Course Laboratory

Process Control Systems I

Lab 1: Drawings for

Process Control
CNTR 322

Revised: Sep, 2015

MacPhail School of Energy

FURTHER YOUR PASSION

www.sait.ca

ISA Symbols & Tag Numbers

Rationale
Why is it important for you to learn this material?
To use instruments properly and effectively on the job, Instrument Technologists
must know which instruments to use and they should know how to use them.
These abilities rely heavily on being able to read and understand instrument
symbols and tagging as published by the Instrumentation, Systems and
Automation Society (ISA). Your successful career as a technologist must be built
on a solid foundation of ISA symbol and tag number comprehension.

Learning Outcome
When you complete this module you will be able to:

Recognize ISA symbols and tag numbers

Use instruments correctly in a lab setting

Develop a P&ID for labs

Laboratory Objectives
Here is what you will be able to do when you complete each objective:
1. Interpret already applied tag numbers, line symbols, and instrument symbols
from process instruments and instrument functions
2. Apply tag numbers, line symbols, and instrument symbols to process
instruments and instrument functions
3. Develop a P&ID for laboratory apparatus

Performance Evaluation
To show you have mastered the material, you will be asked to:
Complete the steps in this lab and answer the questions.

Equipment/Materials Required
Process 16

Introduction
The following is a brief introduction to the topic of industrial instrumentation
symbology and identification procedures. You are expected to read and become
fully informed in how to use ISA Standard S5.1: Instrumentation Symbols and
Identification. The lab instructor will review parts of the document during the lab
class.
Two common techniques are currently used in industry to indicate the use of
instrumentation for measurement and control in an industrial process. The one
system uses the standards of the ISA, while the other system uses that of the
Scientific Apparatus Manufacturers Association (SAMA).
The ISA Standard S5.1: Instrumentation Symbols and Identification is the most
common technique used. It was developed to establish a uniform means of
designating instruments and instrumentation systems used for measurement and
control.
The system includes both an instrument symbology and an instrument
identification procedure. The symbols and tag numbers are extensively used on
plant drawings commonly referred to as Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs),
Mechanical Flow Diagrams (MFDs), or Piping and Instrumentation Drawings
(P&IDs). The ISA symbols are used to indicate the following:

The type of instrument (e.g., a control valve, a flow measuring element, a

summer)

The approximate mounting location of an instrument or function (e.g.,

locally mounted, control room or local panel mounted, front or back of
panel mounted)

The nature of an instrument or function (e.g., a specific hardware device

or a software implementation as in a distributed controls system [DCS])

The type of signal transmission between instruments or functions (e.g.,

pneumatic or electronic analogue, data highway, pneumatic or electronic
binary)

The ISA tag numbers, which are alphanumeric codes, are used to identify an
instrument and its function. With the use of the ISA tag number, each instrument
or instrument function in a plant is uniquely identified. It is not difficult to
understand why an identification system is necessary in a plant with a few
hundred or even a few thousand instruments. The tag number is repeated
throughout all of a plants documentation (e.g., construction drawings, P & IDs,
electrical schematics, loop drawings, data sheets, purchase orders, and
instrument indexes). The tag number is also used to identify the instruments
function in the plant. For example, the tag number TIC-356 tells anyone familiar
with the ISA standard that the instrument is a temperature gauge, indicating
controller being used in loop T-356.
The SAMA technique is used to produce what are commonly referred to as
SAMA diagrams. SAMA diagrams were not popular in most process industries
until the advent of the Distributed Control System (DCS). The ISA methods were
quite adequate for use with simple pneumatic and electronic analogue control
loops. An exception to this statement was the power industry. SAMA diagrams
have been used to show control schemes around large boilers used by the
electric utilities for years. With the introduction of DCS, functions that are more
complicated are being placed into control loops, and SAMA diagrams are
becoming more popular in many process industries.
However, SAMA diagrams are not intended to indicate an instruments
identification, location, type, or signal. Instead, they are used to indicate a control
schemes functional details, complexities, and interconnections. One will find that
there are common designations used in both the ISA and the SAMA systems.
The ISA tag numbers are used to identify the instrument and its main function on
a SAMA diagram.
This lab exercise will not be concerned about SAMA diagrams.

Procedures and Observations

Your lab instructor will assign two lab processes for which you are responsible in
drawing a P&ID using ISA symbols and tag numbers. The P&ID must indicate all
the piping, instruments, instrument functions, and miscellaneous hand valves.

Lab Report
You must draw the P&ID on an 11" x 17" (or larger) sheet.
You must use MS Visio to generate any drawings required. Hand sketches are
not acceptable.
Marks will be assessed on the following:

(5 marks)

Neatness

Accuracy and completeness of the drawing

Title block (use Visio stencils or AutoCAD templates for this)

Instrument symbols, symbol sizes, and tag numbers - use the tag that
exists on the instrument or valve

Instrument signal lines to/from controllers to control valves (e.g., the beige
Samson valves) and measurement instruments, use the controller tag
names per ISA

Exercise One
Ask the instructor to assign your group a process skid.
Create a high detail P&ID drawing of the assigned skid. Include all instrument
connections details.
(25 marks)

Exercise Two
Choose a steam trap in process. Describe the model, make, location and type of
steam trap. What is the purpose and principle of operation. Include a photo of
the steam trap. What are some things that can go wrong with a steam trap? How
would you troubleshoot a steam trap?
(5 marks)

Exercise Three
Draw a block drawing of the control loops found a Process 17 unit. Fully label the
block drawing with all loop variables, loads and components. Include actions.
(20 marks)

Exercise Four
Choose a flange. What is the info stamped on it. Explain the meaning of the
stamped info including: size, class, specification, flange type and material. (5
marks)

Exercise Five
Draw an instrument detail drawing of the level transmitter on the process water
tank. Include a bill of materials. Show all elevation dimensions.
(10 marks)

Exercise Six
Write a detailed step by step procedure to blowdown the level instrument on the
process water tank.
(5 marks)

Exercise Seven
What is zero suppression and zero elevation? Which is needed on the process
water tank? Show your calculation.
(10 marks)

Exercise Eight
Select an Endress+Hauser flow instrument on one of the flowruns.

(5 marks)

Describe the instrument: tag, model number (i.e. order code), principle of
operation, when it should be selected, and its limitations. Include figures and
graphs as aids to your description.
5

Go to the Endress+Hauser website for information on the flow instrument you

chose. Also, browse around the W@M portal:
https://portal.endress.com/irj/portal
userid = e04200269
password = cntr320
Once you are logged in, select Installed Base Assistant. The screen will display
the following screen. Browse by tag and process:

Source: Endress+Hauser (reprinted with permission)

Exercise Nine
Create an instrument index of all the instruments (i.e. measurement devices,
control valves, automated valves) found on one flowrun of your choice. (20
marks)
The columns of the instrument index are:
Tagname
Manufacturer
Model # (i.e. order code)
Instrument type (e.g., orifice, transmitter, valve, etc.)
Signal type (e.g., HART, Fieldbus, etc.)

References
Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) Standard S5.1:
Instrumentation Symbols and Identification
http://www.isa.org/

Attachments
inst. details 4.tif
S_51_course_use.pdf
Sample-PID Documentation Standard.pdf
Sample Level Calibration Calculations.pdf
Visio-P17-A-01_revF.pdf
P&ID Marking Checklist.pdf
flowrun1.gif

flowrun2.gif

flowrun3.gif

flowrun4.gif

tank.gif

website: http://www.ca.endress.com/
website: https://portal.endress.com/irj/portal

Course Laboratory

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