Document 9Lek22QQvLOqwORX2r4nOZqJe
HEATING VENTILATING AIR CONDITIONING GUIDE 1942
NOISE TRANSMITTED THROUGH DUCTS
Operation of an air distribution system results in the generation of noise which may be transmitted through the ducts to the ventilated or conditioned room. The transmission of this noise may be controlled by the proper application of sound absorptive material within the ducts. The application of the absorptive material is a problem in balancing the room noise level requirements against the intensity of the noise generated. The four steps in the problem are:
1. Determination of acceptable room noise level resulting from the operation of the equipment.
2. Determination of noise level generated by the equipment. The difference between steps 1 and 2 in decibels is the overall noise reduction required between the equipment and the room. In the following discussion reduction of noise will be referred to as attenuation of noise. 3. Determination of the natural attenuation of the duct system. 4. Selection of the proper sound treatment for the duct system. The difference in decibels between the overall attenuation required and the natural attenuation (3) is the additional sound attenuation to be obtained by absorptive ma terials installed in the duct system.
DESIGN ROOM NOISE LEVEL
Measurements of noise levels have been observed by several investi gators in various rooms and locations. They are listed in Table 1. The values given were determined with the air conditioning or ventilation equipment not in operation, and with all windows and doors closed simulating the conditions of an actual installation.
This is an important consideration, for in offices or stores adjacent to busy thoroughfares the difference between the typical noise level in the space with the windows and doors open and closed may be as high as 10 db. Minimum, representative, and maximum levels are given for each type of space. The values are intended to give the variation with respect to location and not to time, and may be roughly classified by the following:
Minimum loudness refers to: Spaces of expensive construction, typified by double windows, carpeted floors, heavy upholstered furniture, or accoustically treated walls and ceilings.
Representative loudness refers to: Spaces of average construction and furnishings which are exposed to external noises typical of the locality in which the space is usually found.
Maximum loudness refers to: (1) Any space of inexpensive construction, and bare furnishings where nbise is not an important factor. (2) Spaces in close proximity to very intense street traffic or to intense factory noise. (3) Any space containing machinery which is a constant source of noise, typewriters, adding machines, printing presses, etc.
In general, if the noise level in the space resulting only, from the opera tion of the air conditioning equipment is equivalent to-or less than the typical level given in Table 1, the installation will prove satisfactory. If the typical level and the equipment level are heard together the resultant level will be 3 db higher than either of them.
In some cases it is desirable to keep the equipment noise level in the
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CHAPTER 33. SOUND CONTROL
ventilated or conditioned room at such a value that it actually will not increase the noise level in the room to any measureable degree. This can
be accomplished if the equipment noise at the room can be kept 10 db below the noise level shown in the table.
NOISE GENERATED BY FANS
Noise generated by fan wheels may be divided into two classifications, rotational noise and vortex noise. In ventilation and air conditioning work, where the maximum ratio between the fan tip speed and the
Table 1. Typical Noise Levels
Rooms
Sound Film Studios............................................ ........ Radio Broadcasting Studios_______ ____________ Planetarium............................................................... ............. Residence, Apartments, etc........................ ,,.................... Theaters, Legitimate.... ....... ....................... ........................ Theaters, Motion Picture.................................................... Auditoriums, Concert Halls, etc....................................... Churches................ ................................................. .. .... Executive Offices, Acoustically Treated Private Offices Private Offices, Acoustically Untreated General Offices................. Hospitals...... .................................................................... Class Rooms.............................................................. Libraries, Museums, Art Galleries. Public Buildings, Court Houses, Post Offices, etc___ Small Stores...................... Upper Floors Department Stores... Stores, General, Including Main Floor Dept. Stores _ Hotel Dining Rooms............. ..................... Restaurants and Cafeterias Banking Rooms...... ............................................................ Factories Office Machine Rooms .
Vehicles
Railroad Coach Pullman Car Automobile Vehicular Tunnel................................ Airplane...
Noisb Lsm in Decibels to bb Anticipated
Min. Representative Max.
10 14 20 10 14 20 15 20 25 33 40 48 25 30 35 30 35 40 25 30. 40 25 30 35 30 38 45 35 43 50 50 60 70 25 40 55 30 35 45 30 40 45 45 55 60 40 50 60 40 50 55 50 60 70 40 50 60 50 60 70 50 55 60 65 77 90 60 70 80
603 70
80
55a 65
75
50 65 80
75 85 95
80 85 100
For train standing in station a level of about 45 db is the maximum which can ordinarily be tolerated.
velocity of sound is not greater than 0.12, vortex noise is by far the most important. The rotational noise may be described as that due to the thrust and torque implied to the air. Vortex noise is that due to the shedding of vortices from the blade and is dependent on the angle of attack, velocity, air turbulence, and blade shape. Vortex noise is due to pressure variations on the blade as a result of variations of air circulation. Given the noise level at the outlet or inlet of one type of fan construction under specific conditions of size, tip speed, and total pressure, noise levels
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