Trouble Shooting
Terry A. Ring
Chemical Engineering
University of Utah
What is Trouble Shooting
• Problem solving process to find the root
cause of a problem.
• Trouble Shooting is not an exact science.
Try to Solve this problem
Costs for Analysis
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Action
Read meter
Check History
Make Manual Measurement
Adjust Operating Conditions
Disassemble Equipment
Install new Equipment
Cost
2 min.
5 min
30 min
30 min
4 hr
5 day
Guidelines
Critical Thinking and Trouble
Shooting
• Kepner-Tregoe (K-T) Strategy
– Clearly determine what is the problem
• Classification of problem into
– Do we need to determine the cause of the problem
– Do we need to make a decision on the problem
– Do we need to plan to avoid future problems
– Develop multiple approaches simultaneously
– Establish probability for success (and cost) of each
approach before proceeding
– Know what a potential response to a question will be
under various problem scenarios.
Socratic Questioning
Kepner-Tregoe (K-T) Strategy
When asking question or asking
for analysis
• What will I learn if I ask this question?
• How will I use this information to find the
fault?
• Keep 4 or 5 working hypotheses at any one
time.
K-T Analysis
K-T Potential Problem Analysis
Potential
Problem
Possible
Cause
A.
1.
2.
1.
2.
B.
Preventive
Action
Contingency
Plan
Try to Solve this problem
K-T Analysis
Possible Faults with Similar
Behavior
• 1) The steam trap is blocked causing liquid
condensate to back up in the heat exchanger so the
steam does not contact the pipes in the exchanger.
• 2) The entering water is sub-cooled.
• 3) The steam pressure and temperature have
dropped.
• 4) The heat exchanger has become fouled.
• 5) The steam is dirty, i.e., contains non
condensable gases.