Wind Farm Noise Control via Turbine Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind farms face challenges in managing noise levels without significantly reducing power production, as noise limits often need to be maintained in nearby areas, which can require shutting down or reducing turbines, thereby impacting overall energy output.

Innovation Solution

A method using noise propagation and wind turbine models to predict noise levels and optimize turbine operations, selecting specific turbines for adjustments to minimize noise while maximizing power production, utilizing noise propagation models and wind turbine models with optimization processes and AI for real-time adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If power production of wind turbines is increased to maximize energy output, then productivity is improved, but noise levels increase and exceed specified boundaries in neighbouring areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower productionVSAvoidnoise levels

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes operational parameters of wind turbines (rotational speed, pitch angle, power output) based on real-time noise predictions and ambient conditions. By adjusting these parameters, the system maintains power production within optimal ranges while ensuring noise levels remain below specified boundaries in neighbouring areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously adapts turbine operations based on varying ambient conditions (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity). The system dynamically selects which turbines to operate at full power, reduced power, or shutdown status, creating a flexible and responsive noise management approach that maximizes overall wind farm productivity while meeting noise constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If noise levels are reduced by lowering power production of wind turbines, then noise boundaries are maintained, but total power production of the wind farm decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise levelsVSAvoidtotal power production

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind farm is divided into individual turbine units that can be independently controlled. The system segments the noise management task by evaluating each turbine's contribution to overall noise levels and selectively adjusting only those turbines that need modification. This allows other turbines to continue operating at full power, maintaining overall wind farm productivity while meeting noise boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly reducing power production across all turbines, the system applies partial action by selectively adjusting only the specific turbines whose operation would cause noise boundary exceedances. The optimization process determines the minimum necessary power reduction for each turbine, avoiding excessive shutdowns and maintaining maximum overall power production while still achieving noise compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If wind turbines closest to neighbouring areas are selected for noise reduction, then noise impact on neighbouring areas is minimized, but power production loss is maximized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperceived noise in neighbouring areasVSAvoidtotal power production

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates real-time feedback from noise propagation models that predict perceived noise levels at neighbouring areas based on current turbine operations and ambient conditions. This feedback loop allows the optimization process to evaluate the actual noise impact of each turbine configuration and adjust operations accordingly, ensuring noise boundaries are met while minimizing power production loss through informed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The noise propagation model and optimization process perform preliminary evaluation of different turbine operation scenarios before implementing changes. By predicting noise levels and power production outcomes in advance, the system can identify the optimal configuration that meets noise boundaries with minimal power loss, rather than reactively shutting down turbines after noise violations occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230366377A1Method for controlling noise generated by a wind farm

Publication Date: 2023.11.16 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

A method for controlling noise generated by a wind farm with a plurality of wind turbines is disclosed. In the event that a predicted noise level exceeds a predefined threshold noise value, one or more wind turbines are selected using a noise propagation model and respective wind turbine models for the selected one or more wind turbines, and by performing an optimisation process to reduce the predicted noise level at the predefined evaluation position to a level below the predefined threshold noise value while maximising the total power production of the wind farm.