Practice Test Geeks(CPT) Certified Process Technician Practice Test
← All CPT Flashcard Decks

Advanced Diagnostics & Troubleshooting Flashcards

7 cards from real CPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Advanced Diagnostics & Troubleshooting flashcards as text

  1. A centrifugal pump is cavitating. Which corrective action addresses the root cause when suction pressure is too low?

    Answer: Raise the liquid level in the suction vessel

    Raising the suction vessel liquid level increases the available NPSH, eliminating the low-pressure condition that causes cavitation.

  2. A control valve is hunting (oscillating continuously). The FIRST diagnostic step should be to:

    Answer: Switch the controller to manual and observe if hunting stops

    Switching to manual isolates whether the oscillation originates from the controller tuning or a mechanical problem with the valve itself.

  3. An orifice plate flow meter reads higher than the actual flow. Which condition MOST likely causes this error?

    Answer: Liquid density lower than calibration value

    A lower-than-calibrated fluid density causes the meter to over-read because flow is calculated assuming the calibrated density.

  4. During startup of a distillation column, tray flooding is suspected. Which symptom confirms flooding?

    Answer: Differential pressure across the column increases suddenly

    A sudden increase in column differential pressure indicates liquid backing up on the trays, confirming flooding conditions.

  5. A temperature transmitter has a fixed positive offset error of +15°F across all measurements. This type of error is called:

    Answer: Zero or bias error

    A consistent offset across the entire measurement range is a zero (bias) error, indicating the transmitter baseline needs re-zeroing.

  6. A heat exchanger's outlet temperature is declining over weeks despite steady inlet conditions. The MOST probable cause is:

    Answer: Fouling on the heat transfer surfaces

    Gradual performance decline over time with constant operating conditions is the classic signature of fouling accumulating on heat transfer surfaces.

  7. A pneumatic signal line to a valve actuator is leaking. What effect will this have on a fail-open (air-to-close) valve?

    Answer: Valve will open to a greater degree than commanded

    Loss of air pressure in an air-to-close actuator causes the spring to open the valve further than the controller commands.