The installation of a 1.6 MW cogeneration plant at 717 Fifth Avenue required a solution that met strict acoustic and aesthetic expectations for a Class‑A Manhattan office building. The plant needed to take advantage of off‑peak energy while remaining visually unobtrusive and quiet. FläktGroup SEMCO supplied the modular sound‑attenuated enclosure system to meet these requirements.
Key Facts
- 1.6 MW cogeneration plant installed on a 13‑story section of a 26‑story office building
- Two 820 kW lean‑burn natural gas engine generator sets
- Includes heat exchangers, a 289‑ton hot water absorption chiller, controls, switchgear, and distribution
- Modular enclosure designed and provided by FläktGroup SEMCO
- Noise limit requirement: maximum 85 dBA at 3 meters
- Enclosure used 4” thick modular tongue‑and‑groove acoustic panels
- System shipped as seven knocked‑down components
- Initial assembly and testing at Enercon’s facility in Barnesville, Georgia
- Final installation required street closure and crane lift in Manhattan
- Panels powder‑coated flat black to blend with surroundings
Challenge
Design a cogeneration plant enclosure that delivered required noise reduction and structural performance while blending seamlessly into a high‑end urban environment.
Solution
FläktGroup SEMCO engineered and supplied a modular acoustic enclosure using 4” thick tongue‑and‑groove panels, air inlet and discharge silencers, and structural components meeting the 85 dBA requirement. Components were shipped for pre‑assembly and testing before being craned into place in seven sections at the Fifth Avenue site.
Results
- Delivered required sound attenuation to meet 85 dBA at 3 meters
- Achieved a visually unobtrusive installation through flat‑black powder coating
- Modular design allowed assembly and testing prior to final placement
- Enabled successful installation despite tight urban logistics including street closures
“We worked with SEMCO on structure engineering, design and finally delivery. They have good experience with structural enclosures and acoustics, enabling us to achieve the decibel reduction required.”
Tony Hagen
Manufacturing Engineer
Enercon
Products Used
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