Industrial Noise Control: Characteristics, Hazards, and Solutions of Power Plant Noise

In industrial production, power plants, as the core of energy supply, have long faced noise pollution problems that have constrained the balanced development of the ecological environment and occupational health. Sanyuan Environment has been deeply involved in the field of noise pollution control for nearly 20 years, providing a full-chain solution for power plant noise control through precise identification of noise characteristics, scientific assessment of health risks, and innovative application of noise reduction technologies.

I. Core Characteristics of Power Plant Noise: Full-Band Pollution and Low-Frequency Penetration Challenges

Power plant noise is characterized by a wide range of sources, a complex spectrum, and high sound pressure levels , with significant differences in noise characteristics among different equipment.

• Main plant and boiler area : As the core noise source, the turbine body, boiler ducts, and other equipment generate full-frequency noise , with particularly prominent low-frequency components (peaks appearing below 63Hz). The measured sound pressure level is as high as 105.9dB (main plant) and 106.5dB (boiler auxiliary equipment) . The noise radiates outward through the plant roof and walls, causing large-scale pollution.

• Cooling towers and circulating water pumps : The water spray noise (water droplet impact and air convection) of natural draft cooling towers is a medium-to-high frequency continuous noise, with a measured value of 84.5 dBA at 1m outside the tower ; the aerodynamic noise of circulating water pumps is accompanied by mechanical vibration and propagates over long distances along the pipeline.

• Coal transport railway and auxiliary equipment : Wheel-rail friction and locomotive whistles cause noise levels of up to 92.6 dBA at 5m on the coal transport railway ; the external noise range of auxiliary workshops such as the integrated water pump room is 75-86 dBA , which diffuses outward through gaps in doors and windows.

Key challenge : Low-frequency noise (≤250Hz) has strong penetrating power, and conventional sound insulation materials have insufficient attenuation efficiency, which can easily cause vibration perception and secondary radiation in surrounding residential areas.

II. The Multidimensional Harm of Noise to Human Health: From Hearing Damage to Systemic Dysfunction

Prolonged exposure to power plant noise can cause irreversible effects on human physiology and psychology, specifically manifested as follows:

1. Hearing system damage

A survey of occupational health at a thermal power plant revealed that among 179 workers exposed to noise, 18.99% had high-frequency hearing loss , and 10.06% had speech hearing loss. The degree of damage was positively correlated with noise intensity and length of service (the damage rate increased 2.3 times for those with ≥10 years of service). Further WHO research indicates that long-term exposure to noise levels above 85 dBA increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss by 40%.

2. Cardiovascular and metabolic system disorders

A survey conducted by the Shanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that the detection rate of hypertension among workers exposed to noise was 7.26% (compared to 2.1% in the control group), the proportion of abnormal electrocardiograms (sinus bradycardia, myocardial ischemia) reached 46.37% , and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Noise activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to vasoconstriction and blood pressure fluctuations, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.

3. Neurological and psychological dysfunctions

Continuous noise exposure can trigger neurasthenia syndrome, manifested as headaches (38%), insomnia (42%), and difficulty concentrating (29%) . Long-term exposure can lead to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. A case study from a thermal power plant shows that after noise control measures were implemented (control room noise reduced from 76dB to 48dB), employee work efficiency increased by 15%, and the error rate decreased by 22%.

III. Sanyuan Environment's end-to-end solution: From source control to intelligent management and control

In response to the complexity of power plant noise, Sanyuan Environment has constructed a three-dimensional governance system of " source reduction - path blocking - intelligent monitoring ," achieving precise noise reduction through case studies:

1. Sound source targeted control technology

• Incinerator/Steam Turbine Soundproof Enclosure : Adopts a composite structure with a sound insulation of ≥35dB and a high temperature resistance of up to 400℃. It is adaptable to irregular equipment structures and features an integrated design of ventilation and heat dissipation channels and silencers, reducing energy consumption by 15%.

• Exhaust fan silencer : Impedance composite design, insertion loss ≥25dB, pressure loss <200Pa, effectively suppressing eddy current noise and blade passing frequency peak.

• Cooling tower noise reduction and airflow guidance : Arc-shaped noise reduction and airflow guidance plates are installed on the top of the tower to reduce fan vortex noise by 10dB; modular sound barriers (sound absorption coefficient ≥0.9, sound insulation ≥30dB) are deployed around the tower, with a height exceeding the tower body by 2m to block long-distance transmission.

2. Propagation Path Optimization Scheme

• Pipeline vibration control : Spring-rubber composite vibration dampers (vibration transmission rate ≤15%) are used, and gradient sound-absorbing materials are wrapped around them to reduce airflow friction noise radiation.

• Factory boundary noise barrier : For sensitive areas such as coal transport railways and the northwest factory boundary, a 6-12m high barrier is set up. The barrier adopts an arc design to match the terrain, and the noise reduction reaches 20-25dB, ensuring that the noise at the factory boundary meets the GB 12348-2008 standard (≤60dB during the day and ≤50dB at night).

3. Intelligent monitoring and operation and maintenance

• 3D noise map : Based on SoundPLAN software modeling, predict the compliance status of the plant boundary after treatment;

• IoT monitoring system : Deploy multiple noise sensors at various locations, transmit data to the cloud platform in real time, automatically generate environmental compliance reports, and trigger early warning responses for abnormal noise (response time < 5 minutes).

Protecting the balance of sound through technological innovation

Noise control in power plants is not only an environmental compliance requirement, but also a core measure for enterprises to fulfill their social responsibility and protect the health of their employees. Sanyuan Environment has successfully helped many power plants in China achieve noise compliance through customized design, application of green materials, and intelligent management. In the future, Sanyuan Environment will continue to explore synergistic technologies of "noise reduction + low carbon" to help power plants achieve a win-win situation in energy production and ecological protection, and jointly build a quiet and harmonious industrial sound environment.

Sanyuan Environment – ​​enabling industrial civilization and natural soundscapes to coexist harmoniously.