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Varun Patel

In this course, you are going to learn How to Read P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram), Block Flow Diagram (BFD), and Process Flow Diagram (PFD). If you want to learn to read Process Flow schemes (PFS) and Process Engineering Flow schemes (PEFS), this course is for you, also.

Read, Interpret and understand P&ID like Professional Engineer.

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In this course, you are going to learn How to Read P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram), Block Flow Diagram (BFD), and Process Flow Diagram (PFD). If you want to learn to read Process Flow schemes (PFS) and Process Engineering Flow schemes (PEFS), this course is for you, also.

Read, Interpret and understand P&ID like Professional Engineer.

  • Understand the drawing’s components

  • What are P&ID, PFD, and BFD, and Why is it used? What information do these drawings provide?

  • Learn P&ID and PFD Symbols

  • Read Tank farm and Process Plant P&ID and PFD

  • Read P&ID for Column, Heat Exchanger, Pump, Tank, etc.   

Learn to Read P&ID, PFD, and BFD by Using Industry Standard Drawings with real-life examples.

There is hardly any course available that teaches how to read P&ID in-depth, and without the help of a good mentor, it is challenging to learn and understand these drawings.

If you are working in Oil and Gas or any similar Process industries, you know the importance of reading P&ID and PFD. In this course, you will learn to read from real-life drawings so that there will be no disconnect between what you will learn and what you will see while on the job.

What are you going to learn in 39 lectures? 

This course has more than 3 Hours of high-quality video content. The course is designed in such a way that even if you don’t have any previous experience, you will still be able to master each topic covered.

The course starts with essential parts of the drawing specially designed for those starting afresh.

Reading P&ID and PFD is nothing but understanding the symbols on the drawing. Before moving to the actual drawing, you will learn the P&ID symbols that are used in these drawings.

P&ID and PFD, selected as examples, cover all major components of process facilities, such as refineries, power plants, petrochemical complexes, and offshore oil platforms.

You can test your knowledge using a quiz designed based on the fresh P&ID that is not used in an example.

When you finish the course, you can confidently read and understand any P&ID, PFD, and BFD that you will encounter at work.

I know we are all short of time, so I have covered only the most valuable information in this course and tried my best to keep this course short.

So, you have more time to enjoy the things you like most.

See you inside the course.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

How to get the best out of this course.

To read P&ID and PFD confidently, you must know the legends and symbols that used in these drawings. These section will teach you the Process Symbology
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses industry-standard drawings and real-life examples, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in process industries
Covers essential parts of PFD and P&ID drawings, which is crucial for those starting afresh in the field of process engineering
Teaches how to read Block Flow Diagrams at plant, unit, and process levels, providing a comprehensive understanding of process flow visualization
Focuses on P&ID and PFD symbols, which are fundamental for accurately interpreting engineering drawings in process facilities
Includes a quiz based on a fresh P&ID, allowing learners to test their knowledge and reinforce their understanding of the material
Requires learners to understand legends and symbols used in drawings, which may necessitate additional study for those unfamiliar with process symbology

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Reviews summary

Reading process plant diagrams explained

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation (positive) for understanding P&ID, PFD, and BFD diagrams (neutral) used in process plants. Students appreciate the use of real-life industry examples (positive) and find the explanations of symbols and components (positive) particularly clear. While many find it highly practical (positive) and suitable for beginners (positive), some suggest it could benefit from more advanced detail (warning) and additional practice exercises (warning) beyond the provided quiz.
Provides a strong introductory foundation for new learners.
"As someone new to process plant diagrams, this course gave me a really good starting point."
"Perfect course if you're just starting out and need to understand the basics of reading P&ID."
"Even without prior experience, I was able to follow along and learn the fundamentals well."
"Great introduction for someone needing to get familiar with plant schematics quickly."
Concepts, symbols, and components are clearly explained.
"The explanations of different symbols and how to read them were very clear and easy to follow."
"Instructor explains complex ideas simply. Makes reading P&ID less intimidating."
"Everything was explained very clearly, especially the different types of symbols and line numbering."
"I found the breakdown of components and symbols particularly easy to understand."
Applying concepts with actual industry diagrams.
"The best part is using real-life process plant drawings to explain the concepts. It makes it much more practical."
"Using actual P&ID and PFDs from the industry made the learning process very effective and relatable."
"I really liked how the instructor used actual diagrams to show how everything comes together in a real plant setting."
"Applying what I learned to real examples provided in the course helped me grasp the concepts quickly."
Additional exercises would reinforce learning better.
"The quiz is helpful, but I wish there were more practice P&IDs to read independently."
"More practice questions or examples to work through on my own would have been very beneficial."
"Could use a wider variety of practice problems beyond the final quiz."
"A few more examples to practice reading different types of diagrams would enhance the course."
May not cover complex scenarios or systems in detail.
"While it's great for basics, I was hoping for a bit more depth on advanced control loops or specific complex systems."
"Good overview, but doesn't dive deep into highly complex process unit P&IDs or troubleshooting."
"Could use more examples of complicated diagrams or less common symbols."
"Might be a bit basic if you already have some experience reading diagrams."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Read P&ID, PFD & BFD used in Process Plant like Pro with these activities:
Review Process Engineering Fundamentals
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental process engineering principles to better grasp the concepts presented in P&IDs, PFDs, and BFDs.
Browse courses on Process Engineering
Show steps
  • Review textbooks or online resources on process engineering fundamentals.
  • Work through practice problems related to fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass balance.
  • Focus on understanding the underlying principles rather than memorizing formulas.
Review 'Process Plant Layout and Piping Design'
Gain a deeper understanding of the physical layout and piping design considerations that inform P&ID and PFD creation.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to equipment layout and piping design.
  • Pay attention to the sections on piping codes and standards.
  • Relate the concepts in the book to the symbols and conventions used in P&IDs and PFDs.
P&ID Symbol Identification Practice
Reinforce your knowledge of P&ID symbols through repetitive identification exercises.
Show steps
  • Create flashcards with P&ID symbols on one side and their descriptions on the other.
  • Use online P&ID symbol quizzes or games to test your knowledge.
  • Practice identifying symbols on sample P&IDs.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a P&ID Symbol Guide
Solidify your understanding of P&ID symbols by creating a comprehensive guide with descriptions and examples.
Show steps
  • Gather information on common P&ID symbols from various sources.
  • Organize the symbols into categories based on their function (e.g., valves, instruments, equipment).
  • Write clear and concise descriptions for each symbol.
  • Include examples of how each symbol is used in a P&ID.
Reverse Engineer a Simple P&ID
Apply your knowledge by analyzing an existing P&ID and documenting its components and functionality.
Show steps
  • Select a relatively simple P&ID from a publicly available source.
  • Identify all the symbols and components in the P&ID.
  • Trace the flow of fluids through the system.
  • Write a report describing the function of each component and the overall process.
Review 'Piping and Pipeline Engineering'
Expand your understanding of piping engineering principles to better interpret the information conveyed in P&IDs.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Focus on chapters related to piping design, materials, and stress analysis.
  • Relate the concepts in the book to the symbols and conventions used in P&IDs.
  • Consider how the engineering principles affect the design and operation of process plants.
Answer Questions in Online Forums
Reinforce your understanding by helping others learn the material.
Show steps
  • Find online forums or communities related to process engineering or P&ID/PFD reading.
  • Actively participate in discussions and answer questions from other learners.
  • Explain concepts in your own words and provide examples to illustrate your points.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Read P&ID, PFD & BFD used in Process Plant like Pro will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Process Engineer
A process engineer develops, designs, and optimizes industrial processes. If you want to become a process engineer, this course provides a solid introduction to understanding essential diagrams used in process plants. You will learn how to interpret P&IDs, PFDs, and BFDs, which are crucial for understanding process flow and instrumentation. The course focuses on practical application using industry-standard drawings, which helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world scenarios. By mastering the symbols and components covered, you will learn to read and interpret complex diagrams for columns, heat exchangers, pumps, and tanks, all essential for a process engineer.
Piping Designer
Piping designers create detailed plans for piping systems used in various industries. This course directly relates to the core skills needed for a piping designer, specifically the ability to read and interpret Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams. The course provides a solid foundation in understanding P&ID symbols, line numbering, and component representations. Learning to read real-life examples of P&IDs for tank farms and process plants gives aspiring piping designers practical experience in interpreting complex diagrams. If you want to become a piping designer, understanding these diagrams is crucial for creating effective and safe piping system designs.
Plant Operator
Plant operators control and monitor equipment and systems in industrial plants. If you are interested in becoming a plant operator, this course provides crucial skills for understanding plant operations. Plant operators use P&IDs and PFDs to understand process flow, equipment functionality, and control systems. This course will help you to learn to read these diagrams effectively which is necessary for monitoring and controlling plant processes. The course's focus on real-world examples and industry-standard drawings helps provide the knowledge for daily tasks. Having this knowledge makes for a more informed and capable plant operator.
Process Safety Engineer
Process safety engineers identify and assess hazards associated with industrial processes. This course provides essential knowledge for process safety engineers as P&IDs and PFDs are critical documents for hazard analysis. If you want to become a process safety engineer, this course is a great start since it teaches you to interpret these diagrams and understand the interconnections of equipment and instrumentation. This understanding is vital for identifying potential risks and developing safety measures. The course helps you to learn to interpret real-world drawings, thereby becoming familiar with common layouts and components found in process plants. This ultimately helps in conducting thorough safety reviews and risk assessments.
Process Technician
Process technicians monitor and control equipment in industrial settings. This course directly applies to the daily tasks of a process technician, as the process technician uses diagrams like P&IDs to understand process flow and instrumentation. This course will help the process technician to interpret these diagrams effectively which assist with monitoring and controlling plant processes. The focus of this course is on real-world examples and industry-standard drawings helps to prepare the process technicians for their work. Having this knowledge can help to make process technicians more informed and capable.
Instrumentation Technician
An instrumentation technician installs, maintains, and repairs instruments and control systems. This course provides crucial knowledge for instrumentation technicians, as P&IDs are essential documents for understanding instrument locations and functions within a process plant. The course details the symbols and components used in P&IDs, specifically focusing on instrumentation symbology. This course will help you learn to identify and interpret the instrumentation shown in real-world P&IDs, essential for troubleshooting and maintaining process control systems. If you want to excel as an instrumentation technician, understanding these diagrams is essential.
Project Engineer
Project engineers manage engineering projects from conception to completion. P&IDs and PFDs are essential documents that project engineers must understand to manage projects effectively. This course provides you with the skills to read these diagrams and understand the scope and design of process systems. By understanding the symbols, components, and layouts shown in P&IDs, project engineers can communicate effectively with design teams, track project progress, and ensure projects are completed according to specifications. If you want to become a project engineer, understanding these diagrams will make you a more effective project manager.
Technical Writer
Technical writers create documentation for technical products and processes. If you want to become a technical writer, this course offers a solid foundation in understanding the diagrams and symbols used in process plants. This understanding allows technical writers to accurately document P&IDs, PFDs, and BFDs. Focusing on real-world examples and industry-standard drawings helps technical writers create clear and concise documentation. This documentation can be essential for training, maintenance, and operational purposes.
CAD Technician
CAD technicians create technical drawings and plans using computer-aided design software. This course provides CAD technicians with a strong understanding of the information contained in P&IDs and PFDs. CAD Technicians can apply this knowledge to accurately create and modify these diagrams. Focusing on real-world examples and industry-standard drawings, it allows CAD technicians to create detailed and accurate representations of process systems. The course will help CAD Technicians ensure their drawings accurately reflect the design and layout of process plants and equipment.
Chemical Engineer
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. This course will help you understand the documentation that is used in process plants. In particular, the P&ID is a staple of the industry. This course provides a foundation in understanding how these diagrams represent the process flow, instrumentation, and control systems used in chemical plants. These drawings will provide an extra layer of understanding to the chemical engineer.
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance supervisors oversee the maintenance and repair of equipment and systems. This course may be useful for maintenance supervisors. Understanding P&IDs and PFDs can help maintenance supervisors to effectively manage maintenance activities and troubleshoot equipment issues. The course may help maintenance supervisors interpret these diagrams and gain insights into the layout and functionality of process systems. Maintenance supervisors can use this to plan and coordinate maintenance tasks, ensuring equipment operates reliably and efficiently.
Reliability Engineer
Reliability engineers focus on improving the reliability and maintenance of equipment and systems. This course may be useful for reliability engineers because understanding P&IDs and PFDs is essential for analyzing system performance and identifying potential failure points. This course helps the reliability engineer learn to interpret these diagrams, allowing them to better understand the process flow and equipment interdependencies. By learning to read real-world P&IDs, reliability engineers gain valuable insights into equipment functionality and can develop more effective maintenance strategies to minimize downtime. Since this course covers the material in-depth, it is possible to apply this to improve overall system reliability.
Automation Engineer
Automation engineers design, develop, and implement automated systems in industrial processes. If you want to pursue automation engineering, this course may be useful to ensure that you understand process flow and instrumentation. This course focuses on the symbology used in P&IDs, PFDs, and BFDs, allowing the automation engineer to understand the control and instrumentation aspects of a process plant. The course may help you to read real-world examples and industry-standard drawings, which can help in the design and implementation of effective automation strategies.
Mechanical Engineer
A mechanical engineer researches, designs, develops, manufactures, and tests mechanical devices and systems. This course may be useful to those working in process plants. This course may help mechanical engineers to understand the overall system design and layout. With this course, mechanical engineers can effectively collaborate with other engineering disciplines and ensure mechanical components are properly integrated into the overall process system. A mechanical engineer may benefit from the real-world examples and industry-standard drawings covered in this course.
Estimator
Estimators prepare cost estimates for engineering projects. This course may be useful to estimators because of understanding P&IDs and PFDs is helpful for accurately assessing the scope and complexity of a project. This course may help the estimator learn to interpret these diagrams, identify the various components and materials required. By reading real-world examples, estimators can develop more accurate cost projections, ensuring projects are properly budgeted and resourced. Becoming an estimator will require additional training or experience to perform quantity take offs and calculations from the diagrams.

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Read P&ID, PFD & BFD used in Process Plant like Pro.

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