Performance and Aeroacoustic Noise Prediction for an Array of Small-Scale Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

摘要

Small-scale vertical axis wind turbines are good candidates for urban area use where, due to various obstacles, the airflow is turbulent. In urban areas, air velocity is mostly low and site specific, so just in a few places, like tall buildings, there are suitable airflow situation in order to use turbine, so it is a good idea to install more than one turbine in such locations. On the other hand, acoustic noise that is emitted from turbines may bother people living in that area. In the current study, power performance of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines in a V-form array configuration is investigated using detached eddy simulation method. Also, Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy formulation is conducted in order to predict the noise radiation level of turbines. Results showed that power performance of most of the turbines increased due to venturi effect that is made by low speed regions behind turbines. Acoustic noise analysis showed that there is a strong enhancement in sound pressure level in receivers compared with the isolated turbine.