Noise control in power plant

Abstract

During the last decade the shape of the UK non-nuclear electricity generation industry has changed fundamentally from a stable monopoly providing power primarily from large coal-fired units to a rapidly developing competitive industry with a wide range of plant types. The removal of the restrictions on burning natural gas in power stations and the introduction of flue gas desulphurization on some of the traditional plants has highlighted the reduced cost and lower emissions of gas-powered generation, leading to a major increase in the use of this fuel in more efficient combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant. Outside the United Kingdom, the economics and politics of fuel supply and electricity production may be different, and both traditional plant and new CCGT projects are being constructed in overseas markets by UK utilities, often in partnership arrangements with other companies. In parallel with these developments there is significant new effort expended on the development of combined heat and power (CHP) plant and renewable energy sources, especially wind power. Although relatively small in MW terms, the latter plant type presents significant and particular noise control requirements. On the horizon, new coal plant using coal gasification or fluidized bed technologies may be anticipated. At the same time as these major changes in plant selection are occurring there are simultaneous developments in the methods of environmental noise assessment. In this article the use of noise control within the electricity generation industry is reviewed and the influence of the changing trends in plant and environmental noise assessment are discussed.