Studies on the Experimental Measurement of the Low-Frequency Aerodynamic Noise of Large Wind Turbines

Abstract

With the continuous warming of the global climate, expanding the use of renewable energy has become one of the main social responsibilities. However, as the number of installed wind turbines and their physical dimensions continue to increase, the issue of generated noise has become increasingly significant in influencing the acceptance and endorsement of wind power projects by neighboring communities. In this paper, we investigated the noise generated by two wind turbine units with rated powers of 1.5 MW and 4.5 MW and analyzed the variations in low-frequency noise during their operation and shutdown periods. This research shows that the power of a single unit has a significant impact on the low-frequency noise emitted into the environment. Compared with 1.5 MW wind turbines, 4.5 MW wind turbines generate more low-frequency noise when operating at the same wind speed. Further analysis of the narrowband frequency spectra and one-third octave spectra of the measured noise indicates that the low-frequency noise from the 4.5 MW wind turbine increases significantly in the range of approximately 80 Hz to 300 Hz, with more pronounced variations below 250 Hz corresponding to changes in wind speed. However, the overall variations in low-frequency noise with wind speed are not as notable as those observed for the 1.5 MW wind turbine. Due to the relatively weak attenuation of low-frequency noise in the atmosphere, the higher low-frequency content of large wind turbines may cause more distress to residents near wind farms. The result of this study emphasizes that in the planning and design of wind power projects, in addition to considering the efficiency of single-unit power generation and the contribution of renewable energy, it is also necessary to pay full attention to noise emission issues to ensure that the project is widely supported and accepted in the community.