Heat exchanger P&ID symbols

P&ID diagrams, also known as Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, are used to map out the design of engineering systems in various industries. These diagrams are essential for problem identification and troubleshooting, as they provide a clear representation of the system's components and their interconnections. It is important to know heat exchanger P&ID symbols to read P&ID diagrams.

Commonly used P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) symbols for heat transfer equipment. Note that they may differ slightly from one project to another.

Table of Content - Heat Exchanger P&ID Symbols:
Air-cooled heat exchanger
Generic heat exchanger
Plate and frame heat exchanger
Double pipe U tube heat exchanger
Hairpin type Double pipe tube heat exchanger
Shell and tube heat exchanger
Kettle type heat exchanger
Spiral Heat Exchanger
Condenser
Boiler
Cooling Tower

Air cooled heat exchanger

An air cooled heat exchanger cools a circulating fluid within finned tubes by forcing ambient air over the exterior of the tubes. The rectangle represents the main body of the heat exchanger and the diagonal line represents the fan for the flow of air. A zigzag line shows the flow of liquid through tubes over flow of air by fan.

Generic heat exchanger

This is simple P&ID symbol of generic heat exchanger. The generic heat exchanger can be used to model any type of heat exchanger. A circle represents the heat exchanger itself. Line shows inlet and outlet for one of the fluid.

Plate and frame heat exchanger

The P&ID symbol for a plate and frame heat exchanger typically consists of two lines, with one line representing the hot fluid flow and the other representing the cold fluid flow. The plates in the heat exchanger are represented by small, evenly spaced rectangles that are connected by the hot and cold fluid flow lines.

Double pipe U tube heat exchanger

A U tube double pipe heat exchanger is represented by a symbol that resembles two pipes running parallel to each other. The inner pipe represents the hot fluid flow and the outer pipe represents the cold fluid flow. The U-shape bend in the inner pipe represents the U-tube design of the heat exchanger.

Hairpin type Double pipe heat exchanger

A hairpin heat exchanger is a type of double-pipe heat exchanger that consists of two parallel, U-shaped tubes that are positioned in opposite directions and brazed or welded together at their end plates.

Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger

In a P&ID diagram, a shell and tube heat exchanger is represented by a symbol that consists of a large oval shape, which represents the shell of the heat exchanger. The oval shape has two openings on the top and two on the bottom for the inlet / outlet of hot and cold fluid.

Kettle type heat exchanger

A kettle-type heat exchanger is a type of shell and tube heat exchanger that is shaped like a kettle or a boiling pan. A kettle type heat exchanger is represented in a P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) by a symbol that resembles a kettle or a rounded vessel. Tubes are represented by shape inside kettle. One fluid flows through tubes while the other fluid flows over the tubes.

Spiral Heat Exchanger

The P&ID symbol for a spiral heat exchanger typically consists of two lines for the inlet of hot and cold fluid and two lines for outlet of hot and cold fluid. It also contains a spiral-like shape in between which represent core of heat exchanger where transfer of heat takes place.

Condenser

The P&ID symbol for a condenser typically consists of a circle or rectangle with lines, representing the inlet and outlet of the condenser, and an arrowhead indicating the direction of fluid flow. The cross arrow indicates removal of heat in condense. The use of this symbol in a P&ID diagram represents the process of condensing a gas or vapor into a liquid form, typically through the transfer of heat to a coolant fluid.

Boiler

A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated to produce steam or hot water for use in various processes or heating applications. This symbol is used to represent Boiler in P&ID diagram. The use of this symbol in a P&ID diagram represents the process of heating a fluid, typically water, to produce steam or hot water for use in various processes or heating applications.

Cooling Tower

The cooling tower works by cooling hot water which has absorbed heat from various processes. This hot water is exposed to the air, which causes the water to evaporate and remove heat.