HVAC Noise

HVAC Noise
Why need Noise Control?

Noise from HVAC Equipment
Legal & EFFECTS ON

Contractual PEOPLE
Noise Rating annoyance

OSHA
Productivity health
Noise Exposure Limit is Time
Dependent
Limit of noise exposure level as defined in

AS/NZS 1269.1
Absolute noise limit = 115 dBA
Work area noise limit = 82 dBA
HVAC Noise Limit
What is dBA
Human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies..
The A-weighted factor account for the ear’s reduced sensitivity to low
frequencies sounds.
Noise problem is typically defined in terms of dBA.
Noise A weighting
• Good single number descriptor
• Correlates well with human noise perception
• In widespread use for outdoor use
What is Octave Band
Sound is rarely a pure tone. It spreads out in a range of frequencies.
The range is divided into eight separate sections, called bands.
What is Overall Sound Level
Overall sound pressure level = 93.5 dBA

Calculate Overall Sound Level
Decibel Addition
Thumb Rule to dB changes
• 1 dB change not perceptible

• 3 dB change is perceptible
• 5 dB change is clearly noticeable
• 10 dB increase sounds twice as loud
Indoor ISO Noise Rating
HVAC Noise Sources
• HVAC noise mainly due to:

– Turbulent flow in duct or piping system
– Vibrating surfaces of moving equipment
• Strategy that reduces system pressure
drop or rotating equipment speed will
also help reduce noise
Equipment Source Sound Levels
• Sound power level (dB, re:10-12 watt)
Total sound energy of a source
Not affected by surrounding environment
• Sound pressure level (dB, re: 20µPa)
– Level of sound due to a source
– Level a function of distance and environment
Sound Data
1. Sound power level from manufacturer tested to
ASHRAE Std 68 or AMCA 301
For HVAC fans and equipment:
• Radiated sound power
• Discharge/Inlet sound power
(Sound pressure levels can be calculated with
known environment)
2. Sound pressure level dBA @3m free field
Compressor Noise Data
Fan Noise Data
HVAC Noise
SOURCE PATH RECEIVER
1. Duct noise
2. Radiated equipment noise
3. Break-in
4. Break-out
5. Terminal noise
6. Structural borne noise
Mechanical Equipment Sound Path
• AHU
– Airborne, duct breakout, radiated, vibration
• Terminal Box
– Air borne, radiated
• Chiller/pump
– Airborne, vibration
HVAC Airborne Attenuation
Duct Design
Duct Design for Quiet Operation
Lined Duct or Silencer
1999 ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook:
In the 250 Hz octave band, an 18” x 54”
duct would require 57’ on 1” thk 1.5 psf
duct liner material to achieve as much
insertion loss (ie 32 dB) as a 5-foot long
silencer.
In the lower frequencies, such as 125 Hz,
even greater lengths of duct lining would
be required to achieve 10-20 dB insertion
loss typically achievable by many of the
silencers.
Duct Silencer
Devices designed to adsorb sound energy.
Rectangular -Parallel baffle

Tubular- Pod type
SILENCERS
 Silencer reduces the sound power
level of a fan to a required level.
 Inside the rectangular casing are a

number of flat splitters, depending on
the width of the silencer.
 These splitters direct the airflow into

small sound-attenuating passages.
 The splitter is made from an envelope

containing sound-attenuating
material, such as fiberglass or mineral
wool, with protected non eroding
facing.
 Splitters often have around instead of a

flat nose, to reduce their airflow
resistance.
Duct Silencer
Performance data
•Insertion loss
•Regenerated noise (forward & reverse
flow)
•Pressure drop
Silencer shall be selected to provide sufficient IL, minimizing pressure drop.
Silencer Attenuation
Silencer Attenuation
• Poor low frequency attenuation
• Low frequency attenuation improved by
longer length
• This can lead to higher pressure loss
Silencer Parameters
Source: Price HVAC

Silencer Location
Noise Analysis is being done
Example of Acoustic Analysis
NR30
0 11 23 28 22 23 22 23
Duct Design to Limit Noise
1. Reduce velocity
2. Reduce fan speed
3. Avoid abrupt duct section changes
4. Use greater duct length or more elbow
5. Acoustic lining
6. Noise silencer
7. Vibration isolator
What is Vibration?
Nothing is perfect
All rotating equipment will vibrate.

Center of mass is not coincide with center of rotation i.e. unbalanced.
Why is vibration bad?
Main Vibration Sources
Residual Unbalance for Fans
Why is vibration bad?
• Vibration can produce noise
• Caused annoyance
• Indication of problem
• Caused metal fatique
• Interfere with precision equipment
• Caused breakdown of lubrication
Vibration Isolation
• This is to limit the amount of force
transmitted to supporting structure by a fan in
operation.
Vibration Isolation
• This is to limit
the amount of
force
transmitted to
supporting
structure by a
fan in
operation.
Isolator Types

HVAC Noise

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HVAC Noise

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HVAC Noise

Why need Noise Control?

Legal & EFFECTS ON

Noise Rating annoyance

Limit of noise exposure level as defined in

Overall sound pressure level = 93.5 dBA

• 1 dB change not perceptible

• HVAC noise mainly due to:

SOURCE PATH RECEIVER

Rectangular -Parallel baffle

 Inside the rectangular casing are a

 These splitters direct the airflow into

 The splitter is made from an envelope

 Splitters often have around instead of a

Source: Price HVAC

All rotating equipment will vibrate.

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