Multilayered Machinery Panel for Noise and Blast Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current turbomachine enclosure panels face issues with high weight, limited resistance to explosive loads, inadequate fire protection, and increased costs due to weight and material requirements, particularly in offshore installations, where they fail to meet stringent safety and environmental standards effectively.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer composite panel structure comprising soundproof, insulation, and structural layers made of ceramic and composite materials, with an ablative layer for enhanced fire and blast protection, and a perforated design for noise reduction, which reduces overall weight while maintaining performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If traditional steel panel structure with rock-wool layer is used for noise reduction, then acoustic screening function is achieved, but panel weight increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionVSAvoidpanel weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials consisting of a steel sheet layer, a noise-reducing layer (rock-wool or similar), and a perforated sheet layer. This composite structure achieves effective noise reduction through the combination of materials with different acoustic properties, where the perforated sheet allows sound waves to penetrate to the noise-reducing layer while the steel sheet provides structural support, all together reducing noise emission without requiring excessive weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If panel thickness and noise-reducing layer thickness are increased to improve noise reduction performance, then acoustic screening effectiveness increases, but panel weight and overall enclosure weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidenclosure weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a perforated sheet with specific perforation patterns (size, shape, distribution) that are optimized for acoustic performance. Rather than uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire panel, the perforated sheet provides localized acoustic treatment where sound waves need to interact with the noise-reducing layer, achieving effective noise reduction without proportionally increasing overall panel weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If traditional panel design is modified to enhance blast and fire protection, then safety performance improves, but panel weight and supporting structure weight increase considerably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblast and fire protectionVSAvoidpanel and supporting structure weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the panel into distinct functional layers: a steel sheet layer for structural support and blast resistance, a noise-reducing layer for acoustic protection, and a perforated sheet layer for acoustic transmission. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function, where the steel sheet provides necessary blast and fire protection without requiring the entire panel structure to be excessively thick or heavy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The multilayer panel achieves improved noise abatement, increased blast and fire resistance, and corrosion resistance, reducing installation complexity and costs, while being lighter and more reliable for offshore installations.

Implementation Method 1

an internal noise reducing layer 102, and a perforated sheet 103... The perforated sheet 103 facing the internal side of the enclosure 300 is perforated in order to allow the sound waves to penetrate inside the panel and to meet the rock-wool layer, which has a sound reducing function

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

the panels perform a function of thermal screen being suitable to reduce heat transfer through the enclosure walls

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

A multilayer composite panel structure comprising soundproof, insulation, and structural layers made of ceramic and composite materials, with an ablative layer for enhanced fire and blast protection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAblation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3408087B1Multilayered panel for machinery enclosure
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 NUOVO PIGNONE TECH SRL
  • EP3408087B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3408087B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a panel for machinery enclosure, particularly for turbomachine enclosures. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multilayered panel comprising several different layers (1, 2, 3, 4) each performing a specific function. In particular, the multilayered panel according to the present invention is capable to provide high levels of jet fire and fire/blast protection together with high performances in term of noise abatement with a lighter structure with respect to the panels of the prior art.