GEK 110392a
Revised August 2002
GE Power Systems
Gas Turbine
Standard Noise Assessment Procedure
These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment nor to provide for
every possible contingency to be met in connection with installation, operation or maintenance. Should
further information be desired or should particular problems arise which are not covered sufficiently for
the purchasers purposes the matter should be referred to the GE Company.
2002 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GEK 110392a
Standard Noise Assessment Procedure
I. TEST PHILOSOPHY
This document defines the methods that will be used to assess the noise emissions of GE supplied equipment in a power plant, to verify compliance with the noise guarantee of the contract. It describes techniques
to obtain near field and far field (if applicable) noise levels while the power plant is operating at base load
together with all its ancillary cooling and electrical equipment.
This procedure is based primarily on the two recognised standards, namely ANSI/ASME PTC 36-1985
"Measurement of Industrial Sound", and ANSI B133.8 -1977 "(R2001) Gas Turbine Installation - Sound
Emissions".
The assessment shall be conducted or supervised by a competent noise control specialist with industrial or
power station experience.
II. ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT
A number of environmental factors affect the sound level measured at a given orientation and distance
relative to the GE supplied equipment, including both weather and surrounding terrain. While weather
conditions are not controllable, the time of measurement should be chosen to minimise their effect.
A. Atmospheric Conditions
Measurement shall be made when the wind velocity does not exceed 7mph (3m/s) (an average wind
speed of up to, but not exceeding 11mph (5m/s) may be accepted and must be recorded in the test
report).
B. Standard Terrain
If obstacles of sufficient size to affect the measurement of acoustic performance exist, data should be
modified in accordance with ANSI B133.8 to compensate for this effect, or measuring position may be
moved or eliminated.
C. Background Noise
In order to obtain a true representation of the emitted noise from the GE supplied equipment without
any influence from other sources in the vicinity, the background noise level shall be at least 4 dB less
than the measured sound level with the gas turbine plant operating. If the level difference is less than
or equal to 3 dB, measurement positions should be moved to another location subjected to agreement
with all the relevant parties. Noise from equipment, which is not within the testing scope should be
considered as background noise.
III. INSTRUMENTATION FOR NOISE MEASUREMENT
A. Sound Level Meter
Noise measurements shall be made with instrumentation meeting the minimum requirements of IEC
60651:1979 type I or II instrument and IEC 60804:2000. The instrument should have both dB(A) and
octave band frequency measurement capability.
Standard Noise Assessment Procedure
GEK 110392a
B. Calibration
Instruments shall be acoustically calibrated before and after each survey, using a sound level calibrator or pistonphone of known sound pressure level. Both the calibrator and the meter shall have been
calibrated within the last 12 months with their traceable calibration records. If there is a discrepancy
exceeding 0.5dB between the pre-survey and post survey calibrations, the test shall be repeated, but
only if the calibration change affects the pass or fail status of the test.
C. Windscreen
A microphone windscreen shall be used to minimise any wind induced noise.
IV. MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE
The power plant will be running at base load. All enclosure doors and access panels will be closed unless
otherwise specified.
A. Microphone Position
The microphone shall be located between 4ft (1.2m) and 5.3 ft (1.6m) above the ground, and at least
11.5ft (3.5m ) from walls or other sound reflecting structures, otherwise appropriate correction should
be applied as per section V.
B. Near field Measurement
The measurement positions shall be located along the perimeter of GE supplied equipment and its
auxiliary equipment as defined in the relevant contract document. Measurements will not be made on
the upper surfaces of machinery or enclosure surfaces but will be confined to the normally accessible
floor at ground locations and no closer than 3ft (1m) to equipment surface. Near field assessment shall
be taken at approximately 10ft (3m) intervals around the gas turbine plant.
C. Far Field Measurement
The far field measurements shall be made at eight locations in accordance with the guidelines set out
in ANSI B133.8 (re. Figure 2 of ANSI B133.8). The distance between the noise assessment and the
nearest point on the perimeter of the installation shall be an agreed upon value stated in the noise
specification. The measurement positions may be eliminated or moved depending on local conditions
(background noise, accessibility, reflecting surfaces, screens or topographical conditions).
D. Type of Data
The equivalent continuous sound pressure level shall be determined over a minimum time interval of
30 seconds for near field measurement and 2 minutes for far field measurement. The instrument may
be placed on "pause" during the measurement period to exclude transient non-plant sound such as the
passing of automobiles, such activity must be recorded in the test report.
GEK 110392a
Standard Noise Assessment Procedure
V. CORRECTIONS TO SOUND LEVELS
A. Correction for Reflections (If required)
The far field measurements should be corrected as far as possible for reflective surfaces. The correction
(given in table 2 of ANSI B133.8) will be applied when there are major buildings, fences, or walls, or
other large structures with dimensions greater than 3m (10 ft) within a distance of 5 ( is the wavelength at lowest frequency of interest) of the equipment being measured or the microphone position.
The near field measurement should be corrected for free field condition in accordance with ANSI PTC
36 (1985).
B. Correction for Background Noise (If Required)
The sound pressure levels recorded at each microphone position shall be corrected for the influence
of the background noise at the same location. Corrections will be made in accordance with Table 1.
If the background noise is unsteady, additional statistical sound pressure level (L10, & L90) should be
measured.
Table 1. Correction for background noise expressed in dB (re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)
Difference between sound pressure level
measured with Gas Turbine plant operating and
background sound pressure level alone
dB
> 10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
Correction to be subtracted from sound pressure
level measured with Gas Turbine plant operating
to obtain sound pressure level due to gas turbine
alone
dB
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
Measurement invalid
C. Data Averaging
The average sound pressure level is calculated from the measurements at all relevant test positions,
and shall be calculated as an arithmetic or logarithmic average, depending upon agreement with the
customer.
The noise emission level of the GE supplied equipment shall be considered acceptable if the average
of the measurement readings is equal to or less than the specified limit.
D. Correction for Distance (If Required)
If the background noise interferes excessively for other reasons, measurements will be taken at another
location and extrapolated out to the noise assessment location. The formula for this extrapolation is as
follows.
SLpl = SLtp + 20 log(Dtp/Dpl) - C
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Standard Noise Assessment Procedure
GEK 110392a
SLpl = Noise level at assessment location
SLtp = Noise level at other test point
Dpl = Distance from GT plant boundary to assessment location
Dtp = Distance from GT plant boundary to test point
C = Atmospheric absorption correction between the two distances
VI. MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY
Measurement carried out in accordance with this procedure usually result in uncertainties in accordance
with the values given in Table 2. The values reflect the cumulative effects of all causes of measurement
uncertainty, which includes instrumentation accuracy, environmental factor, calibration, directional, measurement distance etc.
Table 2. Uncertainties for sound pressure levels in dB
Frequency - weighted Sound Pressure Level
Centre Frequencies of Octave Band Sound Pressure
Levels
Overall dB(A)
31.5 - 125 Hz
250 Hz
500 - 8000 Hz
VII. INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED
The noise measurement report will include the following information.
A. Power Plant
1. Location
2. Model of Turbine unit operating
3. Description of units including auxiliary equipment and noise control treatment, and
4. Full details of the operating condition of the power station during the test.
B. Acoustic Environment
1. Dimensioned sketch showing GE supplied equipment, measurement positions, significant buildings, structures, or other reflecting objects; and
2. Meteorological conditions at a noted measurement position, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction.
C. Instrumentation
Details of the instruments used, including name, manufacturer, model number, serial number and calibration certificates.
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GEK 110392a
Standard Noise Assessment Procedure
D. Acoustic Data
1. Background noise levels used for any correction, and
2. The results of the measurement at each position as dB(A) and octave band values.
E. General Data
1. Personnel performing and observing the test, and
2. Date and time of measurement.
F. Any exceptions to this procedure
GE Power Systems
General Electric Company
One River Road, Schenectady, NY 12345
518 385 2211 TX: 145354
