Study of Noise Annoyance and Vibration of Constructal Designed Window Air Conditioner

Abstract

Industrial, residential and commercial noise levels are to be maintained for acoustic comfort living conditions. Sound annoyance is a sensation of discontentment linked with any driving force from machines or a circumstance. It is certain that, noise can harm human hearing capacity and brain neuron cells. Novelty of this study was the design of window air conditioner with modified heat exchanger coils with phase change material and water were used as refrigerants. Noise and vibration assessment of the constructal designed window air conditioner (CDWAC) and normal window air conditioner (NWAC) with the conventional vapor compression system was carried out. The noise levels, daily exposure noise level, noise criteria levels of the developed window air conditioner was found to be satisfactory according to the British Standard 4142 and noise at work regulations 1789. The noise criteria for the CDWAC with phase change material and water exhibited a better performance around 50 dB whereas the NWAC with vapor compression system was around 60 dB. For normal window AC the RMS value is about 0.62 and constructal window AC is about 0.38. peak amplitude was observed as 0.346 m/s2 in the CDWAC whereas it was about 0.512 m/s2 for NWAC compressor. The amplitude of vibration is very nominal in between 2 to 2.5 s in CDWAC and the peak variation is same as in 1.5 s. Results reveal that the noise and vibration performance of the construction designed window air conditioner was better than the NWAC.