Gas Engine Gensets - Acoustic Enclosures

Wiltech Acoustics designs and manufactures acoustic enclosures for gas engine noise control. In common with many other mechanical products, gas engines can represent a major source of unwanted noise in the industrial environment. Many individuals will end up working within close proximity to this equipment which makes the need for noise control especially important. Typically they average around 110dB(A) plus, which means they are nearly always subject to some noise mitigation requirements to meet the Noise at Work Regulations 2005.

With long experience of delivering solutions for some of the most challenging applications, our dedicated power noise control team brings the wider expertise required to design, engineer and integrate enclosure systems that meet or exceed your requirements. We strive to understand the specific design, operation, characteristics, inputs and outputs of the gas engines so that we can work with you to provide the most effective noise reduction solution:

– Meet personnel and environmental noise control regulations

– Deliver on time and to budget

– Integrated gas prime mover operational performance and system controls

– High quality and high performance single source package

– Develop a strong commercial partnership with long term benefits

 

Gas Engine - Noise Control Enclosure Solution

Gas Engine - Noise Control Development

There are many sources of noise generated by gas engines, depending largely on the design and nature of the engine itself. In this animation the requirement is to reduce standby power gas generator set noise levels from 110dB(A) to 75dB(A) externally.

For an effective noise control package we need to understand the full working scope of the gas engine – its noise and vibration output levels at various operating cycles, requirements for ventilation, exhaust and cooling, and general operating principles – controls, access, maintenance, safety systems etc.

Our designers will take all this information into account to then begin planning and designing the noise control solution for the gas engine set-up.

We design the structure, panel specification and build sequence of your acoustic enclosure in accordance with your environmental, health & safety, noise level, aesthetic and other requirements, all determined and agreed at the needs assessment stage of the project. The enclosure comprises a series of structural steel members for the installation of the acoustic wall and ceiling panels. Acoustically compatible doors, windows and access hatches for planned maintenance or unscheduled repair can also be incorporated at the design stage. If required, you can also specify larger removable acoustic panels to enable straightforward removal of the complete gas genset.

The enclosure’s absorptive internal surfaces control reverberation build-up and mitigate external noise levels to an acceptable level. We can also incorporate anti-vibration mounting solutions which can reduce transmitted structure-borne noise.

In this example, our gas engine has an external cooling system which works in a combined cycle with the inlet and discharge attenuators. By integrating the design requirements of pipe inlets to the enclosure, we can ensure the external cooling system can be incorporated, without impacting on acoustic performance.

Its vital to specify the correct size inlet attenuators and louvres to suit the engine operating specification – these are packaged as complete cycle system with the discharge air ventilation system, working as a cohesive package with the external cooling system.

Safety systems and operational controls are fully integrated, ensuring ease of operation combined with safety of the engine, operator and facility.

On completion, the gas genset is tested with the engine in situ and the engineered noise enclosure package sees a reduction of noise levels from 115dB(A) to 75 dB(A) at 1.0m externally. With the noise mitigation solution implemented, further benefits include:

– Noise at Work compliance
– Enhanced personnel safety and welfare/wellbeing
– Prevention of hearing loss
– Improved working environment
– Your customers’ credentials as an employer enhanced
– Reduction in overall facility noise level

Hodgson Acoustics has a strong track record in the delivery of high performance industrial noise control solutions to satisfy the requirements of companies, specific industries, standards and regulatory compliance.

Please contact us to discuss your projects specific needs.

Engineering Solutions

Understanding of Requirements

We work closely with you from the outset of the project and ensure that the noise reduction solution will not compromise the performance of the gas engine. We use CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) design which allows for a full aero and thermodynamic assessment of the impact of the noise control solution on engine performance and efficiency. This detailed analysis combined with decades of experience provide an excellent base for an efficient solution.

We use CadnaA noise prediction software to assist us in calculating, assessing and modelling environmental noise generated by the machine. Our designers are then able to understand the source and characteristic of the noise so that they can address it in the most effective way possible.

Our structural steel analysis to Eurocode standards ensures structural integrity and finite element analysis for reliability of the structure and any surrounding elements directly associated with it. Whatever type or types of gas engine you produce, supply or operate, we can design and build an effective enclosure to contain unwanted noise.

Acoustic Gas Enclosure Design

We can maintain complete control over the quality and expedite the customisation required by keeping all design, engineering, and manufacturing processes in-house. This ensures that yours and your customers’ needs are met in an efficient and highly effective way.