PIPING ISOMETRIC

Unlike orthographics, piping isometrics allow the pipe to be drawn in a manner by which the
length, width and depth are shown in a single view.
Isometrics are usually drawn from information found on a plan and elevation views. The
symbols that represent fittings, valves and flanges are modified to adapt to the isometric grid.
Usually, piping isometrics are drawn on preprinted paper, with lines of equilateral triangles
form of 60.
Image of a isometric grid

The Iso, as isometric are commonly referred, is oriented on the grid relative to the north
arrow found on plan drawings. Because iso's are not drawn to scale, dimensions are
required to specify exact lengths of piping runs.
Pipe lengths are determined through calculations using coordinates and elevations. Vertical
lengths of pipe are calculated using elevations, while horizontal lengths are caculated using
north-south and east-west coordinates.

Piping isometrics are generally produced from orthographic drawings and are important
pieces of information to engineers. In very complex or large piping systems, piping
isometrics are essential to the design and manufacturing phases of a project.
Piping isometrics are often used by designers prior to a stress analysis and are also used by
draftsmen to produce shop fabrication spool drawings. Isometrics are the most important
drawings for installation contractors during the field portion of the project.

HOW TO READ A PIPING ISOMETRIC

A pipe into a isometric view, is always drawn by a single line. This single line is the
centerline of the pipe, and from that line, the dimensions measured. So, not from the outside
of a pipe or fitting.

The image below shows a orthographic view of a butt welded pipe with three sizes (A, B, C).
The A size is measured from the front to the center line of the elbow / pipe.
The B size is measured from centerline to centerline.
The C size is like the A size, measured from the front to the center line of the elbow /
pipe.
Orthographic view (double line presentation)

Isometric view

The image on the left shows a isometric view of the same pipe as above.
As you can see, this drawing is very simple and quick to implement. The red lines show the
pipe, the black dots are the butt welds and A, B & C are the dimensions of front to center line
and center line to center line.
The simplicity with which a pipe isometric can be drawn is one reason to made iso's.

A second reason to made isometrics; if a pipe should be drawn in several planes (north to
south, then down and then to the west, etc.), orthographic views really not an option. In a
orthographic view it is not a problem if the pipe runs in one plane, but when a pipe in two or
three planes to be drawn, a orthographic view can be unclear.
Another reason why isos are preferred, is the number of drawings that for orthographic views
should be made.
For example: for a complex pipeline system, 15 isometrics must be drawn. I've never tried,
but I think for orthographic views maybe 50 drawings are needed to show the same as the
isos.

ISOMETRIC VIEWS IN MORE THAN ONE PLANE

Below are some examples of isometric drawings. The auxiliary lines in the shape of a cube,
ensure better visualization of the pipeline routing.

The drawing on the left shows a pipeline which runs through three planes. The pipe line
begins and ends with a flange.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs to the east
pipe runs up
pipe runs to the north
pipe runs to the west
pipe runs down
The drawing on the left is almost identical to the drawing above. A different perspective is
shown, and the pipe that comes from above is longer.
Because this pipe in isometric view, runs behind the other pipe, this must be indicated by a
break in the line.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs to the south
pipe runs up
pipe runs to the west
pipe runs to the north
pipe runs down
The drawing on the left shows a pipe that runs through three planes and in two planes it make
a bow.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs to the south
pipe runs up
pipe runs up and to the west
pipe runs up
pipe runs to the west
pipe runs to the north-west
pipe runs to the north
The drawing on the left shows a pipe that runs through three planes, from one plane to a
opposite plane.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs to the south
pipe runs up
pipe runs up and to the north-west
pipe runs to the north

HATCHES ON A ISOMETRIC DRAWING

Hatches on isometric drawings being applied, to indicate that a pipe runs at a certain angle
and in which direction the pipe runs.Sometimes, small changes in the hatch, the routing of a
pipe is no longer the east, but for example suddenly to the north.
The drawing on the left shows a pipe, where the hatch indicates that the middle leg runs to
the east.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs up
pipe runs up and to the east
pipe runs up
The drawing on the left shows a pipe, where the hatch indicates that the middle leg runs to
the north.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs up
pipe runs up and to the north
pipe runs up

The two drawings above show, that changing from only the hatch, a pipeline receives a
different direction. Hatches are particularly important in isometric views.

The drawing on the left shows a pipe, where the hatches indicates that the middle leg runs up
and to the north-west.
Routing starting point X
pipe runs up
pipe runs up and to the north-west
pipe runs to the north

What is the elevation at point X

VIEWS IN PIPING DRAWINGS

There are two types of views in hand-drawn piping drawings:

Orthographic - Plans and Elevations

Pictorial - Isometric Views

Orthographic drawings are views (front, side, top et cetera) of an piping system, and in Piping
they are called "Piping Arrangements".
An orthographic view shows only one side, and therefore multiple drawings (views) are
necessary to show a complete Piping Arrangement.
In complex systems, where orthographic views do not illustrate the details of the design,
pictorial view in isometric presentation is made for clarity.

PRIORITIES ON A PIPING ARRANGEMENT

Process equipment and piping have priority on the Piping Arrangement. The major primary
beams and secondary beams are also shown, even as Utility stations so that the most efficient
route for utilities can be determined.
Order of importance of pipe lines in a Piping Arrangement:

Alloy steel and other special materials

Large bore piping
High temperature/high pressure piping
Lined piping
Carbon Steel Process Piping
Utility piping

Further (if possible) all equipment, instrument connections, with the tag numbers will be
shown on a Piping Arrangement. Important details are often in a larger scale in the same
drawing shown.
Even as a Plot Plan, a whole process plant usually can not be given on a readable drawing.
Therefore the Piping Arrangement show parts of a process plant.

TYPES OF PIPING ARRANGEMENT DRAWINGS

Pipelines on a Piping Arrangement are shown by single lines and double lines.
In single line representation only the center line of the pipeline is drawn using a solid line. In
double line representation the actual size to scale is drawn with center line marked in chain-
dotted lines.

Single lines representation

Flanges are shown as thick lines drawn to the scaled outsite diameter of the flange.
For flanged joints a small gap between dimension lines will be shown to indicate a
gasket.
Valves are shown with identification number and a handwheel is drawn with stem
fully extended. If a valve is lever operated, then the movement of handle position is
given.
 Dimensions for flanged valves are given to the flange faces, while non flanged valves
are dimensioned to the center lines of their stems.

EXAMPLE OF A PIPING ARRANGEMENT

On this drawing, as an example, a imaginary "single line" Piping Arrangement will be shown.

The drawing shows 2 pumps, 4 valves (all Handwheel operated and flanged), a pipe line and
a column.
The line number CD - PL - 101 - 12 - C300 - T2 - I2 tells something about the pipe line.

CD Indicator for plant or system, where the pipeline is located.

PL Indicator for a service designation.
101 Indicator for the serial number of the pipe line.
12 Indicator NPS, in this case the main pipeline is NPS 12.
Indicator for Pipe Line Class or "Pipe Spec".
C300C tells that the material is Carbon Steel, and 300 indicates the Pressure Class.
T2 Indicator for Tracing type.
I2 Indicator for Insulation type.

Above description of the line number is only an example. For line numbers are no standard
definitions, and therefore a customer specification can be different from what is here defined.

The indication 12-314 (Typ) on the valve told that the valve is 12 inches and 314 indicates
the type of valve. The same applies also to the valve near the pump, where DR indicates a
Drain valve.
Typ stands for Typical and means that there is another ore more valves in that drawing with
the same specification. The advantage of this indicator is, that items with the same
specification only once need to be defined.

Furthermore, the red arrow indicates the flow direction, which perhaps is unnecessary,
because the pipe line is connected to the Suction side of the pump.

Dis. = Discharge, pressure side of a pump

Suc. = Suction, suction side of a pump
An important item is designation TF (Top Flat) which is shown to the eccentric reducer at
the pump. That means that the flat side of the reducer is on the top of de pipe line. If it was
vice versa BF Bottom flat, also the elevation to the suction side of the pump must be given.

Example for the pump suction side:

A eccentric reducer 12 to 8 inch has a center-line difference from 52.4 millimeters.
(12" = O.D. 323.9 mm / 8" = O.D. 219.1 mm / Length = 203 mm / Center-line difference =
52.4 mm).
If the reducer bottom flat, an elevation round off upwards EL. 100548 must be shown.
This image shows a 12 x 8 inch Top Flat and Bottom Flat eccentric reducer.

Note: The connection to the column is 600 Lbs. This change in Pressure Class is indicated
by a so-called "Spec break" (change of Piping Class Specification). In this case it means, that
the flange that connect to nozzle C1 also must be have a Pressure Class of 600, and that the
material probably not changed.

Another important item is the elevation (given in red) of nozzle C1 from the column. The
elevation EL. 104966 is shown, because the pipe line ends with an eccentric reducer Bottom
Flat (BF). In this case it means, that the vertical centerline from nozzle C1 is 15.88 mm above
the center line of the pipeline.
A eccentric reducer 14 x 12 (355.6 mm x 323.9 mm) has a length of 330 mm and a center-
line difference from 15.88 mm.

SYMBOLS ON A PIPING ARRAGEMENT DRAWING

On the drawing can be seen that the pipe line(s) from the pumps run up to the column. The
pipeline starts with elevation EL. 100600 at the pump suction site and ends at elevation EL.
104950 at nozzle "C1" from the column. But without the elevations, the upward routing is
also visible.

For single line representation there are a lot of symbols, which illustrate a directional change.
The three partly open blue circles in the drawing, indicate three Elbows which are bending
down. The two blue half-moons around the pipelines/valves indicate that the valves are at the
bottom of the pipeline are located. The two valves are needed to drain the pipeline. By
applying eccentric reducers (Top Flat) in the lowest part of the pipeline, the two valves make
it possible to fully empty the system.
In the main menu "Documents" the most used drawing symbols can be found.

3-DIMENSIONAL VIEW

More and more engineering companies show plot plans, equipment and piping arrangements
in a 3D view. Better 3D software has made this possible, and generally has this way of
drawing many advantages.

There are many programs that can be made 3D views, but they are all very expensive. Large
engineering companies often have developed their own software. Some of these programs
make it possible
"to walking through a whole plant" in order to find a particular item. It is very impressive,
what is possible with that type of software.
SUMMARY

A standard Piping Arrangement does not exist.

Like a Plot Plan or Equipment Arrangement, in the development phase of a new plant, the
requirements for the drawings will be made by customer and/or engineering company.