What are P&ID and PEFS?
The creation and checking of piping and instrumentation diagrams, P&ID for short, is essential for the planning of alterations in existing chemical plants. P&ID schemes are plans in which not only pipelines and their installations are shown and termed. The designations contain all relevant information, such as nominal diameter, medium, pipe class, lagging and pressure stages. In PEFS (Process Engineering Flow Scheme), you can find the tanks, instruments, pumps, compressors etc. existing in process facilities. PEFS display the entire process.
Between all components, the coherences of regulation and control, operating procedures as well as directions of material flow are illustrated. P&IDs are meant for planning, technical service and maintenance of pipelines and instruments in process facilities. Especially programs in the field of computer-aided engineering (CAE) are used for creating the diagrams.
Possibilities to control the Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams
It is often unclear whether P&IDs comply with the current status. Thus, a control on site by means of a precise as-built documentation is necessary. According to conventional surveying methods, all pipelines have to be individually passed off on site and the captured objects wit the respective information have to be compared to a P&ID. This method is very laborious and time-consuming. Especially bad weather conditions, as wind and rain, may impede the work – for instance by reason of leaves flying away or running pen colors.
3D Laser Scanning for more Security in Planning
You don’t find these problems in the case of laser scanning. With this technology, an up-to-date replica of the facility is gathered without contact in a short time. The data can be uploaded and used immediately in a CAD system. Then, the control of P&ID or PEFS can be completed easily at the computer in the office because the survey facility is quasi “transported into the office”. An additional advantage is that the actual planning of alterations can be included into the point cloud generated out of scan data. This illustrates the planning process any more.
No objects and information can be forgotten any longer. Thus, a further survey on site isn’t required anymore. All dimensions are in conformity with the real current circumstances. No reference dimension can be forgotten any longer during recording.
The current status of planning can be illustrated on the PC at each point in time. Thus, the planners gain absolute security in their plans. Moreover, several trades can be coordinated during the planning since all use the same data base. Consequently, collisions between pipeline and cable routes can be prevented.
