General Information on Bitcoin Mining Noise
Cryptocurrency (i.e.: Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) mining noise can be a nuisance, but this is mainly dependent on the type of cooling system. The massive number of computer rigs used for mining generates a lot of heat, requiring a substantial cooling system. To date, the most common source of noise from these cooling systems is fan noise for an air-cooled facility. These fans create a constant whirring or humming sound. This noise can be disruptive for people living near mining facilities. Another noise source commonly associated with these farms is that they require a lot of electricity to operate, which generally means there is a power plant in the area that may also be contributing to the noise.
Design of Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities
A Bitcoin or other Crypto Mining Farm can have various designs. Some will house their equipment in a large building or warehouse. Others will house their equipment within numerous individual containers similar to a box truck in size. But as far as noise goes it nearly always comes down to the cooling systems.
“Bitcoin mining generates a significant amount of heat due to the intensive computational processes involved. Efficient cooling systems are essential to maintain optimal operating conditions for mining hardware.”
Nico Smid, the Founder of Digital Mining Solutions and author of “The Bitcoin Mining Block Post”
Accurate Noise Surveys of Cryptocurrency Facilities
To conduct an accurate noise survey, one must first start with the proper type of equipment, system, noise meter, etc. Noise monitoring equipment is rated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as Type I or Type II. The different ratings relate to the accuracy of the equipment with Type I (laboratory grade) being more accurate than Type II (general purpose), but both can be suitable for conducting environmental noise surveys. All equipment should be within about 12 to 24 months of their last factory calibration and be field calibrated prior to any testing.
A general setup would include mounting the microphone on a tripod five feet above the ground away from any reflective surfaces (i.e.: houses) and affixing a proper windscreen must be used. Finally, setting up for logging the proper metrics is important, with the most critical one being that environmental noise is almost always measured in A-weighted (dBA) decibels and not flat-weighted (dB) decibels. Overall, it is generally best to request the assistance of a qualified noise consultant who can conduct the test and write an easy-to-understand noise report.
Noise Mitigation Options for Cryptocurrency Facilities
Reducing noise levels to locations offsite is dependent on several factors. One is the type of cooling technology being used and another is the distance from the cooling noise sources to the receivers (i.e., residences). The most basic noise mitigation employed are noise barriers which can be noise walls, noise berms, or some combination. Noise barriers need to be close to the source to be effective and depending on the design of the barrier may only be effective up to 300 feet away.
Other options can be vent silencers and/or quieter blades for every fan. Mitigation for immersion cooling and hydro-cooling, have more pumps creating noise which are easier to mitigate with lagging. The best way to mitigate Bitcoin mining noise is to have laws in place based on known measurements and modeling to help locate these facilities in compatible locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of Cooling Systems are Available for Cryptocurrency Facilities?
- Air Cooling
This method uses several high-velocity fans with intakes and exhausts open to the atmosphere. Generally considered the loudest of the three cooling systems for cryptocurrency noise.
- Immersion Cooling
Technically, there are two methods of immersion cooling: single-phase and double-phase. For single-phase, the hardware is submerged into a conductive cooling liquid and this liquid is circulated through a heat exchanger. For double-phase, the liquid converts to a gas due to heat, and the vapor is condensed back to fluid. These methods are generally considered a more efficient and effective method of cooling versus air cooling. Noise from these methods is generally from pumps which can more easily be mitigated.
- Hydro Cooling
For this method, water is used as the cooling medium. This water flows through pipes that are connected to the equipment being cooled. This water is pumped to a heat exchanger and cooled. As with immersion, pumps are the main noise source which can be mitigated more easily than fans.
Cerjan Acoustics Bitcoin Mining Noise Services
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