The client required the diesel engine pump set to be operated safely below 85 dB(A). The sets needed to be part of a rental fleet that could be used onboard ships, and oil & gas platforms.
After detailed discussions between our design engineers and the client, we proposed a fully integrated acoustic solution involving us converting a standard 20 foot sea container to house the pump sets, engine fuel & header tanks and ancillary equipment. The container would be fully acoustically lined and would incorporate acoustic louvres to facilitate the inclusion of cooling air to the engine radiator and pump set.
All of the machine control panels would be mounted externally, along with the feed hoses and compressor connections, so that the equipment could be utilised with the machinery fully acoustically enclosed with the container. New control panels were designed with protective steel covers.
The proposal was approved by the client. After several further enhancements the design included a roof mounted “zero-profile” exhaust outlet. During the first construction, further consultations resulted in the addition of an external diesel fill point, set back from the container extremities, to avoid clashing. A separate combustion ducted and silenced air supply (maintaining engine efficiency) was included and tested. We painted the completed units in the client’s colours to marine standards and even applied the livery.
The first off passed a thorough DNV inspection and was sent to sea with our monitoring equipment, installed to check the temperature rise with the container. Noise control was measured and verified during further field tests.
The solution offered in this case, incorporated many product requirements of the mechanical and electrical systems within the noise control design, saving costly co-ordination interfaces and not compromising the acoustic criteria. The units came in under budget and represented a valuable solution against alternatives. The systems worked so successfully that we were commissioned to design and build a range of Trailer mounted units, including chassis wheel brakes.