Generator quieting
A while back someone mentioned looking for a quieter muffler to reduce the noise of their gen. That question brought to mind that a video needs to be made which should clearly show that much of the...
Forum Discussion
I believe a person will find COMBUSTION DETONATION is a major culprit of radiated noise. Example? Diesel. That knocking and clatter is an example and reduction of the noise because of water jacketing is a perfect example.
Because of "chain link association", my work with generators led me howling and fuming to problems with prime movers and it is impossible to isolate noise issues from customer complaints.
Take a 36-turn Wisconsin 37.5 horsepower 15Kw generator PM and compare it to an Onan 4cyl 36-turn 15-Kw generator.
The Wisconsin is deafening. The Onan is merely loud. The Wisconsin is air-cooled.
It's like a speaker. Only the voice coil actually is the origin of the noise -- the fabric is a sympathetic resonator. In an engine, cylinder combustion is the origin of BOTH exhaust AND resonating noise. The surface of the engine acts like the sympathetic resonator.
Water transmits noise, yes? But water in a chamber can also diffuse noise through an intricate physics of echo cancellation. Noise bouncing off a far side wall cancels frequency waves and this action is definitely selective.
I fiddled with sound proofing although I did not want to.
A thin foil of lead absorbs higher frequency emissions. Soft foam with pyramid protrusions is the most effective sound absorbsion for middle and low frequencies.
I had to deal with generator noise while building trawlers. It isn't fun. A diesel genset can turn the hull and bulkheads into giant resonators. Stick a stethoscope against concrete block of a generator shed and hear the effects of this.
Suppress sound. Then stick your stethoscope against the outside wall once again -- amazing eh?
It would cost a moderate fortune for me to clad the inside of my gen shed with 3" suppressor foam. Then there is the issue of flammability. Not feasible with auto extinguishing suppressors like Halon. Beyond my budget.
If you want real life examples of generator sound suppression, movie set tow trailer gen sets are perfect. A 20 Kw unit (diesel) is quieter with an ear a foot from the enclosure than a Honda 2000 watt inverter generator is at 10ft distance. Not bad for a DIESEL versus gasoline comparison. All's it takes is lots of money, lots of space and a significant reduction in engine efficiency due to increased exhaust back pressure. And keep in mind those movie set units have to deal with radiator cooling air flow.
Because of "chain link association", my work with generators led me howling and fuming to problems with prime movers and it is impossible to isolate noise issues from customer complaints.
Take a 36-turn Wisconsin 37.5 horsepower 15Kw generator PM and compare it to an Onan 4cyl 36-turn 15-Kw generator.
The Wisconsin is deafening. The Onan is merely loud. The Wisconsin is air-cooled.
It's like a speaker. Only the voice coil actually is the origin of the noise -- the fabric is a sympathetic resonator. In an engine, cylinder combustion is the origin of BOTH exhaust AND resonating noise. The surface of the engine acts like the sympathetic resonator.
Water transmits noise, yes? But water in a chamber can also diffuse noise through an intricate physics of echo cancellation. Noise bouncing off a far side wall cancels frequency waves and this action is definitely selective.
I fiddled with sound proofing although I did not want to.
A thin foil of lead absorbs higher frequency emissions. Soft foam with pyramid protrusions is the most effective sound absorbsion for middle and low frequencies.
I had to deal with generator noise while building trawlers. It isn't fun. A diesel genset can turn the hull and bulkheads into giant resonators. Stick a stethoscope against concrete block of a generator shed and hear the effects of this.
Suppress sound. Then stick your stethoscope against the outside wall once again -- amazing eh?
It would cost a moderate fortune for me to clad the inside of my gen shed with 3" suppressor foam. Then there is the issue of flammability. Not feasible with auto extinguishing suppressors like Halon. Beyond my budget.
If you want real life examples of generator sound suppression, movie set tow trailer gen sets are perfect. A 20 Kw unit (diesel) is quieter with an ear a foot from the enclosure than a Honda 2000 watt inverter generator is at 10ft distance. Not bad for a DIESEL versus gasoline comparison. All's it takes is lots of money, lots of space and a significant reduction in engine efficiency due to increased exhaust back pressure. And keep in mind those movie set units have to deal with radiator cooling air flow.
