EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE FROM PETROL FUELLED PORTABLE POWER GENERATORS USED IN COMMERCIAL AREAS

摘要

Infrastructure deficit gaps in Nigeria's electric power supply is prominent, affecting every sector of the nation's economy ad modum less productivity, lost and corrupt data, damaged equipment and poor power efficiency. Use of generators as alternative source of electrical power with its characteristic noise and vibration has serious health hazard and environmental impact. The intensity of noise from various generator used in small business enterprises (commercial centres) in Abeokuta metropolis was assessed using a digital sound level meter to determine the intensity of noise level from the generators. Sound emitting from each of the generators was measured from five different points. The associated noise levels at the five distances from the commercial user showed mean values of 109.86, 85.95, 83.09, 80.68 and 81.69 decibels taken at the exhaust, distances of one, two, three meters and closest distance of the generator from the commercial user respectively. Analysis of the measured generator noise loudness using the data obtained for noise level at different distances on typical noise level scale showed that 9.1, 100, 96.6 and 90.9 percents of the generators were very loud at noise at the exhaust and distances of one, two, three meters respectively. It was only at the generator exhaust that 90.9 percent there was uncomfortably loud. This high noise levels obtained necessitates acoustic muffling of the generators.