Reduction of Gearbox Tonalities with the ADD.Sound® Active Vibration Damping Device

The good news first: Wind turbines are becoming more and more powerful. However, the higher performance often also entails a challenge: Increasing tonal sound. And thus, a higher risk for noise-reduced operation and yield losses.

The challenge: New wind turbines = More tonalities?!

Tonal sound is not a new problem, but it is an increasing challenge. This is because the new, more powerful WT types and models often cause more tonalities. Among other things, this can be attributed to the following further developments:

 

  • Optimized powertrain: Higher power density and more gear stages
  • Improved aerodynamics: Reduced masking due to optimized rotor blades
  • Larger operating range: Operation even at low and high wind speeds
  • Larger rotor diameters & higher towers: Large radiation surfaces

Background: Why do we actually mind tonalities?

Vibrations in the gearbox of a wind turbine can cause tonalities – i.e. noise with a fixed frequency, e.g. humming noise. These are particularly unpleasant for people and thus have to be specifically considered in the evaluation of noise emissions.

The legal standards therefore require a penalty for tonal sound. Where necessary, the wind turbine concerned may no longer be operated in the noticeable operating range. In noise-reduced mode, the corresponding speed ranges can be bypassed, but this entails considerable yield losses.

The solution: ADD.Sound for high performance tonality mitigation over the entire frequency range

Fortunately, we have another piece of good news: Our ADD.Sound active damping device reduces tonalities over the entire frequency range.

The system uses sensors to detect the operating vibration. Using a speed-adaptive control algorithm, it generates active forces that are equal in frequency and amplitude but opposite in phase, thus counteracting the tonal excitation forces in the gearbox. With the help of these precisely induced counter-vibrations, the tonalities are compensated over the entire speed range – directly where they arise.


By moving the black dots you can calculate your individual payback period with our interactive tool:

Amortisation after

12months

not possible

Noise-reduced operation of your WTG can massively reduce the yield of your wind farm. With ADD.Sound you minimize tonality and can return to the normal operation mode. This calculation includes all costs including installation.


Active vibration reduction: Broad range of applications and high mitigation potential (especially compared to passive dampers)

With ADD.Sound, we have a real success story to tell, because...

... the system is not only highly efficient on paper, ...

Reduction of tonality
by up to 10-15 dB

5,000 N damping
force per actuator

... it has also proven itself in in the field.

6 customers,
including 4 OEMS

2,500+ delivered
actuators

15+ equipped WT types – with and without gearbox

Successful mitigation of tonalities radiated by tower and blades: What makes us the technology leader in active damping solutions

  • High force scalability due to multiple actuators
  • High damping force at small moving mass
  • Flexible positioning due to modular concept and low space requirement
  • Retrofit possible
  • Broadband compensation over the entire operating range (variability of frequency (RPM) without hardware tuning)
  • Simultaneous compensation of multiple vibration orders (Single or synchronous damping of 1st and 2nd gear mesh / excitation frequency)
  • Damping of all gearbox or hub modes (rolling, yaw, pitch, torsion, …)

From the occurrence of tonalities to the solution: We support you at every step

References

Case Study "ADD.Sound: Tackling Noise from Wind Turbines" 479.72 KB
Case Study "ADD.Sound: Tackling Noise from Wind Turbines"

When wind turbines start to swing, individual frequencies can become audible in the background noise of the turbine. Such sound content is particularly unpleasant to the human ear. Therefore, there is a risk of surcharges in the evaluation of noise emissions and reduced power operation. Active vibration dampers can
reduce these frequencies.


Please contact us personally

________

We will be happy to support you with any questions regarding the efficient reduction of tonalities as well as our active vibration damper ADD.Sound.

Timo Klaas

+49 40 524715-265
klaas@woelfel.de
Contact form

Study

Industrial engineering in dual study programme, Osnabrück University of Cooperative Education

Academic Degree

Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)

Professional Motto

Let the wind do its job!

Working at Wölfel

A family business of colleagues with such deep expertise that we can work at eye level with the leading international OEMs in the wind industry.

Very broad field of work with the opportunity to tackle and implement things.

Great colleagues with fun and joy.

Cool location in Hamburg :-)

Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Wölfel

Study

Civil Engineering, TU Berlin

Academic Degree

Dipl.-Ing.

Committee Activity

WAB e.V.

Professional Motto

"Paths are created by walking them." (Franz Kafka)

 

Working at Wölfel

Working independently in a flexible, highly innovative company that makes a little contribution to the energy transition.

Foto von Alexander Jorewitz

M.Sc. Alexander Jorewitz

Study

Sales Engineering and Product Management, Ruhr University Bochum

Academic Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Working at Wölfel

The collegial, friendly, and fair interactions, the unwavering helpfulness of all colleagues, and the genuine sense of working together towards a common goal. Additionally, the strong company know-how and immense variety naturally foster joy in the work.

Personalbild von Fionn Hamann

B. Sc. Fionn Hamann

Study

Wirtschaftsingenieur an der FH Westküste in Heide

Academic Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Professional Motto

"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well." – John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Working at Wölfel

Working in an innovative company that works together to develop solutions for a sustainable future. As a young professional, I particularly appreciate the friendly and helpful colleagues. Wölfel also offers a varied working environment in which exciting projects are designed and successfully implemented together with the customer.

Study

Industrial engineering in dual study programme, Osnabrück University of Cooperative Education

Academic Degree

Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)

Professional Motto

Let the wind do its job!

Working at Wölfel

A family business of colleagues with such deep expertise that we can work at eye level with the leading international OEMs in the wind industry.

Very broad field of work with the opportunity to tackle and implement things.

Great colleagues with fun and joy.

Cool location in Hamburg :-)

Study

Civil Engineering, TU Berlin

Academic Degree

Dipl.-Ing.

Committee Activity

WAB e.V.

Professional Motto

"Paths are created by walking them." (Franz Kafka)

 

Working at Wölfel

Working independently in a flexible, highly innovative company that makes a little contribution to the energy transition.

Study

Sales Engineering and Product Management, Ruhr University Bochum

Academic Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Working at Wölfel

The collegial, friendly, and fair interactions, the unwavering helpfulness of all colleagues, and the genuine sense of working together towards a common goal. Additionally, the strong company know-how and immense variety naturally foster joy in the work.

Study

Wirtschaftsingenieur an der FH Westküste in Heide

Academic Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Professional Motto

"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well." – John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Working at Wölfel

Working in an innovative company that works together to develop solutions for a sustainable future. As a young professional, I particularly appreciate the friendly and helpful colleagues. Wölfel also offers a varied working environment in which exciting projects are designed and successfully implemented together with the customer.