Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden have figured out a way to quiet down the whiney whirring of wind turbines by neutralizing vibrations coming from the central tower of the turbine. They’ve come up with a device that can be mounted to an existing turbine, which senses the vibrations and produces an “anti-sound” vibration, effectively pressing against the sound vibration to cancel it out.

The device could help out with getting more wind turbines into neighborhoods where the chief complaint of noise keeps turbines away. It would be inexpensive compared to other sound dampeners, which are more expensive the better they work, and none of which would work as well as this promising device. While the damper could adjust itself to varying vibration levels, testing is underway to see how the device holds up to higher speed winds.

via physorg; photo via chimothy

Comments (5)

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written by Barry , August 20, 2008

This is one of the biggest reasons that people do not want to install wind turbines for residential use.

With this factor out of the equation will we see a more mainstream adoption of residential wind power? I think so...after all as this article shows:

http://www.residential-wind-po...in-1-year/

The use of wind power in residential applications has more then tripled in a 1 year period. This can only be a good thing for the wind power industry.

Let's hope
written by Eddy De Clercq , August 21, 2008

Hi,

Let's hope indeed that this would be finally the start for building more wind turbines. As said in this blog, Flanders (Belgium) doesn’t invest in wind mills. The current 123 units are peanuts compared to the 18000 mills in Germany and 1840 in The Netherlands. On top, for a private person, it’s rather impossible to install a private wind mill. There are a lot of mills suitable for domestic use. Despite the fact that the size and yield of the little ones are perfectly within the limits, requests for a building permit are in general refused.

Eddy

Info for DIY'ers
written by Mark , August 21, 2008

Any one with entry level skill and the right information may build a home turbine and residential generation is the future

http://diytoolkit.net

Health Risks
written by Lisa , August 21, 2008

Also- there has been various studies on the health risks of humans and animals living in close range to large wind turbines- specifically the low energy sound vibrations created by the turbines and their effect on sleep patterns and general health. The results have not been so promising...
I'm wondering if this "anti-vibration" which is essentially using the opposite sound waves to cancel out each other- would help with sound AND energy output? It would depend how long the opposing sound waves existed before being cancelled out. (I really need a refresher on my physics I would say )

Lisa

An easier solution than that, with more
written by Didier , August 26, 2008

Research revealed that the complaints of noise only exist in areas where the general public is not involved in the process of building the windmill.
If all residents around the windmill are co-investors in the windmill, all of a sudden there are no complaints left.
So to all policy-makers around, involve the people to the maximum, and you will find many more areas to place these windmills. Explain to them that the majority of electricity made in nuclear power plants are lost during transport, which is not the case with the close to home windmills. And the nuclear waste is going to affect them even when living far away from these nuclear plants.

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