Hi ,
Any engineer can memorize P&ID symbols. But can they spot when the PSV won't prevent a catastrophic overpressure event?
Reading P&IDs like a pro requires deep process engineering judgment across multiple domains:
Isolation Philosophy: Why does this line have double block & bleed while that one has single isolation? If proper isolation philosophy wasn't applied, operators may be exposed to harmful releases that can cause safety incidents when carrying out maintenance activities.
Design Conditions: Are those flanges rated correctly for the upset conditions? If a 150# flange rating is considered for piping where a PSV is placed and set to open at 500 psig, this would mean that either the flange will fail or the PSV will have no meaning to be placed on this pipe.
Overpressure Protection: Is that PSV actually protecting the vessel, or is there a normally closed valve that makes it useless?
Where are the class breaks really needed? Are they placed so that the portion with lower flange rating is protected from the design conditions of the portion with higher rating?
Line Sizing Logic: Does a 2" inlet and 8" outlet on that separator make sense? What if the vessel diameter is 3 m? How does this match with an inlet pipe size of 2"? There must be something wrong either in the sizing of inlet line or in the sizing of the vessel or outlet line.
Critical Safety Elements: Are interlocks sufficient? Is the PSV in the right location? Can operators actually isolate equipment safely for maintenance?
These aren't theoretical concerns. Missing any of these during P&ID review can lead to:
- Operator injuries during maintenance
- Unprotected equipment failures
- Millions in retrofit costs
- Regulatory violations and shutdowns
This is exactly why I created comprehensive courses covering ALL these aspects:
My P&ID Preparation Common Practices course goes deep into every critical review element, while courses on PSV Sizing, Vessel Sizing, and Pipe Sizing ensure you understand the calculations behind the drawings.
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If you have any questions or suggestions, or concerns, feel free to reply to this email.
Best regards,
Mohamad
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