Power Plant Acoustics

This manual presents a review of applicable sound and vibration-level criteria, sound level data for reciprocating- and turbine-type engines driven by gas and liquid fuels, a basic approach for evaluating an engine noise problem, procedures for controlling engine noise and vibration, and examples that illustrate the entire system analysis. The sound level data quoted in the manual are based on measurements of more than 50 diesel and natural gas reciprocating engines and more than 50 gas turbine engines. Almost all of the leading manufacturers are represented in the collection of data. The sound level data given in the manual are 2 dB higher than the average of the measured sound levels in order to include engines that are slightly noisier than the average. This inclusion means that designs based on the data and methods used in the manual will provide design ‘protection for approximately 80 to 90 percent of all engines in any random selection.