Floating device providing noise reduction properties

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating noise reduction system for moving and/or falling fluids, the process for manufacturing of such system and the use of such system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from European patent application No. 10 163 520.9-2213 filed on May 21, 2010, all of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a floating noise reduction system for moving and / or falling fluids, the process for manufacturing of such system and the use of such system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Falling or dropping and flowing fluid, especially water, is known to create significant noise that becomes a health and safety concern for work personnel and a nuisance for nearby residents. A prominent case is in cooling towers of power plants where costly measures have to be taken to reduce the noise. The conditions in cooling towers are among the worst for any sound dampening installation, as there is a permanent high water impact like from a waterfall moving round in circles. The resulting force can cause severe dam...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]A major object of the present invention thus is to provide a floating noise reduction system or material combination not showing the above mentioned deficiencies but exhibiting a significant and sustainable level of noise reduction over all concerned frequencies and showing an additional drainage effect and high mechanical wear resistance.

Problems solved by technology

Falling or dropping and flowing fluid, especially water, is known to create significant noise that becomes a health and safety concern for work personnel and a nuisance for nearby residents.

A prominent case is in cooling towers of power plants where costly measures have to be taken to reduce the noise.

The conditions in cooling towers are among the worst for any sound dampening installation, as there is a permanent high water impact like from a waterfall moving round in circles.

The resulting force can cause severe damage or at least accelerated fatigue to installations of any kind.

All the a.m. systems are mainly based on metalwork and / or rigid plastics and thus do not possess material immanent dampening properties.

To improve that situation, JP 8200986 claims the use of a combination of water permeable and non-permeable synthetic resin mats, however, also those materials are rather rigid and the drainage properties—despite the claimed drainage ridges—are poor, leading to water agglomeration on top of the mat which will increase the noise level again.

CN 2169107 mentions damping mats and particles; however, the claimed system is not able to provide sufficient structural integrity for the application.

However, those systems are not consequently using the potential of elastic dampening and exhibit deficiencies in floating properties as well as in drainage performance; and some systems again are sensitive to mechanical impact.

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