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Project:
Noise impact assessment and mitigation design for a proposed 1000 MW coal-fired power plant in rural Illinois.

Scope of Work:
The noise study’s purpose was to explore and recommend noise mitigation measures to meet state and county regulatory guidelines governing the rural Illinois site.

Proposed site for coal-fired power plant

The study’s scope was particularly comprehensive, consisting of background noise level measurements, modeling of both stationary and mobile noise sources, and mitigation measure recommendations with pricing.

Technical Information:
Noise level criteria and targets were established in accordance with the Illinois State nighttime noise regulations.

Hertz 31.5 63 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K 8K
State 69 67 62 54 47 41 36 32 31

After establishing the existing noise levels, ATCO developed an acoustical model of the coal-fired power plant and all mobile noise sources on the proposed site, including heavy rail traffic into and out of the facility.   ATCO then developed noise mitigation measures and provided the Client with estimated costs.

The site was complex with a coal handling facility, ball mill building, transfer/crusher building, boiler building, turbine building and large conveyors that moved coal from a mine site located several thousand feet away.  In addition, heavy rail traffic moved limestone and waste products to and from the facility. 

The project was successfully completed over a two month period. ATCO presented the study’s findings to the client as well as the project developers.

Over 350 noise sources were included in the analysis:
  • mobile equipment—trucks, bulldozers and trains and their activities
  • stationary sources within the plant facilities:
    • coal pulverizer
    • steam turbine generator and condenser
    • boilers
    • cooling tower
    • transformers
    • conveyors
    • crushers
    • exhaust stacks
    • vents
    • pumps
    • and fans 
Noise contour map depicting noise levels at coal fired power plant

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February 5, 2008