Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration noise reduction system

Abstract

Embodiments of a noise reduction system for use in heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems are provided. The noise reduction system may include a barrier to be placed over an air inlet of an HVACR base unit. The barrier, consisting of two rows of equally spaced structures, may permit the passage of air therethrough while preventing the escape of noise from the base unit. The noise reduction system may also include one or more resonance chambers placed atop the base unit and a structure placed adjacent the base unit. Noise coming from the base unit may be redirected by the structure toward the resonance chambers, which are configured to attenuate the noise.

1 . An air conditioning noise reduction system, comprising:
 a base unit;   an air inlet disposed on an outer surface of the base unit and configured to permit the passage of air therethrough;   at least one fan disposed in the base unit and configured to draw air from outside the base unit through the inlet and to propel the air toward a downstream process; and   a barrier disposed over the inlet and configured to permit passage of air from outside the base unit to the at least one fan but to prevent noise caused by the at least one fan from escaping the base unit, the barrier comprising two parallel rows of spaced structures wherein the structures of one row align with spaces between the structures of the other row.   
     
     
         2 . The noise reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a cover having two edges configured to couple with the base unit, the spaced structures being secured to the edges. 
     
     
         3 . The noise reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises reticulated foam for absorbing the noise. 
     
     
         4 . The noise reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the structures of one row overlap the structures of the other row. 
     
     
         5 . The noise reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the structures of the two rows comprise side surfaces that interleave to form a channel-like structure between the two rows. 
     
     
         6 . The noise reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the structures of both rows comprise parallel plates. 
     
     
         7 . The noise reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the downstream process comprises an air conditioning, heating, ventilating, or refrigeration process. 
     
     
         8 . An air conditioning noise reduction system, comprising:
 a first row of spaced structures configured to redirect noise caused by a blower disposed in an air conditioning unit;   a second row of spaced structures configured to redirect noise caused by the blower, the structures of the second row overlapping spaces between the structures of the first row; and   one or more edges coupled to the structures of both the first row and the second row and configured to couple with a surface of the air conditioning unit such that air drawn by the blower is permitted to pass through spaces between the structures and to enter the air conditioning unit.   
     
     
         9 . The noise reduction system of  claim 8 , comprising reticulated foam disposed on surfaces of the first row and the second row of structures for absorbing noise from the blower. 
     
     
         10 . The noise reduction system of  claim 8 , wherein each row of structures comprises sheet metal. 
     
     
         11 . The noise reduction system of  claim 8 , wherein the structures of each row comprise equivalent shapes. 
     
     
         12 . The noise reduction system of  claim 8 , wherein the structures of both rows comprise parallel plates. 
     
     
         13 . The noise reduction system of  claim 8 , wherein the structures of the two rows comprise side surfaces that interleave to form a channel-like structure between the two rows. 
     
     
         14 . An air conditioning noise reduction system, comprising:
 a base unit;   at least one fan disposed in the base unit and configured to draw air from outside the base unit and propel the air toward a downstream process;   one or more resonance chambers disposed adjacent to an air inlet of the base unit and configured to attenuate noise caused by the at least one fan; and   a structure disposed outside the base unit and configured to redirect noise toward the resonance chambers.   
     
     
         15 . The noise reduction system of  claim 14 , wherein the structure comprises a wall. 
     
     
         16 . The noise reduction system of  claim 14 , wherein the structure comprises a scoop. 
     
     
         17 . The noise reduction system of  claim 14 , comprising reticulated foam disposed over surfaces of the resonance chambers. 
     
     
         18 . The noise reduction system of  claim 14 , comprising one or more punched hole plates disposed over openings of the resonance chambers. 
     
     
         19 . The noise reduction system of  claim 14 , wherein the resonance chambers are configured to attenuate noise at a natural frequency of the at least one fan and/or harmonics of the fan noise. 
     
     
         20 . The noise reduction system of  claim 14 , wherein the downstream process comprises a condenser.