Energy saving with silencers in ventilation systems

Noise and acoustic environment conditions affect health, well-being and performance inside and outside of work and living spaces. Therefore, standards have to be met in buildings just as for the other room features light, climate and air quality. While energy-saving lamps and energy-efficient air conditioning systems are obvious considerable reserves still exist in the sound-absorbing components. They are obstacles to the air transport and the effort to over-come this resistance has to be provided in terms of energy by increased power of fans. Thus, in its optimized configuration lies potential for energy savings while improving the acoustic quality. The article analyzes the acoustic boundary conditions taking into account the effects of energetic consequences in the use of silencers. Solutions for their design will be presented and demonstrated with examples of achievable energy savings. As a kind of a flagship project serves a painting facility: Only through the exchange of conventional by innovative silencers in a large industrial air conditioning system it was possible to reduce both noise pollution and to achieve an annual energy savings worth more than 500 000 Euro. In this way, innovative silencers link high, appropriate attenuation effects to low flow resistance, ex-pressed by the pressure loss. The high amount in this sample system is certainly exceptional due to the plant dimension, but also on a small scale systematical and cost-effective synergies can be achieved.