Noise Prediction and Control of Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO)

Abstract

Recently, the noise regulations are being reinforced to restrict the noise levels in the workplace and to protect the operator on the offshore structures. So, the noise levels of indoor and outdoor are one of the crucial barometers for determining the quality of offshore structures. In this paper, an efficient and accurate noise analysis method, which is used to calculate the indoor and outdoor noise levels for Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, is introduced. The indoor noise level is calculated through summing up structure-borne noise, airborne noise from machinery, HVAC noise and transmitted noise from topside. Each noise level is predicted using appropriate methods by HHI’s procedures, which consider room acoustic theories, numerical methods like SEA and measured database at various ships and offshore structures. The outdoor noise level is predicted by using ray tracing method. Noise control procedures to improve acoustic properties of cabin/machinery room and to reduce the indoor/outdoor noise levels of offshore structures are also introduced: these procedures are produced by numerous experiments at the large scale acoustic test facilities like reverberant rooms and cabin mock-up. The established method has been applied to various types of real projects for FPSOs. The predicted results are confirmed to agree well with measurements results. It is expected to be very helpful to design the low noise FPSO.