Automatic detection and correction of aerodynamic imbalances: A noise-based approach

This paper proposes the use of noise emissions to identify and rectify aerodynamic imbalances. The approach leverages the fact that a pitch imbalance changes the angle of attack at the blade sections, which in turn results in a change in noise emissions. Simulations performed on a 3.35 MW wind turbine show that aerodynamic imbalances significantly affect the Overall Sound Pressure Level at the 1P rotor frequency, more so than mass imbalances, and this effect is furthermore dependent on the microphone placement around the turbine. The rebalancing algorithm is tested through simulations in various scenarios, including both single and multiple concurrent blade imbalances, under different wind speeds and turbulence conditions. The algorithm successfully minimizes aerodynamic imbalances in most cases.