Dryer Noise Reduction
Industrial dryers produce high noise levels. This can cause workers’ noise exposures to exceed the legal limit of the Control of Noise at Work regulations. Dryer noise can also cause nuisance to residents living close to a factory.
Successful dryer noise reduction methods firstly require that diagnostic noise tests are carried out to determine the main noise source, transmission path and radiating surfaces. The main noise source is often the dryer fan, especially where the noise is causing nuisance to residents near the factory. Sometimes the main noise source is the burner used to heat the dryer.
Once the main noise source has been diagnosed, this information enables the best noise control solution to be determined. There are several types of industrial dryer noise reduction solution. However, the best option is usually to suppress the sound at source using minor engineering modifications to the dryer or to the dryer fan. This type of solution usually provides the highest noise reduction at the lowest cost. Some examples of this type of dryer noise control solution are given below.
Industrial Dryer Noise Control Examples
The following are some examples of industrial dryer noise reduction solutions that we have used to solve noise problems in a range of different factories and industries.
Example: Glass Dryer Fan Noise Control
Our diagnostic tests found that the dryer fan was the main noise source on a glass washer / dryer machine. We designed some small engineering modifications to absorb and suppress the fan noise at source. Our dryer fan noise reduction solution was very successful, reducing the noise by 11 dBA at very low cost. Inside the factory the noise fell from 92 dBA down to 81 dBA at the nearest worker to the glass washer / dryer. This solution enabled the company to comfortably achieve the Control of Noise at Work regulations’ 85 dBA legal limit throughout the factory.
Example: Industrial Dryer Fan Noise Reduction on a Coater Machine
Our diagnostic noise tests found that the cooling fan was the main noise source on a dryer fitted to a large industrial coater machine. We purpose-designed a silencer to fit inside the limited space available around the fan impeller. This was highly successful, reducing the coater dryer noise by 10 dBA. The dryer fan noise reduction solution cost only a few hundred pounds to install. Although the overall noise reduction at the coater dryer was 10 dBA, our silencer managed to reduce the dryer fan noise by 14 dBA – a very high noise reduction.
Example: Shot Dryer Burner Sound Reduction
A shot dryer machine was exposing workers to 94 dBA. We carried out diagnostic noise tests which showed the main noise source was the burner used to dry the shot. Using small engineering modifications to the gas nozzle and gas / air mixing process, we achieved an 11 dBA noise reduction at the dryer. This lowered workers’ noise exposures below the 85 dBA legal limit. The installation cost was just a few hundred pounds.
Example: Large Industrial Dryer Fan Noise Reduction
A company that makes fibres for use in filters, medical products and food trays received noise nuisance complaints from nearby residents. The factory contains a large number of fans, vacuum pumps and compressors and the company did not know which equipment required noise reduction. We carried out detailed diagnostic sound tests, which found that the main noise source was a very large dryer fan (shown in the photo above). Then we designed an engineering solution to suppress the dryer fan noise at source. This was highly successful, making the dryer fan inaudible at the nearest resident’s house and preventing further noise nuisance complaints.
Industrial Dryer Noise Reduction Methods
Common methods for reducing industrial dryer noise include acoustic enclosures and sound barriers. These are both very costly. Sound barriers usually only provide a small noise reduction. An alternative dryer noise reduction method is to reduce the sound at source using small engineering modifications. The benefits of this method are high noise reduction coupled with very low cost. The cost is considerably lower than an acoustic enclosure or noise barrier – the savings can amount to thousands of pounds.
Reducing the dryer noise at source usually provides much higher noise reductions than sound barriers. Also engineering solutions avoid the risk of overheating as can occur with an acoustic enclosure. The examples above all achieved high noise reductions using engineering solutions to reduce the dryer noise at source.
How to Find an Industrial Dryer Noise Control Solution
We have 40 years’ experience of reducing industrial dryer noise in all types of factory and industry. We normally achieve this using engineering solutions that reduce the noise at source. To find out how we can help you reduce dryer noise or dryer fan noise in your factory using low cost, high sound reduction solutions, please contact us as shown below – we look forward to helping you: