Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS method as a technique for prioritizing noise control solutions

Abstract

There are various solutions for noise control. One of the important issues is the choice of the most appropriate solution based on criteria. The aim of this study was to prioritize the noise control solutions using a fuzzy AHPâ–“TOPSIS method in the distillation unit of a refinery. At first, the sound pressure level was measured at the distillation unit and the main noise sources were identified. Then, ten control solutions and five prioritization criteria including efficiency, cost, safety, executive capability and non-interference in the process were selected according to the opinions of experts. In the next step, twenty experts were asked to compare criteria and solutions. Finally, criteria were weighted using the Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and solutions were prioritized using technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution method. Criteria based on the importance in the noise control included efficiency (normal weight of 0.265), cost (normal weight of 0.234), safety (normal weight of 0.226), executive capability (normal weight of 0.202), and non-interference in the process (normal weight of 0.070). The personal enclosure (coefficient closeness index of 0.1475) and modification or change of process (coefficient closeness index of 0.0595) had the highest and lowest priorities at the noise control, respectively. Regarding criteria and operational conditions in the refinery, the use of a personal enclosure was selected as the first solution at the noise control. Fuzzy AHPâ–“TOPSIS method can also be used to prioritize control solutions in other industries.

Prioritization of Noise Control Solutions in an Oil Refinery Using the Noise Control Priority Index

“…Mousavi et al determined the weights of effective criteria for selecting the most suitable noise control solution in the distillation unit of an oil refinery using the FAHP hierarchical analysis method. Moreover, they concluded based on the TOPSIS method that the construction of an enclosed chamber was the most suitable noise control solution (17). Additionally, Ishaqi et al prioritized noise control criteria and solutions in a glass manufacturing company using the AHP hierarchical analysis method and proposed that the use of a complete partition between two main parts was the most suit- able noise control solution with a final weight of 0.113 (20).…”

“…The operational units of the oil industry are often large and have various noise sources. Steam leakage, fans, compressors, furnaces, and flares are the most important sources of noise in these industries (17). Therefore, it is essential to identify and prioritize noise control solutions in the units in which noise pollution is particularly an important problem.…”

Evaluation of Environmental Sound Pressure Level, Drawing of Noise-Isosonic Map Using Surfer V.19, and Prioritization of Engineering Noise Control Methods Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): A Field Study in CGS Stations

“…Mousavi et al [16] did a study aimed at prioritizing noise control measures in the distillation unit of a petrochemical factory using the Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS method and five criteria, i.e., efficiency, cost, safety, executability, and non-interference with the process. According to their evaluations, the efficiency criterion with a weight of 0.256 and the non-interference with the process with a weight of 0.070 had the highest and lowest effects on the selection of engineering noise control measures.…”

“…Therefore, the need to address the noise-related issues as well as prevention of health issues caused by such exposures can also be justified from an economic viewpoint [15]. Due to the high costs of excessive exposure to noise, it is necessary to propose and implement noise control measures in occupational environments [16]. Thus, in addition to legal, administrative, and educational measures, proposing technical control solutions and alternatives to solve the problems caused by noise exposure is of great importance to ensure the health of employees [17].…”

“…There are numerous techniques to perform MCDM, including AHP, superiority and inferiority ranking (SIR), Simos' ranking method, multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT), and elimination and choice corresponding to reality (ELECTRE) [22]. The AHP technique has been widely used to prioritize control measures in order to make decisions to control and reduce noise level [16,23,24]. The AHP technique, which was proposed by Saaty in 1980, is a multi-criteria decision-making method widely used to determine the weight of criteria and prioritize them in a structured way based on the pairwise comparison [25].…”