Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a trailing edge including a radially inboard portion and a radially outboard portion opposite the radially inboard portion and a retrofit system coupled to the trailing edge. The retrofit system includes a mounting structure for coupling the retrofit system to the trailing edge and at least one serrated portion extending at least partially along the mounting structure. The serrated portion includes at least one substantially acoustically absorbent material. A method for reducing noise emission from a wind turbine blade including a trailing edge and retrofit system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration having a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion. Further, the base portion extends along a first plane. The side edge feature(s) extends out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration(s).

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer adjacent to the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration extending beyond the trailing edge in a chord-wise direction of the rotor blade. The serration(s) also includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. The suction side surface defines a first radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction and the pressure side surface defines a second radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction. Further, the first radius of curvature may be larger than the second radius of curvature such that the suction side surface is flatter than the pressure side surface or vice versa.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer adjacent to the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration extending beyond the trailing edge in a chord-wise direction of the rotor blade. The serration(s) also includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. The suction side surface defines a first radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction and the pressure side surface defines a second radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction. Further, the first radius of curvature may be larger than the second radius of curvature such that the suction side surface is flatter than the pressure side surface or vice versa.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration having a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion. Further, the base portion extends along a first plane. The side edge feature(s) extends out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration(s).

Abstract: A system and method for reducing audible tonality of a wind turbine caused by vibrations generated by the drivetrain assembly thereof includes a plurality of damping elements mounted at a plurality of locations on an inner surface of a tower of the wind turbine. The plurality of locations have vibration levels above a predetermined threshold. Thus, during operation of the wind turbine, the damping elements are configured to damp vibrations of the tower so as to reduce noise generated thereby.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a trailing edge including a radially inboard portion and a radially outboard portion opposite the radially inboard portion and a retrofit system coupled to the trailing edge. The retrofit system includes a mounting structure for coupling the retrofit system to the trailing edge and at least one serrated portion extending at least partially along the mounting structure. The serrated portion includes at least one substantially acoustically absorbent material. A method for reducing noise emission from a wind turbine blade including a trailing edge and retrofit system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a trailing edge including a radially inboard portion and a radially outboard portion opposite the radially inboard portion. The trailing edge further includes at least one serrated portion extending at least partially between the radially inboard portion and the radially outboard portion. The serrated portion includes at least one substantially acoustically absorbent material.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind farm includes: receiving temperature data associated with a plurality of locations along a sound path between the wind farm and a sound immission point from one or more sensors; estimating a propagation characteristic of the sound path based at least in part on the temperature data; predicting a noise level at the sound immission point based at least in part on the propagation characteristic; determining a control signal for one or more wind turbines in the wind farm based at least in part on the noise level; and using the control signal to control the one or more wind turbines.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for reducing audible tonality of a wind turbine caused by vibrations generated by the drivetrain assembly thereof. The system includes a plurality of damping elements mounted at a plurality of locations on an inner surface of a tower of the wind turbine, the plurality of locations having vibration levels above a predetermined threshold. Thus, during operation of the wind turbine, the plurality of damping elements are configured to damp vibrations of the tower so noise generated thereby.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a trailing edge including a radially inboard portion and a radially outboard portion opposite the radially inboard portion. The trailing edge further includes at least one serrated portion extending at least partially between the radially inboard portion and the radially outboard portion. The serrated portion includes at least one substantially acoustically absorbent material.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind farm includes: receiving temperature data associated with a plurality of locations along a sound path between the wind farm and a sound immission point from one or more sensors; estimating a propagation characteristic of the sound path based at least in part on the temperature data; predicting a noise level at the sound immission point based at least in part on the propagation characteristic; determining a control signal for one or more wind turbines in the wind farm based at least in part on the noise level; and using the control signal to control the one or more wind turbines.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is provided having an airflow modifying element for suppressing airflow noise caused by a drain hole. The rotor blade assembly includes at least one rotor blade including a body shell extending between a blade root and a blade tip. Further, the rotor blade includes at least one drain hole having a diameter. The drain hole is configured within the body shell of the rotor blade. At least one airflow modifying element is configured on the body shell a predetermined distance from the drain hole such that the airflow modifying element reduces airflow noise caused by the drain hole. In one embodiment, the predetermined distance is substantially equal to the diameter of the drain hole.

Abstract: Rotor blade assemblies for wind turbines and methods for reducing rotor blade noise are disclosed. A rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having external surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a tab. The tab includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a forward end and an aft end. The inner surface is mounted to one of the pressure side or the suction side. The outer surface has a cross-sectional profile configured to modify an operational value of the rotor blade at the trailing edge. The forward end is disposed within the chord.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further includes a noise reducer configured on a surface of the rotor blade, the noise reducer comprising a plurality of serrations, each of the plurality of serrations defining a centerline. The centerline of each of the plurality of serrations defines a individual tailored angle dependent on at least one of span-wise location, local chord, width, length, bend angle, and thickness.

Abstract: A blade with an aerodynamic blade body having a leading edge and a trailing edge is provided. The blade includes at least one flexible adaptor component having a first side coupled to the trailing edge. Further, the blade includes at least one rigid acoustic segment attached to an opposing second side of the at least one flexible adapter component for mitigating noise during fluid flow over the blade.

Abstract: A noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine and a rotor blade assembly are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge each extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on the rotor blade. The noise reducer includes a plurality of rods each having a body extending between a first end and a second end. The body of each of the plurality of rods contacts and extends parallel to the body of a neighboring rod of the plurality of rods when the noise reducer is in a stable position.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on a surface of the rotor blade. The noise reducer includes a plurality of noise reduction features and a plurality of auxiliary noise reduction features. Each of the plurality of auxiliary noise reduction features is configured on one of the plurality of noise reduction features.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling the amplitude modulation of noise generated by a wind turbine is disclosed. The method may generally include determining an angle of attack of a rotor blade of a wind turbine and maintaining the angle of attack at a substantially constant value during rotation of the rotor blade in order to reduce the amplitude modulation of the noise generated by the wind turbine.

Abstract: A noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine and a rotor blade assembly are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge each extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on the rotor blade. The noise reducer includes a plurality of rods each having a body extending between a first end and a second end. The body of each of the plurality of rods contacts and extends parallel to the body of a neighboring rod of the plurality of rods when the noise reducer is in a stable position.