The Types of Process Flow Diagrams

The types of process flow diagrams are described below.
Block Flow Diagram (BFD)

Process Flow Diagram (PFD)
Piping & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)
Types of Process flow diagram
Chemical engineering Process flow diagrams are extremely useful to understand

any chemical manufacturing process. There are total 3 types of process flow
diagram in chemical engineering and in this tutorial, we are going to learn what
is pfd diagram and what are the types of with examples.
Chemical engineering process flow diagram
A process flow diagram (PFD) is a graphical representation of a chemical process. The
PFD displays the relationship between the different process units in a clear, concise
manner. It is commonly used in chemical engineering and process engineering.
Chemical Engineering Process flow diagram are the diagram that will help us
understand the chemical process with the help of diagrams. These diagrams are the
fundamentals diagrams that will provide you the overall details of the process in
any chemical industry.
The PFD shows the general arrangement of the process units in a plant. It does not show
the detailed information such as pipe sizes, equipment types, or operating conditions. The
PFD should include all major unit operations and supporting systems, such as utilities.
Types of process flow diagram?

To understand the process in the chemical industry or any other industry, there are
different types of process flow diagram. Each type of process flow diagram provides
specific details of the plant. The types of process flow diagrams are described below.
1. Block Flow Diagram (BFD)

2. Process Flow Diagram (PFD)
3. Piping & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)
1. Block Flow Diagram (BFD)
The Block Flow Diagram is the simplest form of a Flow Diagram for a chemical
engineering process and typically shows the major pieces of equipment and the process
steps. It is a good way to get an overview of the process, but it does not show all the
details.
A Block flow diagram usually resembles a general material flow composed of rectangle
boxes that includes the major equipment of the process industry. This type of diagram
includes the chemical process flow along with equipment to provide an overview of the
chemical plant and process.
Example of block flow diagram
Example 1:,
A block flow diagram for a simple distillation process might look like this:
The feed (liquid to be distilled) is heated in the boiler to create vapor. The vapor rises into
the distillation column, where it comes into contact with the cooling water utility from
the condenser. This causes the vapor to condense, and the condensed liquid flows into the
reflux pot from that the condensed liquid is then collected in a collecting vessel.
Example 2:
The below diagram is an example of a block flow diagram. As you can see the whole
manufacturing process is described as a block diagram. The process flow is described in a
block flow diagram consisting of chemical process equipment in rectangular and square
and process flow is described as arrow. In block diagram. The Block diagram does not
include pipes, valve, interlock, etc, only the flow of the process through equipment are
described.
2. Process Flow Diagram (PFD)
The Process Flow Diagram goes a little deep than the Block Flow Diagram in that it
provides more detail about major equipment, subsystems, and process flow path. The
Process flow diagram may or may not includes the process parameters like pressure and
temperature information as well as the main parameters of the chemical plant and
process.
Now let us understand the process flow diagram with examples. You can see the below
figure of a process flow diagram. Process flow diagrams resemble the chemical process
through symbols and processes in detail compare to block flow diagrams. The process
flow diagram contains a specific diagram of the equipment containing information in
deep.
Process flow diagrams Examples
3. Piping & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)
Piping and instrumentation diagram is also known as process and instrumentation

diagram. This P&ID diagram is the detailed process flow diagram that includes more
details about the process industry like pipes diameter including pipes types and
identifications, valve types, control valve and interlocks and all the pipes flow i.e. vents,
drain line special fittings tapping and sampling lines etc.
Example of P&ID diagram – Process and instrumentation diagram

The Types of Process Flow Diagrams

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The types of process flow diagrams are described below.

Block Flow Diagram (BFD)

Types of Process flow diagram

Chemical engineering Process flow diagrams are extremely useful to understand

Types of process flow diagram?

1. Block Flow Diagram (BFD)

3. Piping & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)

Piping and instrumentation diagram is also known as process and instrumentation

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