# US 2014/0193257 A1 · Acoustic noise monitoring system for a wind turbine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193257 A1 - Document ID: US20140193257A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,864 - Filed: 2012-08-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-16 - Assignees: Vestas Wind Systems A/S - Inventors: Frank Ormel; Bryan Edwards - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193257A1 ## CPC - F03D 17/00: Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics (testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30) - F03D 7/0296: {to prevent, counteract or reduce noise emissions} - F05B 2270/333: Noise or sound levels - F05B 2270/81: Microphones - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present invention relates to an acoustic noise monitoring system for a wind turbine, comprising: a microphone for monitoring acoustic noise, the microphone adapted to be mounted to the exterior of a wind turbine nacelle; an input, the input adapted to receive operating conditions data from a wind turbine; a processor, the processor adapted to receive data from the microphone and the input; and storage memory, adapted to store the acoustic noise data and the operating conditions data. The processor is adapted to apply a transfer function to said acoustic noise data to correlate said data with a set of acoustic noise data measured at a remote location from the wind turbine. The system may comprise a controller adapted to generate a control signal, for outputting to a wind turbine controller, for adjusting the operating parameters of the wind analyser turbine in dependence on said correlated data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic noise monitoring system for a wind turbine, comprising: at least one microphone for monitoring acoustic noise, the at least one microphone adapted to be mounted to the exterior of a wind turbine nacelle; an input, the input adapted to receive operating conditions data from a wind turbine; a processor, the processor adapted to receive data from the at least one microphone and the input; and storage memory, adapted to store the acoustic noise data and the operating conditions data; wherein, the processor is adapted to apply a transfer function to said acoustic noise data to correlate said data with a set of acoustic noise data measured at a remote location from the wind turbine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to continuously monitor the acoustic noise. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to monitor the acoustic noise at intervals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to monitor the overall sound pressure level of the acoustic noise. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A system according to claim 4, wherein a sound pressure level transfer function is applied to the overall sound pressure level data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to monitor the tonality of the acoustic noise. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A system according to claim 6, wherein a tonality transfer function is applied to the tonality data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to monitor one-third octave bands of the acoustic noise. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, wherein a one-third octave band transfer function is applied to the one-third octave bands data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said set of acoustic noise data measured at a remote location is measured in compliance with a standard. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10, wherein said standard is IEC 61400-11. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the system has a substantially constant frequency response over at least the frequency range 20 Hz to 11,200 Hz. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone is positioned so as to reduce noise from components within the nacelle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, the microphone comprising a wind screen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, further comprising mounting means for orienting the at least one microphone with the local air flow. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, the mounting means comprising a gimbal arrangement, wherein the gimbal arrangement provides the mounted microphone with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the gimbal arrangement comprises a plurality of fins coupled to the microphone to orient the microphone with the local air flow. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the received operating conditions include meteorological data, and wind turbine performance data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A system according to claim 18, wherein the meteorological data includes at least one of: atmospheric pressure; wind speed; wind direction; air temperature; and humidity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A system according to claim 18, wherein the wind turbine performance data includes at least one of: load; power output; generator currents; pitch; yaw; yaw error; rpm; torque and operating temperatures. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller, the controller adapted to receive said correlated data; and an output, in communication with said controller and a wind turbine controller; wherein, said controller is adapted to generate a control signal, for outputting to the wind turbine controller, for adjusting the operating parameters of the wind turbine in dependence on said correlated data. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A system according to claim 21, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust at least one of the operating parameters: load; pitch; rpm and power output. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust at least one of the load, the pitch, the rpm and the power output, to reduce the acoustic noise. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A system according to claim 21, wherein the controller is adapted to shut down the wind turbine if the acoustic noise rises above a threshold value. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A system according to claim 24, wherein the controller is adapted to shut down the wind turbine if the tonality of the acoustic noise rises above a threshold value. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A wind turbine comprising an acoustic noise monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone is mounted to the exterior of the wind turbine nacelle. ### Claim 27 (canceled) ### Claim 28 (canceled)