Power Generation
Power generation is an essential function at most facilities that can generate disturbing noise, interfering with function and efficiency.
Standby units and mobile units are examples, but any method of supplying your own power, including turbines and wind power, can have a noisy side effect.
Packaged and Mobile Units
Mobile unit noise mitigation starts with the insulation of your generator’s enclosure. You want people to be glad the generator is there to create power, not distressed by the noise. This can be especially true in residential areas and other places that have zoning / neighborhood noise level requirements.
Configuration of your enclosure should take into account for best acoustic practices; vents need to be treated, enclosures insulated, and sometimes vibrations need to be isolated. Soundown can help with every step.
First, you plan and design your ideal ventilation.
There are different graded requirements for ventilation, depending on whether you need to meet residential requirements, business critical grades, hospital grades, or something else. Soundown can help you establish specs that will meet your particular exhaust requirements.
On-site Power Generation
If you own your own power generation, either for emergencies or as a standard practice for your generator or organization, sound is a factor in your construction.
Pit with isolation mat installed for floating inertia slab.
You need an enclosure that is properly insulated, which may mean composite insulation and damping materials. You need insulation that is also weather safe if your generation facility is exposed to the elements. You also need proper supporting structures, designed with vibration minimization in mind.
Cogeneration facilities on-site may often be in basements or facility wings. Weather is not as much of a factor, but heat recovery and exhaust treatments become more important. Soundown can help you design either system to maximize efficiency while reducing noise. Solutions tend to be very specific to particular situations. In some cases, Soundown has created entire floated interiors to isolate machinery/generator spaces and combat vibration and reduce noise pollution. The right combination might involve Sylomer, steel, cement, or other materials.
In some settings – medical facilities, research facilities, hotels, resorts, and hospitals, among others – noise may affect meeting spaces or recreation spaces, and vibration may affect sensitive equipment. In these cases, extra steps may be needed to aggressively reduce generator-related noise.
Cogen plant installed on floating inertia slab.
Reciprocating and turbine applications also demand special steps when mitigating noise; they operate on their own unique wavelengths.
Even if your building is on a separate slab from your co-generation facility, you can experience vibrational transfer from a larger plant, unless you take some prudent steps during planning and construction.