November 2, 2014
Noise, Technology

Acoustic interaction as a primary cause of infrasonic spinning mode generation and propagation from wind turbines

Dooley, Kevin; and Metelka, Andy

Abstract. Relatively balanced load related pressure waves from the rear surface of each rotor blade, are at a frequency of 1 per revolution of the turbine and are phase shifted by 120 degrees from each other. The superpositions of these infrasonic waves destructively interfere. This action results in a non-propagating rotor locked mode, however, the shielding (reflecting) effect of the tower as each blade passes, interrupts the balanced destructive interference for a small portion of rotor angle three times per revolution. The momentary un-balance between the destructive interfering waves, results in the generation of Tyler-Sofrin spinning mode series, which propagate into the far field. The spinning mode radiation angles, coupled with the low decay rate of infrasound, result in higher far field sound pressure levels than would be predicted for a point source. An analysis approach partially derived from Tyler-Sofrin (1962) is presented. Field microphone data including phase measurements identifying the spinning modes are also presented.

Kevin A. Dooley, Kevin Allan Dooley Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Andy Metelka, Sound and Vibrations Solutions Inc., Acton, Ontario, Canada.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2013; 134: 4097.
doi: 10.1121/1.4830965 [1]

Download draft document (Dec. 9, 2013): “Acoustic interaction as a primary cause of infrasonic spinning mode generation and propagation from wind turbines [2]


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/acoustic-interaction-as-a-primary-cause-of-infrasonic-spinning-mode-generation-and-propagation-from-wind-turbines/


URLs in this post:

[1] doi: 10.1121/1.4830965: http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.4830965

[2] Acoustic interaction as a primary cause of infrasonic spinning mode generation and propagation from wind turbines: https://docs.wind-watch.org/Acoustic-interaction-primary-cause-infrasonic-propagation-wind-turbines-draft.pdf