Training and Development

Chiller Systems
Sound

April 2009

Training and Development

Fundamentals of Sound

April 2008

Training and Development

Agenda
Sound Fundamentals

Definitions
Sound Power Vs Sound Pressure
How Loud Is Sound?
How Do Humans Perceive Sound?
Sound Rating Methods

Path From Sound Power To Sound Pressure

Examples of Sound Analysis

Training and Development

Why Study Sound?

Most engineers are not as comfortable with it as energy use

Requirements are changing

ANSI Std. S-12.60-2002: Acoustical Performance for Schools

LEED For Schools - 2007

Classrooms Are Tough Because Surfaces Are Hard

Education Is Connected To How Well People Can Hear

There are Multiple Sound Levels. What Is Right?

30 dBa(Really Tough!)
35 dBa
45 dBa

NC Levels, Sound Power and Sound Pressure

Modeling programs help

Ignorance is risky

Training and Development

What Is Sound?
Sound
Disturbance In An Elastic Medium That Can
Be Detected By The Human Ear

Noise
Sound Without Value

Characteristics Of Sound
Loudness
Frequency
Wavelength

Training and Development

What Is Loudness?

Amplitude Represents
Loudness (L)

Larger Amplitude = Louder

Sound

Sound Measurement in
Decibels (dB) or Pascal's
Decibels Are Logarithmic
Loudest Sound 194 dB

Decibel
Sound Pressure
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

Pascals

100
10
1.0
0.1
0.01
0.001
0.0001
0.00002

Training and Development

What Is Frequency?

Represents Pitch

Measured in Hertz (Hz)

Humans Hear 16Hz to 16,000

Hz

Feel And Hear Frequencies

Below 30 Hz

Training and Development

What Is Wavelength?

Vary from 70ft [21.3m] @

(16Hz) to 0.7ft [0.2m] @
(16,000 Hz)

Sound Absorbing Material

Needs To Match Wavelength

Related to Frequency

= cO/f

Wavelength = Speed of
Sound/Frequency

Training and Development

Wave length

Speed of sound (M/s)

330

12 25 50 100 200 400 800 1600

31 63 5 0 0
0
0
0
0
0

Frequency (Cycles
/Sec)

16

Wavelength ( m)

21.12 10.56 5.28 2.64 1.32 0.66

Ft

70

35

17

9 4.33 2.16

0.33
1.08

0.165 0.0825
0.54

0.27

0.0412 0.02062
5
5
0.14

0.07

Training and Development

What Is Sound Power/Pressure?

Sound Power
Energy Released
Lw

Sound Pressure
What We Hear
Lp

Training and Development

What Is Sound Power/Pressure?

Sound Power/Pressure
Example
Heating Capacity of the Heater
How Room Responds Is
Temperature
Changing the Room, Changes
the Temperature

Training and Development

What Is Sound Power/Pressure?

Sound Power Depends on the

Equipment or Noise Source

Sound Power Vacuum Cleaner 80

dB

Same in Small and Large space

Sound Pressure Depends on the

Room

How Big

How Close

Training and Development

Decibel Addition
Decibels Must Be Added
Logarithmically

Or Use Simple Rules of Thumb

Training and Development

Octave Bands

Human Hearing 16-16,000 Hz

Divided into 8 Representative Frequencies

Min
Max

Training and Development

HVAC Equipment Acoustics

HVAC Equipment
Frequencies
Low Frequency Issues
Harder to Resolve
Long Wavelengths

High Frequency Issues

Easier to Resolve
Short Wavelengths
Annoying to Occupants

Training and Development

Human Response To Sound

Humans Most Sensitive to Sound in the
8000 Hz Band
Large Change in Sound Level =
Perceived Sound Level Change
50% Reduction in Sound 50%
Perceived Sound Reduction
80dB is half the sound of 83dB but
Humans wont perceive it as half

Training and Development

Human Response To Sound

Training and Development

Human Response To Sound

Humans Less Sensitive To Constant Sounds
Humans More Sensitive to Changes in Sound
e.g. Constant Hum vs. Dog Barking

Pure Tones Are More Intrusive

Broad Spectrum Are Less Noticeable
Important for Screw Chiller Technology

Training and Development

Acceptable Noise Levels

Review Noise Ratings

Review Noise Criteria
Review Room Criteria
A-Weighted Sound Pressure (dbA)

Training and Development

Noise Criteria

Accounts for Reduced

Sensitivity to Sound in Lower
Octave Bands

90
80

Sound Pressure Level (dB)

Most Commonly Used in North

America
Based on Sound Pressure
Curves
Uses Tangent Method
Plots 63 to 8000 Hz

70
NC 65
NC 60

60

NC 55
NC 50

50

NC 45
NC 40

40

NC 35
NC 30

30

NC 25
NC 20

20

NC 15

10
0
63

125

250

500

1k

2k

Band Frequency (Hz)

Sound meter Lp

4k

8k

Training and Development

Acceptable Noise Criteria

Space
Private residences, apartments,
condominiums
Hotels/Motels
Individual rooms or suites
Meeting/banquet rooms
Hall, corridors, lobbies
Service, support areas
Office Buildings
Executive and private offices
Conference rooms
Teleconference rooms
Open plan offices
Circulation and public lobbies
Hospitals and Clinics

RC(N)
25-35

NC
25-35

Space
Performance Arts

RC(N)

Drama theaters
Concert and recital halls
Music teaching studios
Music practice rooms
Laboratories
Testing/Research, minimal speech
communication
25-35
25-35 Research, extensive phone use,
speech communication
25-35
25-35 Group teaching
26 max 26 max Churches, Mosques, Synagogues
30-40
30-40 With critical music programs
Schools
25-35
25-35
35-45
35-45

25-35
25-35
35-45
35-45

Private rooms

25-35

25-35

Wards
Operating rooms
Corridors
Public areas
Indoor Staduims and
gymnasiums
School and College gymnasiums and
natatoriums
Large seating capacity spaces

30-40
25-35
30-40
30-40

30-40
25-35
30-40
30-40

40-50

40-50

45-55

45-55

NC

25 max 25 max
A
A
25 max 25 max
25 max 25 max
45-55

45-55

40-50

40-50

35-45
25-35

35-45
25-35

Classrooms up to 750ft

40 max 40 max

35 max 35 max

Classrooms over 750ft

Lecture rooms for more than 50
Libraries
Courtrooms
Unamplified speech
Amplified speech

35 max 35 max
30-40
30-40
25-35
30-40

25-35
30-40

Training and Development

Room Criteria

ASHRAE Method
Developed To Overcome NC
Deficiencies
Account for Spectrum Shape
and Sound Level
16 to 4,000 Hz Octave Bands
Average of ~ 500,1k & 2k
Accounts for Sound Quality
Hiss
Rumble

100
90
80

Lp (dB RE 20 Pa)

RC 65

70

RC 60
RC 55

60

R C 50
RC 45

50

RC 40
RC 35

40

RC 30
RC 25

30

RC 20
RC 15

20
10
0
16

31

63

125

250

500

1k

2k

Band Frequency (Hz)

Sound meter Lp
Rumble Threshold

Hiss Threshold

4k

Training and Development

Noise Rating
120

100

Sound Pressure (dB)

Developed by ISO
Most Commonly Used in
Europe
31Hz to 8,000 Hz Range
Similar to NC Curves
Based on a family of sound
pressure curves
Uses Tangent Method

80
NR 65
NR 60

60

NR 55
NR 50
NR 45
NR 40

40

NR 35
NR 30
NR 25
NR 20

20

NR 15

0
31

63

125

250

500

1k

2k

Band Frequency (Hz)

Sound meter Lp

4k

8k

Training and Development

A Weighted Sound Pressure (dBa)

Sound Pressure Data is Corrected to more correctly resemble Human

hearing characteristics
Logarithmic sum of corrected octave band values from 63Hz to 8,000
Hz
Often Used for Outdoor Calculations

Band
Adjustment

63
-26

125
-16

250
-9

500
-3

1000
0

2000
1

4000
1

8000
-1

Training and Development

Acceptable Noise Levels

Prolonged

Exposure to High Noise Levels Can Damage Hearing

Average Daily
Sound Level (dBA)
90
95
100
105
110
115

Maximum Average
Daily Exposure
88 hours
4 hours
2 hours
1 hour
30 minutes
15 minutes
O.S.H.A. Defined Limits

Training and Development

Acceptable Noise Levels

Outdoor
Usually

Levels Usually Set By Local Municipality

Rated in dBa

Type of District Max Level (dBA)

7am to 7pm to
7pm
7am
50
45
Single Family
Residential
Multi Family
55
50
Residential
Commercial
60
55
Industrial
70
70

Training and Development

Sound Rating Methods Compared

Method

NC

RC

NR

dBA

Overview

Can rate components

No quality assessment
Does not evaluate low frequency rumble
Used to evaluate systems
Should not be used to evaluate components
Can be used to evaluate sound quality
Provides some diagnostic capability
Can rate components
No quality assessment
Does not evaluate low frequency rumble
Can be determined using sound level meter
No quality assessment
Frequently used for outdoor noise ordinances

Considers Evaluates Components

Speech
Sound Currently Rated
Interference Quality
by Method
Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Air Terminals
Diffusers

Cooling Towers
Water Chillers
Condensing Units

Training and Development

Sound Power to Sound Pressure

Training and Development

Point Source Calculation

Sound Pressure
Decreases According To
Formula
Lp = Sound Pressure
Lw = Sound Power
Q = Directivity Factor
d = Distance (ft, m)
k = Constant
10.5 for IP
0.5 for SI

Lp Lw 10 Log (Q / 4d 2 ) k

Training and Development

Line Source Calculation

Line Source: A collection of
point sources that radiate
sound in a cylindrical pattern
Lp = Sound Pressure
Lw = Sound Power
Q = Directivity Factor
d = Distance (ft, m)
L = Length (ft, m)
k = Constant
10.5 for IP
0.5 for SI

Lp Lw 10 Log (Q / dL) k

Training and Development

Plane Source Calculation

Line Source: a surface that
radiates sound into space
e.g.: Fan deck A/C Chiller
Lp = Sound Pressure
Lw = Sound Power
d = Distance (ft, m)
b = Shortest Length of wall
c = Longest Length of wall
k = Constant
10.5 for IP
0.5 for SI

Close

to Wall

Lp Lw 10 Log ( /(4bc )) k

Medium

Distance From

Wall
Lp Lw 10 Log (d ) 10 Log ( 4c) k

Far

From Wall

Lp Lw 20 Log ( d ) 11 k

Training and Development

Comparing Point, Line Plane Sources

Training and Development

Sound Power to Sound Pressure

Outdoor Space Properties

Training and Development

Sound Barriers

Used to reduce sound levels and hide equipment from view

Creates an acoustic shadow that reduces sound levels
Creates insertion loss, based on the path length difference

Training and Development

Sound Power to Sound Pressure

Indoor Space Properties

Training and Development

Sound Pressure in a Confined Space

Training and Development

Sound Pressure in a Confined Space

D=distance in ft or m
k = constant
=10.5 for IP
= 0.5 for SI

Lp Lw 10 Log (Q /(4d 2 ) 4 / R ) k

Q = Directivity Factor
R = Room Constant
ft2
m2

Schultz (medium dead, offices)

Thompson (medium live)

Q /(4d 2 ) near field

Training and Development

Sound Absorption Coefficient

The sound absorption
coefficient () is the property
of a surface material
= 1, absorbs all sound
energy
= 0, reflects all sound
energy

Occupants and furniture

have a large affect on the
sound level

S ound Absorption Coefficent

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
31

63

125

250

500

1000

2000

4000

8000

Octave Band
Carpet on Foam Rubber

Drywall on Stud Wall

Suspended Ceiling

2" 3 pcf Fiberglass Insulation

Training and Development

Room Constant

The rooms ability to absorb sound

R S * T /(1 T )

T 4mV / S

R = room constant
S = total surface area of the room (ft2, m2)
V = volume of the room (ft3, m3)
m = air absorption coefficient
= average room absorption coefficient from
chart below

Training and Development

Sound Transmission

Sound Transmitted Through

Wall Into Open Space
Adjacent Areas are Affected
Transmission Loss is a
Property of the Wall
NR = Noise Reduction (dB)
TL = Transmission Loss
Sw = Common Wall Area
R = Affected Room Area

NR TL 10 Log ( Sw / R )

Training and Development

Sound Power to Sound Pressure

Indoor Space Properties

Training and Development

Sound Paths

Supply duct
Main duct breakout
Return Air
Diffuser
Radiated

Training and Development

Evaluate All Sound Paths

Add the sound paths logarithmically

Path 5 - Radiated

Path 2 - Local Duct Breakout

Path 1 - Supply Duct

Path 3 - Return Air

Path 4 - Diffuser

Path 8 - Transmission
through walls

Path 7 - Main
Return Breakout

Path 6 - Main
Supply Breakout

Training and Development

Sound Pressure in a Confined Space

Sound Energy
is Trapped
95.0

Lp (Decibels)

90.0
85.0
80.0
75.0
70.0

Free
Field

10

15

20

25

30

Distance (ft)
Diffuse

Classic

Thompson

Schultz

Training and Development

Examples

Training and Development

Compare: WMC Vs W/C Screw

New project for law school and library
Two WMCs are basis of design
Reviewing a request to look at w/c screw
Sales rep is preparing a response on why
WMC is better
Lower Cost of Ownership - Energy Modeling
Part load performance
Variable speed drives
Synchronous motors, no oil, etc.

Less Maintenance Expense

Basis of Design A plus for contractor and
engineer
Quieter operation and less transmission

Training and Development

Compare: WMC Vs W/C Screw

Looking at sound profiles
WMC is slightly lower at 81 dBa
W/C Screw is 86 dBa per sales
office

How does different profile

transfer in to adjoining spaces?
Gather Data
Frequency profile is needed
Catalogs, on-line, ASHRAE, etc

Training and Development

Sound Transmission
Examine transmission through walls (Path 8)
Not looking at other potential paths
Duct could be significant, but no data available

Training and Development

Enter Details
WMC Sound Profile

W/C Screw Sound Profile

Training and Development

To Achieve NC 35

WMC result in the occupied space

W/C Screw results in the occupied space

Training and Development

WMC Vs W/C Screw Example

Water Cooled Screw

Magnetic Bearing WMC

Training and Development

Summary

Sound transmission varies by equipment

Analysis can help define issues and areas for attention
Sound consultants are more important than ever

Training and Development

More Data?

McQuay Application Guide

All the details
Easy to understand
Good design tool for
engineers

Training and Development

Questions?