Most ship’s hydraulic systems cry out with a noise where this becomes specifically unbearable for those who are in the vicinity. At this moment, shipping is busy combating exhaust gas emissions. While there are no regulations or any stringent requirements to be met for Noise emissions, the shipping industry can soon witness it.
Ships which has high capacity generators (1000 kW and more) usually has some high pitch noise emanating from them and these caused some concerns for those who live near the tanker and gas terminals in the UK. The locals have reported that these high pitch noise could be heard and that disturbs their night sleep.
There are some tankers and other ships with hydraulic driven cargo pumps and some high capacity fuel oil transfer pumps which are hydraulic driven that cause significant noise during their operation.
This write-up is to investigate a bit deep into the source of noise from any hydraulic system.
The dominant source of noise in hydraulic systems is the pump. The hydraulic pump transmits structure-borne and fluid-borne noise into the system and radiates air-borne noise.
All positive-displacement hydraulic pumps have a specific number of pumping chambers, which operate in a continuous cycle of:
- Opening to be filled (inlet)
- Closing to prevent back flow
- Opening to expel contents (outlet)
- Closing to prevent back flow
These separate but superimposed flows result in a pulsating delivery, which causes a corresponding sequence of pressure pulsations. These pulsations create fluid-borne noise, which causes all downstream components to vibrate.
The pump also creates structure-borne noise by exciting vibration in any component with which it is mechanically linked, e.g. pump casing, tank top, pipings, bulkheads etc. The transfer of fluid and structure induced vibration to the adjacent air mass results in air-borne noise.
Can’t We Reduce such Noise?
Reducing Fluid-Borne Noise:
While fluid-borne noise attributable to pressure pulsation can be minimized through hydraulic pump design, it cannot be completely eliminated. In large hydraulic systems or noise-sensitive applications, the propagation of fluid-borne noise can be reduced by the installation of a silencer. The simplest type of silencer used in hydraulic applications is the reflection silencer, which eliminates sound waves by superimposing a second sound wave of the same amplitude and frequency at a 180-degree phase angle to the first.
Reducing structure-borne noise:
The propagation of structure-borne noise created by the vibrating mass of the power unit (the hydraulic pump and its prime mover) can be minimized through the elimination of sound bridges between the power unit and tank, and the power unit and valves.
This is normally achieved through the use of flexible connections i.e. rubber mounting blocks and flexible hoses, but in some situations it is necessary to introduce additional mass, the inertia of which reduces the transmission of vibration at bridging points.
Reducing air-borne noise:
The magnitude of noise radiation from an object is proportional to its area and inversely proportional to its mass. Reducing an object’s surface area or increasing its mass can therefore reduce its noise radiation.
For example, constructing the hydraulic reservoir from thicker plate (increases mass) will reduce its noise radiation.
The magnitude of air-borne noise radiated directly from the hydraulic pump can be reduced by mounting the pump inside the tank. For full effectiveness, there must be a clearance of 0.5 meter between the pump and the sides of tank, and the mounting arrangement must incorporate decoupling between the power unit and tank to insulate against structure-borne noise.
The obvious disadvantage of mounting the hydraulic pump inside the tank is that it restricts access for maintenance and adjustment.
If hydraulic system noise remains outside the required level after all of the above noise propagation countermeasures have been exhausted, encapsulation or screening must be considered.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Reference and Source: Hydraulicsupermarket.com – Author: Brenden Casey
