Noise Suppression in a commercial environment?

[RadiclDreamer]

I am currently looking into various methods of noise suppression for use in a commercial environment. I have read something some time ago about a device that will use sound to effectively cancel the noise (basically sending an opposite set of waves to cancel the noise)

I am wondering what this is called, and would like some in depth information about it. I would also like to know any companies that do things like this.

Anyone that has some info on how this works and any problems that may arise through the use of ut please let me know

Sorry if this isnt "high tech" enough. If not please move

 

[Gibsons]

There are lots of headphones that do this. It's very very hard to do in an open area though, especially if the subject moves, as humans tend to do.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

No, actually what I am needing is a device that will cancel out noise from machinery that is fairly loud and I was told that a device existed that would send an opposite wave to what the machine was making effectively cancelling it out. I am wondering if ths device exists and if it would be feasable to do with large machinery

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
No, actually what I am needing is a device that will cancel out noise from machinery that is fairly loud and I was told that a device existed that would send an opposite wave to what the machine was making effectively cancelling it out. I am wondering if ths device exists and if it would be feasable to do with large machinery

I understand that. the noise canceling headphones work on that principle. They can do that because the exact distance from the canceling emitter to your eardrum is a known constant.

But for your situation, you've got your noise source somewhere. You set up the canceling device a few feet away. You'll see constructive and destructive interference depending on where you take your measurement. If your eardrum is say, 20 wavelenths from both sources, you'd get destructive interference and not hear anything. But you take a step to the side where you're 20 wavelengths from one and 20.5 from the other and things get really really loud. Long story short, I think someone misinformed you.

Something fun to play with Text

 

[f95toli]

No, I think he's right. I have read about devices like that and AFAIK you can actually buy them; but from what I understand they can only efficiently cancel noise coming from a well-defined direction (a window for example).

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: f95toli
No, I think he's right. I have read about devices like that and AFAIK you can actually buy them; but from what I understand they can only efficiently cancel noise coming from a well-defined direction (a window for example).

It's generally more effective to give either ear protection or noise-cancelling headphones to the people who are going to be in the area.

If your concern is for reducing noise pollution, I'm not sure there's a lot you can do. Anything loud enough to be bothering the neighbors is probably going to cause a lot of low-frequency vibration as well, and there isn't much you can do about that.

Googling on "noise cancelling headphones" or "noise cancellation" will probably turn up a lot of information. This is not new or particularly exotic technology.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Well, the whole reason for wanting to cancel noise is we have a waste treatment facility here at the resort where I work and we wanted to lower the noise output since you can hear it somewhat while on the golf course. I think i am going have some sort of facility built over it lined with noise cancelling foam

 

[Emultra]

Really? Noise cancelling foam? I can imagine that.

I've read about this, anyway. It's something like two speakers: one puts out sound and the other "antisound", or something that cancels out the first sound. Hopefully it works.

 

[Calin]

If you have a single place thru which the noise travels, you can record it and play it back with a change in phase. It is much more difficult than it sounds, but it is possible.
However, if you have a source of noise that is producing noise in all directions, there is little any kind of active technology could do. You could also plant some kind of vegetal wall between your facility and the golf course.

 

[Emultra]

Or just throw them a bomb.

 

[dkozloski]

A waste treatment facility is not normally a noisy place. Maybe it could be re-engineered with different equipment to make it quieter. What kind of noise makers are we talking about? Diesel driven pumps, or what? I've seen some pretty large treatment plants that you wouldn't know they were there except for the odor.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Actually, odor is one of the things that you should NOT be getting from the treatment plants. Noise is caused by the pumps and by the mechanism that stirs the.....uh well you know. Sound is put out in all directions so I guess making a housing over the unit is going to be our best bet