The subject presented in this paper refers to measurements and assessment of the corrected sound pressure level values (noise) occurring around a medium-power transformer. The paper presents the values of noise accompanying the operation of the power object before and after its modernization, which consisted in repeated core pressing and replacement of the cooling system. The main aim of the research work was the assessment of the influence of the repair work on the noise level emitted into the environment.
Noise is one of the most significant factors which not only disturbs working conditions, but has a large impact on workers’ health. This problem has existed in industries since the beginning and, despite technical and other solutions, it has not been solved. There is a large number of papers, supported with very detailed analyses, that investigate noise levels in industry or contain questionnaires about the impact of noise on workers’ overall health and work abilities. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the global picture of sustainability and the development of strategies for improving the quality of working environment, with special attention to the generation of noise in different production processes in thirteen different industries in Novi Sad, Serbia. The paper also seeks to examine the advantages and drawbacks of the implemented protective methods and to provide some recommendations for their better implementation in order to contribute to solving this significant problem of today.
In this paper, the authors study the 3D propagation of sound waves between two closed spaces. The separation element between the two rooms is considered to include either a small opening or a homogeneous lightweight panel, coupling the two spaces. A numerical study of this configuration is performed, trying to understand the influence of the position and geometry of this opening in the sound pressure level reduction curve at low and midfrequencies. Additionally, the coupling effect between the two acoustic spaces is analyzed, in order to better understand its importance when determining the sound pressure level reduction. Different boundary conditions are ascribed to the walls of these rooms, simulating both the completely reflecting and partially absorbing surfaces.
The numerical modelling was performed using a multi-domain formulation of the Method of Fundamental Solutions (MFS). The system is composed of two coupled rooms, limited by rigid or by absorbing walls, and separated by a thin wall (tending to null thickness) with a small opening. An experimental validation of the proposed model is presented, comparing its results with those found experimentally for a reduced-scale model. It is important to note that, for such a configuration, a traditional single-domain approach using methods like the MFS or the BEM would lead to undetermined equation systems, and thus the proposed model makes use of a domain decomposition technique.
The condition monitoring techniques like acoustic emission, vibration analysis, and infrared thermography, used for the failure diagnosis of bearings, require longer processing time, as they have to perform acoustical measurement followed by signal processing and further analysis using special software. However, for any bearing, its period of usage can be easily determined within an hour, by measuring the bearing sound, using sound level meter (SLM). In this paper the acoustical analysis of the spindle bearing of a radial drilling machine was performed using SLM, by measuring the sound pressure level of the bearing in decibels, for different frequencies, while muting all the other noises. Then using an experimental set up, two database readings were taken, one for new bearing and the other for completely damaged bearing, both are SKF6207, which itself is the spindle bearing. From these three sets of sound pressure level readings, the period of usage of the spindle bearing, was calculated using an interpolation equation, by substituting the life of the bearing from the manufacturer’s catalogue. Therefore, for any machine with a SKF6207 bearing, its usage time can be estimated using the database readings and one measurement on that machine, all with the same speed.