Experimental study on sound and vibration generated by a valve in a water piping system

Various acoustic troubles are caused by the structure-borne sound generated by water piping systems connected with pumps at hotels or condominiums. Sound and vibration generated by water piping sytems are uncomfortable factors in living environments which require silent conditions. In order to predict and control sound and vibration generated by water piping systems, it is necessary to obtain some data about acoustic characteristics of sound and vibration sources such as pumps and valves. Vibration of pipe walls and sound in water generated by valves according to flow quantity obtained by pump rotation control and valve control, and also water temperature, were measured, and the basic tendencies of sound and vibration characteristics were obtained. In this paper, these investigative results are described.