Process Flow Diagram
What is a Process Flow Diagram
A Process Flow Diagram (PFD) is a diagram which shows the relationships between the main components in a system. Process Flow Diagrams are widely used by engineers in chemical and process engineering, they allows to indicate the general flow of plant process streams and equipment, helps to design the petroleum refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants, natural gas processing plants, and many other industrial facilities.
Process Flow Diagram is focused on the representation the major equipment and doesn't show minor equipment details and designations. The PFD of a single unit process can include:
- process piping;
- major equipment items, symbols, names and identification numbers;
- recirculation streams and major bypass;
- control valves and other valves which influence on the system's work, monitor and control the operations of the processes;
- flow directions;
- interconnections with other systems;
- the set of operational data - pressure, temperature, flow rate, density, operational values for the pumps, compressors, distillation columns and other vessels, composition of fluids, process stream names, amount and composition of all the major process streams, amount of heat, system ratings, etc.
Example 1. Process Flow Diagram - Crude Oil Distillation Unit
Benefits of Process Flow Diagram
The Process Flow Diagram has a wide set of benefits:
- gives a clear documentation of a process;
- allows to define and offers common understanding of processes;
- helps to build a process visual representation for analysis, discussion, and communication;
- allows to identify the scope of the process;
- allows to trace and analyze the process steps;
- helps to standardize and find areas for monitoring, improvement and increased efficiency in a process;
- allows to find and detach the steps of the process that are not essential;
- helps in understanding the logic of complex problems;
- offers a guidance for managers overseeing operations;
- shows the plant design basis, the arrangement of major equipment, process lines, main control loops;
- indicates feedstock, product, main streams flow rates and operating conditions;
- facilitates communication between programmers and business people;
- helps programmers to write the programs of any complexity and on the any high level language;
- helps in debugging process and provides efficient program maintenance;
- helps to understand and explain to other people the logic of the complex problems and their solution;
- assists to improve teamwork effectiveness.
Design a Process Flow Diagram in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with powerful tools of Flowcharts Solution from the "Diagrams" Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is effective for drawing:
- Process Flow Diagram
- Flow Process Diagram
- Business Process Flow Diagrams
Flowcharts Solution offers collection of predesigned samples and 2 libraries with variety of predesigned vector shapes for easy drawing Process Flow Diagrams:
- Flowchart library contains 26 objects,
- Flowcharts Rapid Draw library contains 39 objects.
Example 2. Process Flow Diagram. Design Elements — Invoice Payment Process Flowchart for Apple OS X and Windows
The Process Flow Diagrams you see on this page were created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software using the Flowcharts Solution and Chemical and Process Engineering Solution. These samples are available from ConceptDraw STORE.
Use the tools of Flowcharts Solution for ConceptDraw Solution Park for fast and easy designing professional looking Process Flow Diagram, and then successfully use it in your work activity.
All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing, modifying, or converting to a variety of formats (PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many other graphic formats) from the ConceptDraw STORE. The Flowcharts Solution is available for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM or later users.
TEN RELATED HOW TO's:
If you ever tried programming, you could face a lot of problems as a beginner. To help yourself, create a flowchart to follow an algorithm logic. Flowchart represents a program as a sequence of steps depicted in special symbols for each type of action.
This image of the interactive diagram made in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM applying the Live Objects technology. The diagram shows the effect of Selection Sort algorithm. The left part of the chart is the input area. The diagram in the central part of the drawing is a flow chart showing of the selection sort algorithm. The flowchart includes basic flowchart symbols, that represent various stages of algorithm. The flowchart symbols are connected with arrows ended lines, that depict the direction of the process flow. On the right side — the result is displayed.
Picture: What Is a Flowchart? Definition, Symbols, Examples and How to Create One
Related Solution:
This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the Pie Charts Solution from Graphs and Charts area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This sample shows the Pie Chart of the approximate air composition. You can see the percentage of oxygen, nitrogen and other gases in the air visualized on this Pie Chart.
Picture: Percentage Pie Chart. Pie Chart Examples
Related Solution:
Chore chart. Draw perfect-looking chore chart. Free chore chart samples. All about chore charts.
Picture: Chore charts with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
At the base of the identity of an organisational is its organizational culture.
Picture: Pyramid Diagram
Related Solutions:
A process flow diagram (PFD) is a diagram commonly used in chemical and process engineering to indicate the general flow of plant processes and equipment.
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts Solution from the Diagrams Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park offers the extensive drawing tools for quick and easy design professional looking Process Flow Diagrams.
Picture: Process Flow Diagrams
Related Solution:
The Total Quality Management Diagram solution helps you and your organization visualize business and industrial processes. Create Total Quality Management diagrams for business process with ConceptDraw software.
Picture: TQM Software — Build Professional TQM Diagrams
Related Solution:
Any information system receives data flows from external sources. In order to visualize them there is a list of data flow diagram symbols that describes how the system components cooperate. If you want to create a data flow diagram, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Solution Park has DFD Library that contains both Yourdon and Gane-Sarson notations.
This figure shows the content of vector libraries, delivered with ConceptDraw solution for data flow diagram (DFD). There are three libraries composed from about 50 vector objects used to make data flow diagrams.
They include a complete set of objects utilized by Yourdon-Coad and Gane-Sarson notations - two primary notations that are apply for data flow diagramming. Also, one can discover additional "Data flow diagram (DFD)" library that provides a data flow diagram elements for designing level 1 and context-level data flow diagrams.
Picture: Data Flow Diagram Symbols. DFD Library
Related Solution:
ConceptDraw is a best data visualization tool that will allow everyone to create rich infographics and visualizations quickly and easily.
Picture: Best Tool for Infographic Construction
It is impossible to imagine mechanical engineering without drawings which represent various mechanical schemes and designs. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software supplied with Mechanical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park offers the set of useful tools which make it a powerful Mechanical Drawing Software.
Picture: Mechanical Drawing Software
Related Solution:
Fast visualization of structured data is main capability of the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM. With numerous vector stencils and standard flowchart symbols from object libraries and the RapidDraw technology this program stands as the best professional flowchart software for drawing with type of flowchart symbols. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM also known as best flowchart maker.
Picture: Easy Flowchart Program and Standard Flowchart Symbols
Related Solution:
