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    Cooling Tower Noise Reduction Presentation - Kinetics PDF

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    Ullas EK
    This document discusses noise control strategies for cooling towers. It describes cooling tower components and noise sources, as well as options for noise reduction including silencers, low noise fans, motor controls, and vibration isolation. It then presents a case study where silencers were used to reduce noise from large cooling towers near Niagara Falls in order to minimize environmental impact, lowering noise levels by 10-20 dB.

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    Cooling Tower Noise Reduction Presentation - Kinetics PDF

    Uploaded by

    Ullas EK
    148 views37 pages
    This document discusses noise control strategies for cooling towers. It describes cooling tower components and noise sources, as well as options for noise reduction including silencers, low noise fans, motor controls, and vibration isolation. It then presents a case study where silencers were used to reduce noise from large cooling towers near Niagara Falls in order to minimize environmental impact, lowering noise levels by 10-20 dB.

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    This document discusses noise control strategies for cooling towers. It describes cooling tower components and noise sources, as well as options for noise reduction including silencers, low noise fans, motor controls, and vibration isolation. It then presents a case study where silencers were used to reduce noise from large cooling towers near Niagara Falls in order to minimize environmental impact, lowering noise levels by 10-20 dB.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    148 views37 pages

    Cooling Tower Noise Reduction Presentation - Kinetics PDF

    Uploaded by

    Ullas EK
    This document discusses noise control strategies for cooling towers. It describes cooling tower components and noise sources, as well as options for noise reduction including silencers, low noise fans, motor controls, and vibration isolation. It then presents a case study where silencers were used to reduce noise from large cooling towers near Niagara Falls in order to minimize environmental impact, lowering noise levels by 10-20 dB.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 37
    At a glance
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    The key takeaways are that cooling towers produce noise from fans, water spraying, and mechanical equipment. Several options exist to reduce noise, including silencers, low noise fans, barriers, and motor controls.

    The main noise sources from cooling towers are fan noise at low frequencies, water spraying and splashing at higher frequencies, and noise from motors, belts or gearboxes. Intake noise is typically 5 dB less than discharge noise, and noise increases with fan speed.

    Options for reducing cooling tower noise include proper location and orientation, oversizing (though expensive), using low noise fans, motor controls like variable frequency drives, installing noise barrier walls, and adding silencers.

    Providence, Rhode Island

    Acoustical Society of America


    5-9 June 2006

    Cooling Tower Noise Control


    Tom Paige, P.Eng.
    Products Application Engineer
    Kinetics Noise Control, Inc.
    Vibron Products Group
    Mississauga, Ontario
    Canada
    tpaige@kineticsnoise.com

    VIBRON PRODUCTS GROUP


    Presentation Overview

    • Induced-Draft Cooling Towers


    • Cooling Tower Noise Sources
    • Noise Control Options
    • Silencers for Cooling Towers
    • Vibration Isolation
    • Case Study - Silencing
    Induced-Draft Cooling Towers
    • Most common type
    • Large propeller fan located on
    top of unit discharging upward
    • Air is drawn into the intakes on
    the sides of the unit and passes
    through a stream of water
    • Some water evaporates into the
    airstream causing cooling
    Cooling Tower Basic System

    From ASHRAE Publication - HVAC Simplified


    Cooling Tower Noise Sources
    • Fan noise - low frequency
    • Blade passage tone below 63 Hz
    • Spraying and splashing noise of
    water - higher frequencies
    • Motor, belts or gearbox noise
    • Intake noise level typically 5 dB
    less than discharge
    • Noise increases with fan speed
    Typical Noise Spectrum
    80
    Sound Pressure Level (dB)
    75

    70

    65

    60

    55

    50
    63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000
    Octave Band (Hz)

    800-Ton Induced-Draft Propeller-Fan Cooling Tower 50’ from Air Inlet


    Directivity
    Induced-Draft Propeller-Fan Cooling Tower
    Directivity Index (dB)
    Octave
    63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
    Band (Hz)
    Front (Air
    0 0 1 2 2 2 3 3
    Inlet)
    Side
    -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -4 -5 -6
    (Enclosed)
    Top
    +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +4 +5 +5
    (Discharge)

    From ASHRAE Publication - Application of Manufacturers Sound Data


    Noise Ratings

    • Cooling Technology Institute


    • Acceptance Test Code ATC-128
    • Sound pressure level readings
    are taken on 4 sides and top at
    distances 5’(1.5 m) and 50’(15 m)
    • Sound power levels calculated
    from the 50’ SPL readings
    Cooling Tower Typical Sound Data

    From ASHRAE Publication - Application of Manufacturers Sound Data


    Noise Control Options

    • Location and orientation


    • Over-sizing (expensive)
    • Low noise fans
    • Motor control options
    • Noise barrier walls
    • Silencers
    Low Noise Fans

    • Aerodynamically shaped blades


    • Lower tip speed
    • Larger diameter blades
    • More blades
    • Larger chord blades
    • 12 dBA reduction possible
    Low Noise Fan Blades

    Standard Blades Wide-Chord Blades


    From ASHRAE Publication - A Practical Guide to Noise and Vibration
    Control for HVAC Systems
    Motor Control Options

    • Two-speed motor
    • Variable frequency drive
    • Day-night operation
    • On-off cycling noise annoying
    • Reducing fan speed by 50%
    reduces noise by 8 to 10 dBA
    Noise Barrier Walls
    • Close as possible to unit
    • Clearance for air movement
    (restriction or recirculation)
    • Maintenance access
    • Sound absorbing material
    facing noise source
    • Barrier must at least block line-
    of-sight at receptor
    Roof-Top Noise Barrier Wall
    Cooling Tower Silencing

    • Fan discharge silencers on top


    • Intake silencers on sides
    • Plenums for access and
    servicing
    • Pressure drop very low
    • System effects
    Materials for Silencer Construction
    • Discharge air is 100% saturated
    with water vapor
    • G 90 Galvanized steel
    • 304, 316 Stainless steel (costly)
    • Fiberglass reinforced polyester
    • Budget, life expectancy,
    environment
    Structural Considerations

    • Cooling tower cell not usually


    strong enough to support
    weight of silencers
    • Separate structural frame
    needed
    • Wind-loading on silencers
    Vibration Isolation

    • Required on cooling towers on


    building rooftops
    • Provide structural beams at
    base
    • Use vertically-restrained spring
    isolators with 2” to 4” deflection
    • Seismic considerations
    Restrained Spring Isolator
    Case Study - Large Casino
    • Large casino located adjacent to
    Niagara Falls
    • 3 double-cell cooling towers
    • Each unit 1970 tons of cooling
    • Cooling tower environmental
    noise impact on natural waterfall
    sound a major concern
    • Also noise impact on hotel
    Cooling Tower Assembly Begins
    Cooling Tower Assembly Complete
    Silencers - Design Requirements
    • Discharge silencers installed on
    propeller fans on top of cells
    • Fan diameter 3300 mm (11 ft)
    • Intake silencers installed over
    air intakes on front and back
    • Pressure drop to be very low
    • Separate structural framework
    • Access for maintenance
    Silencer Installation Begins
    Intake Silencers - Design Criteria
    • Two intake silencers per cell
    • Total 12 intake silencers
    • 3500 x 5200 mm (11.5 x 17 ft)
    • Length 900 mm (3 ft)
    • Standard rectangular silencers
    • Airflow 54,250 L/s (115,000 cfm)
    • Design pressure drop 3 Pa
    (0.01” wg)
    Cooling Tower Intake Silencers
    Discharge Silencers - Design Criteria
    • Total 6 discharge silencers
    • Rectangular with circular bullet
    • 3500 x 3500 mm (11.5 x 11.5 ft)
    • Length 3000 mm (10 ft)
    • Bullet diameter 900 mm (3 ft)
    • Airflow 108,500 L/s (230,000 cfm)
    • Design pressure drop 15 Pa
    (0.06” wg)
    Discharge Silencer Assembly
    Discharge Silencer Assembly
    Discharge Silencers Installed
    Cooling Tower Silencers Complete
    Design Insertion Loss
    Discharge Silencers
    Octave
    63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
    Band (Hz)
    Insertion
    4 14 22 25 11 6 2 1
    Loss (dB)

    Intake Silencers
    Octave
    63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
    Band (Hz)
    Insertion
    6 8 16 29 24 12 11 10
    Loss (dB)
    Maintenance Issues
    • Short plenums provided between
    cooling tower fans and silencers
    for access
    • Silencer material - galvanized
    steel
    • Zinc-rich paint on exposed welds
    • Acoustic media - fiberglass
    Casino Cooling Tower Silencers
    Cooling Tower Silencing Overview
    Summary
    • There are several strategies for
    reducing cooling tower noise.
    • Properly designed silencers can
    reduce noise levels by about
    10 to 20 dBA without affecting
    cooling tower operation.
    • Silencers can easily be adapted
    to induced-draft cooling towers.

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