• Specialty

  Noise / Vibration
  

• SECTOR

  Energy / Power
  

• TYPE

  Environmental Study
  Engineering, Design & Startup
  

• CLIENTELE

  Private Sector
  

• TIMESPAN

  2000-2001

• LOCATION

  New Church, VA

Commonwealth Chesapeake Power Station

SERVICE:

Noise Monitoring & Mitigation for Energy Facility

DESCRIPTION:

The Commonwealth Chesapeake Power Station is a 312-MW simple-cycle peaking facility strategically located in the PJM power pool system. The plant consists of seven GE LM6000 combustion turbines which combust fuel oil. TECO Power, the former operator of the station, retained Tech Environmental to perform noise equipment acceptance testing for the units as they came online.

Tech performed baseline sound level monitoring at three nearby residences prior to the startup of the power station, which was then repeated after the first three turbines were brought online, and again after all seven turbines were online. Noise mitigation in the form of redesigned stacks was recommended after the second round of testing. Low-noise Unicom stacks were subsequently installed to reduce turbulent flow in the exhaust stream and reduce low frequency sound energy. Additional testing affirmed that the power station complied with the proposed Accomack County Noise Ordinance. On-site training was also provided by Tech Environmental to plant engineers in the operation of noise analyzers. Tech Environmental has a Master Services Agreement with TECO Power under which similar consulting work has been performed for power plants in Mississippi, Virginia, and Hawaii.

 

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Key Points

• As a 312-MW peaking facility brought its combustion turbines online, noise monitoring was required to ensure compliance.
• Tech performed sound monitoring, designed noise mitigation measures, and provided on-site training to plant engineers such that the station complied with local ordinances.