Predicting wind turbine noise

Abstract

A methodof predicting tonal noise produced by a wind turbine is disclosed. The method comprises acquiringa first set of vibration data, the first set of vibration data being from a plurality of vibration sensors positioned at different locations about a wind turbine drivetrain when the wind turbine drivetrain is undergoing testing in a test rig; acquiringa second set of vibration data, the second set of vibration data being from a plurality of vibration sensors positioned at different locations about the same or a similar wind turbine drivetrain when located in a wind turbine; acquiringnoise data including tonal noise produced by the wind turbine; identifyinga vibration sensor of interest using vibration data of the second set of vibration data and the noise data; determining, for the identified sensor, a first relationship between vibration data of the first set of vibration data and the second set of vibration data; and determining, for the identified vibration sensors, a second relationship between the first set of vibration data and tonal noise produced by a wind turbine based on the first relationship.