OES-Environmental distributes metadata forms (questionnaires) to solicit information from researchers around the world who are exploring the environmental effects of marine renewable energy. This page provides a description and contact information related to the research. Content is updated on an annual basis.

Ocean Current Turbine Rotor Noise

Status

Completed

Principle Investigator Contact Information

Name: Stewart Glegg

Address: Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Bora Raton FL 33431

Phone: 561-297-2633

Email: sglegg@fau.edu

Description

To calculate expected noise levels associated with turbine rotor motion.

Funding Source

State of Florida

Location of Research

Boca Raton, FL (computer modeling)

Project Aims

Seek to understand water turbine noise generation and to make preliminary estimations of noise levels.

Study Progress

This research is complete.

Key Findings

Harmonic noise due to load fluctuations on a rotor blade (as it passes through a structural flow shadow) was found to be well below ambient levels at frequencies above about 10 Hz.
Streamlining upstream structure increases noise levels at higher frequencies (20-30 Hz)
Noise levels vary inversely with structure-rotor separation