What is causing the Hum ?
The big question ... what is causing the Hum? Before we go any further I should explain a few things. Many people have been looking for the answer without finding the truth . Names like Witherington, Demming, McPherson, Kolhase and many more. I recognize the efforts of these people and I have tried to learn what I can from them.
When I first started to recognize that I was being affected by the Hum a little over five years ago, I had never heard of any of this. I was completely innocent and naive and to be honest it took some time to understand just how powerful the grip was that the Hum had over me. I didn't know it at the time but the chronic exposure to low frequency sound waves was making me sick and slowly eroding my mental health.
In the beginning I suffered greatly due to sleep deprivation and probably an excess of stress hormones like cortisol. Night time was my nightmare and I dreaded the end of each and every day. When I should have been contemplating resting and recharging for the next day, I knew that for me it would be different. I knew that by 4 am I would be awake and unable to sleep. I knew that the pulsations the I had come to know as the Hum would be there to punish me with a relentless assault. I was at the mercy of an outside force that I did not understand.
To make matters worse everywhere I turned for help was a dead end. My wife didn't hear it. My Doctor was not that interested in hearing about it and other than offering to prescribe sleeping pills he didn't have any answers or solutions. Any of the local authorities that I looked to for help were dismissive and of no help at all.
It took quite a while to realize that I had to make a decision. I would either have to remain victim of this unknown force and suffer the consequences or refuse to accept what it was doing to me and fight back. Maybe it was a survival instinct that kicked in when I took stock and realized that I was literally standing at the edge of my sanity. That was when I made the decision to refuse to be destroyed. I decided to learn everything I could about the insidious noise that had taken control of my life. That is when I started to research the Hum.
One of the first Hum resources on the internet that I discovered was McPhearson's World Hum Database. At the time it seemed like it might have some answers. I studied it and investigated McPhearson's story and tried to gain and understanding of how his research related to my situation. At first it seemed like there might be something there. Then I looked at McPhearson as a person and the man behind the World Hum database. What I found was a dismissive ignorant man who had no time for any ideas except his own. Something I couldn't get past was McPhearson's commitment to the idea that The Hum is not real and is a manifestation that happens in the human brain.
I'm sure there are some people who suffer from imaginary Hums that exist only in the brain. If you are reading this and you believe than you are affected similarly please seek professional help immediately.
If you are like me and you believe that the Hum that you are hearing is real then this Website is dedicated to you. What you will see here is what I have discovered after five years of living with the Hum and many, many hours researching and collaborating with other people who also believe that the Hum is real.
The truth is there is no limit to the number of things that are causing real Hums around the world. There is no single source of the Hum. In some cases it may be as simple as an Air Conditioning system on a neighbouring building. In other cases such as the one in Bristol Connecticut where a Trash burning power generator is keeping people awake at night it may be more complicated.
In my particular case the job of determining the source of my Hum was simplified by my geographic location. I live in a rural area where there are no Freeways or Airports or windmills. The nearest ocean is over a 1000 miles away. There are some railways but Trains were very easy to eliminate as a source of the Hum.
I also had some inside knowledge. Back in the late 90's I worked as a Pipeline inspector for the biggest natural gas pipeline operator in Canada so I have a very clear understanding of how high pressure natural gas pipelines work. Additionally I live in central Alberta Canada where I am literally surrounded by natural gas pipelines and compressors of every shape and size.
My search for the source of my Hum locally began by making a checklist of sorts. I knew I was looking for something that was capable of generating low frequency sound waves for very long periods of time. The Hum would be present for days, weeks and months without stopping or taking a break. Weather didn't seem to make much difference. Turning off all the power to my house didn't make any difference. I knew it seemed to be much more intrusive when most people were trying to sleep. I knew it was capable of penetrating walls , even the thick cement walls and I also knew that it was present in my car with the windows rolled up. I also knew that there was no doppler effect with the Hum It didn't fade into the distance like an airplane passing over. In consideration of all of these factors the only reasonable conclusion I could come to was that it was in fact the natural gas pipelines and infrastructure around me. After years of investigating and researching this conclusion I know that I was right.
Natural Gas Compressors and Pipelines
Natural Gas - The continental United States alone has more than 210 pipeline systems that are made up of 490,850 kilometers (305,000 miles) of transmission pipelines that transfer gas to all 48 states. This system requires more than 1,400 compressor stations to ensure that the gas continues on its path, 400 underground storage facilities, 11,000 locations to deliver the gas, and 5,000 locations to receive the gas. This does not include gathering systems.
Most of this infrastructure is hidden away and buried in the ground so it is often difficult to understand what role it plays in the generating nuisance infra sound and low frequency noise. When considering natural gas as a significant source of the Hum heard around the world one must consider that these piping systems currently span most of the earth as we know it.
Once a high pressure natural gas pipeline is constructed and placed in service it will normally continue to operate for days, weeks, months, years and even decades without shutting down. To ensure gas flow through power outages compressor stations have backup generators. Multiple compressors will ensure continuous operation through maintenance and overhauls.
Noise regulations are reasonably good at addressing the issues of high frequency noise. Low frequency noise is unregulated. Low frequency noise complaints must be made against a very specific location. Since the source of low frequency noise is often very hard to pinpoint, low frequency noise complaints are seldom investigated and very rarely addressed objectively.
Frequency of Compressor Stations - Over extended distances, friction and elevation differences reduce the pressure within the pipeline and slow the flow of gas. This is where compressor stations play a significant role. There are hundreds of compressor stations across North America, placed roughly 50 to 70 miles apart along the transmission pipeline system, that give the gas a needed “boost” helping it get from one point to the next. These stations operate twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. The total number of compressor station facilities required to move product varies depending on the region and conditions. Compressor stations can employ anywhere from a few hundred horsepower to 10's of thousands of horsepower.
Operating Pressure of Natural Gas Pipelines - There is a wide variation in the pressure within a given section of pipeline compared to other pipelines in other areas. The typical pressure may range anywhere from 200 psi (pounds per square inch) to 1,500 psi. This wide variation is also due to the type of area in which the pipeline is operating, its elevation, and the diameter of the pipeline. Because of the change in the environment, compressor stations may compress natural gas at different levels. Supply and demand can also be a factor at times in the level of compression required for the flow of the natural gas.
Pulsations generated by Compressors - Pulsations can be generated by reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, flow induced phenomena, or turbulence.
Flutter and Hum - Industrial noise comes from a huge variety of sources. This includes things like generators and compressors. In addition, some forms of gas can get noisy when you transport or vent them. High pressure natural gas lines in particular produce a phenomenon of low and extra-low frequency sound waves. They occur due to the transmission of high pressure natural gas through pipelines and infrastructure. These noises are referred to as flutter and hum.
What is flutter? - This is a persistent pulsating airborne pressure wave. It usually radiates from pipeline infrastructure. It is a problem that affects the immediate area. You will find that it sounds like the rumbling you can hear from distant thunder. It also feels like the pulsations originating from a helicopter that is flying in the distance.
The big issue is the sound can penetrate houses and feels like a vibration in your ears and head. Another place where you can feel flutter is outside as a discomfort because of interior organ resonance.
What about hum noise? - This is an invasive and persistent low frequency droning, rumbling, or humming. It is not audible to everyone. It tends to resonate in enclosed structures, causing vibrations/sounds between 1 and 50 hertz. Hum waves can move over 25 miles from their origin and expand over an area.
The hum is usually felt more than heard because it is a sputtering tonal noise. It is also an accompanying vibrotactile sensation. People often describe it like numerous intensities of idling diesel engines that are always operating outside their property. Little is known about hum, making it the more unsettling of the two.
Historically, designs of centrifugal compressor systems have focused on the aerodynamic and performance aspects. Noise, pulsation, and vibration phenomena were rarely considered.
Components of Noise and Pulsation Generated by Piping Systems - Noise and pressure oscillations in piping systems are caused by flow turbulence, increased turbulence due to discontinuities in flow path (flanges, thermowells, valves), internal acoustic field response, and transmission of mechanical vibrations into the piping through its walls.
Conclusion - Natural gas compressors and pipelines can and do create noise and pulsations. The degree of noise and pulsation varies with the particular design of the compressors and pipelines.
Considering the proliferation of natural gas production and the sheer number of natural gas compressors in the world today, they must be considered as a source of the Hum heard around the world. Millions of horsepower forcing compressed gas through an enclosed system of piping that flow through twist and turns, through valves and different devices cannot happen in complete silence as common sense dictates.
Infra -sound and low frequency noise are very poorly regulated and that results in a cavalier ( if it ain't broke , don't fix it ) attitude within the industry.
Governments, Regulators and local authorities who are in a sense bribed by royalties and taxes, find it much easier to ignore or look the other way when complaints arise.
The confusion created by well meaning but poorly educated media and others who seek the truth about the Hum only serve to obliterate the truth and add to the problem.
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