Air to Water and Water to Water Heat Pump Sound Level Measurement

Introduction
Measurement and calculation of sound power and sound pressure levels are being done
with reference to ISO 9614 and AHRI 370. The methodology being used is the dBA (A-weighted
noise level) method. Although other methodologies might result in more accurate results, dBA
gives adequate results for outdoor units such as heat pumps (ASHRAE, 2015).

Air to water heat pumps have two major noise and vibration sources, first is the fan and
second is the compressor as shown in Figure (1). While water to water heat pumps have lower
noise levels because they have no fans.

Figure 1 Frequencies at Which Different Types of Mechanical Equipment Generally Control

Sound Spectra (Schaffer 2005)
Accepted Noise Levels
Noise levels between 45 and 55 dBA may be considered in residential zones and 55 to 65
dBA in commercial zones. These are for outdoor use areas and, with standard building
constructions, they also typically result in acceptable interior noise levels. Often, daytime noise
levels (the period of daytime to be defined) are 10 dB higher than nighttime levels (ASHRAE,
2015).
 Hidros Fan and Compressor Design Considerations
When designing our heat pump fan and compressor, the following design
considerations are taken into account:

- Fan blades are designed in a manner that

minimizes the air turbulence characteristics.
Blades airfoils are selected to have high lift to drag ratio.
- The selected fan characteristics are considered to
operate at its maximum efficiency
for the maximum possible
operating conditions. Hidros fans
are subjected to CFD analysis before
installation as shown in Figure (2).
- Hidros compressor DC invertor are
controlled using the PWM signal Figure 2 Fan Blades CFD Analysis
technology which better controls the compressor frequency to keep it in the required
range.
- The heat pump is mounted on a special bearing that absorbs 90% of the vibrational
effects.

Table (1) shows the sources of noise for different mechanical equipment and
recommendations to minimize the noise level.

Factory sound data for outdoor equipment are obtained in accordance with AHRI Standard
370, which requires determination of the equipment’s octave band sound power levels (Lw), A-
weighted overall sound power level (Lwa), and tone-adjusted A-weighted overall sound power
level (Lwat). An example of the range of AHRI Standard 370 Lw values for outdoor heat pumps
in the 70 to 1300 kW range is given in Figure (3).
Table 1 Different Sound Sources and Transmission Paths (ASHRAE, 2015)
 Figure 3 Typical AHRI 370 Sound Power Levels for Outdoor Heat Pumps (AHRI 370, 2016)

Sound Power Level Measurment

Sound power level is measured using Class 1 sound intensity probe from GRAS
type 50AI for the SYMPHONIE measurement system. This probe is composed of the
following elements:

- Probe handle marked 01dB with two pushing buttons, a LEMO14 connector and an
extensioncable.
- A pair of externally polarised ½ inch microphones, type GRAS 40AI with¼ inch adapters
- 5 spacers of length 6 mm, 12 mm, 25 mm, 50 mm and 100 mm.$1 straight and 2 curved
½ inch - ¼ inch adapters.
- 2 ¼ inch preamplifiers with a 30 cm long cable and a LEMO4 connector type 26AA.
- An interface box for the SYMPHONIE hardware platform (One LEMO14 input,
two LEMO7outputs and one MiniDyn PS/2 output).

The DBFA32 software package is used to record the heat pump sound power level. The
software receives data from the receiver (SYNPHONIE) via a data acquisition system. The
following average result is obtained in Figure (4).
Figure 4 Sound Power Level Test for 92.5 KW Heating Capacity Water to Water Heat Pump

Sound Pressure Level

The sound pressure level is then obtained using the following relation:
L p=Lw +10 logQ−20 log d−11

Where:
Sym Explanation Unit Value
.
d distance from acoustic center of source to distant point m 10
Lw sound power level of sound source dB 76.1
Q directivity factor associated with way sound radiates from sound / 2
source (see Figure 30)
Lp sound pressure level at distance d from sound source dB 48.11

Distance of recording (d) is set to be 10 m which is more than double the heat pump
maximum dimension (As recommended by AHRI 370). The directivity factor for different
cases are shown in Figure (5). The test falls in the uniform hemispherical radiation, single
reflecting surface. As a result, the Q factor used is 2. Sound power level of the heat pump is
measured to be 76.1 as shown in the previous section.
 Figure 5 Directivity Factors for Various Radiation Patterns (AHRI 370, 2016)

Heat Pump Vibrational Effect

Any vibrating, reciprocating, or rotating equipment should be mounted such that it does not
transmit significant levels of vibration into the surrounding or supporting structure.

Isolation efficiency is the percentage of vibratory force not transmitted to the support
structure. Figure 6 shows that 90% efficiency results in 10% of the vibration force being
transmitted. In this case, the magnitude of transmission to the building is a function of the
magnitude of the vibration force. Figure 7 shows the effect of different efficiency levels
(ASHRAE, 2013).

Figure 6 Transmission to Structure Varies as Function of Magnitude of Vibration Force (ASHRAE,

2013)
Figure 7 Interrelationship of Equipment Vibration, Isolation Efficiency, and Transmission
(ASHRAE, 2013)

Air to water and water to water heat pumps required vibration isolator specifications are
given in Table (2).

Table 2 Vibration Isolation Requirements for Heat Pumps (ASHRAE, 2015)

 Hidros Special Isolator

Hidros has developed a special floating frame that isolates the compressors from the main
casing, thereby eliminating vibration and noise from this source. The ‘Floating Frame’ is a
special vibration and acoustic damping system that consists of a base plate and acoustic
enclosure that houses the compressors. The base plate is separated from the supporting frame of
the unit by soft steel springs that have a high damping power. Within the enclosure, the
compressors are mounted on rubber shock absorbers on the floating base plate. The enclosure is
manufactured from galvanized steel sandwich panels that have a micro-perforated inner skin and
a core of 50 mm thick, high density (40 kg/ m 3) mineral wool. The entire arrangement provides a
double damping system and acoustic attenuation. The compressor refrigerant pipes are connected
to the refrigerant circuit through “anaconda” flexible connections. Flexible connections are also
used on the water pipework within the unit. The combination of these systems results in an
overall noise reduction in the region of 10-12 dB(A).

Isolator deflection is related to the natural frequency of the isolators, and in turn, to the
isolator efficiency. Vibration isolators are described in terms of maximum static deflection,
which is the amount that a spring compresses under the weight of the equipment.
 The relationship between deflection and the natural frequency of the isolated system is
given by the following Equation:

15.77
f n=
√ d st
where dst is the static deflection in millimetres.

Transmissibility and isolation efficiency are a function of the frequency of the transmitted
(disturbing) force, and the natural frequency of the isolation system. The transmissibility is
given by:

1
T=
| ( )| f
1− d
fn
2
×100 %

where f d is the frequency of the disturbing force and f n is the natural frequency of the
isolator. The efficiency is given by:

E=100 %−T
Hidros stiff damper spring has a static deflection of 120 mm which results in:

15.77
f n= =1.37 Hz
√ 120
In addition, the disturbing frequency force which is in the form of the heat pump weight is
calculated to be 4.85 Hz. This results in a total transmissibility of:

1
T=
| 1−
4.85
( )
1.37
2

|
× 100 %=8.7

This results in isolation efficiency of 91.3% which means that 91.3% of the heat pump
vibrational effect is being absorbed by the special damper.
 Figure 8Hidros Special Damper

References
1- AHRI 370 Standarad, 2016.
2- ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, 2013.
3- ASHRAE Handbook -- HVAC Applications Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning
Applications (SI), 2015.
4- Schaffer, M.E. 2005. A practical guide to noise and vibration control for HVAC systems,
2nd ed. ASHRAE.