the power of attributes to capture your design data via a simple user interface. The software is optimised specifically for the task of P&ID design, and enables you to quickly represent your processes graphically while embedding your detailed design data within the P&ID.

Conclusion

CAD Schroer’s P&ID software is highly affordable with a price tag of just € 1,250/$ 1250 per license. The software gives a rapid return on investment, typically paying for itself over the course of the first project.

>> How P&IDs become intelligent schematics 

 About CAD Schroer

CAD Schroer is a global software development company and engineering solutions provider, helping to raise the productivity and competitiveness of customers working in manufacturing and process engineering, including the automotive sector and its supply chain, the energy sector and public utilities. CAD Schroer has offices and subsidiaries throughout Europe and in the United States. 

CAD Schroer’s product portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD, plant design, factory layout and data management solutions. Customers in 39 countries rely on MEDUSA®, MPDS™, M4 ISO and M4 P&ID FX to provide an efficient, flexible and integrated design environment for all phases of product or plant design – cutting costs while raising quality. 

CAD Schroer’s product and service portfolio also includes Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) solutions. Together with its customers, CAD Schroer develops immersive AR & VR apps using existing 3D CAD data for a wide range of applications, including impressive sales presentations, interactive training workshops, and servicing and maintenance guides. CAD Schroer apps are also used by distributed design teams to collaboratively review designs in virtual meeting rooms. 

CAD Schroer emphasizes close customer partnerships and supports its clients’ objectives through extensive consultancy, training, development, software support and maintenance services.