Abstract:
A deployable underwater noise abatement system allowing packing and deploying an organized set of grouped resonators is disclosed. The system allows relatively compact storage and transportation of the noise abatement apparatus when not in use, then, when deployed, the apparatus can be lowered into the water and extended.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application derives from and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/924,015, filed on Jan. 6, 2014, bearing the present title, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/020,672, filed on Jul. 3, 2014 entitled “Underwater Noise Abatement Apparatus with Simple Multi-Frequency Responsive Resonator Elements”, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the deployment of noise abatement devices for reduction of underwater sound emissions, such as noise from sea faring vessels, oil and mineral drilling operations, and marine construction and demolition. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various underwater noise abatement apparatuses have been proposed. Some are embodied in a form factor that encloses or is deployed at or near a source of underwater noise. Patent publication US 2011/0031062, entitled “Device for damping and scattering hydrosound in a liquid,” describes a plurality of buoyant gas enclosures (balloons containing air) tethered to a rigid underwater frame that absorb underwater sound in a frequency range determined by the size of the gas enclosures. Patent application Ser. No. 14/572,248, entitled “Underwater Noise Reduction System Using Open-Ended Resonator Assembly and Deployment Apparatus,” discloses systems of submersible open-ended gas resonators that can be deployed in an underwater noise environment to attenuate noise therefrom. These and their related applications and documentation are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0004]    Underwater noise reduction systems are intended to mitigate man-made noise so as to reduce the environmental impact of this noise. Pile driving for offshore construction, oil and gas drilling platforms, and sea faring vessels are examples of noise that can be undesirable and that should be mitigated. However, the installation, deployment and packaging of underwater noise abatement systems can be challenging, as these apparatus are typically bulky and cumbersome to store and deploy. 
         [0005]    The present application is concerned with the packaging, storage, and deployment of underwater noise reduction devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A deployment system for packing and deploying underwater noise reduction apparatus is disclosed. The system allows relatively compact storage and transportation of the noise abatement apparatus when not in use, then, when deployed, the apparatus can be lowered into the water and extended. 
         [0007]    In an aspect, the system comprises a plurality of noise abating resonators, each resonator holding a gas therein and being responsive to acoustic energy in a vicinity of said resonator. The resonators are arranged into a deployable arrangement within a collapsible frame so that the deployable arrangement provides a deployed configuration of the resonators in the frame when the system is deployed, and a stowed configuration of the resonators in the frame when the system is not deployed. In the deployed configuration, the frame is in an extended position so that the resonators are spaced further apart from one another than they would be when stowed, and in the stowed configuration the frame is in a contracted position so that the resonators are spaced closer together than they would be when deployed. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a method for abating noise is disclosed. The method includes arranging a plurality of acoustic resonators in a flexible and deployable framework that can be configured in a deployed or in a stowed configuration. The method also includes extending the frame into its deployed configuration by extending the flexible frame when the framework is to be deployed into a volume in which noise is to be abated. The method also includes contracting the frame into its stowed configuration by compacting the flexible frame when the framework is to be stowed. The method also includes storing the deployable framework in a storage compartment when not deployed and when in its stowed configuration. 
     
    
     
       IN THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present concepts, reference is made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary noise reduction apparatus panel; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a vessel carrying and deploying a noise reduction apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a detail of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a noise reduction apparatus panel in its stowed configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a perspective view of the panel of  FIG. 4  in its deployed configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a perspective view of a row of resonators disposed in the apparatus of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates storage and transportation of a noise reduction apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a collapsed configuration of a noise reduction apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7B  illustrates an-expanded configuration of a noise reduction apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates the apparatus of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  in its fully deployed configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates storage and transportation of the apparatus of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a perspective view of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus that expands and retracts when deployed or stowed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10B  illustrates a perspective view of an upper portion of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10C  illustrates a perspective view of a lower portion of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus in a stowed configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12A  illustrates a first perspective view of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus in a deployed configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12B  illustrates a second perspective view of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus in a deployed configuration; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13A  illustrates a perspective view of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus in a stowed configuration before deployment in a water tank; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13B  illustrates a perspective view of a self-collapsing noise reduction apparatus in a deployed configuration after deployment in a water tank; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14A  illustrates a perspective view of a noise reduction apparatus in a deployed configuration; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14B  illustrates a perspective view of a noise reduction apparatus in a stowed-configuration; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15A  illustrates a perspective view of a noise reduction apparatus in stowed configuration connected to a support frame; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15B  illustrates a perspective view of a noise reduction apparatus in its a deployed configuration connected to a support frame; 
           [0033]      FIG. 16A  illustrates a noise reduction apparatus in a stowed configuration mounted on an annular articulating frame in a lowered position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16B  illustrates a noise reduction apparatus in a stowed configuration mounted on an annular articulating frame in a raised position; 
           [0035]      FIG. 16C  illustrates the noise reduction apparatus of  FIG. 16B  on an annular articulating frame in an open position for mounting on a pile; 
           [0036]      FIG. 16D  illustrates the noise reduction apparatus of  FIG. 16C  in a deployed configuration while the annular articulating frame is mounted on the pile; 
           [0037]      FIG. 17A  illustrates a perspective view of hanging a stowed noise reduction panel on an annular articulating frame; 
           [0038]      FIG. 17B  illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of stowed noise reduction panels hanging on an annular articulating frame; 
           [0039]      FIG. 17C  illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of stowed noise reduction panels hanging on an annular articulating frame in an open position for mounting on a pile; 
           [0040]      FIG. 17D  illustrates the noise reduction apparatus of  FIG. 17C  with the annular articulating frame mounted on the pile; 
           [0041]      FIG. 17E  illustrates the noise reduction apparatus of  FIG. 17D  in a deployed configuration; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  illustrates a noise reduction apparatus disposed in a storage frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    A plurality of noise-reducing resonators are disposed on a collapsible frame. The collapsible frame can be configured in a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement. In the stowed arrangement, the space between each resonator is reduced compared to the deployed arrangement. In the deployed arrangement, the space between each resonator is increased compared to the stowed arrangement. The resonators can be arranged in a two- or three-dimensional array. A rigging line can be used to transition the frame from/to the stowed arrangement to/from the deployed arrangement. The rigging line can be connected to a winch. 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  illustrates an underwater noise reduction apparatus  10 . The noise reduction apparatus  10  can be lowered into a body of water around or proximal to a noise-generating event or thing such as a drilling platform, ship, or other machine. A plurality of resonators  102  on a panel  100  of the noise reduction apparatus  10  resonate so as to absorb sound energy and therefore reduce the radiated sound energy emanating from the location of the noise-generating event or thing. The resonators  102  include a cavity to retain a gas, such as air, nitrogen, argon, or combination thereof in some embodiments. For example, the resonators  102  can be the type of resonators disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 14/494,700, entitled “Underwater Noise Abatement Panel and Resonator Structure,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the resonators  102  are arranged in a two- or three-dimensional array. 
         [0045]    In the shown embodiment, the panel  100  is towed by lines  110  tethered to a tow point or line  120 . As an example, the apparatus can be towed behind a noisy sea faring vessel. Several such apparatuses can be assembled into a system for reducing underwater noise emissions from the vessel. Also, a system like this can be assembled around one or more facets of a mining or drilling rig. 
         [0046]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary sea faring vessel (e.g., a ship)  20  equipped to deploy a noise reducing apparatus  220  into the water. The ship  20  has a deck  200  and an articulated structural support member  202  at one end thereof. It is understood that the present example is but for the sake of illustration, and other embodiments and arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0047]    The noise reducing apparatus  220  is expandable and deployable as described below. Using a line  212 , the noise reducing apparatus  220  can be lowered into and raised out of the water using a winch  210  and pulley  214 . The example illustrates a number of noise reducing apparatuses  220 A,  220 B,  220 C in their standby, collapsed, and stowed configurations  240 A,  240 B,  240 C, respectively. The crew of the ship can attach, hoist, and deploy the noise reducing apparatus  220  into the water as desired. 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  shows a closer detail of the aft section  25  of vessel  20 . We see that line  212  can be used to raise and lower noise reduction apparatus  220 . The apparatus  220  drops under the weight of gravity. A plurality of rows  222  of resonators  202  are configured as shown so that they are flexibly coupled by rigging lines  224  allowing them to change from stowed (e.g., compact and folded) format  240  to an open format  220  when deployed. In the open format  220 , the rows  222  are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined distance  235  based on the length of rigging lines  224  between each row  222 . A top bar  226  can be made of metal with a buoyant material, such as a hard syntactic foam, attached thereto. This keeps a top portion  230  of the apparatus  220  separated and above lower cross member  228  to extend the rigging lines  224  so they are generally taut and the rows  222  spaced apart as discussed above. 
         [0049]    As illustrated, the rows  222  are generally parallel with one another. The rows  222  generally extend along a first dimension  250 , which can be parallel to a surface of the ocean. The resonators  222  are also disposed in columns  226 , which generally extend in a second dimension  260 . The second dimension  260  can be generally orthogonal (e.g., within about 10%) to the first direction  250 . The second dimension  260  can be generally parallel (e.g., within about 10%) to the direction of gravitational pull. 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary noise reduction apparatus  300  in its stowed (compact and folded) configuration  305 . This configuration  305  takes up less space in the second dimension  260  (e.g., the vertical direction) to store the apparatus  300  and to make it easier to transport and/or to stack with other similar units in transit or storage. Upper cross member  310  is shown, and as mentioned above, can be constructed of metal with a buoyant material such as foam attached. Lower cross member  320  may be constructed of a metal material. In general, the metal material should be resistant to corrosion that would result from exposure to the ocean. Examples of such materials are stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, and combinations thereof. The metal material can also be comprised of something susceptible to corrosion such as steel, but treated with a galvanizing process, a powder coating, or the like. 
         [0051]    Optional telescoping side support members or struts  340  can permit collapsing and expanding of the overall structure along the second dimension  260  (e.g., the vertical direction). The telescoping side support members  340  include a female portion  342  and a male portion  344 . The female portion  342  includes a cavity to receive the male portion  344 . The female and male portions  342 ,  344  can slideably engage in a telescoping manner as the apparatus  300  expands from the stowed configuration  360  to a deployed configuration (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). In the stowed configuration  360 , at least a portion of the male portion  344  is disposed in the female portion  342 . 
         [0052]    Support lines  370  can hoist the apparatus  300  up and down (e.g., along the second dimension  260 ) while lines  360  allow the expansion and collapsing of the apparatus similar to a venetian blind. The “blinds” or “slats”  330  of the apparatus  300  may consist of a plurality of resonators in the form of inflatable pockets or compartments. In some embodiments the resonators are inverted open ended (having a downward facing open ‘mouth’) to hold a quantity of air or other gas in each resonator, as discussed above. The resonators can act as Helmholtz resonators to absorb underwater sound when deployed. In an embodiment, the resonators may include a conductive fluid-permeable mesh over the open end thereof that improves the noise absorption capabilities of the system through heat transfer associated with the resonance of gas in the resonators. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5A  shows an extended noise absorbing apparatus panel  400  as it would appear when deployed. It is clear that an essentially arbitrary number of resonators  410  can be arranged in resonator rows  420  of the apparatus panel  400 . The spacing and configuration of the resonators  410  can be flexibly designed according to the needs of the user of the apparatus  400 . The resonators  410  can be arranged in an array of rows  420  and columns  430  as illustrated. The rows  420  and columns  430  generally define a plane  440 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary configuration of resonators  410  (e.g., inflatable members) arranged in rows  420  of the apparatus of  FIG. 5A  in a fabric or rubber or other mesh or flexible belt strip  405 . The strip  405  can support the resonators  410  so they stay aligned generally in the row  420 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary way to stow and transport a plurality of noise absorbing resonator panels  400 , such as those described above, in a standard shipping container  500 . The roof of the container  500  is not illustrated in the drawing for clarity. A system of shelves or racks  510  support the folded noise absorbing apparatus panels  400  in the container  500 . The container  500  has doors  520  that can be opened to access its interior as known in the art. The panels  400  can be retracted using a translation device, forklift or other material handling device. In some embodiments, the container  500  has a removable top or roof. Once the top or roof is removed, upper panels  400  can be lifted out (e.g., with a crane). 
         [0056]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  illustrate another exemplary noise absorbing apparatus or unit  60  that can be used in the present context.  FIG. 7A  shows the apparatus  600 A in its stowed or folded configuration. The apparatus  600 A includes a frame  605  having a first support arm  620  and a second support arm  630 . The first and second support arms  620 ,  630  can pivot with respect to one another on a hinge  640  similar to scissors. The first support arm  620  includes first upper support members  622 ,  624  and first lower support members  626 ,  628 . The second support arm  630  includes second upper support members  632 ,  634  and second lower support members  636 ,  638 . As illustrated, upper and lower angled members  642 ,  644  on the first support arm  620  integrally connect the first upper support members  622 ,  624  and the first lower support members  626 ,  628 , respectively. The angled members  642 ,  644  are configured to provide a more compact arrangement of the first and second support arms  620 ,  630 . With the angled members  642 ,  644 , the first upper support members  622 ,  624  are generally parallel to the second upper support members  632 ,  634  in the stowed or folded configuration. Similarly, with the angled members  642 ,  644 , the first lower support members  626 ,  628  are generally parallel to the second lower support members  636 ,  638  in the stowed or folded configuration. This configuration is similar to scissors when they are closed shut. 
         [0057]    A plurality of resonators  610  (e.g., inflatable bladders or tubes or inverted cup resonators) can be supported by the first and second support arms  620 ,  630 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates the apparatus  600 B in its opened configuration, similar to scissors when they are wide open. When opened as in  FIG. 7B  the apparatus  600 B is still not in its fully extended (deployed) configuration. Support line  650  can be used to carry the apparatus, and deployment lines  660  can permit the apparatus to be fully deployed and retracted. The first upper support members  622 ,  624  and/or the second upper support member  632 ,  634  can include a flotation material such as a foam or syntactic foam that causes the upper support members to float above the lower support members. 
         [0058]      FIG. 8  illustrates the noise reduction apparatus  80  of the previous drawings in a fully deployed configuration  800 . Upper support arms  602 ,  604  are above the lower support arms  606 ,  608 . The resonators  610  are coupled to riggings, flexible lines, fabric, or similar flexible support members  820 , which extend from the upper support arms  602 ,  604  to the lower support arms  606 ,  608 . The support members  820  can define rows and/or columns of resonators  610  in the apparatus  80 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 9  illustrates storage and transportation of the noise reduction apparatus of  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  8 . Once stowed and collapsed in its vertical dimension, the scissor-like arms are also collapsed to that configuration of  FIG. 7A . Then, a plurality of such units  60  can be stowed on racks, rails or hooks in a shipping container  800 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 10A-C  illustrate another embodiment of the present deployable noise reduction apparatus  90 . In  FIG. 10A , the apparatus  90  is shown in an open/deployed configuration  900 . The upper portion  902  and lower portion  904  of the apparatus are shown in detail at  FIGS. 10B and 10C , respectively. In this arrangement, a separate winch is not required to collapse the apparatus  90 . Instead, the act of lowering the apparatus  90  into the water will cause it to deploy under the force of gravity, and the act of drawing the apparatus  90  up out of the water will cause the apparatus  90  to fold upon itself to a compact folded or collapsed configuration  92  (as illustrated in  FIG. 11 ). Deployment lines  910  connect the upper portion  902  to the lower portion  904  to allow the expansion and collapsing of the apparatus  90  similar to a venetian blind. The deployment lines  910  can be connected to a winch, so the same deployment lines can be used to raise/lower the apparatus  90  and to “open” the venetian blinds. Thus, a single winch or deployment cable system can be used on this embodiment. 
         [0061]    A support member  920  is disposed across each row  930 . The support member  920  includes a frame  925  for supporting resonators  940 . In some embodiments, the frame  925  is rigid or semi-rigid (e.g., a plastic, rubber, or metallic material). Vertical lines  915  connect the support members  920  to upper and lower cross members  950 ,  960 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 11  illustrates the collapsed noise reduction apparatus  92  as it would look before it is deployed, for example on the deck of a ship or in the storage holds. In the collapsed configuration, the vertical lines  915  are flexed so the rows  930  are collapsed on to each other. This is similar to a venetian blind when it is opened to expose a window. The apparatus  92  includes a telescoping side support member  940 , as described above. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate two exemplary views of noise reduction apparatuses  94 A,  94 B, respectively, in its deployed or extended configuration. Note that a variety of types of resonators  942 ,  944  can be employed in such a system without loss of generality. The apparatuses  94 A,  94 B generally correspond to the apparatus  92  of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate two views of self-stowing noise reduction apparatus  96 . In  FIG. 13A  the apparatus is in its collapsed or stowed configuration (e.g., before or after deployment into a water body or tank  1300 ). In  FIG. 13B  the apparatus is in its extended or deployed configuration (e.g., while in use in the water). 
         [0065]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate an embodiment of a deployable noise reduction apparatus  1400 . The apparatus includes a three-dimensional array of resonators  1410  arranged in the x, y, and z directions. For example, the resonators  1410  are disposed in columns  1420  and rows  1430 . The rows  1430  have a width and a depth in the x and y directions, respectively, which define a plane. The apparatus  1400  is illustrated in a deployed configuration  1425  in  FIG. 14A  and a collapsed or storage configuration  1475  in  FIG. 14B . By adding a third dimension to the array of resonators  1410 , a greater number of resonators  1410  can be deployed on a panel  1450  and, thus, a greater noise absorption can be accomplished by the apparatus  1400 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate a noise reduction system  1500  formed of four noise reduction panels  1510 . Each panel  1510  is suspended from a frame  1520 . The frame  1520  includes overhangs  1530  for hanging the frame  1520  on a pile gripper  1540 , which is attached to a pylon or a pile (e.g., a pile driving steel pipe)  1550  or other support structure. For efficiency, the term pylon is used in this and other paragraphs to refer to such structures. The pylon  1550  can be a portion of an offshore wind turbine foundation or similar apparatus. The frame  1520  including the panels  1510  can be placed on the pile gripper  1540  with a crane or similar machine. 
         [0067]    One or more winches  1560  are connected to the panels  1510  to raise/lower the system  1500  from a collapsed or storage configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 15A , to a deployed configuration  1500 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 15B . Each panel  1510  can raise/lower like a venetian blind, as discussed above. In some embodiments, a single winch  1560  is used to raise/lower the system  1500  so that the panels  1510  are raised/lowered at the same time. Alternatively, multiple winches  1560  can be used and they can be synchronized with a central control system. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 16A-D  illustrate a deployable noise reduction apparatus  1600  comprising four noise reduction panels  1610  mounted on an annular articulating stowable frame  1620 . In some embodiments, the noise reduction panels  1610  are rigidly and/or securely mounted on the annular frame  1620 . The annular frame  1620  is connected to a secondary frame  1630 , which can be mounted on a ship. The annular frame  1620  can pivot vertically from a lowered position ( FIG. 15A ) to a raised position ( FIG. 15B ). In addition or in the alternative, the annular frame  1620  can pivot horizontally. The rigid and/or secure mounting of the panels  1610  on the annular frame  1620  allows the annular frame  1620  to pivot while the panels  1610  are mounted on the annular frame  1620 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15C , a first arm  1640  and a second arm  1650  of the annular frame  1620  can open like a claw to receive a pylon  1660  or other support structure inside the annular frame  1620 . After the pylon  1660  is inside the annular frame  1620 , the first and second arms  1640 ,  1650  can close to mount the annular frame  1620  on the pylon  1660 . The noise reduction panels  1610  are then lowered into a deployed configuration  1600 ′ ( FIG. 15D ) as discussed above. The noise reduction apparatus  1600  provides an efficient structure for reducing noise proximal to a jackup rig or other vessel that includes a pylon. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 17A-E  illustrate a deployable noise reduction apparatus  1700  comprising noise reduction panels  1710  mounted on an annular articulating stowable frame  1720 . As illustrated in  FIG. 17A , the panels  1710  include a line  1730  for releasably hanging (e.g., by using a crane) the panels  1720  on brackets  1740  connected to the annular frame  1720 . The apparatus  1700  allows the system to be customized in the field by interchanging the panels  1710  to select those best suited for a given application. The annular frame  1720  is connected to a secondary frame  1740 , which can be mounted on a ship. In some embodiments, the panels  1710  are mounted on the annular frame  1720  after the annular frame  1720  has pivoted down to a deployed orientation as illustrated in  FIGS. 17A-E . As illustrated in  FIG. 17C , a first arm  1740  and a second arm  1750  of the annular frame  1720  can open like a claw to grip/receive a pylon  1760  or other support structure inside the annular frame  1720 . After the pylon  1760  is inside the annular frame  1720 , the first and second arms  1740 ,  1750  can close to mount the annular frame  1720  on the pylon  1760  ( FIG. 17D ). The noise reduction panels  710  are then lowered into a deployed configuration  1700 ′ ( FIG. 17E ) as discussed above. The noise reduction apparatus  1700  provides an efficient and customizable structure for reducing noise proximal to a jackup rig or other vessel that includes a pylon. 
         [0070]      FIG. 18  illustrates an embodiment of a deployable noise reduction apparatus  1800 . The apparatus  1800  includes a noise reduction panel  1810  mounted on an interior wall  1820  of a protective frame/enclosure  1830 . The protective frame/enclosure  1830  surrounds the panel  1810  while the panel  1810  is in a folded or storage configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . To deploy the apparatus  1800 , a second wall  1825  is removed (e.g., opened or physically removed) so that the panel  1810  can be lowered to an unfolded or deployed configuration as discussed above. The protective frame/enclosure  1830  can protect the panel  1810  from damage during transportation. In addition or in the alternative, the protective frame/enclosure  1830  can provide a regular shape for transporting the apparatus  1800 , for example, in a shipping container intermixed with other goods. The protective frame/enclosure  1830  can be made out of a plastic, corrosion-resistant metal, or similar material. In some embodiments, the protective frame/enclosure  1830  is a shipping container and the second wall  1825  is a removable and/or openable wall of the shipping container. For example, the noise reduction panel  1810  can be attached (e.g., semi-permanently or permanently attached) to the interior wall  1820  of the top of the shipping container and the bottom is openable and/or removable so that the noise reduction panel  1810  can be deployed. 
         [0071]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate upon review of the present disclosure that the ideas presented herein can be generalized, or particularized to a given application at hand. As such, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments described, which are given for the purpose of illustration. Many other similar and equivalent embodiments and extensions of these ideas are also comprehended hereby.