An exploratory survey of noise levels associated with a 100-kW wind turbine

Abstract

During the past few years, NASA's Lewis Research Center has managed a wind turbine project for the Department of Energy. This effort has included the design, construction, and operation of a 125-ft-diam, 100-kW wind turbine at the NASA Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio. During some of the performance tests, the opportunity arose to make exploratory noise measurements and results of those surveys are presented. The data include measurements as functions of distance from the turbine, and directivity angle, and cover a frequency range from 1 Hz to several kHz. Potential community impact is discussed in terms of A-weighted noise levels relative to background levels, and the infrasonic spectral content. Finally, the change in the sound power spectrum associated with a change in the rotor speed is described.

Acoustic noise associated with the MOD-1 wind turbine: its source, impact, and control

“…These complaints came as a suprise, since a series of earlier sound measurements taken at the lOO-kW MOD-O wind (1). These early reports TR-1166 associated with the MOD-l were also puzzling, because complaints were not received each time the turbine was operated, and attempts to correlate the type and location of the complaints with machine operating modes were inconclusive.…”

“…The primary objectives of SERI's investigation have been (1) to identify the physical mechanisms responsible for the generation, propagation, and human response (impact) of the annoying "sounds" related to the operation of the MOD-l turbine and (2) to develop suggestions for its amelioration.…”