API 531M : 1980

Section 1 - General
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Scope
1.4 Instrumentation
1.5 Nomenclature and definitions
1.5.1 Nomenclature
1.5.2 Definitions
Section 2 - Required orientation prior to making field
            measurements
2.1 General requirements
2.2 Recommended standard test conditions
2.3 Noise-level measuring techniques
2.4 Vibration measuring techniques
Section 3 - Procedures for sound level measurement
3.1 General procedures
3.2 Correction for background noise
3.3 Floor-fired heaters - burner area
3.4 External walls with burners
3.4.1 The wall as a radiating surface
3.4.2 Burner rows as line sources
3.4.3 Burners as point sources
3.5 Heater walls without burners
3.5.1 Noise measurements
3.5.2 Vibration measurements
3.6 Multiple-cell fired heaters: areas between
        heater sections
3.7 Forced-draft fans
3.8 Exhaust ducting
3.9 Convection section
3.10 Special cases
3.10.1 Natural-draft heaters with both wall and floor-
        fired burners
3.10.2 Forced-draft heaters with unsilenced fans
3.10.3 Fired heaters with noise control
3.10.4 Roof-fired (down-flow) heaters
Section 4 - Evaluation of measurements
4.1 Calculation of mean sound-pressure level
4.2 Calculation of octave band sound power levels
4.3 Addition of octave band sound power levels
4.4 Calculation of vibratory-velocity levels
Section 5 - Reporting of data
5.1 General requirements
5.2 Summary
5.3 Requirements for data sheet
Appendix A - Model format for noise test report
Appendix B - Illustrative example with completed noise
             test report
List of illustrations
Figures
1 Measuring positions and surfaces for burner
        areas and walls without burners on cabin-type
        heaters
2 Measuring positions and surfaces for burner
        areas and walls on vertical cylindrical heaters
3 Typical measuring positions - walls with burners
4 Measuring positions and surfaces for annular
        area between fired heater sections
5 Measuring positions for suction openings of
        forced-draft fans
6 Typical measuring positions for exhaust ducting
B-1 Example sketch of generalized crude heater -
        showing microphone measuring positions and
        dimensions for illustrative example
Tables
1 Corrections for measured noise level

Describes standard test procedure for measurement of noise in direct-fired equipment and associated ancillaries in petroleum process plant.