PROCESS SAFETY & LOSS PREVENTION

(CCB 3053)
EXPERIMENT 3:
NOISE LEVEL ANALYSIS


GROUP B16 MEMBERS:
1) RAFYHADI BIN JUNAEDI 14535
2) NURUN NAZAHAH MOHD MAZWIL 13703
3) SAI HARI RAM 16946
4) SEAN SURAJ JEREMIAH 14286
5) SITI AISHAH BINTI KHALED 14306

LAB DEMONSTRATOR :
DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 27 MARCH 2013
DATE OF SUBMISSION : 10 APRIL 2013

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Introduction
Running machinery (e.g. ventilation and air-conditioning units, heating installations,
motor engines, office equipment) are examples of sources of noise pollution. When noise
pollution becomes excessive, it becomes necessary to control the noise level in order to
protect the safety of the people in the vicinity of the equipment, such as engineers and
technicians.
One approach to noise control is to reduce the noise at its source by physical
modification of the process equipment itself. Another approach to noise control is to modify
the noise transmission path. Noise may be transmitted from source to receiver through the
surrounding matter (air, liquid and solid). Transmission paths may be modified by placing
barriers or screens between the source and receiver, as in the case of noise control
enclosures placed around machinery. Transmission paths may also be modified by
dissipating some of the propagating energy through the use of sound absorbing materials.
The main purpose of this experiment is to find out various ways to reduce sound
levels by modifying the transmission path and determine which method is the most
effective. Solid and soft surfaces are tested to find out which materials are most useful in
reducing the loudness of noise created by machinery.
Methodology
The case is placed on the motor and different materials are used to cover the holes. The
sound is measured at a fixed distance from the internal and externals microphones. The
experiment is then repeated with a foam insulation placed inside the case.






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Noise level
Low Medium High
Internal
microphone
Reading
External
microphone
Reading
Internal
microphone
Reading
External
microphone
Reading
Internal
microphone
Reading
External
microphone
Reading
Box without plug 6 0 11 5 16 10
Empty box with
soft plug
6 0 11 2 16 7
Empty box with
hard plug
6 0 11 2 16 7
Empty box with
short insulation
6 0 11 3 16 8
Empty box with
long insulation
6 0 11 3 16 8
Table of results for empty box without absorbent lining
Noise level
Low Medium High
Internal
microphone
Reading
External
microphone
Reading
Internal
microphone
Reading
External
microphone
Reading
Internal
microphone
Reading
External
microphone
Reading
Empty box 5 0 7 3 14 9
Empty box with
soft plug
5 0 7 2 14 7
Empty box with
hard plug
5 0 7 1 14 7
Empty box with
short insulation
5 0 7 3 14 8
Empty box with
long insulation
5 0 7 2 14 7
Table of results for empty box with absorbent lining
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DISCUSSION
Test 1: Rigid body modes of vibration of a resiliently mounted source
Based on the experiment, we can say that the noise level that has been measured by the
sound meter is shown when the noise is directly detected from the source which is by
minimum value is 3 and the maximum value is 10. The noise source is where the
vibratory mechanical energy originates, as a result of a physical phenomenon, such as
mechanical shock, impacts, friction or turbulent airflow. With regard to the noise
produced by a particular machine or process, experience strongly suggests that when
control takes the form of understanding the noise-producing mechanism and changing
it to produce a quieter process as opposed to the use of a barrier for control of the
transmission path. Therefore for the test 1 the sound become louder and vibration is
increase when voltage is increase.

Test 2: Effect of mass on the modes of vibration (stainless steel bar)
For Test 2, we placed the stainless steel inertia block and clamped onto the generator-
mounting platform. From the observation, the dB indicator shows the minimum is 2 and
maximum is 10. Form the different value, we can say that the noise level generated by
source is very high but the vibration level is medium. The difference in vibration at the
same speed setting is when we put in the stainless steel inertia block, the machine
vibrates less compared to when it works without the inertia block. The sound seems to
be louder with the existence of the initial block. This is because sound travels faster in
solid, in this case it travels through the stainless steel inertia block.


Test 3: Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials (noise control box with and
without absorbent lining)
In Test 3, we are going to determine the effectiveness of sound-proofing materials by
placing and removing the absorbent lining from the GRP box. We want to indentify the
strength of the sound when there is no absorbent clamped to the source of the sound by
internally and externally measuring the sound. As predicted theoretically, the noise
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generated (dB) is higher compared to the previous tests. In this test, we also the figured
out the sound generated is slower as well the vibration produced. If we consider the
internal and external receiver, definitely the internal sound will be stronger compared
to the external one. This means, the need of an obstacle between the source and
receiver to overcome the sound pollution that may hazard the workers if we count
industries at large.

Test 4: Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials (hard plug)
In Test 4, we are investigating the effectiveness sound-proofing materials in controlling
the noise. Soundproofing means to block sound from entering or leaving a space. A hard
plug is used at the aperture of the GRP box to soundproof it. We did this test with and
without the absorbent lining. The value produced in this test similar to the previous test,
the internal value is higher than external and of course, the noise generated without the
absorbent lining is louder. Plus, the noise is less obvious when the hard plug is placed to
the unit. It is due to the hard plug act to reduce the noise in the unit. Theoretically, the
soft plug is a better sound proofing compared to the hard plug as not a very solid as the
hard plug. The solidness of the hard plug is making it able to channel sound more
effectively. Therefore, it makes clearer noise compared to soft plug. In addition, many
noise problems can be eliminated by isolating or decoupling the noise source from
another surface and using sound-absorbing.

Test 5: Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials (soft plug)
In Test 5, two soft plugs are used to seal the apertures at both sides. In this experiment,
it can be observed that the sounds noise is reducing when plug in the soft plug to the
unit. Therefore, we can know that the soft plug is a good sound absorber as the values
are relatively low. Comparing with the hard plug which has a higher value, soft plug is
more efficient in reducing noise, which is a better sound absorber. Many noise problems
can be eliminated by using sound-absorbing materials. In real life situation, the
application of soft wall lining in karaoke room or meeting room proves the theory
behind this test.
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Test 6: Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials (tubes with absorbent lining)
In Test 6, we are investigating the effectiveness sound-proofing materials where plastic
tubes, with absorbent lining and adjustable inner tubes are used. From the result we can
observe that the sound-proofing materials used can significantly reduce the sound
pressure level. Both the vibration and noise levels are being reduced. During the
experiment, when we extend the length of the inner tubes, the sound pressure level is
reduced. This approach also helps in controlling the noise level. In the case of this
plastic tubes, the porous material inside acts as a noise absorber and they eventually
convert the sound energy into heat energy within the material. They allow sound waves
to enter the absorption materials by way of airflow. Once it is inside, the energy of the
sound is then converted to heat. In daily life application, the effectiveness of the
absorbers greatly depends on the properties of the material such as density and its
mounting. The dissipation of the converted heat energy is released into the ambient
atmosphere. Therefore, we can say that this method is convenient and economically
safe to be used.

CONCLUSION
This experiment is conducted in order to observe the principles of noise pollution
control and measure the noise level using sound meter. There are six test had been done
which are; 1) Rigid body modes of vibration of a resiliently mounted source, 2) Effect of
mass on the modes of vibration, 3) Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials (steel
inertia), 4) Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials (hard plugs), 5) Effectiveness of
sound-proofing materials (soft plugs), 6) Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials
(plastic tubes). It is observed that the test of Effectiveness of sound-proofing materials
using soft plugs gave the lowest results as compared to other. This tests show that
different materials will gave different noise pollution based on the types of the materials
itself.