Waste Management Energy Solutions, Inc.
Retrofit of a Waste-to-Energy Facility

General Description:
A waste-to-energy generating facility, Bradley's Sun Valley plant produces power for its own use, and the local public power grid. The facility is comprised of five gas conditioning skids. The facility utilizes five electric generator sets powered by Duetz TBG 620 V16K engines, fueled by methane gas produced by the land-fill's contents. Generator sets drive a series of 4160 a.c. 3-phase 60 Hz generators, with an output of 1358 kWe at ISO 3046/1.

The facility is capable of producing 6.5 MW of electricty, enough to supply between 6,000 and 7,000 homes.

Owner and Client:
Waste Management Energy Solutions Inc.
9081 Tujunga Avenue
Sun Valley, California 91352 U.S.A

Project Location:
Houston, Texas, U.S.A

Contact:
Mike Williams, Project Director
Telephone: 1-800-926-9693  

Scope of Work:
A noise measurement and control study was completed at the site to determine noise sources.

ATCO designed, supplied, and installed acoustical equipment enclosures and acoustically treated engine exhaust outlet with horizontal and vertical silencers. Genset enclosure ventilation fans were treated with lined weather hoods. Radiator hoods, gas conditioning, skid blower, motor and piping were treated with shrouds. Design work was based on the results of acoustical surveys and their analysis, both of which were undertaken by ATCO.

The retrofit utilized proprietary lightweight roof and wall assemblies designed specifically to mitigate low frequency noise.

Noise Sources:
Five gas engines and generators, exhaust muffler, radiator coolers for the engines and ventilation fan components. The centre's gas conditioning skids, motors and blowers were also major noise contributors.

Performance Targets :
ATCO's acoustical design goal for the facility was to limit noise level to one dB above existing ambient levels, and to meet a level of 30 dB(A), within the immediate neighbourhood. The cumulative sound level was not to exceed 36.7 dB(A). At this level, noise from the facility would no longer be perceptible.

As each of the five engines was packaged separately, the project called for separate application measures for each generator set enclosure, rather than a single acoustical building or barrier.

The radiator coolers located on top of the gen-set enclosures was particularly challenging. The shroud systems were installed to allow inlet air to enter at the bottom, while an exhaust silencer was isntalled on top to mitigate the flow through from fans.

The facility had been constructed on a portion of the landfill. Considerable analysis and investigation was required to address potential land settlement issues.

Status:
The project was successfully completed within a three month period, on September 10th, 2004.

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