I am planning a new layout for my shop, which I will start to implement as soon as I get my current project out the door. One of the new items is a 5hp stationary cyclone DC with metal ductwork replacing a portable DC with flex hose. One of my concerns is noise. I read the article discussing putting a shop vac in a box with some nose deadener to reduce noise. In that article, the box had a baffle, covered with sound deadening material, which the exhaust air flowed around. The box didn’t affect the functioning of the shop vac because the opening around the baffle was many times larger then the 2-inch hose the shop vac uses. I am thinking about a larger version of that idea to enclose the DC. The problem with this idea is the about of exhaust airflow is much greater for the DC and restricting the flow would diminish its effectiveness. I checked with <!—-><!—-><!—->Oneida <!—-><!—-> and they said most of the noise comes out through the filter and that I would need at least 18 sq ft of opening to allow enough airflow for the DC. An 18 sq ft opening would negate the sound deadening effectiveness of putting it in a box.
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While thinking about this issue it occurred to me that, I could build the enclosure with the noise baffle and maintain the airflow by adding a furnace fan to push the air back out of the enclosure. Furnace fans are not very noisy and putting it inside then box pushing the air around the baffle and out would reduce the additional noise the second fan produced. The furnace fan would need to produce at least the same 1800 cfm the DC does and maybe more to overcome the resistance of pushing the air around the baffle. The other concern is heat. Putting a 5 hp motor in a sound proof box could trap the heat and cause it to run to hot. Adding an internal duct to force some of the air coming out of the furnace fan back up to circulate around the DC motor could alleviate the heat problem.
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I don’t really have a question here, just wondering if anyone has tried something like this, do you think it could work or is this another of my really dumb ideas?
Bob T.
Replies
Dear Bob,
I have an Oneida system, 3-hp and have had it for a while. The bulk of the noise in y shop is the air rushing into the DC system. Some machines are greater offenders than others. The combination of the planer running with the DC is just ridiculous. It is not the DC so much as it is the way the air goes through the machine while it is running. I have no filter and exhaust directly outside, so that helps, but I would be cautious about enclosing the unit as they do work hard and need good ventilation. I would suggest installing the system and then deciding whether the noise is all that objectionable.
Best,
John
In a previous shop situation, I put my Oneida cyclone and fan 'outside' of the shop, above an airtight shavings bin. The air inlet in the shop wall (8") went into the cyclone, the shavings dropped out into the airtight bin (4' x 4' x 6') and the dusty air went thru the fan and then was sent to the filter socks, located just inside the shop.
It was quiet enough that I could think and talk. I put it on a remote switch and was in heaven. The airtight bin was accessed by my horse owning neighbor and set up high so she could back up her truck and get a pick-up load in about 10 minutes. The return air was clean and heated or A/C'd, depending upon the season.
The bin and system has to be airtight or it will bypass the cyclone, go thru the fan and fill the plenum and the filter socks. Careful req'd on this step.
Dave S
acornwoodworks.com
Bo,
I don't know if Oneida and Penn state have an area to allow customers to show their installations. Clear Vue do. Some try to enclose, some do not.
Hopefully the noise level is not any worse than the tool you are running. You will still require hearing protection so I wouldn't really sweat the enclosure part.
Your furnace fan idea will still add noise.
Think about isolating the cyclone indirectly with some good dense baffles rather than a structure.
I will be placing my cyclone in my garage on the other side of a 6" insulated wall. The discharge filters will be in the shop. Hopefully this winter. This project has been on hold for to long.
Don
John, I agree with your idea of installing it first and seeing what kind of noise it makes. If most of the noise is air, rushing into the system doesn’t seem like there is anything that could be done to reduce it.
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Putting it outside like Dave’s would be the best solution however, I am in a basement shop and don’t think I could get away with putting it outside, although I have thought about it.
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<!----><!----><!---->Oneida<!----><!----> has a page showing customers installations but I didn’t see any enclosed installations. I looked at the clear view page and there are many creative installs shown including a couple of soundproof enclosures. I didn’t see any addressing the issues of getting enough airflow back out or how to circulate enough air to keep the motor cool. The untitled album where he built a small closet shows the motor enclosed in a plywood box with insulation. This is an example of one of my concerns. Would putting that a motor in that small-enclosed area cause excessive heat build up and how is the exhaust air getting back out or the little room. The pic does not show the filter so perhaps he is just dumping the air outside. The soundproof closet project again shows the motor in a small area and some vents foe the airflow but nowhere near the 18 cu ft <!----><!---->Oneida<!----><!----> said I would need.
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I think I just install it in the corner and see how noisy is. Perhaps this is something I don’t need to worry about.
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Thanks for your help.
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Bob T.
Edited 10/21/2008 11:16 am ET by Y1RET
Dear Bob,"I think I just install it in the corner and see how noisy is."That's what I did. Best,John
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