This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
ACHRNews logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHRNews logo
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • The NEWS eNewsletter
  • News
    • Breaking News
    • Newsline
    • FYI
    • Distribution Trends
    • Standards & Legislation
    • Manufacturer Reports
  • Products
    • HVACR Industry Store
    • Top 20 Products of 2018
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • AHR 2019 Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographic
    • Photo Galleries
    • Webinars
    • eBooks
    • The NEWS HVACR Quiz
    • Online Poll
  • Refrigeration
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Reclaim
    • FROSTlines
  • Service
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Duct Dynasty
    • Service 101
    • Components & Accessories
  • Business 101
    • Training & Education
    • Service, Apps & Software
    • Opinions
    • Guest Column
    • The Coach's Blog
  • Residential
    • Home Automation
    • Residential Ductless
    • Residential Geothermal
    • Residential IAQ
    • Residential Cooling Showcase
    • Residential Heating Showcase
  • Commercial
    • Internet of Things
    • Commercial Ductless
    • Commercial Geothermal
    • Commercial IAQ
    • Commercial Cooling Showcase
    • Commercial Heating Showcase
    • Marijuana Market
  • Directory
    • Manufacturers
    • Wholesalers
    • Consultants/Services
    • Manufacturers Reps
    • Associations
    • Parts & Equipment Exporters
    • List/Update Your Company
  • More
    • Editorial Calendar & Editor Assignments
    • Calendar of Events
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProduct Info
    • White Papers
    • Contests
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit a Letter
Home » HDPE Cooling Towers Get the Noise Out of Symphony Hall
Extra EditionWeb Exclusive

HDPE Cooling Towers Get the Noise Out of Symphony Hall

Quiet Operation of High-Density Polyethylene Units Eliminate Sound Problems from HVAC System

At the Symphony Hall in Atlanta, sometimes right in the middle of a violin solo, you could hear a rushing sound penetrating the ceiling above the orchestra and overwhelming the concert hallâ??s painstaking acoustic design.

At the Symphony Hall in Atlanta, sometimes right in the middle of a violin solo, you could hear a rushing sound penetrating the ceiling above the orchestra and overwhelming the concert hall’s painstaking acoustic design. The noise was generated by the facility’s old HVAC cooling tower, which infiltrated the environment, leaving attendees somewhat distracted and annoyed.

The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) design of Delta Cooling Towers was primarily developed to solve corrosion problems.

The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) design of Delta Cooling Towers was primarily developed to solve corrosion problems, such as soft water and ambient factors such as salt air or caustic industrial gases. While improved lifespan has been a major factor in purchasing decisions, more recently quieter operation has taken on significant importance for many applications.

At the Symphony Hall in Atlanta, sometimes right in the middle of a violin solo, you could hear a rushing sound penetrating the ceiling above the orchestra and overwhelming the concert hallâ??s painstaking acoustic design.
The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) design of Delta Cooling Towers was primarily developed to solve corrosion problems.
April 6, 2015
KEYWORDS cooling tower / cooling tower applications / plastic cooling towers
Reprints
No Comments

Imagine attending a symphonic concert, and right in the middle of a violin solo you hear a rushing sound penetrating the ceiling above the orchestra and overwhelming the concert hall’s painstaking acoustic design.

Or, perhaps you are performing surgery in a medical center suite . . . or giving a business presentation in the penthouse conference room of an office building . . . and that same rushing noise, generated by the facility’s HVAC cooling tower, infiltrates the environment, leaving attendees somewhat distracted and annoyed.

That rushing or ringing sound is composed of airflow noise generated by air turbulence at cooling tower fans and water flowing through the cooling tower into the collection basin. It is the bane of residents and operators of office, residential, and institutional buildings. And finding a solution can be difficult and expensive unless a more advanced cooling tower technology is applied.

In the case of the Symphony Hall at The Woodruff Arts Center, home to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Alliance Theatre and High Museum of Art, the noise was coming from conventional cooling towers located on the roof directly above the concert hall.

Steve Trott, director of engineering at the full-spectrum arts center campus, says the sound was similar to that of a jet aircraft passing over the Memorial Arts Building where the Atlanta Symphony performs on the top floor.

Approximately a year ago the noise problem was eliminated and several other problems solved when new cooling towers were installed atop Memorial Arts.

“Our old, metal cooling towers were ‘end of life,’ and so we knew that we had to replace them soon,” said Trott. “We considered typical metal towers, stainless steel, partial stainless steel . . . we looked at cross-flow and counter-flow designs. Then we looked at the HDPE-based cooling towers, which were recommended by the Atlanta office of DLB Associates Consulting Engineers. We found those cooling towers were very quiet, and would provide the sound insulation needed without having to go to a special quiet tower package, which would really increase the cost.”

The HDPE (high-density polyethylene) design that Trott’s team discovered was developed by Delta Cooling Towers primarily to solve corrosion problems, such as soft water and ambient factors such as salt air or caustic industrial gases. While improved lifespan has been a major factor in purchasing decisions for these towers, more recently the quieter operation has taken on significant importance for many applications.

Getting Rid of the Decibels

The “noise pollution” of commercial HVAC equipment has become an increasingly unwanted problem for communities across the nation in recent years.

Martin M. Previtera, regional manager for Delta Cooling Towers, said that the continued development of inner cities and the closer proximity of commercial and industrial buildings to residential neighborhoods have caused heightened concerns among building owners and municipal governments.

For example, the Franklin Institute building in Philadelphia recently replaced its cooling towers, and by city ordinance was mandated to restrict the sound output to less than 50 decibels, which is less than the normal noise output of a traditional cooling tower.

“They decided on HDPE cooling towers for a combination of factors,” Previtera said. “They were able to achieve better pricing while also meeting the dBA rating of less than 50. This is a four-cell cooling tower; they installed the same type of cooling tower at Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.”

To appreciate the surprising difference between decibel levels, Temple University Department of Civil/Environmental Engineering describes the difference of just 10 dBAs (A-weighted decibels, the relative loudness of sounds in air as perceived by the human ear) as very substantial, with 70 dBAs being the equivalent to a vacuum cleaner, and 50 dBA being the equivalent of a quiet suburban home.

“In many cities businesses are encroaching on residential areas, and some cities require that new office buildings incorporate residential spaces in the top portions of the buildings,” said Trott. “Certainly the occupants of those expensive spaces don’t want to hear the noise of cooling towers.”

Other ‘Plus’ Benefits

The cooling towers that Woodruff Arts Center selected for the symphony hall building were two sets of twin-cell Delta TM Series 500-ton models, each featuring a 20-year warranty on corrosion or other physical damage.

Trott said these HDPE towers are providing other important benefits as well. “One of the other reasons we chose these cooling towers was that they are available with direct-drive motors,” he explained. “That means no gearbox and no belt, which greatly improves operating reliability and reduces maintenance requirements. At the same time it provides significant energy savings.”

Trott added that his new cooling towers feature variable-speed fan drives, which provide very smooth operation and very consistent water temperature. During the first summer of operation, most of the time the fans were running at 50 percent speed or less, which was more economical.

Trott noted that the Delta cooling towers are unusual looking compared to traditional ones. “Ours are a nice tan color that blends in with the roof, so that is not something that attracts the eye in a way that would notice that there is machinery on the roof. We feel that the aesthetic features of the cooling tower design are beneficial in a high-visibility location; since all of our neighbors are in taller buildings that look down on our roofs, it is nice that they are less conspicuous than traditional towers.”

For more information, visit www.deltacooling.com.

Publication date: 4/6/2015

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!

Subscribe to The NEWS

Related Articles

Project Files: A Symphony of Silent Comfort

Modular Plastic Cooling Towers Facilitate Increased Manufacturing Capacity

Plastic Cooling Towers Aid Solar Cooling and Water Treatment Projects

Boosting Cooling Tower Price-Performance Ratio

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscription Center
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Create Account
  • Change My Address
  • Pay My Bill
  • Free eNewsletters
  • About News Network
  • Customer Care

More Videos

Sponsored Content What Is Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the ACHR News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep.

Close
Trane-indoor-air-quality-product-01
Sponsored By
Trane Residential

Protecting Your Customers’ Indoor Air Quality Is More Important Than Ever

From seasonal maintenance to a system upgrade, your business is actually centered around providing the best indoor air experience, with quality at the core.

Popular Stories

R-22 Phaseout

Using (or Abusing) the R-22 Phaseout as a Sales Tool

Senate HFC Phasedown Bill

Senate HFC Phasedown Plan Debuts With Broad Support

Breaking News - The ACHR News

Lennox Industries Inc. Announces Price Increase

Goodman employees work to manufacture highend equipment.

The HVAC Contractor’s Guide to High-End Trends Coming in 2020

Manufacturers Meet Demand for More Intelligent Building Controls

Manufacturers Meet Demand for More Intelligent Building Controls

The ACHR News Airpod Giveaway

Events

September 16, 2020

2020 World Congress for Solar Cooling

IASC seeks submissions that represent the best contemporary and innovative technology and thinking about Solar Cooling from a global and diverse range of designers, consultants, practitioners, engineers, architects, educators, thought-leaders, students and other professionals concerned with cooling, people, buildings and energy.
December 30, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Holiday Appreciation

What is your preferred way to show employees your appreciation during the holiday season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

"More & New" HVAC Spells Wealth - book

"More & New" HVAC Spells Wealth - book

See More Products
The NEWS - ACHR - Logo The NEWS - ACHR - Digital Edition
Digital Edition

ACHRNEWS

The ACHR News - December 2, 2019

2019 December 2

Week 1: December 2
In this issue of The ACHR NEWS, we look at unique applications of HVAC technology, and new markets contractors should consider expanding into.

Week 2: December 9
We also examine Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology, and the benefits that contractors can pass along to their customers through the equipment.

View More Subscribe
  • Resources
    • Submit a Letter
    • Submit a Press Release
    • Mechanical Group
    • List Rental
    • Ad Specs
    • Reprints
    • eProduct Info
    • Survey And Sample
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More?
    • Subscribe
    • Connect
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Renew
    • Create Account
    • Change Address
    • Pay My Bill
    • Free eNewsletters
    • Customer Care

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing