. . 

NASA Technical Memorandum 101576 

NOISE RADIATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 

TURBINE GENERATOR 

WESTINGHOUSE WWG-0600 (600kW) WIND 

KEVIN P. SHEPHERD 

HARVEY H. HUBBARD 

(#AS &-Ti$- lQ?S76) Y 01 SE R ADIA TXOP 1909-27467 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IESTXUGEOUSE W&G-woo 

(60QkW) WIBD TURBIElE GBUKRbTOR (tl&SA. 2 Langley Research Center) 32 p CSCL 20E Unclas 

G3/71 0220103 

JULY 1989 

c 

National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

Langley Research Center 

Hampton, Virginia 23665-5225 
INTRODUCTION 

There is a need to develop a data base for evaluating the environmental impact of midrange (100-1O00 kW output) horizontal axis wind turbine generators of the types proposed 

for future wind power stations. The Westinghouse WWG-0600 machine is believed to be 

representative of those mid-range machines for which limited acoustic data are available 

(see Refs. 1-6). References 1,2,3 and 4 contain narrowband and broadband spectra and 

directivity patterns for the 200kW MOD-OA Department of Energy machine and its research 

version, the MOD-0 machine, which was operated at two rotational speeds as well as in the 

upwind and downwind configurations. Reference 5 presents fragmentary spectral data at 

various distances (upwind and downwind) and for several wind speeds for the Danish 

NIBE 640 kW machine and the Danish Windane 300 kW machine. Reference 6 contains 

detailed spectral information for the Danish Danwin machine as well as for several smaller 

machines of American and foreign manufacture. The noise characteristics of the 600 kW 

WWG-0600 machine are believed to be of direct interest to those involved in wind power 

station siting and development in proximity to communities (Ref. 7). 

The present study makes use of a currently operating wind power station to obtain 

systemmatic acoustic measurements for a range of power output/wind speed conditions. 

The data are compared with results for other similar machines and with predictions by 

available methods. 

This effort is part of the Department of Energy wind energy program managed by the 

Solar Energy Research Institute. Data were obtained with the assistance and cooperation of 

Hawaiian Electric Co. personnel at the site. 

1 
APPARATUS AND METHODS 

Description of Machine 

The WWG-0600 machine is an upwind horizontal axis configuration with a two-bladed 

43.3 m diameter teetering rotor mounted on a 2 m diameter circular cross section tower. 

The rotor has W coning, a tilt angle of 40 and a total blade twist of 6.750. Hub height is 

36.6 m. Blades are laminated wood with a linear taper from 0.8 m at the tip to 1.1 m at the 

root. The machine operates at a constant 43 rpm with a fundamental blade passage 

frequency of 1.43 Hz. Its rated output power at 10.3 m/s wind speed is 600 kW and its 

operational range of wind speeds is between 5.2 m/s (cut-in) and 18.4 m/s (cut-out). 

During the tests, wind speed, wind direction and output power were recorded for 

correlation with the acoustic data. Figure 1 is a photograph of one of the machines in 

operation, showing the nature of the vegetation and ground surface in its vicinity. 

Description of the Site 

The test site is located in the Kahuku region of Oahu, HI (see figure 2). Fifteen WWG0600 machines are located along ridge lines at elevations ranging from 150 to 250 m above 

sea level. Those machines for which data are included in this paper are identified by the 

circle symbols. Those shown as the squares either were not operating or the adjacent 

terrain was not acceptable for making measurements. 

The ridge lines are generally parallel to each other, are generally perpendicular to the 

prevailing wind and are located about 5.5 km from the sea coast in the downwind direction. 

The ground surface surrounding each of the five machines for which data were obtained is 

flat in the crosswind direction and generally slopes sharply downward away from each 

machine in the upwind and downwind directions. Data were obtained from five different 

machines in the array. 

2 
Trade winds were from the east to northeast and blew steadily in the range 15-30 mph 

(6.7- 13.4 ds) during the tests. Wind speed values are 30 second averages from nacelle 

mounted anemometer readings adjusted for rotor blade blockage effects. 

Figure 3 illustrates the contours of the land in the vicinity of one of the test machines. 

Shown are the elevations as a function of distance from the machine in the upwind 

direction. It can be seen that the terrain is very uneven with the result that the incoming 

wind passes over a succession of ridges and valleys before encountering the rotor disk. 

Although the details may be different for other machines, the data of the figure are generally 

representative. 

Noise Measurements and Analyses 

Noise measurements were made with commercially available battery powered 

instrumentation. One-half inch diameter condenser microphones with a useable frequency 

range of 3-20,OOO Hz were used with a four channel FM tape recorder having a useful 

dynamic range of 40 dB in the frequency range of 0-15000 Hz. For cases where low 

frequency cf=2.8-4.2 Hz) rotational harmonic levels are plotted in the figures the levels are 

adjusted for microphone response. 

Acoustic data were obtained for &stances from about 60 to 80 m and at various azimuth 

angles around the machines for daytime operations over a range of power outputs. All 

acoustic data were recorded on magnetic tape for later analyses. Spectral data were 

obt;riricd with the aid ol'coiivcnlional otic-rhird txt;ivc and timow band milyzcrs. 

To minimize the detrimental effects of wind noise, polyurethane foam microphone wind 

screens were used and microphones were placed at the ground surface, where wind 

velocities were relatively low. Background noise levels were sufficiently low that adequate 

signal to noise ratio existed for all broadband noise data included herein. 

3 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

Data are presented in the form of one-third octave band spectra, narrow band frequency 

spectra, and directivity plots using one-third octave band levels and A-weighted levels. 

Measured results for the WWG-0600 machine are compared with calculations by available 

methods and also with similar measured data from other wind turbines. 

Broadband Noise Components 

ExamDle SDectra - The effects of output power/wind speed are illustrated by the one-third 

octave band spectra of figure 4 (a), (b) and (c). Included are data at three different azimuth 

angles, 13, from the machine (see inset of figure 1) for a range of power outputs. The 

spectra are similar in shape for all test conditions upwind and downwind. The spectra peak 

in the frequency range near 10 Hz and the levels generally decrease in value as frequency 

increases. Broad band components are noted to dominate the spectra except for the 30 Hz 

band which contains the fundamental generator shaft harmonic (observed only in the 

crosswind direction) and for the very low frequency bands which contain some rotational 

harmonics. A general result is that the highest sound pressure levels are associated with the 

highest power outputs/wind speeds. 

ComDarisons with Calculations - Calculations of broad band noise have been made by the 

method of Ref. 8 and the results are shown in figures 5 (a) and (b), for locations at B=Oo 

and 1800; and for both high and low power conditions. The data points of figure 5 (a) 

represent measured one-third Octave band spectra for 4 different test runs on 3 individual 

machines. The solid curve represents the calculated values for this high power output 

condition. It can be seen that the spectral shape and levels are in good agreement with 

measurements. Comparable results for 3 individual machines are shown in figure 5 (b) for 

the low power case and calculations are seen to generally underpredict the measurements at 

the lower frequencies. 

4 
I 

Radiation Patterns - The data of figures 6 and 7 characterize the noise radiation properties 

of the WWG-0600 machine. Figure 6 shows the polar distribution of sound pressure 

levels for various one-third octave bands. For the band levels shown, the upwind and 

downwind values are nearly equal and both are generally 3-5 dB higher than the crosswind 

values. 

A similar result is shown in figure 7 for the "A"-weighted sound pressure levels. Data 

are presented for a high power range and a low power range for comparison. Upwind and 

downwind levels are essentially equal and are slightly higher than crosswind levels. 

Comparisons with Other Machines - Data are presented in figure 8 at the same reference 

distance so that comparisons can be provided for three different horizontal axis machines of 

similar size and power output. The shaded region indicates the range of sound pressure 

levels for two power output values for the WWG-0600 machine namely, 96 kW (bottom 

boundary) and 600 kW (top boundary). Shown for comparison are individual spectra for 

the MOD-OA (Ref. 3) and the DANWIN (Ref. 6) machines, along with their associated 

rated output powers and tip speeds, normalized to a reference distance of 2.5 diameters. 

All of the spectra are seen to have generally the same shapes except that of the DANWIN 

machine which has a large machinery noise component near 500 Hz. The levels would be 

expected to be comparable for similar operating conditions. Differences in tip speed 

generally account for the differences seen in the figure. 

Discrete Frequency Noise Components 

Narrow Band SDectra - The effects of output powedwind speed are further illustrated by 

the narrow band width (Af = 0.125 Hz) spectra of figure 9 which show those components 

below 100 Hz. Figure 9 (a) identifies some of the discrete frequency peaks. Generator 

shaft fundamental (30 Hz) and its harmonics are easily seen at the lower power condition 

where the broad band noise levels are relatively low. These shaft harmonics are identifiable 

mainly in the direction of the rotor plane (I3 = 9W), and are seen less clearly at 

5 
(upwind) in figure 9(b) and at 8=1800 (downwind) in figure 9(c). Also seen are a number 

of rotational harmonics which occur at the blade passage frequency (1.43 Hz) and integer 

multiples of it. Although the rotational harmonics are more easily identified at the lower 

power conditions they are present for all power conditions and at all of the measurement 

locations for which data were obtained. Thumping noises observed during the tests 

probably resulted from the rotational harmonics. 

Comuarisons of Measured and Calculated Rotational Noise Levels - The presence of 

relatively strong rotational noise harmonics for all test conditions and measurement 

locations was an unexpected result for an upwind configuration of a horizontal axis 

machine. One possible cause of the enhancement of these low frequency rotational 

harmonics is a non-uniform inflow to the rotor, although no direct wind speed gradient 

measurements were available for this site. Reference 9, based on previous developments 

by Sears (Ref. 10) and Lowson (Ref. 1 l), contains a procedure for calculation of the 

rotational noise harmonics of a wind turbine which includes the effects of wind speed 

gradients. Several assumed wind profiles, shown in figure 10, were used as inputs to the 

calculations in an attempt to evaluate wind speed gradient effects. Profiles A, B and C, are 

referred to as disk shadow profiles since the wind speed is assumed constant over the rotor 

disk except for a small shadowed portion at the bottom, within which all wind speed 

gradients occur. Profiles D and E are included as less drastic wind gradient profiles. 

Profile D corresponds to the 1/7th power relation for turbulent flow over a smooth surface 

(Ref. 12). Profile E is estimated, based on the results of Ref. 13, to represent turbulent 

flow over a rough ground surface. Results of calculations based on the above wind speed 

profiles and the assumption that the aerodynamic forces on the rotor blades are concentrated 

at the 0.75 radius station, are shown in figures 11, 12, 13 and 14. 

Example calculated rotational noise spectra are shown in figure 1 1. The spectral 

curves, in each case, connect the calculated levels of the harmonics. Curves for profiles D 

6 
and E are seen to slope sharply downward, thus indicating essentially no harmonic content. 

The curve for profile B corresponds to an assumed disk shadow angle, a, of 450 and a 

wind speed deficit, Vd, in the shadowed area on the disk, of 3.6 m/s. The calculated levels 

for the more drastic wind profile B are much higher than those for profiles D and E. The 

harmonic levels are seen to cycle from low to high to low every fourth harmonic, the 

interval being related to the assumed shadow angle. For a more restricted shadow the 

above intervals are longer. A spectrum envelope line is drawn through the individual peak 

calculated values. 

Computed spectrum envelopes for profiles A, B and C, a wind speed deficit (Vd) of 

3.6 ds and a disk shadow angle of 450 are shown in figure 12 along with measured data. 

The measurements show about 25 dB of scatter for a range of wind speeds/power outputs. 

They reduce in level generally at the higher harmonic orders and tend to cluster around the 

spectrum envelope corresponding to profile B. By inference, the relatively high rotational 

harmonic measured levels seem to result from shadowing of the rotor disk such as might be 

caused by terrain induced distortion. The spectral oscillation interval from the data appears 

to correspond to a shadow angle of 450 but this is only found at low power conditions and 

is not a well defined result. 

Further calculations were made for other values of assumed disk shadow angle and 

velocity deficit in the disk shadow. The resulting spectrum envelopes, plotted in figure 13, 

illustrate that higher sound pressure levels result from greater velocity deficits and from 

more restricted disk shadow angles. 

Some example calculated radiation diagrams are shown in figure 14 along with 

comparable experimental data. Figures 14 (a), (b) and (c) present results for rotational 

harmonic (m) values of 2,4 and 8 respectively. Note that the calculations give axially 

symmetric patterns having equal values upwind and downwind on the axis. Slightly higher 

7 
values are associated with the downwind quadrants and relatively low values are predicted 

near the plane of rotation. The experimental data show considerable scatter but suggest that 

the rotational harmonic noise radiates about equally in all directions. Agreement with the 

calculations is good for rotational harmonic values of 2 and 4 on the axis and is poor in the 

plane of rotation. The calculated values for m=8 are lower than the measured values in all 

directions. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS 

The WWG-0600 noise spectra peak at the lower frequencies and the levels generally 

reduce as frequency increases, as do those of other similar machines for which data are 

available. Both broadband and narrowband components were identified in the WWG-0600 

noise spectra for all test conditions and also for all measurement locations. The higher 

noise levels of both broadband and discrete frequency components are generally associated 

with the higher power outputs/wind speeds. 

The broadband components tend to have their highest levels at the lower frequencies 

and to gradually decrease in level as the frequency increases. Redictions of broadband 

noise are in good agreement with the measurements at high output power values but 

underestimate the measurements at low output power values. 

Discrete frequency components at integer multiples of the blade passage frequency 

(rotational noise harmonics) which have not been measured for other similar machines, are 

identified in all of the measured spectra. Calculations indicate that the above phenomenon 

results from a shadowing of the rotor disk as a result of terrain induced inflow distortion. 

Predictions of narrowband noise levels are in general agreement with the measurements at 

directly upwind and downwind locations but underestimate the measurements in the plane 

of the rotor. 

8 
REFERENCES 

1. Etter, C. L., Kelley, N. D., McKenna, H. E., Linn, C. and Garrelts, R.: Acoustical 

Measurements of DOE/NASA MOD-0 Wind Turbine at Plum Brook Station, Ohio. 

Solar Energy Research Inst., SERI/TR-635-1240, June 1983. 

2. Hubbard, Harvey, H., Grosveld, F. W. and Shepherd, Kevin P.: Noise 

Characteristics of Large Wind Turbine Generators. Noise Control Engineering 

Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 21-29, 1983. 

3. Shepherd, K. P. and Hubbard, H. H.: Sound Measurements and Observations of the 

MOD--0A Wind Turbine Generator. NASA CR-165856, February 1982. 

4. Balombin, J. R.: An Exploratory Survey of Noise Levels Associated with a lOOkW 

Wind Turbine NASA TM 81486,1980. 

5. Kristensen, J.: Noise Measurements Around the NIBE ( Denmark) Wind Turbines 

and the WINDANE 31 wind Turbine. Aero. Res. Inst. of Sweden Proc. of the EA 

Workshop on Wind Turbine Noise Measurements, Stockholm, November 1984. 

Energy Conversion Systems in Alameda and Riverside Counties. Wyle Laboratories 

Research Report, WR 88-19, October 1988. 

7. Shepherd, K. P. and Hubbard, H. H.: Prediction of Far Field Noise from Wind 

Energy Farms. NASA CR 177956, April 1986. 

8. Grosveld, F. W.: Prediction of Broadband Noise from Large Horizontal Axis Wind 

Turbines. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power. Vol. 1, No. 4, July-August 

1985. 

6. Anonymous: Measurement and Evaluation of Environmental Noise from Wind 

9. Viterna, Larry A.: The NASA-LERC Wind Turbine Noise Prediction Code. NASA 

10. Sears, William R.: Some Aspects of Non-Stationary Airfoil Theory and Its Practical 

CP-2185, February 1981. 

Applications. J. Aeron. Sci. 85, 1941. 

1 1. Lowson, M. V.: Theoretical Analysis of Compressor Noise. J. Acous. Soc. of 

Amer., 47, 1 (Part 2) pp. 371-3875, 1970. 

12. Sutton, 0. G.: Micrometeorology. McGraw Hill Book Co.,London, England, 1953. 

13. Frost, W. and Shieh, C.: Guidelines for Sitin WECS Relative to Small-Scale Terrain 

Features. Final Report, FWG Asso. Inc., Tu t lahoma, TN, February 1981. 

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Report Documentation Page 

1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. 

NASA TM- 101576 

4. Title and Subtitle 1 July 1989 1 Noise Radiation Characteristics of the Westinghouse 

5. Report Date 

- _. .. - - I WWG-0600 (600kW) Wind Turbine Generator 1-6erformmg Organization Code 

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 

NASA Langley Research Center 

Hampton, VA 23665-5225 

12 Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 

National Aeronautics & Space Administration 

Washington, DC 20546 

- 8. Performing Organization Report No. 

535-03-11-03 

11. Contract or Grant No. 

13 Type of Report and Period Covered 

Technical Memorandum 

14 Sponsoring hgency Code 

I Kevin P. Shepherd* and Harvey H. Hubbard** 

17. Key Words (Suggested by AuthorWl 

wind turbine 

10. Work Unit No. 

18. Dktribution Statement 

Unclassified - Unlimited 

19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of pages 

Un cl as s i fie d Unclassified 31 

22. Price 

A0 3 

acoustics 

noise generation Subject Category 71 

e 

.