RASCE

Working in conjunction with the local manufacturing company, we applied some acoustical readings within the local community and found that with the Dust Collector, this was producing 126 dBA noise readings. The noise generated from the Dust Collector was affecting the resident’s ability to enjoy the outdoors, during the day and especially during the evening and night time hours when noise can travel further. From the acoustical analysis performed at the actual Dust Collector, then @ 3 feet away, then again @ 100 feet, we were able to apply a quad-set of acoustical type HVAC silencers with a radius bend at the top where the exhaust is located on the top of the Dust Collector. With the application of this acoustical HVAC set-up, we were able to bring down the noise level to a comfortable 65 dBA, thus resulting in a lower allowable and acceptable noise within the noise ordinance within the local community.

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, is a national provider of railroad and transit system products and services headquartered in Albertville, AL. They had an issue with locomotive engines that was two-fold: they needed noise reduction while still providing proper ventilation to the engines. We worked with Jim Seaton, Locomotive Engineering Product Line Manager at Progress Rail’s LaGrange, IL location, to run calculations and simulations to determine the size and type of acoustic louver that would be best suited for their locomotive engines. We used CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations to help design a more natural ventilation system using louvers in conjunction with analyses performed on the impact of locomotive engine exhausts on the environment. They were able to install these louvers, resulting in a reduction of noise to standard levels of safety, further allowing the engine locomotives to run at max performance without any impediment and keeps the engines cooled with allowable airflow in and out, avoiding heat build-up.