Combustion turbine projects have become a popular choice for providing a clean and efficient source of electricity. However, since combustion turbines generally produce low frequency sound energy, special siting considerations should be evaluated to minimize the potential for impacts on sensitive receptors, such as residences, churches, hospitals, and schools.
For successful siting of combustion turbine projects near sensitive receptors, it is necessary to incorporate noise control features into plant designs to reduce not only audible noise but also noise at frequencies which are even lower than the human ear can perceive. These extremely low frequencies can rattle walls and windows, causing pressure pulsations which may be perceived by some people, or vibration of small objects inside houses and other structures.
Even “quiet” plants which include extensive noise control features may still result in perceptible low frequency noise due to the relative difficulty of attenuating low frequency sound energy. Noise attenuation options are discussed, including active, passive, and reactive technologies, along with the impacts associated with each type of design.
Guidelines for siting combustion turbine power generation facilities near sensitive receptors are presented, to enable development of projects which not only meet applicable noise requirements, but also reduce the potential for community complaints.
Absorption of Low-Frequency Sound Energy by Vegetation: A Laboratory Investigation
