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Journal of the Acoustical Society of America / Volume 129 / Issue 6 / NOISE: ITS EFFECTS AND CONTROL [50]

Low-frequency noise from large wind turbines

J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Volume 129, Issue 6, pp. 3727-3744 (2011); (18 pages)

Henrik Møller and Christian Sejer Pedersen

Section of Acoustics, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7-B5, DK-9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark

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As wind turbines get larger, worries have emerged that the turbine noise would move down in frequency and that the low-frequency noise would cause annoyance for the neighbors. The noise emission from 48 wind turbines with nominal electric power up to 3.6 MW is analyzed and discussed. The relative amount of low-frequency noise is higher for large turbines (2.3–3.6 MW) than for small turbines (≤ 2 MW), and the difference is statistically significant. The difference can also be expressed as a downward shift of the spectrum of approximately one-third of an octave. A further shift of similar size is suggested for future turbines in the 10-MW range. Due to the air absorption, the higher low-frequency content becomes even more pronounced, when sound pressure levels in relevant neighbor distances are considered. Even when A-weighted levels are considered, a substantial part of the noise is at low frequencies, and for several of the investigated large turbines, the one-third-octave band with the highest level is at or below 250 Hz. It is thus beyond any doubt that the low-frequency part of the spectrum plays an important role in the noise at the neighbors.

© 2011 Acoustical Society of America

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The measurements were carried out by Delta. Financial support was obtained from the Energy Research Programme under the Danish Energy Agency, and from Aalborg University.

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Low-frequency sound and infrasound
    2. Previous studies
      1. Summary of previous studies
    3. Outline of study
  2. METHODS
    1. Wind turbines
    2. Emitted sound power
    3. Outdoor sound pressure levels at neighbors
    4. Sound insulation
    5. Indoor sound pressure levels at neighbors
    6. Statistical methods
  3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
    1. Emitted sound power
      1. L WA and L WALF
      2. One-third-octave-band spectra
      3. Tonality
      4. Directivity
      5. Effect of wind speed
    2. Outdoor sound pressure levels at neighbors
    3. Sound insulation
      1. Shortcomings of insulation measurements
    4. Indoor sound pressure levels at neighbors
      1. Danish indoor limit
  4. GENERAL DISCUSSIONS
    1. Noise versus turbine size
    2. Variation between turbines
    3. Data from project WINDFARMperception
    4. Tonal components
    5. Ground reflection
    6. Windows
    7. Estimated sound power spectra for even larger turbines
    8. Atmospheric conditions
  5. CONCLUSIONS

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

acoustic noise, wind turbines

PACS

  • 43.50.Rq

    Environmental noise, measurement, analysis, statistical characteristics

  • 43.28.Hr

    Outdoor sound sources

  • 43.50.Cb

    Noise spectra, determination of sound power

  • 43.50.Sr

    Community noise, noise zoning, by-laws, and legislation

ARTICLE DATA

History
Received 05 Jul 2010
Accepted 20 Dec 2010
Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.3543957

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN

0001-4966 (print)  

Publisher

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef Acoustical Society of America

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Figures (20) Tables (4)

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