Selection of the most suitable sound control method using fuzzy hierarchical technique

Abstract

Introduction: Noise is one of the most harmful industrial agents and there are different methods to control it. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is an appropriate technique for selecting the best choice among several control methods. Therefore, the aim of this study was the selection of the most suitable sound control method using fuzzy hierarchical analysis (FAHP) technique in a refinery plant. Material and Method: The present study was a cross-sectional research in a refinery plant. After identifying the main sources of the noise in the studied palnt, five criteria and ten noise control methods were selected using a questionnaire and Delphi methods. Then, Fuzzy hierarchy analysis was applied for the selection of the best noise control alternative. Result: The results showed that the performance with a final weight of 0.277 and the non-interference in the process with a final weight of 0.06 were most and least important criteria, respectively. Meanwhile, worker enclosure had highest score (0.207) of the control methods. Conclusion: In general, the results showed that best criterion for selection of the suitable noise control method is performance. What’s more, based on the results, worker enclosure was selected as best noise control method in the refinery.

Keywords

• noise
• fuzzy hierarchical analysis process
• noise control methods
• paired comparison