A fuzzy expert system for selection of an effective method for noise reduction in a petrochemical complex

This paper presents a technique for identifying the best efficient method of noise reduction (BEMNR) by fuzzy expert system in the reverse osmosis (RO) water unit at Fajr petrochemical complex located in south west of Iran at north west of Persian Gulf shore. For this purpose seven methods have been chosen through consultation with health, safety, and environment (HSE) department as follows: enclosure design for pumps, enclosure design for control valve, simultaneous enclosure design for both control valve and pumps, wrapping pipes, using frequency convertor pumps, covering interior wall with sound absorber material and installing ceiling baffle. Noise reduction, cost, applicability, interference have been selected as the selection criteria. Finally, enclosure design for control valve (CV) (method 2) by scoring 72.92% has been proposed as the BEMNR. The results obtained by fuzzy logic had an acceptable level of compliance with experts' survey results.