Environmental Noise Emission Research Articles

Towards the development of measurement and analysis method for aerodynamic noise emission from high speed train: the UIC Aeronoise Project

The increase of railway lines operating at speeds above 250 km/h has shifted the attention towards environmental noise emissions by aerodynamic noise, dominant at these speeds. Adding complexity to the issue, while railway noise emissions at conventional speeds are concentrated in the lower parts of the train, aerodynamic noise emissions are distributed along the train at different heights and depending on the train design. Assessment of aerodynamic noise emissions of high speed train has been endeavored using microphone arrays, implementing different variants of the wave beamforming algorithm. This method involves a quite complex post-processing, and also numerical quantification of results is not immediate. UIC AERONOISE project has aimed at developing a simplified pass-by test methodology capable of quantifying aerodynamic noise emissions from high speed , using exclusively a limited number of standard instrumentation microphones. This methodology has been validated theoretically and is currently undergoing experimental tests. Fundamental points in this methodology are explained in this contribution, together with results achieved so far.

Battery energy storage systems environmental noise emission

The use of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in the electricity grid is rapidly growing due to its ability to bridge the gap between times of energy needs and when certain renewable sources are not generating. The use of battery storage helps the grid to remain stable due to its ability to respond quickly to changes in energy demand. Grid-scale battery storage has the potential to significantly assist in the renewable energy transition. Noise has emerged as a key environmental impact challenge in the development of BESS. But why? In our work with BESS, the noise is commonly associated with the battery and inverter modules’ heating and cooling systems, with the use of fans and compressors being the main emitters. However, the noise levels emitted are highly variable and depend on several factors, including operating conditions, ambient temperatures, and speed drives. We will explore the noise emissions of BESS, and key challenges like: —pathways for mitigating noise, including discussion of options at different project stages, ranging from site selection to commissioning. —challenges in accurate noise emission modeling —explore lessons learnt from a project from the design stage to post construction commissioning testing. Including the noise modeling predictions and their accuracy.

Experimental Study of Grain Dryer Noise Emissions

There is increasing interest in the environmental noise emissions from grain dryers and the potential impact of practical noise pollution mitigations such as barriers adjacent to dryers. Grain dryers are an essential part of grain production in many parts of the world, including Ontario, Canada. Most dryers are large, stationary units that include a burner to provide process heat and a fan or blower to move heated air through the grain being dried. This study measured sound levels at a range of distances from multiple grain drying facilities in Ontario, Canada, over two drying seasons. It was found that the sound level at a given distance varied substantially, depending on the dryer type and presence of blocking features such as grain bins or buildings. Noise emissions did not necessarily correlate to the size or drying capacity of the facility, with some smaller top dry dryers having higher noise emissions than other much larger tower dryers. Targeted investigations of the impact of practical remediations in the form of physical sound barriers showed sound level reductions were possible that were similar in magnitude to those achieved by highway sound walls along roadways, with most sound reduction being at higher frequencies.

Challenges in Modeling Environmental Noise From Boats

Boats have characteristics that are unlike other surface transportation modes, and many of them make it challenging to model environmental noise emissions from boating activiteis. This paper discusses some of the challenges associated with modeling environmental noise from boats.

Interpretation of Road Traffic Noise Changes with Noise Mapping

Abstract With the advancement of technology and the drastic increase in the number of noise sources, environmental noise emission is increasing year by year. In the case of urban dwellers, noise from road traffic accounts for the largest share of noise pollution, with a number of negative health effects. The aim of our research is to monitor the road noise emission of the city of Debrecen in detail, using hourly traffic data. After data processing, various situations were modeled according to the MSZ 15036:2002 standard with the help of the IMMI noise mapping program. Overall, it can be said that the studies we have carried out support the high level and increasing trend of noise exposure.

Burden of diseases attributed to traffic noise in the metropolis of Tehran in 2017

Although road traffic noise is the most important source of environmental noise emission in large cities, little is known about health burden. The present study was conducted to estimate the burden of diseases attributed to traffic noise in the metropolis of Tehran in 2017. Using noise maps provided by the municipality of Tehran, we calculated population exposure distribution in term of Ldn and Lnight and the number of DALYs lost due to ischemic heart disease, hypertension, high sleep disturbance, annoyance and stroke endpoints based on the World Health Organization Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. We applied published dose-response functions to estimate the traffic noise burden for high sleep disturbance and annoyance. We estimated 61,284 DALYs or 697 DALYs per 100,000 population attributed to traffic noise in Tehran for the reference year 2017. Highly sleep disturbance with a share of 58.74% of the DALYs was recognized as the most important contributor of disease burden, and noise annoyance with a share of 23.12% was ranked next. Ischemic heart disease (11.71%), stroke (5.12%), and hypertension (1.31%) were ranked third to fourth, respectively, in terms of the burden of disease caused by environmental noise. A considerable fraction of the population of Tehran lives in areas with an environmental noise higher than the standard level. The findings showed that traffic noise pollution is an important environmental risk factor in Tehran imposes the greatest burden on the community, mainly through highly sleep disturbance and noise annoyance endpoints.

Discussion on Substation Noise Control Target and Simulation Analysis

Substation noise engineering control is an important environmental protection content of current power grid companies. How to ensure the effectiveness of noise control and reduce environmental complaints and disputes has become an important subject for engineering and technical personnel. This paper analyzes and discusses the “Environmental Noise Emission Standards for Industrial Plants” (GB 12348-2008), and uses the simulation calculations and analysis cases of typical substation noise control to propose the principles and principles of sensitive targets and station boundaries in substation noise control. The analysis method in substation noise control provides reference and reference for the revision of substation noise engineering control technology and related standards.

Methodics of assessing environmental noise emission while performing hydraulic fracturing operations in shale formations

Methodics of assessing environmental noise emission while performing hydraulic fracturing operations in shale formations

Vibration characteristics of a disk-type winding simulated by coupled concentric rings

Mechanical faults in the winding are often related to the changes in the vibro-acoustical response of the transformers with respect to the electromagnetic force in winding. Understanding of the effects of the faults on the vibration characteristics of transformer windings is useful when diagnosing winding faults using transformer’s vibration signature, and when predicting the environmental noise emission from transformers. In this paper, mechanical faults, such as failure of interlayer insulation pressboards and local winding deformations, of the disk-type windings in a 110-kV power transformer, and their effects on the vibration responses of the windings are presented. The disk-type windings are also experimentally modeled by a stack of coupled concentric rings with well-defined faults. A good qualitative agreement is found between measured responses of the power transformer and of the stack of coupled concentric rings. The dependence of the response of the stack on increasing degree of faults provides useful details for understanding the cumulative effect of the faults on the winding’s vibration characteristics. Methods for identifying the location and severity of the faults based on the measured vibration responses are also outlined.

The Effect of Slab Track on Wheel/Rail Rolling Noise in High Speed Railway

The slab track of high speed railway has higher environmental noise emissions caused by a train running than the ballasted track. In order to predict and control wheel/rail rolling noise radiation due to roughness of wheel and rail running surface on slab track, a model is developed to calculate wheel/rail rolling noise of the slab track and analyze the influences of railway slab structure parameters on wheel/rail rolling noise. The results show that the rail noise occurs mainly in the middle and high frequency ranges of 500–2000Hz. The wheel noise is chiefly in the high frequency ranges of 1600–4000Hz, and the track slab noise radiates in the frequency ranges of 125–500Hz. Instantaneous noise pressure of the rail is first, the slab is second, the wheel is in between. The weights of the slab have more influence on emissions of the slab, but have little impact on noise emission of the wheel and rail. Below 500Hz, the greater weight of the slab is, the greater noise emission of the slab is, but above 500Hz,...

Driver exposure and environmental noise emission of Massey Ferguson 285 tractor during operations with different engine speeds and gears

Agricultural tractor has led to development of agriculture industry, however, same as other new technologies it produces noise pollution on fields and makes some problems for drivers and farmers as well. This is aimed to investigate the driver's exposure and noise emitted from Massey Ferguson tractor; model 285 during operation by various engine speeds and gears. For field measurements, the Massey Fergusson 285 tractor of agriculture college field was used. The noise levels at the right ear of driver and surroundings were measured in both idle and mobile conditions. Frequency analysis in both idle and mobile conditions has shown that the noise levels at low frequencies were higher compared with high frequencies. Based on the measurements at selected engine speed, noise levels at surrounding conditions were lower than ACGIH standard. Similar results were also observed at driver’s right ear by engine speed of 1000 rpm, while the noise levels for 2000 rpm was higher than standard limit of 85 dB A. The results indicate the high influence of engine speed and low impact of gear ratio on both driver's exposure and environmental noise pollution. Key words: Noise levels,engine speed, gears, surroundings, idle condition, mobile condition.

Engine Test Cell Noise Emission Design with Performance Validation Results

An existing industrial test facility was proposed to be relocated from a plant site in a high ambient noise environment to a community with low ambient noise. The existing facility contained engine test cells and support equipment with loud noise emissions. The original location was in an industrial park, adjacent to a high-speed multi-lane divided highway, but residential communities were nearby. Few noise complaints had been received at the existing location. The proposed future site was in a semi-rural area, near a two lane, moderate speed roadway. Although some moderate environmental noise emissions existed from an industrial installation on the existing site, the potential was recognised for community noise disturbance from the introduction of a new noise source. JEAcoustics was retained to assess the ambient noise environments and noise emission characteristics for the purpose of determining attenuation requirements for the new facility. A consultant's confidentiality agreement with the owner prevents disclosure of the facility name, plant locations, discussion of plant processes or revelation of other proprietary information. This case study presents the findings of that effort and the noise criteria that were established. Noise control designs and product applications are discussed with results of postconstruction noise validation measurements.

Noise Control Technology With Reference to Natural Gas Compressor Stations Under the Aspect of Investment Costs

For the conveyance and storage of natural gas, compressor stations are required where the installed power output varies mostly between 1 MW and 20 MW. The noise control measures involved to meet the environmental noise emission regulations in Europe will be presented. The most economical noise control techniques are described particularly for the intake and exhaust systems of gas turbines, the housing of such engines, and peripheral sound sources like gas coolers, oil coolers, and aboveground piping.

Model scale testing of outdoor noise propagation from a power plant

A proposed cogenerating power plant of 70-MW capacity is to be located in an urban setting and will be subject to stringent environmental noise emission criteria. A four-cell forced draft cooling tower is included in the plant design. Computer modeling of cooling tower noise propagation to affected neighboring residences involved significant uncertainties due to the complex shapes of power plant building elements and existing surrounding buildings. Without a finished facility in which to perform full-scale field tests, the next best thing is a scale model test. This paper will discuss the specifics of the 1/20th scale test setup, materials, selection, instrumentation, test execution, some problems and some lessons learned. The results of the test will be given in terms of the differences in octave band sound-pressure levels between an unobstructed free-field value and the modeled in situ value, at several receptor positions. The test enabled the specification of more precise sound attenuating elements for the cooling tower fans and inlets in order to comply with the governing regulations.

Environmental noise emissions from on-site diesel electric generators

The installation of on-site diesel generators as an alternative to purchasing electric power from a central source may be accompanied by an adverse environmental noise impact. Noise vibration emissions from on-site diesel engine generators need not become a source of community annoyance if regulatory agencies require and review noise impact analyses for new installations, and if adequate noise abatement devices are installed and maintained. A noisy installation may become a chronic source of community annoyance, since retrofitting noise controls to an existing installation, when feasible, can be extremely costly and may therefore not be implemented. This paper reports on a study which developed procedures for (1) calculating environmental noise and vibration emissions from on-site diesel generators which consider variables such as proximity to nearest neighbor, local ambient sound levels, location of the facility, method of cooling and type, size and quality of equipment to be installed, and (2) estimating noise abatement costs for on-site diesel generators. In urban areas where there are insufficient open spaces to provide for adequate noise abatement buffer zones, the installation of noise abatement devices such as vibration isolators, mufflers, and enclosures are an absolute necessity, and the cost to abate diesel engine-generator noise may be as high as $42 000 per engine. [The Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc., sponsored the study, “Diesel-Engine Generator Noise and Vibration Abatement,” prepared by Bolt Beranek & Newman Inc., Report No. 4187, November 1979.]