Insights into the Aeroacoustic Noise Generation for Vertical Axis Turbines in Close Proximity

Manuel Viqueira-Moreira and Esteban Ferrer
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Manuel Viqueira-Moreira: ETSIAE-UPM (School of Aeronautics), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Plaza de Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Esteban Ferrer: Center for Computational Simulation (CCS), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, Boadilla del Monte, 28660 Madrid, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: We present Large Eddy Simulations and aeroacoustic spectra for three configurations of increasing flow complexity: an isolated NACA0012 airfoil, an isolated rotating vertical axis wind turbine composed of three rotating airfoils and a farm of four vertical axis turbines (with identical characteristics as the isolated turbine), which are located in close proximity. The aeroacoustic signatures of the simulated airfoil and the isolated turbine are validated using published numerical and experimental data. We provide theoretical estimates to predict tonal frequencies, which are used to identify the main physical mechanisms responsible for the tonal signature and for each configuration and enable the categorisation of the main tonal aeroacoustic sources of vertical axis turbines operating in close proximity. Namely, we identify wake, vortex, blade passing and boundary layer phenomena and provide estimates for the associated tonal frequencies, which are validated with simulations. In the farm, we observe non-linear interactions and enhanced mixing that decreases tonal frequencies in favour of larger broadband amplitudes at low frequencies. Comparing the spectrum with that of the isolated turbine, only the blade passing frequency and the boundary layer tones can be clearly identified. Variations in acoustic amplitudes, tonal frequencies and sound directivities suggest that a linear combination of sources from isolated turbines is not enough to characterise the aeroacoustic footprint of vertical axiswind turbines located in close proximity, and that farms need to be considered and studied as different entities.

Keywords: Large Eddy Simulations; aeroacoustics; NACA0012 airfoil; vertical axis turbine VAWT; wind turbine farm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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