Abstract:
The noise generated by fluid flow disturbances is a significant contributor to acoustic pollution in residential and industrial areas. One effective approach to mitigating flow-induced noise sources is the use of silencers, which employ acoustic components to reduce generated sound. These noise-reducing components are designed to either dampen flow turbulence or absorb sound waves, though they typically introduce a pressure drop in the fluid flow, which must be carefully evaluated. In this study, an experimental test rig for flow-induced noise was designed and constructed to investigate the hydrodynamic and acoustic performance of a developed silencer. Following the construction of the test rig, the performance of a silencer, incorporating a combination of reactive and absorptive noise-reducing components, was experimentally evaluated in terms of pressure drop and sound attenuation. The individual effects of the silencer’s three acoustic components—namely the diffuser, cartridge, and conditioner (perforated plate)—on its performance were assessed. Measurement results revealed that 75% of the silencer’s pressure drop was attributed to the diffuser, 20% to the cartridge, and 5% to the conditioner. Collectively, the combined effect of the diffuser, cartridge, and conditioner enabled the silencer to achieve the expected sound reduction at the peak frequency. The findings from this test rig and the evaluation of the acoustic components’ performance can be utilized to optimize silencer design for various operating conditions.
publication venue:
21th Fluid Dynamics Conference, Iran, 2025