×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Heat Pump Noise

Heat Pump Noise

Heat Pump Noise

(OP)
I am working with a classroom building that has individual heatpumps mounted in the ceilings of each classroom.  These heat pumps are very loud and disrupt the professors when they are operating.  Does anyone have any experience in using sound insulation for heat pumps?  If so, do you have any ideas on the best way to insulate the heatpumps for sound dampening? Would it be better to insulate the compressor, the whole unit, or just put insulation above the ceiling tile?

RE: Heat Pump Noise

You may have a run into a phenomena known as "close coupling" in which the air space around the heat pump air handlers cabinets is actually transmitting vibration to the walls and ceiling.  Typically, any air handler or HVAC device mounted above a false ceiling should have at least 3 feet of unresticed space around it to prevent this problem.  The cabinets should be resiliently mounted and any connecting tubing, such as the refrigerant lines and condensate drain should be suspended with anti-vibration hangers.  The electrical conduit should utilize flexible material the last few feet (if allowed in your jurisdiction).

I have run into a similar problem before and it's not easily solved.  You will likley never be able to completely eradicate all the noise, but some beneficial relief may be possible at a reasonable cost. I urge you to consult an accoustical engineering firm for the best advice on how to reduce the noise and vibration.  There are many companies that specialize in this area.  I hope this helps a bit.

RE: Heat Pump Noise

Things to check -
Some heat pump ship with the compressors locked down to prevent damage. Check to see if the shipping locks have been removed.
Flexable connections installed at the unit duct connections?
Vibration isolation at the unit hanging points. Spring? rubber in shear?, installed correctly ?
Water source heat pumps, Hose kits or hard piped water connections?
Power connections in flexable conduit.

Insulation on the ceiling tile will not help much.
Additional insulation in the compressor compartment will do some good.
Insulation above the heat pump will heat eat some reflected sound.

Kinetics Noise Control has some helpfull information.
www.kineticsnoise.com


Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources