PandIX — Exchanging P&I diagram model data

The P&I diagram (P&ID) shows the product flow structure and the functionality of a process plant. These data are a central base of the downstream control engineering and maintenance processes. We present a model to store these data electronically. Furthermore, the model allows a simple, formal, and unambiguous exchange of P&ID information. It is a bridge between significant information gaps through the information flow between process plant engineering and control engineering. The model is designed in a simple, formal, and unambiguous way. It allows an explicit access to the structural and functional information of the plant. Via this access, the downstream engineering processes can be supported by automatic assistance functions and self-configuration tools. A PandIX model can be created via an XSL transformation, which creates a CAEX file out of a vendor-specific XML file.