Making gas turbine

plants quieter
By David Bare and Jonathan Chui, Golder Associates

Originally published in

Power
October 2007

THE LAYOUT OF THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CHANGED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS REPRINT.

Making gas turbine plants quieter

POWER / OCTOBER 2007

n many parts of the developing

world,
outdated
national
electrical grids strain to supply
rapidly growing, power-hungry
populations. The result is, in many
cases,
the
all-too-frequent
brownouts and blackouts some
planned, many not. These events
have prevented many industries
and
other
businesses
from
operating efficiently. Even if they
can offer attractive labor costs and
natural resources, without being
able to provide reliable electrical
power, many developing countries
are
unable
to
grow
their
economies.
One solution that shows
promise is gas-fired combustion
turbine generation, either to meet
prime load or peak load needs.
This is an increasingly practical
alternative, with the growth of
availability of natural gas, either
pipelined from the wellhead or,
taking advantage of the growing
availability of LNG terminals,
shipped in liquid form.
Gas does not require as
extensive
a
transportation
infrastructure as does coal. The
ease with which modular gaspower systems can be transported
and assembled on-site gives gas a
degree of flexibility not found in the
multi-year construction timeframes
for coal, nuclear and hydro
development. Compared to coal,
gas emits less greenhouse gas,
and there is no need to deal with fly
ash, bottom ash and particulate.
These factors mean that many
governments
in
developing
countries welcome the growth of
gas-fired
combustion
turbine
capacity.
However,
because
the
transmission grid is often unreliable
and heavily loaded, power sources
may need to be physically close to
demand. In many cases, this
means locating generation near or
within populated areas.
Accordingly, plans to meet the
need for power through gas turbine
generation may run into problems if
not enough attention is paid to the
issue of noise. While significantly

quieter than many industrial

installations, gas-fired plants may
emit a wide range of noises from
combustion air intakes, ventilation
systems, pumps, cooling towers,
exhaust systems, transformers and
other sources
If the combustion turbine
is located in a valley, any receptors
at higher elevations may hear a jetengine type swoosh. This is
particularly an issue in many cities
in the developing world, where
informal housing developments
have sprouted on the hills
surrounding the main part of the
city.
In
many
gas-fired
combustion turbine plants, there is
a low-frequency rumble on startup
for 15 minutes or so, which can be
a major issue for utilities that are
taking advantage of gas-fired
generations ease of startup and
shutdown in order to meet peak
load. Multi-stage and single-stage
gas-fired plants have different
noise emission characteristics, in
which low frequency noise is a
major concern with the single-stage
system.
Most utilities genuinely want to
be good neighbors, and this means
managing their potential noise
impacts.
However,
in
the
developing world, they are being
forced to pay even closer attention
to this. One reason is the
increasingly-powerful voice of the
general
population
in
these
countries, often supported by
Internet-savvy Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) that can put
residents case before the world
and give the power developer
damaging media coverage.
Another trend is the growing
influence of World Bank guidelines
regarding noise, which influences
power utilities two ways: through
the fact that some countries have
adopted
World
Bank
noise
guidelines in the absence of their
own national guidelines, and the
fact that all World Bank-funded
projects must meet those noise
guidelines. As well, there is the
growing influence of the Equator

Principles, whose signatories have

committed to avoiding the financing
of projects that have potentiallynegative environmental and social
implications.
There is no magic bullet
in helping make sure that noise
concerns do not derail an
otherwise-promising gas turbine
development. Rather, it is a
combination
of
responses:
technical, social and political.
The
technical
side
includes
conducting
a
comprehensive noise assessment
of the power plant. Experienced
industrial acoustic engineers can
help determine the noise emissions
from a planned installation, and the
noise
levels
that
will
be
experienced by critical receptors, to
see if these fall within appropriate
limits.
Computer aided noise
prediction and abatement models
use field-measured noise data,
manufacturer noise rating and
other project design information, to
accurately assess compliance with
applicable noise guidelines for a
project. If noise levels will be
greater
than
permitted,
the
engineers should be able to
recommend practical, cost-effective
ways to reduce the sound levels.
Noise reduction can be
achieved by mitigating the noise
source, the sound propagation
path and the receptors.
In
mitigating noise sources, choosing
equipment with a low noise rating
is most effective.
Enclosing,
shielding, and baffling are other
effective ways to attenuate the
noise sources. Along the sound
propagation path between the
sources
and
receptors,
implementation of an acoustic
barrier, structure, earth berm and
acoustic absorption (e.g. gravel
pads) also can reduce the noise
impact. Resettlement of receptors
or
acoustical
treatment
of
receptors structure are feasible
options; however, these are
generally not preferable solutions.
In most cases, it is more cost
effective to mitigate the noise

Good social practice is

also a part of noise management.
Modifications
to
existing
installations may gain easier public
acceptance than will a Greenfield
installation.
In
a
Greenfield
installation, anyone living in the
area is accustomed to seeing
something else in the planned
location, and the five to six-storey
structure of a gas plant is not easy
to hide. It may be possible to build
greater acceptance for the plant
through planting trees between the
plant and its property line.
Building good community
relations ahead of time can help
reduce opposition. This includes
having credible projections on the
noise levels and the timing of those
noises. Meetings with community
leaders can help build alliances,
possibly through pointing out the
advantages
of
having
an
uninterrupted electrical supply.
Demonstrating
credibility
is
important,
through
keeping
commitments many NGOs, in
particular, have found that

promises made are not always

promises kept.
It
is
important
to
remember that judicial systems are
different all over the world, and a
power utility working in the
developing world, if not open about
its plans, may find itself involved in
a lengthy court process that works
differently than its executives are
accustomed.
Building positive and open
relationships with political leaders
at all levels is important.
This can help the utility understand
the
governments
planning
process. For example, the utility
can know well ahead of time if a
hospital, school or other receptor is
planned for a particular area, so
that the plant can be designed to
minimize impact on the receptor.
All of these key issues are
critical in ensuring smooth sailing
with regards to potential noise
impacts of a new gas-fired
combustion turbine power plant
project from the outset.

POWER / OCTOBER 2007

sources in the design stage than

after the plant has been built.
Low-frequency noise is
often the most expensive to treat,
with solutions possibly involving
isolator pads of crushed gravel,
engineered wall or enclosure
systems and silencers.
Noise
control methods such as acoustic
barriers are not effective with low
frequency noise.
It often helps to locate the
plant in an area that already has a
relatively high ambient noise level,
so that the emissions from the new
facility are not as noticeable. This
often means locating in an
industrial area or port. However, it
is important to note that in much of
the developing world, areas of
housing are often unplanned and
as a result, the plant may suddenly
find
that
it
has
acquired
unexpected residential neighbors.
A noise impact assessment at the
planning stages of a project will
highlight any potential noise issues
down the road.

www.golder.com

ABOUT GOLDER
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specializing in ground engineering and environmental services. With
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professionals take the time to build an understanding of client needs
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home.

ABOUT AUTHORS
David Bare is a Principal and Consultant Scientist in the Gainesville, Florida office of Golder
Associates Inc., where he is responsible for project management of multi-discipline
environmental
assessments
for
industrial
clients.
Contact:
1+352.336.5600;
dbare@golder.com.
Jonathan Chui, Professional Engineer, is Noise Engineer in the Calgary, Alberta office of
Golder Associates Ltd., responsible for the development, execution and completion of noise
assessments; as well as complete technical work for various types of developments
including mines, oil and gas facilities and other industrial operations. Contact:
1+403.299.5600; jchui@golder.com.