A Process Flow Diagram (PFD) is a simplified diagram that shows the process flow of a manufacturing process in proper sequence. This diagram should consist of every essential detail like main equipment, Heat, Material, & Energy Balance, tag number, chemical composition, etc.
Also popular as Process Flow Chart, a Process Flow Diagram (PFD) describes the relationships between major components at any chemical, process, or power plant. Process Flow Diagrams or PFDs are developed using a series of symbols and notations to convey information for a process. The concept of PFD or process flow diagram was first introduced to ASME by Frank Gilbreth, Sr. in the year 1921.
Purpose of PFD or Process Flow Diagram
The purpose of the process flow diagram is to define the design of the process. A PFD is a fundamental representation of a process that schematically shows the conversion of the raw materials to the final products. Also, PFD is a basic document of a project as it is required by the project design team during the developmental stages of a project. At these stages, feasibility studies, and scope definition activities are undertaken before commencing detailed design. PFD is very closely associated with H & MB. For a project to proceed, they are used to decide if there are enough raw materials & utilities. The PFDs are documents that are used by plant-wide design groups and site management in a manufacturing organization. On completion of a PFD, detail engineering starts. Some engineering contractors or owners use a process flow diagram as a base for designing the instrumentation & control scheme. Other benefits that a process flow diagram serves are
PFDs show the plant design basis indicating feedstock, product, and main stream flow rates and operating conditions.
A PFD documents a process for training, quality control, and simpler understanding.
It standardizes a process for optimal efficiency and repeatability.
The scope of any process can easily be found in its PFD diagram.
It provides an overall idea of the complete process without detailing much on the minute details.
It helps to study the process in a simple way for better communication and brainstorming.
PFDs serve as the input document for the creation of P&IDs.
PFD diagram also provides information regarding the utility services that will be continuously used in a process.
Development of Process Flow Diagram
A PFD is most likely developed in multiple steps. The plant owner may develop a preliminary PFD, as a first step that sets down on paper a proposed process or a process change that is under consideration. But nowadays a PFD is generated by computerized simulator software using a library of indicating symbols like follows,
For a standard process, there are several licensors like UOP, Axens, Lummus, etc. & they are responsible for developing the PFD. Process flow diagrams of open art process units like CDU (Crude distillation unit), and VDU (vacuum distillation unit) can be found in the literature and encyclopedia of chemical technology. Some of them may be obsolete. After that, the PFD is reviewed by the engineering contractor’s process engineer & planning team before the release of the detailed design. So there is enough information in the PFD like material balance information, main equipment, etc. PFD undergoes several revisions based on the review, cost optimization, HAZOP study, opinion of the expert team, etc.
What are the basic information that a PFD contains?
The depth of information furnished in a process flow diagram may vary from organization to organization. However, in general, the following information is added in a PFD.
For batch process, indicate batch capacity & batch cycle time. For continuous process indicate design production rate.
Material balance:
Composition & quantity of material in process for each unit operation & each important pipeline. For batch process indicate equipment capacity & pipeline flow per batch basis. Continuous processes show flow rates in weight or volume units per hour.
Energy balance:
Indicate heat balance or heat transfer data for each unit operation.
Physical data:
Indicate operating pressure and temperature, specific gravity, molecular weight, viscosity, specific heat, and other important data.
Equipment information:
Represent all the unit operations involved in the process. Spare equipment, duplicate parallel lines, and bypass lines don’t need to show unless necessary. Arrange all the unit operations properly so that maximum simplicity can be achieved. Indicate the correct relative position so as to gravity flow, seal loop, and other requirements can be represented correctly. Represent the proper name, tag number, and capacity of each equipment item involved in the unit operations. Important features of the equipment like agitators, trays, and jacket coils are to be indicated in PFD.
Piping information:
Major process lines associated with the process are to be shown with proper directions. Other important piping items like sampling point, inline filter static mixture, etc as well as control valves to be shown in a process flow diagram. Show the major service or utility line that is essentially required for the process.
Instrument Information:
Show all the critical instruments which are involved in the control loop like the mass flow meter, temperature transmitter, etc. Along with the proper control scheme the instruments participated in the control scheme to be shown in the process flow diagram.
Use the standard scale ratio set by project standards for drawing the PFD. Generally, arrange the flow for trimming to 11” or 22” height. If an absolute scale is not used the process flow diagram should show the relative size and elevation of the components.
Drawing Instructions:
Use the standard symbol of the equipment, sketch, etc, set by the project standard. It should be represented in the legend sheet. Use the applicable data in a tabulated format and show it at the bottom of the process flow diagram for each unit operation and process line. Define the steam numbers of each process line shown in the process flow diagram whose operating condition should be represented in the process flow diagram. Indicate the proper arrow for showing the correct flow of the process so that the process flow diagram can be easily understood. Mention the process lines which carry the two-phase flow.
Flow summary:
Process flow data & conditions are provided on the process flow diagram (ref Table 5). As the process flow diagram is related closely to the material balance, mass flow units are normally used. Additionally, pressure & temperature conditions are provided as well. Flow summary is shown on the process flow diagram which contains all the necessary information. The below-tabulated format (Table-1) that contains the following information about the process should be represented in the process flow diagram.
Essential information
Optional information
Stream number
Component Mole Fraction
Operating temperature
Component Mass Fraction
Operating pressure
Individual Component Flow rates
Vapor fraction
Volumetric Flow rates
Mass flow rate
Density, Viscosity, Heat Capacity, etc.
Molar flow rate
Stream Name
Individual component flow rate
K-Values
Flow Direction
Stream Enthalpy
Table 1: Information contained in Flow Summary
As already informed that PFD is not detailed drawings of the process. So It does not provide the following information, in general:
Equipment dimensional information and requirement of spare equipment
Code class information, etc
Symbols for Process Flow Diagram
The process flow diagram shall use symbols & letter designation to represent the equipment on the process flow diagram. It is not at all necessary to add more details to the equipment shown on a process flow diagram. For example, a heat exchanger can be represented as a simple line representation of the main process flow and heat transfer medium flow, without implying a particular type of exchange. For a process flow diagram, the only information required is that a piece of equipment transfers heat at that point of the process rather than showing specifically the mechanism for heat transfers.
Process flow diagram Symbols for Equipment | PFD Equipment Symbols
The process flow diagram symbols for equipment are shown in Fig. 2 below.
Fig. 2: Typical Symbols used in PFD
Equipment Description for PFDs and PIDs
Equipment Type
Description of Equipment
Towers
Size (height & diameter), Pressure, Temperature Number and Type of Trays Height and Type of Packing Material of Construction
Heat Exchanger
Type: Gas-Gas, Gas-Liquid, Liquid-Liquid, Condenser, vaporizer Process: Duty, Area, Temperature, Pressure for both streams No. of shell & Tube passes Material of Construction
Tanks/Vessel
Height, Diameter, Orientation, Pressure, Temperature, Material of Construction
Pumps
Flow, Discharge Pressure, Temperature, Driver type, Shaft Power, Material of Construction
Compressors
Actual Inlet Flow Rate, Pressure, Temperature, Driver type, Shaft Power, Material of Construction
Heaters
Type, Tube Pressure, Tube temperature, Duty, Fuel, Material of construction
Table 3: Description of Equipment in PFD
Example of Process Flow diagram
Fig. 3: A Simplified Process Flow Diagram
As per Fig-3, it is clearly showing that there is a flow in the process line, stream number (1) of 10000 lb/hr of wet gas with a temperature between 90 F and 180 F and a pressure of 20 Psi. The variation in temperature is caused by a process upset at the upstream of PFD. Note that, only a stream number, (1),(2),(3) identifies the pipeline. Not included is the line size, the material of construction, or the pressure rating (ANSI 150, ANSI 300, etc) for any of the piping shown on the PFD. Also, note that there is no symbol or data shown for the pump driver. Only the equipment number, G-005 identifies the pump. So it is very clear that the PFD represents the relationship between the main equipment of a process plant and at the same time, it does not show minute details like piping details and designations, etc.
Fig. 4: Sample of Process flow diagram
Fig. 5: Process flow diagram (PFD) for the Production of Benzene via Hydrodealkylation of Toluene
Flow summary table:
Stream Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Temperature (ᵒC)
25
59
25
225
41
600
41
38
Pressure
1.90
25.8
25.5
25.2
25.5
25.0
25.5
23.9
Vapor Fraction
0.0
0.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
Mass Flow (ton/hr)
10.0
13.2
0.82
20.5
6.41
20.5
0.36
9.2
Molar Flow (Kmol/hr
108.7
144.2
301.0
1204.4
758.8
1204.4
42.6
1100.8
Component Mole Flow (Kmol/hr)
Hydrogen
.0.0
0.0
286.0
735.4
449.4
735.4
25.2
651.9
Methane
0.0
0.0
15.0
317.3
302.2
317.3
16.95
438.3
Benzene
0.0
1.0
0.0
7.6
6.6
7.6
0.37
9.55
Toluene
108.7
143.2
0.0
144.0
0.7
144.0
0.04
1.05
Table 4: Representation of Flow summary of Benzene Production from Toluene.
Codes and Standards for Process Flow Diagrams
The following codes and standards can be used for developing process flow diagrams for the process industry.
ISO 15519
ISO 10628
SAA AS 1109
ISA 5.7
Are PFD and P&ID different?
Yes, both PFD and P&ID are two different process documents. P&ID provides more detailed information about the process steps. The main differences between a PFD and P&ID are provided here.
A Chemical Engineering professional with extensive experience in the field of Process Engineering Design in Oil and Gas sector. Engaged in the engineering of Hydrogenation, Hydrotreating (Naphtha, Diesel & Gasoil), Naphtha reforming, FCC units, & Polymer process in Petrochemical units.
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Excellent information.