Column symbol
Also called Tower, Distillation column, Absorber
A column separates mixtures by distillation, absorption or stripping, with trays or packing inside where vapour and liquid meet.
What the column symbol means
A column separates mixtures by distillation, absorption or stripping, with trays or packing inside where vapour and liquid meet.
How it is drawn
A tall vessel with rounded ends and dashed or solid horizontal lines inside for the trays, or a cross-hatched band for packing.
The column symbol in each standard
Drawn as on most US-style legend sheets.
Tray column (general). ISO draws trays as dashed lines across the column. Bubble cap, valve tray, packed and fixed bed columns have their own numbers.
ISO SVG
German (DIN): Kolonne. See DIN P&ID symbols.
Where you see it on a P&ID
As distillation columns, absorbers, strippers and scrubbers.
Tag codes
The column is commonly tagged:
- C
- T
Tag formats follow the project numbering procedure. For instruments, the letters follow ISA 5.1, explained on the instrument symbols page.
Related symbols
Frequently asked questions
What does the column symbol look like on a P&ID?
A tall vessel with rounded ends and dashed or solid horizontal lines inside for the trays, or a cross-hatched band for packing.
What is a column used for?
A column separates mixtures by distillation, absorption or stripping, with trays or packing inside where vapour and liquid meet. You will find it as distillation columns, absorbers, strippers and scrubbers.
What tag does a column have?
It is commonly tagged C, T. The exact tag format comes from the project numbering procedure and the legend sheets.
Is the column symbol the same in ISA and ISO?
No. ISO draws trays as dashed lines across the column. Bubble cap, valve tray, packed and fixed bed columns have their own numbers. The ISO 10628-2 registration number is X8101. Always check the legend sheets at the front of the P&ID set.
What is the column called in German?
Kolonne. On a German R&I-Fließschema it is drawn to DIN EN ISO 10628-2.
- In production since 2014
- Thousands of daily users
- On MODEC FPSO projects since 2016