Generation and control of noise in water supply installations. Part 1. Fundamental aspects

This paper, the first in a series of three, is aimed at improving our understanding of, and communication about, problems of noise in water supply installations. Part 1 presents a discussion of the relevant noise measuring standards, their usefulness, applicability and shortcomings. The importance of measuring the waterborne sound emission is stressed and a simplified test procedure is recommended. This is particularly suited for use in noisy environments such as are frequently found in industry. Active control of the noise excitation and propagation processes requires some knowledge of the most relevant hydrodynamic and acoustic parameters. These, together with the discussion of the various sound source mechanisms to follow in Part 2, may help in the design of quiet taps and throttling devices.