The interaction between the rotor and the tower wake is an important source of noise for wind turbines with downwind rotors. The tower wake modifies the dynamic pressure and the local flow incidence angle as seen by the blades and, hence, modifies the aerodynamic loading of the blade during blade passage. The resulting n per revolution fluctuation in the blade loading (where n is the number of blades) is the source of low frequency but potentially high amplitude sound levels. The Wind Turbine Company (WTC) Proof of Concept 250 kW (POC) wind turbine has been observed by field personnel to produce low-frequency emissions at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) site during specific atmospheric conditions. Consequently, WTC is conducting a three-phase program to characterize the low frequency emissions of its two-bladed wind turbines and to develop noise mitigation techniques if needed. This paper summarizes the first phase of this program including recent low-frequency noise measurements conducted on the WTC POC250 kW wind turbine, a review of the wake characteristics of circular towers as they pertain to the blade-wake interaction problem, and techniques to attenuate the sound pressure levels caused by the blade-wake interaction.
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November 2003
Technical Papers
Blade-Wake Interaction Noise for Turbines With Downwind Rotors
G. M. McNerney,
G. M. McNerney
The Wind Turbine Company, 1261 120th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98005
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C. P. van Dam,
C. P. van Dam
Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616-5294
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D. T. Yen-Nakafuji
D. T. Yen-Nakafuji
Renewable Wind Energy, California Energy Commission, 1516 9th Street, MS 43, Sacramento, CA 95814-5504
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G. M. McNerney
The Wind Turbine Company, 1261 120th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98005
C. P. van Dam
Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616-5294
D. T. Yen-Nakafuji
Renewable Wind Energy, California Energy Commission, 1516 9th Street, MS 43, Sacramento, CA 95814-5504
Contributed by the OOAE Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received February 27, 2003; final revision, June 2, 2003. Associate Editor: D. Berg.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2003, 125(4): 497-505 (9 pages)
Published Online: November 26, 2003
Article history
Received:
February 27, 2003
Revised:
June 2, 2003
Online:
November 26, 2003
Citation
McNerney, G. M., van Dam, C. P., and Yen-Nakafuji, D. T. (November 26, 2003). "Blade-Wake Interaction Noise for Turbines With Downwind Rotors ." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2003; 125(4): 497–505. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1627830
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