ITS contributed to controlling the sound environment of an industrial site in Southern Europe. It was one of the largest natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants in Europe, with an output of over 800 MW, and comprising a combustion turbine coupled with a steam turbine and a generator. ITS participated in the soundproofing of the turbine itself by means of a ventilated enclosure (with 4 walls and a roof) similar to a large industrial building, with specific functionalities and performance.
Design and construction of of equipment for controlling the sound environment of an industrial site
The design and construction of equipment for controlling the sound environment of industrial sites, particularly in the case of energy production plants, constitutes a major activity for ITS and for its commercial partners, who have solid experience for managing such projects:
- structural studies: for high-rise metal constructions, taking into account site conditions (rain, snow, wind, seismic risks), to ensure the stability of the structures even during handling with dismantling hardware during maintenance or repair work
- acoustical design and engineering: to guarantee, near the walls of structures intended for noise reduction, sound levels as low as 85 dB(A) at 1 meter (which is not nothing when some sources of noise have an overall weighted sound power level greater than 135 dB(A)), aiming at:
- protection against noise of personnel (e.g. assigned to the supervision of installations or their maintenance); their working conditions, their safety and also their health are at stake
- tranquility of the neighborhood (e.g. at the limit of the property, sometimes well beyond)
- aeraulic design and engineering: for an efficient ventilation system required for controlling the temperature inside buildings and maintaining air quality
- studies of electrical equipment and connections: for fans, sensors (sometimes in an ATEX environment - ATmosphere EXplosive -)
The construction of this equipment for controlling the sound environment of an industrial site was based on the principle of panels on a (steel) metal frame with:
- for ordinary surfaces: industrial soundproofing panels with an absorbing face (modular)
- for access: (rotating) acoustic doorsets with, for translucent parts (with glazing guaranteeing residual safety in the event of accidental breakage): acoustic window sets
In addition, the air inlets and air outlets of the building's ventilation system have been equipped with ventilation silencers (to allow the necessary continuity of airborne noise insulation of the construction).
The prefabrication in the workshop of the equipment intended to control the sound environment of this industrial site was carried out while respecting the highest quality standards: first choice raw materials and components, careful welding and assembly, rigorous control and careful packaging.
The packaging was carried out in sea-containers, and detailed assembly instructions were provided with a view to an on site installation being fast and in accordance with the drawings of the equipment intended for controlling the sound environment of this industrial site, by non-specialized teams (recruited locally by the End Customer).
The result will look like the soundproof machine halls in the picture below.
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Equipment for controlling the sound environment of an industrial site in a gas-fired power plant similar to those covered by this article |
In terms of structures for controlling the sound environment of industrial sites, ITS markets not only ventilated acoustic enclosures, but also (visible in the photo opposite but not delivered as part of the project subject of this article) soundproofed air intake systems for combustion turbines / gas turbines, exhaust silencers for combustion turbines / gas turbines, and also Vent silencers for pressurized gas | |