Control of Steam Venting Noise in Power Plants

Steam venting to atmosphere from piping system pressures as high as 2500 psig, as may occur during safety valve and power relief valve operation or during initial steam piping clean up, is one of the most intense sources of noise emitted by fossil and nuclear power plants. This paper discusses characteristics of sonic and turbulent vent noise. Analytical methods to estimate vent noise intensity and frequency characteristics are presented for use where unsilenced noise measurements are not feasible. Design considerations in the effective use of silencers and acoustic lagging materials are discussed. Power plant noise measurements illustrating the severity of the noise emission and its control are presented.