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Banff Spring Noise Conference 2011 Papers

Visit the links in the index to read Noise Solutions Inc.'s and related Banff Spring Noise Conference papers, or scroll down the page for brief excerpts of each.

Air Injection Vacuum Blower Noise Control 

 Tyler L.A. Mose

Air injection vacuum blowers are a widely used series of blower utilized in applications with the need of high vacuum levels, over 15” Hg. These high pressure blowers can be utilized in applications including: wet and/or dry waste removal (industrial, municipalities, etc.); central vacuum systems; aeration systems; and pneumatic conveyors. Air injection blowers are a lobe rotary configuration that produce high vacuum pressures using atmospheric air injection to the blower itself to reduce overheating of the gas medium and power absorbed by the blower. A significant complaint related to the use of high flow blowers is the noise. This paper details an investigation to:1.       Analyze, define, and quantify the problematic noise2.       Engineer, design, and quantify noise control performance and effect of the noise control to reduce the overall noise3.       Manufacture prototype noise control equipment

4.       Install and conduct post-installation performance and noise measurements to validate the noise control equipment and reduced blower noise compared with the predicted performance

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Banff Spring Noise Conference 2009 Papers

Evolution of Noise Control Technology

Tyler L.A. Mose

Since the late 1960’s noise pollution has become more prevalent, and is still a critically ignored issue within Alberta.  As noise pollution in our environment becomes an increasingly dramatic topic, more effective forms of noise control are required to satisfy the quality of life for the population that is encompassed by the undesirable noise sources.

Original methods of noise control were inexpensive, non-technical, and grossly ineffective. We now have advanced to using extensive engineering and robust designs to increase the overall effectiveness and aesthetics of physical noise abatement equipment.

A more recent development is the introduction of active noise control. This new technological solution administers low frequency sinusoidal waves to those undesirable incident waves, effectively cancelling portions of their amplitude and making the resultant wave significantly smaller in magnitude.

This paper outlines the evolution of noise control measures which were the result of technological advancements and more stringent regulations enacted in legislation over time...

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Controlling Low Frequency Noise Using a Passive Silencer

David C. DeGagne & Andrew C. Faszer

The Petroleum industry is an integral part of Canada’s economic engine providing approximately 15% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product [1].  In fact Canada is the third-largest producer of natural gas and the seventh-largest producer of crude oil in the world.  Further the upstream sector is the largest single private sector investor in Canada and in 2006, the oil and gas industry contributed an estimated $27 billion to government revenues in the form of royalty payments, bonus payments and income taxes.

The crude oil and natural gas trade surplus contributed 80 per cent of Canada’s merchandise trade balance in 2006 [2].

Why are these statistics significant?  Simply, that given this level of importance to the economy many Canadians believe that the oil and gas industry is not concerned about impacts of its operations on the public and that regulators are soft on that sector.  It is no wonder many are surprised to learn that the energy industry spends the most of any industrial sector in Canada on environmental protection with noise from exploration, production, processing and transportation activities being one key issue where leadership and innovation are evident.

In fact nowhere in Canada is this more apparent than in the Province of Alberta. Nearly 85% of all the oil and natural gas recovered in Canada comes from Alberta [2].  This in turn puts a tremendous onus on the prime energy industry regulators in Alberta, the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), to ensure the development of the province’s energy resources is undertaken in a responsible manner...

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Development of Criteria to Minimize Noise Annoyance from Industrial Applications

David C. DeGagne & Anita Lewis

Much of the developed world is continuing to undergo significant industrial growth.  This naturally creates conflicts in land use resulting in competing interests between affected parties. Specifically, industry is looking for an attractive site near available infrastructure, and people are seeking a sedate country life offering more peace and quiet than most urban locations.

Using current peer reviewed psychoacoustic and human health research, this paper will examine what noise level can reasonably be tolerated by individuals living in a rural environment and use this information in an attempt to define “noise annoyance” as it relates to industrial applications.  Also discussed are the difficulties in trying to quantify any related health effects associated with noise annoyance.

The result of this work is a proposed a set of criteria the authors offer as a reasonable way to accurately categorize noise annoyance.  Finally this paper will offer industrial operators a practical approach including target sound pressure limits that should serve to ensure noise annoyance from nearby residents to industrial applications is far less likely to occur...

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Noise Considerations in the Development of Coalbed Methane

David C. DeGagne & Donald Burke

A significant challenge for Coal Bed Methane producers is dealing with the impacts of high density development needed to effectively recover the natural gas resource. One such concern is the need to meet regulatory requirements for environmental noise as stated in the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) Directive 038: Noise Control (ERCB Directive 038) and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGC) Aesthetic& Noise Control Regulations, Series 800 (COGCC Noise Regulations).

Anyone who has ever been involved in the process of complying with regulatory noise standards will agree that it is a complex and challenging task. Some regulated companies struggle through this process often dealing with unfamiliar considerations such as trying to predict facility noise levels before it is even built, or gambling on a best guess as to what is the right, least expensive amount of noise mitigation needed to meet regulatory requirements for environmental and occupational noise. Even the best of intentioned operators fail to hit the mark, sometimes by wide margins and end up with a situation that is potentially worse than when they started. No company wants to go through a process where in the end a lot of time, resources, and public confidence have been lost not to mention now being in a regulatory non-compliant status.

This paper will elucidate valuable lessons & experience learned and case histories for the successful approach to noise solutions accepted by regulatory agencies and industry clients. In addition to discussing the complexities of acoustical engineering practices this presentation will also cover the most significant points of ERCB Directive 038 and COGCC Noise Regulations…

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Using a Systematic Risk Based Noise Impact Assessment for Industrial Noise Control

David C. DeGagne

Understanding risk: Rural residents in general are very tolerant and not normally quick to complain about things like noise from a nearby industrial facility. Therefore when a complaint is registered against an industrial facility it is likely that the complainant’s quality of life or health is clearly being affected or perceived to be affected.

For this reason it is essential that the industrial operator move quickly to identify the source(s) of the offending noise and address it with appropriate noise control options.

If however, either from inexperience or lack of expertise with industrial noise control, a speedy resolution does not occur, this will cause further anxiety to neighbours, loss of credibility for future projects and potential non-compliance condition with the regulator.

Is this a risk that operators can afford to leave to chance or is there a practical way to minimize exposure to non-compliance with regulatory requirements and public confidence? Luckily the answer is “yes” and this paper will outline one such risk based noise impact assessment process that can be used to essentially illuminate all potential environmental and occupational noise compliance or complaint related risk...

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Going Beyond the Requirements: A Case Study in Corporate Responsibility

Trevor Krawchuck & Steve Morgan

Today’s gas producers in Western Canada and across North America in general are very heavily regulated and must meet strict government legislation aimed at maintaining safety, protection of the environment, and conservation of the energy resources.

Even the potential impacts of energy facility noise on nearby neighbours must be kept to acceptable minimums according to regulations like those promulgated by the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board’s (ERCB) in Noise Control Directive D-038. This Directive sets out extremely stringent noise levels that cannot be exceeded at the nearest or most impacted residences to an energy facility.

However, one energy company, Trident Exploration, made a decision to go beyond the minimum requirements set out in the ERCB D-038 by committing to a receiver noise level that would not only assure its neighbours of a peaceful, quiet environment but would also make the overall production site a quieter work place for their employees. It was also deduced that the reduced noise levels would improve worker safety allowing for improved communications on location thereby reducing the need to constantly wear hearing protection.

To achieve these conditions Trident Exploration called upon an acoustic analysis and noise suppression consultant to provide the Noise Impact Assessment and accompanying strategies on how to reach the established targets.

This paper will cover the reasoning and rational used by Trident Exploration to set its noise reduction targets and the process that it and Noise Solutions followed to achieve success including additional benefits that went beyond expectations...

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Watch the video! 

Video Courtesy of Trident Exploration.

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Inter-Noise 2009 Conference

See index at the top of this page or scroll down to read an excerpt of Noise Solutions Inc.'s Inter-Noise 2009 Conference paper.

Hydraulic Excavator Noise Control Case Study as part of a Comprehensive Mitigation Plan of an Integrated Open-Pit Coalmine and Powerplant

By Andrew C. Faszer, Rod MacDonald, Clifford C. Faszer and Matthew C. Faszer.

Noise control of a 500 tonne, 2500 hp hydraulic mining excavator is used as a case study to describe the detailed noise control of one piece of equipment as part of a comprehensive noise mitigation plan of an integrated open-pit coalmine and powerplant.

An environmental noise model of the entire mining and powerplant operations was developed and used to facilitate a combination of equipment operation and individual equipment noise reduction targets. Noise control equipment was designed and engineered to meet the equipment noise reduction targets and maintain equipment operation. The individual noise control equipment developed for a hydraulic mining excavator is detailed as a case study because the excavator noise levels were the highest in the mine. 

The individual noise sources which contribute to the overall noise signature of the excavator were measured and quantified for inclusion with the comprehensive environmental noise model. Noise control options for the various component noise sources were evaluated and the option to significantly reduce the engine exhaust noise source was selected.

Custom, very high specification engine exhaust silencers were developed, installed, and commissioned to successfully reduce the excavator noise signature consistent with the comprehensive environmental noise model...

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