Numerical Investigation on the Flow Noise Characteristics of the Hybrid Vertical-axis Wind Turbine

In this paper, flow noise characteristics of the hybrid vertical-axis wind turbine is investigated. Hybrid vertical-axis wind turbines consisting of two types of vertical-axis wind turbines, Savonius and Darrieus, are devised to maximize merits of one turbine and thus minimize demerits of the other turbine. In order to predict flow noise radiating from hybrid vertical-axis wind turbines, hybrid computatioinal aero acoustic techniques are used. First, unsteady flow fields around the turbine are predicted using computational fluid dynamics method. Then, the flow noise radiations from the turbines are predicted by applying acoustic analogy to the predicted flow fields. Based on numerical results, noise characteristics of a hybrid vertical-axis wind turbine is investigated and is compared with those of Savonius and Darrieus wind turbines.