AutoCAD P&ID

[#1]

I'm more or less starting with AutoCAD P&ID 2012 (german version). So please be forgiving, when I'm not using the correct terms...

One feature of ACAD P&ID is that manual valve can be transfered to control valves. However, in the database it becomes an In-line Instrument. To my understanding, this dosn't makes any sense and causes various troubles in tagging, generating consumer lists, etc.

Any comments? Is this changed in the 2013 version?

Greetings..

[#2]

Normally control valves are considered instrumentation. Is this not true in your case?

[#3]

May be one reason for this issue is a translation problem. In the German version the control valves are part of a category call "Messinstrumente", which literally means "measuring instruments". And this is definitely not a proper designation.

However, it is not just the name. Physically a "control valve" is a valve with a drive, controlled by the DCS. A measurement is something very different. Consequently the properties of measuring instruments and control instruments are very different as well. Regarding typical properties, control instruments are more similar to "Equipment" than to measuring instruments. However, a common definition of "Instrumentation" properties is only limitedly possible. On the other hand the data structure of AutoCAD P&ID regards measuring instruments and control instruments to be "similar", making the definition of the various properties in the database very complicated.

As far as I understand, in the Datamanager measuring and control instruments will all show up under the "Instrumentation" headline. For the reasons discussed above, this doesn't make much sense to me as well. Further the designation system for power plants commonly used in Germany and other European countries distinguish clearly between measuring and control instruments. Again, the current data structure makes everything very complicated again.

But let me guess, the current concept is deeply rooted in the system and can't be altered. Therefore my work-around solution is a new Equipment category called "Control Instruments". Maybe some day AutoDesk will make the data structure more flexible.

[#4]

I have the exact same problem discussed above. I tried many different customization but in the end the control valve substitution switched to inline instruments substitution menu on the quick substittution on the drawing. SOmetimes we do need to substitute the body of the control valve rather than using gate valve/ or unspecified valve with a ball valve body. At that time you cannot find the bodyblocks on the quick menu. It shows inline instruments. Look like this is a block customization issue on the database. It may be mapped to inline instruments blocks.

I tried using a valve and using actuator seperately but at that time on data manager you cannot really customize a control valve because those blocks shows themselves with the spec of classes where they belong. So it is not a control valve that you defined.

Any help would be appreciate it.

Thanks,

Kybele