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On addressing wind turbine noise with after-market shape blade add-ons

Author

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  • Rodrigues, S.S.
  • Marta, A.C.

Abstract

When stricter noise limits are enforced to legacy wind turbines already deployed, actions need to be taken. In this paper, we present a solution of retrofitting wind turbine blades with additional outer layer skins that change their aeroacoustic footprint. An optimization design framework produces add-ons shapes that, when attached to blades, reduce their noise without compromising aerodynamic performance. The Blade Element Momentum theory is used to predict the aerodynamic performance and generated noise is predicted using semi-empirical models. Two competing metrics are analyzed, Annual Energy Production and Overall Sound Pressure Level, using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. The add-on shapes are parameterized using NURBS totaling 54 design variables. The AOC 15/50 wind turbine is used as a test case and optimal solutions selected from the Pareto front are discussed. The after-market add-on approach produces solutions that range from an increase of 8.7% in energy production to a decrease of 3.5 dB(A) in noise levels, with an estimated blade weight increase of less than 4%. While the add-on approaches typically fall short in terms of performance when compared to a new blade design, this retrofiting is expected to be a competitive alternative when compared to the cost of replacing the whole blade.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodrigues, S.S. & Marta, A.C., 2019. "On addressing wind turbine noise with after-market shape blade add-ons," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 602-614.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:140:y:2019:i:c:p:602-614
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.03.056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tabassum-Abbasi, & Premalatha, M. & Abbasi, Tasneem & Abbasi, S.A., 2014. "Wind energy: Increasing deployment, rising environmental concerns," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 270-288.
    2. Fischer, Gunter Reinald & Kipouros, Timoleon & Savill, Anthony Mark, 2014. "Multi-objective optimisation of horizontal axis wind turbine structure and energy production using aerofoil and blade properties as design variables," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 506-515.
    3. Tadamasa, A. & Zangeneh, M., 2011. "Numerical prediction of wind turbine noise," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 1902-1912.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hector G. Parra & Hernan D. Ceron & William Gomez & Elvis E. Gaona, 2023. "Experimental Analysis of Oscillatory Vortex Generators in Wind Turbine Blade," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-14, May.
    2. José R. Dorrego & Armando Ríos & Quetzalcoatl Hernandez-Escobedo & Rafael Campos-Amezcua & Reynaldo Iracheta & Orlando Lastres & Pascual López & Antonio Verde & Liliana Hechavarria & Miguel-Angel Pere, 2021. "Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Aerodynamic Noise in Small Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Weijun Zhu & Jiaying Liu & Zhenye Sun & Jiufa Cao & Guangxing Guo & Wenzhong Shen, 2022. "Numerical Study on Flow and Noise Characteristics of an NACA0018 Airfoil with a Porous Trailing Edge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Mittal, Prateek & Christopoulos, Giorgos & Subramanian, Sriram, 2024. "Energy enhancement through noise minimization using acoustic metamaterials in a wind farm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).

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