Two Step Optimization of Transducer Locations in Single Input Single Output Tonal Global Active Noise Control in Enclosures

Abstract

Global active control of sound can be achieved inside enclosures under low modal acoustic fields. However, the performance of the system depends largely on the localization of the elements of the control system. For a purely acoustic active control system in which secondary acoustic sources (loudspeakers) and pressure transducers (microphones) as error sensors are used, several optimization strategies have been proposed. These strategies usually rely on partial approximation to the problem, focusing on the study of number and localization of secondary sources without considering error transducers, or selecting the best positions of secondary sources and error transducers of an initial set of candidate locations for these elements. The strategy presented here for tonal global active noise control of steady states comprises two steps; the first is rather common for this sort of problem and its goal is to find the best locations for secondary sources and their strengths by minimizing the potential energy of the enclosure. The second step is the localization of the error transducer, which ensures the results of the first step. It is analytically demonstrated that for a single input single output system, the optimum location of error transducers is at a null pressure point of the optimally attenuated acoustic field. It is also shown that in a real case, the optimum position is that of a minimum of the optimally attenuated acoustic field. Finally, a numerical validation of this principle is carried out in a parallelipedic enclosure.