2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem solving that involves identifying the root cause of a problem and finding a solution to address it. Strong troubleshooting skills requires not only a combination of technical knowledge and critical thinking skills, but also strong communication skills to collaborate with others to efficiently solve complex problems. For instance, team must find a faulty component in a malfunctioning machine by using a systems approach, and then develop a solution to make it functional. Whether it is a technician performing routine maintenance on an engine, an engineer trying to solve technical problems on a production line, or a medical doctor trying to diagnose a disease given symptoms, troubleshooting is an essential, transferrable life skill that can be applied to nearly any complex problem in any discipline or industry. While troubleshooting is a sought-after skill in engineering industry and academia, traditional mechanical engineering curricula does not have formal instruction for developing troubleshooting skills.

In this “Bring Your Own Experiment” (BYOE) work, we present an experimental Stirling Engine setup and introduce different and multiple flaws into the system to teach troubleshooting to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The experimental setup consists of a two-cylinder Stirling engine, a heat source, and a propeller that is used to mix a fluid. The engine uses the thermal energy at the hot end to produce mechanical work at the impeller shaft output. We use a resistance wire with variable input electric current to adjust the energy input to the machine. To alter the torque output of the engine, we change the fluid viscosity at the propeller end. Sensors are employed in the experimental setup to measure the operating conditions of the machine. A thermometer measures the temperature of the hot cylinder. An in-house built tachometer quantifies the rotational speed of the impeller shaft.

We offer students a troubleshooting exercise in an engineering experimentation course at a mid-sized technological university. Students are given a scenario in the troubleshooting exercise. According to the scenario, the Stirling engine is used to mix a fluid at 500 rpm. We create a sub-standard output by using a higher viscosity liquid at the impeller end and as well as by decreasing the input energy. Students identify symptoms of the sub-standard system, formulate hypotheses for causes, identify faulty components, devise solutions, and validate their solutions. In this work, we describe the experimental setup and the engineering knowledge that relates to the system. Students’ performance on troubleshooting is presented subsequently. Average time to resolve troubleshooting errors, sample student hypotheses and how they relate to engineering knowledge are given in this work.
In this “Bring Your Own Experiment” (BYOE) work, we present an experimental Stirling Engine setup and introduce different and multiple flaws into the system to teach troubleshooting to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The experimental setup consists of a two-cylinder Stirling engine, a heat source, and a impeller that is used to mix a fluid. The engine uses the thermal energy at the hot end to produce mechanical work at the impeller shaft output. We use a resistance wire with variable input electric current to adjust the energy input to the machine. To alter the torque output of the engine, we change the fluid viscosity at the propeller end. Sensors are employed in the experimental setup to measure the operating conditions of the machine. A thermometer measures the temperature of the hot cylinder. An in-house built tachometer quantifies the rotational speed of the impeller shaft.
We offer students a troubleshooting exercise in an engineering experimentation course at a mid-sized technological university. Students are given a scenario in the troubleshooting exercise. According to the scenario, the Stirling engine is used to mix a fluid at a given speed. We create a sub-standard output by using a higher viscosity liquid at the impeller end and as well as by decreasing the input energy. Students identify symptoms of the sub-standard system, formulate hypotheses for causes, identify faulty components, devise solutions, and validate their solutions. In this work, we describe the experimental setup and the engineering knowledge that relates to the system. Students’ performance on troubleshooting is presented subsequently. Average time to resolve troubleshooting errors, sample student hypotheses and how they relate to engineering knowledge are given in this work.