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1. Introduction
The noise emission of air-conditioning units can be reduced directly at the fan
during the design stage by standard constructive and technological measures.
However, for demanding applications the sound level achievable by primary
noise control exceeds the required values and thus additional silencers are
needed. The high acoustic requirements for such silencers culminate at the low
frequencies with a minimum of space available and only marginal pressure loss
allowed. Additionally, the geometric appearance and design of the unit have to
be retained. To resolve this difficult but frequently arising conflict a new series
of air-conditioning units, e.g. for computer rooms, telecom networks or
museums, is equipped with equally novel active silencers. Their attenuation
principle is based on an acoustic resonance system tuned to low frequencies,
the efficiency of which is significantly increased by an electro-acoustic
reinforcement system.
– Membrane Absorbers
A combination of Helmholtz- and plate resonators as all-metal splitter
silencers for high hygienic demands and / or harsh environments, Fig. 2,
– Angular Stack Silencers
A compound of plate resonators forming an angular draft cladding to the
interior walls of exhaust stacks and ventilating ducts, Fig. 3,
– Microperforated panel or foil absorbers
A multitude of Helmholtz resonator surface structures with inherent friction
loss as light-weight silencers and absorbers for high temperatures and
vibrational load,
The electrical installation of the active cassettes requires only the connection to
a DC-power supply (24 V). The power consumption depends on the sound
intensity of the incident noise and is in the range between 2 and 8 W. Thin
acoustically transparent layers, e.g. perforated sheet metal, fibre fabric or
plastic foil serve as a protective cover of the components and reduce the flow
noise generated by the flow over the cassette. These compact cassettes can be
regarded as the basic element of a modular silencer system for combined and
optimized wall linings or splitter silencers in HVAC-ducts.
The geometric integration is one of the major problems of silencers for air inlets
and outlets of air-conditioning (AC) units. As mentioned before, several aspects
such as compactness, design and minimization of volume have to be considered
to retain the original performance and appearance of the unit. Under these
conditions short silencer arrangements with broadband attenuation and
sufficiently large air gaps are particularly required. A typical application of an
AC unit is shown in Fig. 5 (Conditioner Himod, Liebert Hiross). Here the air in
the room enters through the inlet at the top of the unit, passes the conditioning
components and discharges into a double floor. At the selected measuring point
in front of the unit the solid floor panels suppress acoustic contributions of the
downstream side. Therefore in this case a silencer is needed at the inlet
opening only, but with minimal height and with the given cross-section of the
unit. The measurements are carried out in a semi-anechoic chamber. The
measured sound pressure level spectrum in Fig. 6 at the selected point (Fig. 5)
clearly illustrates the dominance of low frequencies. Especially the peak level at
the blade passing frequency of about 200 Hz is perceptible as an annoying tonal
noise. On the basis of these results the silencers were designed as shown in
Fig. 7. In a vertical frame with a height of 300 mm the active silencer is arranged
in three lines whereby each line consists of three active cassettes. All the
cassettes have the same components, and thin foam layers are placed at their
opposite side. Due to these passive absorbers for attenuation at middle and high
frequencies an asymmetrical broadband silencer is achieved. The sound
pressure level with the silencer built in (Fig. 6) convincingly shows the
broadband attenuation as well as the reduced tonality problem at 200 Hz. During
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Active silencers for air-conditioning units
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these measurements made on the conditioner the air flow of the unit was
adjusted to about 9000 qm/h and its reduction by the silencer amounts to less
than 3 %. With the corresponding air speed of 10 m/s in the spacing between
the silencers the proper function of the active cassettes could be demonstrated
in the presence of air flow.
5. Concluding remarks
The R&D results with active silencers for AC-units as described above represent
only the first step towards a marketable product. Usually, far too many promising
noise control solutions after their detailed scientific investigation fail to comply
with the harsh market requirements. For instance, hundreds of sophisticated
active noise control systems are treated in thousands of high-grade international
publications, but only negligibly few of them were actually commercialized so
far. Of course, many obstacles have to be surmounted to transfer R&D results
into a market governed mostly by small and medium-size enterprises. Here, the
Fraunhofer concept [4], Fig. 9, of a close and continuous alliance of researchers
and industrial partners stands for joint developments of marketable products. On
a Platform Innovative Acoustics (PIA) with over 10 German manufacturers and a
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Active silencers for air-conditioning units
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7. Summary
The noise emission from air openings of innovative and compact air-conditioning
units, e.g. for computer rooms, telecom networks or museums, is reduced by the
application of equally novel active silencers. The practical requirements are
directed especially towards high attenuation at low frequencies with a short and
compact silencer arrangement as well as marginal pressure loss. With a top
frame, which comprises a special configuration of active silencer cassettes, the
broadband level reduction at the dominating low frequencies exceeds 10 dB.
The operating principle of the cassettes is based on an acoustic resonance
system tuned to low frequencies, the efficiency of which is significantly
enhanced by employing electro-acoustic reinforcement. The easy installation of
the cassettes as well as the permanent monitoring of their function allows an
integration into the service concept of the air-conditioning units.
8. References
[1] Fuchs, H.V.: Alternative fibreless absorbers – new tools and materials for
noise control and acoustic comfort. (in print) Acta Acustica 87 (2001).
[2] Krüger, J.; Leistner, P.: Noise reduction with actively absorbing silencers.
Applied Acoustics 51 (1997) 1, 113-120.
[3] Krüger, J., Leistner, P.: Wirksamkeit und Stabilität eines neuartigen aktiven
Schalldämpfers. Acta Acustica 84 (1998) 4, 658 - 667.
[4] Fuchs, H.V.; Eckoldt, D.; Hemsing, J.: Alternative Sound Absorbers for
Industrial Use: Acousticians on the Quest for Alternative Attenuators. VGB
Power Tech 79 (1999), 58-60.
2 Membrane Absorber
all-metal enclosures
protective cover
microphone
loudspeaker
24 V
amplifier
casing
air inlet
silencer
measuring
point (example)
AC unit 2m
(fan, air-filter,
heat-exchanger
etc.)
1.5 m
Fig. 5: Schematic sketch of the air-conditioning unit with air intake from the
room and outlet into a double floor
80
without silencer
sound pressure level [dB]
60 with silencer
40
20
0
63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k
frequency [Hz]
Fig. 6: Measured sound pressure level (measuring point see Fig. 5) with
and without inlet silencer (see Fig. 7)
absorptive layer
air inlet
110
active triple cassette 200
300 mm
silencer
AC unit