Noise Propagation Issues in Wind Energy Applications

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Prospathopoulos ◽  
Spyros G. Voutsinas

The prediction of noise emitted from operating wind turbines is important to planners in order to avoid the possibility of surpassing the allowable limits close to residential areas. To this end, the wave equation is solved, taking into account the atmospheric and ground characteristics that affect sound propagation. In the present paper, a ray tracing methodology capable of performing axisymmetric calculations of the sound field around an isolated source is used. The methodology simulates all the main physical mechanisms that influence sound propagation and performs calculations for the whole range of acoustic frequencies. In the case of more sources, a quasi-3D calculation is implemented, superposing the contributions from all sources. Application to single wind turbines is validated with available measurements. The effect of various parameters such as ground impedance, temperature, humidity, turbulence, and wind velocity is investigated for an isolated wind turbine as well as for wind parks. It is shown that ground and atmospheric absorption are important at the low and high frequency ranges, respectively. In flat terrain cases, simple propagation models may also give satisfactory predictions of the overall sound pressure levels. However, in complex terrain cases, the wind velocity and the relief of the topography can significantly affect noise propagation, suggesting the necessity for using sophisticated propagation models, such as the current one.

Acta Acustica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Stefan Schoder ◽  
Clemens Junger ◽  
Manfred Kaltenbacher

This contribution benchmarks the aeroacoustic workflow of the perturbed convective wave equation and the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings analogy in Farassat’s 1A version for a low-pressure axial fan. Thereby, we focus on the turbulence modeling of the flow simulation and mesh convergence concerning the complete aeroacoustic workflow. During the validation, good agreement has been found with the efficiency, the wall pressure sensor signals, and the mean velocity profiles in the duct. The analysis of the source term structures shows a strong correlation to the sound pressure spectrum. Finally, both acoustic sound propagation models are compared to the measured sound field data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 934
Author(s):  
Alena Zakharenko ◽  
Mikhail Trofimov ◽  
Pavel Petrov

Numerous sound propagation models in underwater acoustics are based on the representation of a sound field in the form of a decomposition over normal modes. In the framework of such models, the calculation of the field in a range-dependent waveguide (as well as in the case of 3D problems) requires the computation of normal modes for every point within the area of interest (that is, for each pair of horizontal coordinates x,y). This procedure is often responsible for the lion’s share of total computational cost of the field simulation. In this study, we present formulae for perturbation of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of normal modes under the water depth variations in a shallow-water waveguide. These formulae can reduce the total number of mode computation instances required for a field calculation by a factor of 5–10. We also discuss how these formulae can be used in a combination with a wide-angle mode parabolic equation. The accuracy of such combined model is validated in a series of numerical examples.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (04) ◽  
pp. 2050029
Author(s):  
C. J. Zhang ◽  
J. R. WU ◽  
Z. D. Zhao ◽  
L. Ma ◽  
E. C. Shang

Acoustical properties of the sea bottom can be described using geoacoustic (GA) models. Most existing propagation models use GA parameters as the bottom properties. It is difficult to obtain GA parameters for a layered bottom because of inter parameter coupling. These problems can be solved by inverting the model-independent reflective parameters P and Q. For a multilayered bottom, a sound field computation model, RamPQ, is developed using the mapping of GA and (P, Q) spaces. The mean square error of the transmission loss in numerical simulations and experimental data for low-frequency sound propagation are employed to validate RamPQ and demonstrate the performance of the model.


Author(s):  
Sandip Kale ◽  
S. N. Sapali

Micro wind turbines installed in various applications, experience average wind speed for most of the time during operations. Power produced by the wind turbine is proportional to the cubic power of the wind velocity and a small increase in wind velocity results increases power output significantly. The approach wind velocity can be increased by covering traditional wind turbine with a diffuser. Researchers are continuously working to develop a compact, lightweight, cost effective and feasible diffuser for wind turbines. The present work carried out to develop a diffuser with these stated objectives. A compact, lightweight inclined flanged diffuser developed for a micro wind turbine. Bare micro wind turbine and wind turbine covered with developed efficient inclined flanged diffuser tested in the field as per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and results presented in the form of power curves. The prediction of annual energy production for both wind turbines determined as per IEC standards.


2015 ◽  
Vol 787 ◽  
pp. 217-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Navin Kumar ◽  
K.M. Parammasivam

Wind energy is one of the most significant renewable energy sources in the world. It is the only promising renewable energy resource that only can satisfy the nation’s energy requirements over the growing demand for electricity. Wind turbines have been installed all over the wind potential areas to generate electricity. The wind turbines are designed to operate at a rated wind velocity. When the wind turbines are exposed to extreme wind velocities such as storm or hurricane, the wind turbine rotates at a higher speed that affects the structural stability of the entire system and may topple the system. Mechanical braking systems and Aerodynamic braking systems have been currently used to control the over speeding of the wind turbine at extreme wind velocity. As a novel approach, it is attempted to control the over speeding of the wind turbine by aerodynamic braking system by providing the chord wise spacing (opening). The turbine blade with chord wise spacing alters the pressure distribution over the turbine blade that brings down the rotational speed of the wind turbine within the allowable limit. In this approach, the over speeding of the wind turbine blades are effectively controlled without affecting the power production. In this paper the different parameters of the chord wise spacing such as position of the spacing, shape of the spacing, width of the spacing and impact on power generation are analyzed and the spacing parameters are experimentally optimized.


1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cummings ◽  
I.-J. Chang

A quasi one-dimensional analysis of sound transmission in a flow duct lined with an array of nonlinear resonators is described. The solution to the equations describing the sound field and the hydrodynamic flow in the neighborhood of the resonator orifices is performed numerically in the time domain, with the object of properly accounting for the nonlinear interaction between the acoustic field and the resonators. Experimental data are compared to numerical computations in the time domain and generally very good agreement is noted. The method described here may readily be extended for use in the design of exhaust mufflers for internal combustion engines.


Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Echeverri-Londoño ◽  
Alice Elizabeth González Fernández

Several noise propagation models used to calculate the noise produced by wind turbines have been reported. However, these models do not accurately predict sound pressure levels. Most of them have been developed to estimate the noise produced by industries, in which wind speeds are less than 5 m/s, and conditions favor its spread. To date, very few models can be applied to evaluate the propagation of sound from wind turbines and most of these yield inaccurate results. This study presents a comparison between noise levels that were estimated using the prediction method established in ISO 9613 Part 2 and measured levels of noise from wind turbines that are part of a wind farm currently in operation. Differences of up to 56.5 dBZ, with a median of 29.6 dBZ, were found between the estimated sound pressure levels and measured levels. The residual sound pressure levels given by standard ISO 9613 Part 2 for the wind turbines is larger for high frequencies than those for low frequencies. When the wide band equivalent continuous sound pressure level is expressed in dBA, the residual varies between −4.4 dBA and 37.7 dBA, with a median of 20.5 dBA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (397) ◽  
pp. 97-114
Author(s):  
A. Kleschev ◽  

Object and purpose of research. This paper obtains solutions and performs estimations of characteristics of sound reflection and scattering by ideal and elastic bodies of various shapes (analytical and non-analytical) near media interface, or underwater sonic channel, or in a planar waveguide with a solid elastic bottom. Materials and methods. The harmonic signals are investigated with the method of normal waves based on the phase velocity of signal propagation, and impulse signals related to the energy transfer are studied using the method of real and imaginary sources and scatterers based on the group velocity of propagation. Main results. The scattered sound field is calculated for ideal spheroids (elongated and compressed) at fluid – ideal medium interface. The spectrum of a scattered impulse signal is calculated for a body placed in a sonic channel. First reflected impulses are found for an ideal spheroid in a planar waveguide with anisotropic bottom. Conclusion. In the studies of diffraction characteristics of bodies at media interfaces it was found that the main contribution to scattered field is given by interference of scattered fields rather than interaction of scatterers (real or imaginary). It is shown that at long distances the spectral characteristics of the channel itself have a prevalent role. When impulse sound signals in the planar waveguide are used, it is necessary to apply the method of real and imaginary sources and scatterers based on the group velocity of sound propagation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 3797-3819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Letson ◽  
Rebecca J. Barthelmie ◽  
Weifei Hu ◽  
Sara C. Pryor

Abstract. Wind gusts are a key driver of aerodynamic loading, especially for tall structures such a bridges and wind turbines. However, gust characteristics in complex terrain are not well understood and common approximations used to describe wind gust behavior may not be appropriate at heights relevant to wind turbines and other structures. Data collected in the Perdigão experiment are analyzed herein to provide a foundation for improved wind gust characterization and process-level understanding of flow intermittency in complex terrain. High-resolution observations from sonic anemometers and vertically pointing Doppler lidars are used to conduct a detailed study of gust characteristics with a specific focus on the parent distributions of nine gust parameters (that describe velocity, time, and length scales), their joint distributions, height variation, and coherence in the vertical and horizontal planes. Best-fit distributional forms for varying gust properties show good agreement with those from previous experiments in moderately complex terrain but generate nonconservative estimates of the gust properties that are of key importance to structural loading. Probability distributions of gust magnitude derived from vertically pointing Doppler lidars exhibit good agreement with estimates from sonic anemometers despite differences arising from volumetric averaging and the terrain complexity. Wind speed coherence functions during gusty periods (which are important to structural wind loading) are similar to less complex sites for small vertical displacements (10 to 40 m), but do not exhibit an exponential form for larger horizontal displacements (800 to 1500 m).


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