Trouble Shooting

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Trouble Shooting

• Terry A. Ring
• Chemical Engineering
• University of Utah

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What is Trouble Shooting

• Problem solving process to find the root cause of
  a problem.
• Trouble Shooting is not an exact science.

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Try to Solve this problem
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Costs for Analysis

• Action Cost
• Read meter 2 min.
• Check History 5 min
• Make Manual Measurement 30 min
• Adjust Operating Conditions 30 min
• Disassemble Equipment 4 hr
• Install new Equipment 5 day

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Guidelines
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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.

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Socratic Questioning
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Kepner-Tregoe (K-T) Strategy
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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.

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K-T Analysis
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K-T Potential Problem Analysis
Potential Problem Possible Cause Preventive Action Contingency Plan
A. 1. 2.
B. 1. 2.
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Try to Solve this problem
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K-T Analysis
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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.