10 steps to a green and more efficient production

Carbon reduction for green production - all you need to know
10 steps to green compressed air production

Discover our solutions for wastewater treatment

We offer clean air technology that matches all your aeration needs. With high energy efficiency and low total cost of ownership.
Waste Water Treatment
Close

Sound in Compressor Installations

Sound Air compressors Compressed Air Wiki Installing an Air Compressor How To

All machines generate sound and vibration, so do compressors. Their noise level can be influenced by the properties of the room it is in, the room's size for example. In this article we will discuss this further, as well as give you five methods on how to reduce it. Learn more about the basics of sound here.

Noise within compressor installations

a formula for dimensioning
Compressor noise level is measured in a standardized fashion on a machine (in an acoustic free field e.g. outdoors, without walls or by means of a sound intensity scanning technique). When the compressor is installed in a room, the noise level is influenced by the properties of the room. The size of the room, the materials used for the walls and ceiling, and the presence of other equipment (and its potential noise levels) in the room all have significant impacts. Furthermore, the positioning of the compressor in the room also affects the noise level due to the setup and connection of pipes and other components. Sound radiating from compressed air pipes is frequently more problematic than the noise produced by the compressor itself and its power source. This can be due to vibration transferred mechanically to the pipes, often in combination with vibration transferred through the compressed air. It is therefore important to fit vibration insulators and even enclose sections of the pipe system using a combination of sound-absorbing material covered with a sealed insulation barrier.

How to reduce sound

reducing all of the noise the compressor installation produces
There are five different ways to reduce sound. Sound insulation, sound absorption, vibration insulation, vibration dampening and dampening of the sound source. Sound insulation involves an acoustic barrier being placed between the sound source and the receiver. This means that only a part of the sound can be insulated, depending on the area of the barrier and its insulation characteristics. A heavier and larger barrier is more effective than a lighter, smaller barrier. Sound absorption involves the sound source being surrounded by light, porous absorbents attached to a barrier. Thicker absorbents are more effective than thinner absorbents and typical minimum densities are approx. 30 kg/m3 for open-cell polyurethane foam and approx. 150 kg/m3 for mineral wool. Vibration insulation is used to prevent the transfer of vibrations from one part of a structure to another. A common problem is the transfer of vibrations from a built-in machine to the surrounding sound insulation barrier or down to the floor. Steel springs, air springs, cork, plastic, and rubber are examples of materials used for vibration insulation. The choice of materials and their dimensioning is determined by the frequency of the vibration and by the demands of stability for the machine setup. Vibration dampening involves a structure being fitted with an external dampening surface composed of elastic material with a high hysteresis. When the dampening surface applied is sufficiently thick, the barrier wall will effectively be prevented from vibrating and, consequently, from emitting sound. Dampening of a sound source will often influence its operational behavior. It may give limited results, yet provide a viable solution in terms of cost.

Together with electricity, water and gas, compressed air keeps our world running. We may not always see it, but compressed air is all around us. Because there are so many different uses for (and demands of) compressed air, compressors now come in all kinds of different types and sizes. In this guide we outline what compressors do, why you need them and what types of options are available to you.

 

Would you like any additional assistance? Click the button below and one of our experts will contact you shortly.

Related articles

how to install a compressor?

Determining if a compressor room is essential

31 May, 2022

Installing a compressor system is easier than it used to be. There are still a few things to keep in mind though, most importantly where to place the compressor and how to organise the room around the compressor. Learn more here.

an illustration about compressor installation

What is Sound?

1 June, 2022

Sound is something we all know, but might not understand. All machines make noise, compressors too. Let us take a look at what it is.

an illustration about compressor installation

Dimensioning Compressor Installations

25 April, 2022

A number of decisions must be made when dimensioning compressed air installation for it to suit different needs, provide maximum operating economy and be prepared for future expansion. Learn more.