Total Noise Analysis of a Directional Drill

Off-highway machines and equipment manufacturers are working to lower the total noise level, to meet local noise regulations and to reduce neighborhood disturbance. Total radiated noise includes contributions from different noise sources on the equipment, such as cooling fan, engine, transmission, muffler, and hydraulic systems. In addition, noise from the equipment will be attenuated by the design of hood and chassis openings, silencers, acoustic insulation and louvers. An accurate simulation tool capable of complete noise analysis can be valuable in the product design and optimization process. In this paper, we present the results of a methodology to predict and optimize total noise for a directional drilling machine. The simulation tool, PowerFLOW, is a flow and acoustic solver based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). Contributions from different noise sources and absorption from insulation and louvers of the equipment were modeled within the solver, as were flow and cooling performance. The computational results were correlated with test data. An optimized design was then created based on analysis of simulation results. This approach, coupled with high performance cloud computing, has brought accurate complete noise analysis well within the short design periods of modern equipment programs.