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What are Silent Generators?

What are Silent Generators and How Important is Their Silence?

In practice, to describe these quieter-running machines as silent generators is a bit of an exaggeration. In fact, in order to earn this description officially, a unit is required to produce a noise emission of 75 dbA or less when measured at a distance of one metre in open field conditions. In addition, some manufacturers have introduced specifications like super, extreme, and whisper silent that correspond to noise emissions of 70 dbA, 65 dbA, and 60 dbA respectively, when measured under the same conditions. The dbA unit differs from the decibel in that it has been adjusted to more closely match the loudness of sounds as perceived by the human ear. For comparison purposes, a normal conversation generates about 60 dbA.

In most cases, the units described as silent generators are simply the result of enclosing the machines in a suitably soundproof canopy. Typically, these are used in outdoor locations, such as car parks and the open areas surrounding a building. Though these are the units most commonly referred to as silent, at around 80 dbA under the conditions described, they fall a bit short of the 75-dbA spec. Nevertheless, in practice, they are more than adequate for their intended purpose, and should definitely not be audible to those residing in neighbouring structures. Some soundproof canopies are also lockable for security purposes, and are made from materials that also protect their contents from damage due to the weather conditions.

For use at sea, silent marine generators are housed in a watertight container fitted with a sound-absorbent liner. Although the need aboard a boat often tends to be for a somewhat larger machine with an output of perhaps 500 kVA or above, an effective installation should still display sound-damping characteristics similar to the land-based units described above. As a general rule, though, the smaller the machine, the more quietly it will tend to run. Also, the noise produced will increase in parallel as the power output of the unit is increased. An inverter model can sometimes be a good choice, as they are naturally quieter. However, their silence needs to be weighed against the power requirements, as their output is limited when compared with that of a standard diesel-driven unit.

For the ultimate in silent generators, there can be no doubt regarding the overall winner in this class. Clocking up a maximum of zero on any sound measurement scale, solar panels may not be able to produce the kind of output needed to run an entire city just yet, but with the aid of some good storage batteries, they can certainly do a pretty good job of powering an entire home or a small business when rolling blackouts come their way. Not only do these units create no annoying noise emissions, but they also produce no toxic exhaust fumes, consume no fossil fuels, and have no moving parts to wear out and that need replacing. The technology for leveraging solar energy is advancing in leaps and bounds, and holds great promise of even better things to come.

Given that noise pollution has become a serious threat to hearing health, the transition to silent generators is a move worth considering. This is especially relevant to companies in which a noisy workplace may pose the potential risk of noise-induced hearing loss that could, in turn, leave employers liable for hefty payments to meet industrial injury claims. To date, soundproofing remains the most effective way to muffle the noise of large units when they are attempting to meet peak load demands, while a move to LPG or natural gas-driven units offer yet another way in which to reduce operating noise levels.

Whether your solution is a soundproof canopy, an inverter, solar panels, or alternative fuels, PacB group is uniquely positioned to design and install a range of innovative power solutions, including generators.