Photo of acoustic recording equipment with the Eolos wind turbine in the background

Wind Turbine Generated Sound

Targeted Research to Improve Measurement, Analysis, and Annoyance Thresholds Based on Measured Human Response

Project Summary 

As the wind energy sector grows, environmental impacts and public perception become increasingly important. One common public concern about wind energy farms is wind turbine-generated noise, particularly, public health impacts and annoyance from turbine-generated infrasound and amplitude modulation. Amplitude modulation (AM) is the cyclic variation of sound level of audible noise; AM noise has been described as “swishing” or “thumping” and can be particularly annoying, even at relatively low sound levels. Infrasound is sound in the frequency range below 20 Hz, generally considered outside of normal human hearing range, however, it can be perceived at very high noise levels. Concerns about infrasound noise include negative health impacts such as sleep disturbance, headaches, nausea, tinnitus, ear pressure, vertigo, and other symptoms.

The first goal of this project was to analyze current information regarding wind turbine generated noise. The second goal of this project was to provide technically defensible data characterizing wind turbine-generated noise and the human response to wind turbine-generated noise.

Methods

Field measurements of wind turbine noise were recorded at the University of Minnesota’s Eolos turbine. Researchers took data from June 7 to June 19, 2012 using a 36 audible microphone directional array at a distance 102 m from the turbine and a cluster of 3 infrasound microphones. Data was taken during normal turbine operation, while the nacelle cooling fans were on and off, and while the turbine was off.  At this distance, noise measurements are commonly referred to as “near-field” and would not be typical in residential areas.

Schematic showing microphone placement around Eolos turbine
Equipment schematic for initial field experiments at Eolos

Field measurements were completed again in 2016 to expand on the wind turbine generated sound data set, and to gather acoustic samples for human response testing. These measurements included some “far-field” measurements. Acoustic and infrasound measurements were taken under the following range of conditions:

  • Turbine operating and off
  • Distances of 100m, 300m, and 600m away from the turbine
  • Upwind, downwind, and cross wind
  • Around a single turbine (Eolos) or multiple turbines (Wind Farm)
  • Wind shears between 0.1 and 0.4

Amplitude modulation data were collected continuously during a long-term noise logger deployment of approximately 1 year. Two wind screens were used to reduce wind-induced noise. 

Laboratory human response testing was conducted at the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science (CATSS) lab at the University of Minnesota. In a blind test, 71 adult subjects were exposed to unknown stimuli, while standing on a force plate to measure posture stability. Researchers exposed subjects to audible and infrasound reproduced wind turbine noise for approximately 15 minutes, as required for postural sway measurements. 

Photos of laboratory testing of acoustic responses
Laboratory human response testing at the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science lab

Outcomes  

Researchers found that infrasound and amplitude modulation did not cause symptoms for the healthy population over the 15 minute test duration, and infrasound did not cause illness or symptoms at the levels presented. When post-exposure symptoms occurred, they were mild symptoms, mostly discomfort, fatigue, and head or ear fullness. A control group was used to show fatigue was related to the length of the testing and not wind turbine noise, as this group was not subjected to any wind turbine noise stimuli. Infrasound stimuli used in the testing was played at noise levels 40-50 dB higher than what was recorded in the field, which likely explains the minor symptoms of head or ear fullness.

An increase in postural sway has been shown to be linked with motion sickness and was the basis for postural sway measurements in this study. No significant changes in postural sway due to wind turbine noise were recorded. Thus, researchers concluded that wind turbine generated infrasound does not produce motion sickness type symptoms in a healthy population.

Overall, literature suggests that non-acoustic factors play a larger role in public annoyance regarding wind turbine noise. Other factors could include visual appeal, the permitting process, construction, and monetary factors. 

Future Work

Future work would include testing patients who may be more susceptible to infrasound effects. In addition, electrophysiological testing may be utilized in future work to directly measure auditory system response. 

 

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