Effect of Building on Aero-Acoustics of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) have gotten a lot of interest as a potential renewable energy alternative for urban areas. These turbines, unlike standard horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), feature a vertical rotor, making them appropriate for urban installations. The sound pressure produced by VAWT is investigated in this study. As there is less room available in urban areas and the number of VAWTs is rapidly increasing. Buildings may have both positive and negative effects on wind turbine noise and performance; they can be aerodynamically designed to improve air flow, or they can function as turbulence for turbines. VAWTs are favored over HAWTs in urban locations because they have lower manufacturing costs and less sophisticated processes such as YAW control, however the issue comes when we consider noise pollution created by turbines in urban areas. In our study, small scale wind farms were built with small scale experimental VAWT and Fan, and the influence of the building on the Aeroacoustics of the VAWT was observed. Multiple cases were studied by varying the tip speed ratio (TSR) and height of the turbine blade. A bluff body that allows air to pass through is referred to as Building structure and is located between the fan and the turbines and the influence of the bluff body was studied. This study concludes, to acquire a lower noise level we will need to maintain low TSR levels, appropriate turbine height (sound pressure is elevated at low height) and place the turbine somewhere with either no buildings or only aerodynamically constructed structures near it.