Numerical assessment of two-chamber mufflers hybridized with multiple parallel perforated plug tubes using simulated annealing method

Abstract

Enormous effort has been applied to research on mufflers hybridized with a single perforated plug tube; nonetheless, mufflers conjugated with multiple parallel perforated plug tubes that disperse venting fluid and reduce secondary noise have been overlooked. To this end, an analysis of the sound transmission loss of two-chamber mufflers with multiple parallel perforated plug tubes that are optimally designed to perform within a limited space will be presented. Here, using a decoupled numerical method, a four-pole system matrix for evaluating acoustic performance (sound transmission loss) is derived. During the optimization process, a simulated annealing method, which is a robust scheme utilized to search for the global optimum by imitating a physical annealing process, is used. Prior to dealing with a broadband noise, the sound transmission loss’s maximization relative to a one-tone noise (200 Hz) is produced to check the simulated annealing method’s reliability. The mathematical model is also confirmed for accuracy. To understand the acoustical effects brought about by the various tubes (perforated tubes, internally extended non-perforated tubes, and non-perforated tubes), mufflers with internally extended non-perforated tubes and non-perforated tubes have been evaluated. The optimization of three kinds of two-chamber mufflers hybridized with one, two, and four perforated plug tubes have also been compared. The results are revealing: the acoustical performance of mufflers conjugated with more perforated plug tubes decreases as a result of the decrement of the acoustical function for acoustical elements (II) and (III). Accordingly, in order to design a better muffler, an advanced presetting of the maximum (allowable) flowing velocity is necessary before an appropriate number of perforated plug tubes can be chosen for the optimization process.