Abstract
This research is an acoustical performance study in an open cycle peaking gas turbine power plant located at the southern coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Referring to its location at the middle of residence and tourism area, throughout its operation years, several complains from public has been lodged about the excessive operational noise at the perimeter of the plant and statistically from the last decade, twenty-four (24) noise related public complains were recorded. This issue has initiated a study to determine the current operational noise level as well as the effectiveness of the existing noise barriers. Based on EIA approval, the boundary noise for the operation should be limited to 55 dB(A) at any time. The field measurement of noise level at two (2) different locations are assessed in-situ and continuously noise monitoring covering all the plant’s operational regime and at different plant operational pattern. These results are compared with the initial noise report during its early year of operation in 1999. Finally the hypotheses then compared with the referenced legislations. Results from all the methodologies show the current operational noise level of the plant are within the permissible limit, however the overall operational noise of the plant is increasing compared with 1999 report due to the increasing of surrounding activities as well as deteriorating of current engineering and natural noise barrier arrangement. Mitigation plans has been recommended to the management to minimize the impact of the excessive noise to surrounding residence and to the plant workers. On top of that, the theoretical and commercial implication of the research is also discussed.
Highlights
This research is initiated to study the current operational noise level as well as the effectiveness of the existing noise barriers at the open cycle power plant located at the southern coast of Peninsula Malaysia
The open cycle gas turbine power plant is located at the southern coast of Peninsula Malaysia, sits inside a perimeter of 2.2 km
With the location surrounded by the public interest area, it is very important for the plant to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Department of Environment (DOE) regulation on the operational noise
Summary
With the location surrounded by the public interest area, it is very important for the plant to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Department of Environment (DOE) regulation on the operational noise. The noise issues is being a sensitive issue since the residences had launched a protest on the plant’s operational noise since the beginning of the plant’s operation This issue is given the first priority by the management of the plant to ensure its conformation towards the regulation. This research is initiated to determine its significant to the current noise level of the plant’s operation and to gauge the potential noise exposure to the plant worker as per Factories & Machinery Act (Noise Exposure) Regulation 1989 as well as the effectiveness of current noise barriers towards the recommendation and required level spelled out in the EIA in 1994 and to the current legislation in Malaysia. This research as well acted as a basis to the noise level permitted by the operation of the plant which being subjected to the public complains throughout its operating years
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