How to Make Noise Calculations with Decibels
FLUID POWER - Design Data Sheet 35
Information in this issue supplements the basic information on
noise levels in Design
Data Sheet 24. The purpose here is to define more
clearly how decibels are used to rate noise of hydraulic pumps, and
to give examples of calculations.
Comparing Sound Power and Sound Pressure
Sound power is the acoustical power, sometimes expressed in watts,
generated by a source of sound such as a hydraulic pump. Two sound
sources (pumps) could be compared by their relative acoustical
wattage outputs, but can be more conveniently compared by assigning
decibel ratings on the dB power scale.
Sound pressure is the strength of the traveling soundwave, in
PSI or other pressure units, at a specified distance from the
source of the sound. Discomfort or damage to a listener's ears is
from sound pressure, not from sound power at the source. Although
two sound waves could be compared by their PSI as read on a sound
level meter, it is more convenient to compare them on the dB
pressure scale. This is a different scale than the dB power scale
on which acoustical wattage is rated.
The dB scales for expressing and comparing sound power and sound
pressure were arbitrarily selected so as to be convenient to use.
The two scales are different but were carefully defined so their
relationship to each other would be such that a change of (so many)
dB on the power level at the source would result in the same dB
change in pressure reading at any distance from the source. Instead
of a linear scale, dB ratings were placed on a logarithmic scale to
compress the upper end into a more usable and practical range.
What is a Decibel?
A dB has no assigned value; it does not represent a definite
quantity of anything; it is simply a ratio used to compare the
relative intensities of two sound waves, or the relative power
levels of two sound sources. It can be, and is, used in other
technologies such as electronics for comparing voltage, current, or
power levels. Decibels could be used in illumination for comparing
power level of two sources of light, or the illumination intensity
at distances from the light source. They could be used in
mechanical work for comparing two levels of force, torque, work,
Whether or not so stated, a dB rating is always a ratio either
between two sounds, or between one sound and a fixed reference
base. To state that a certain pump has an 80 dB noise level means
that the ratio between its sound level and that of the selected
zero base (0 dB) is 80 on the dB scale.
The dB Pressure Scale
The standard reference base selected for the intensity (pressure)
of a sound wave is 0.000,000,003 PSI because this is the least
sound wave intensity that can be detected by the average human ear.
It is also the least difference between two sound waves that can
normally be detected. This pressure has been assigned a value of 0
dB. It is more pressure has been assigned a value of 0 dB. It is
more conveniently written in exponent form as 3 × 10-9
PSI. All other sounds are louder than this, the loudest being over
10,000,000 times the PSI intensity of the 0 dB base. Because this
wide range of sound pressure is unhandy to work with, the dB scale,
instead of being linear, was set up in logarithms to compress it
into a more compact scale where not more than 3 digits are required
to express pressure levels over the entire audible range. When
comparing the sound pressure of two sound waves, their dB
difference is, by definition, 20 times the logarithm (to the base
10) of their ratio. Examples are given later.
The dB Power Scale
Sound radiation power is also compared by dB ratings, and for this
purpose the 0 dB reference base was arbitrarily chosen to be
0.000,000,000,001 watt, or written in exponent form: 1 ×
10-12 watt. Since sound pressure decreases as the square
of the distance to the source, the power scale was set up as the
square root of the pressure scale, so that any change in dB power
at the source would cause the same dB pressure change at any
distance. So, the dB power scale was defined as 10 (instead of 20)
times the logarithm (to the base 10) of the ratio between two
acoustic power levels. (To take the square root of a number, its
logarithm is divided by 2).
This issue shows how to make
calculations relating to
noise level of one or several hydraulic pumps.
1. Comparing Two Pumps for Noise
We can compare the dB rating of one pump against another and
select the one with less noise, but this does not really give us a
"feel" for how noisy each one would be. Standardization methods are
under development for specifying noise in "sones". If adopted by
all manufacturers it would be easy to compare one pump with another
because the assigned value in sones is the loudness as it appears
to a listener. It is derived experimentally from data averaged from
many listeners. Two sones sound twice as loud as one sone, three
sones sound three times as loud as one, etc.
To find the actual acoustic power difference between two pumps,
their manufacturer's dB ratings can be converted into watts by the
method in Paragraph 8.
2. Calculation of Acoustical Power of a
Acoustical power, either in dB or in watts, cannot be measured by
any known method; it can only be calculated by taking a dB sound
pressure reading with a sound level meter at a known distance from
the center of the pump, then using the formula:
dB power = dB pressure + 20
log distance (feet) - 2.5 dB
The factor -2.5 dB is an approximation to take care of moderate
sound reflections from walls.
Example: Find the dB noise power of a pump from
a meter reading of 87 dB pressure taken 9 feet from the pump.
Solution: dB power = 87 + [20 × 0.954] - 2.5 =
The acoustical wattage of the pump can be calculated from
Paragraph 8 after its dB power level is found.
3. Calculation of dB Pressure
If the dB rating of a pump is known, the sound pressure it will
produce at any distance from its center can be calculated as
dB pressure = dB power - 20
log distance (feet) + 2.5 dB
Example: A pump rated at 87 dB (power) will
give a dB meter reading at 12 feet: dB (pressure) = 87 - [20 x
1.079] + 2.5 = 67.9 dB
4. Decrease of Sound Pressure with
The general procedure is given near the bottom of the second
column on the back side of Design
Data Sheet 24.
Example: Find the decrease in dB pressure if
the distance to the pump is increased to 3 times the original
Solution: dB decrease = 20 log 3 = 9.54 dB.
This means that the dB pressure level has dropped 9.54 dB from what
it was at the original distance.
5. Increase in Noise Caused by a Second
If a hydraulic power unit having several pumps is proposed, what
will be the combined noise level with all pumps running?
The dB rating of each pump must be obtained from its
manufacturer. These dB ratings, being logarithmic, cannot be added
directly. The easiest way to combine them is with the chart in the
next column. After the total radiated power has been determined,
then follow the method of Paragraph 3 to find the pressure level
produced at a specified distance.
Because of the way dB pressure and dB power are defined, any
change in dB power at the source (such as adding additional pumps)
will cause the same change in dB pressure level at any distance
from the pump location.
If a second pump or power unit is to be installed, either at the
same or a different location than the existing power unit, its
effect on the dB pressure level at a listening location where an
operator is working can be determined by the method in Paragraph
|dB to be Added
to Higher Level
Example: If noise from Pump 1 is 85 dB, and
Pump 2 is added with 90 dB, what will be the new noise level?
Solution: 90 - 85 = 5 dB difference. Use the
chart: Add 1.2 dB + 90 dB = 91.2 dB.
In combining several noise sources, combine the two highest
first. Combine this total with the next highest level, etc.
6. Pump Added to a Noisy Background
To find the additional noise which will be contributed by a pump
added to an already noisy background, first measure the existing
noise level at the listening location. Then, using the
manufacturer's dB rating for the pump to be added, calculate what
its dB pressure level would be at the listening location if run by
itself. Finally, combine the two noise level by using the chart
7. Finding the dB Power Level
Use this method to find the dB power level when the output power,
in watts, is known. This conversion would be used more often in
electronics than in acoustics.
Example: Assume a 15-watt power level. What is
this in dB? The base for 0 dB is taken as 1 × 10-12
Solution: First, find the ratio of 15 watts to
the 0 dB base. This can be calculated as follows: 15 ÷
10-12 = 1.5 × 1013. Then, take log of 1.5 ×
1013 = 13.176. Finally, multiply by 10 = 131.76 dB. This
means that an amplifier delivering 15 watts is working at 131.76 dB
above 0 dB.
8. Finding Wattage of a Certain dB Level
This, too, may be used more in electronics. If the dB power level
above 0 dB is known, the wattage can be calculated:
- Assume known dB level is
125. Divide by 10 = 12.5 dB.
- Find anti-log of 12.5 =
3.16 × 1012.
- Multiply by wattage of 0
dB: 3.16 × 1012 × 10-12 = 3.16w.
9. Finding dB Gain
This is used in electronics to find the power gain of an
amplifier. The input and output levels, in watts, must be known.
Then proceed as follows:
- Assume an input power of
1 milliwatt (0.001 watt) and an output power of 50 watts. Find the
ratio: 50 ÷ 0.001 = 50,000. Then, take the log of 50,000 = 4.699.
Finally, multiply by 10 = 46.99 dB power gain.
- To find voltage gain,
input and output voltages (converted to equivalent voltages across
identical input and output resistances) must be known. Then,
proceed as above except in the final step, multiply by 20 instead
of 10. The answer will be in dB voltage gain.
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Power Design Data Sheet 35 - How to Make Noise Calculations with
© 1990 by Womack Machine Supply Co. This
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satisfactory operation of equipment designed from this