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.
Fast amortisation due to increased yield
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
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
Industrial engineering in dual study programme, Osnabrück University of Cooperative Education
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
Let the wind do its job!
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
+49 40 524715-266
bernd.woelfel@woelfel.de
Contact form
Civil Engineering, TU Berlin
Dipl.-Ing.
WAB e.V.
"Paths are created by walking them." (Franz Kafka)
Working independently in a flexible, highly innovative company that makes a little contribution to the energy transition.
M.Sc. Alexander Jorewitz
+49 151 15720345
jorewitz@woelfel.de
Contact form
Sales Engineering and Product Management, Ruhr University Bochum
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
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.
B. Sc. Fionn Hamann
+49 170 3007712
hamann@woelfel.de
Contact form
Wirtschaftsingenieur an der FH Westküste in Heide
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well." – John D. Rockefeller Jr.
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.
Industrial engineering in dual study programme, Osnabrück University of Cooperative Education
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
Let the wind do its job!
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 :-)
Civil Engineering, TU Berlin
Dipl.-Ing.
WAB e.V.
"Paths are created by walking them." (Franz Kafka)
Working independently in a flexible, highly innovative company that makes a little contribution to the energy transition.
Sales Engineering and Product Management, Ruhr University Bochum
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
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.
Wirtschaftsingenieur an der FH Westküste in Heide
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well." – John D. Rockefeller Jr.
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.