Noise characteristics analysis of the horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine designed for unmanned underwater mooring platforms

Operating horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine (HAHT) generates noise affecting the ocean environment adversely. Therefore, it is essential to determine the noise characteristics of such types of HAHT, as large-scale turbine sets would release more noise pollution to the ocean. Like other rotating machinery, the hydrodynamic noise generated by the rotating turbine has been known to be the most important noise source. In the present work, the transient turbulent flow field of the HAHT is obtained by incompressible large eddy simulation, thereafter, the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy formulation is carried out to predict the noise generated from the pressure fluctuations of the blade surface. The coecient of power is compared with the experimental results, with a good agreement being achieved. It is seen from the pressure contours that the 80% span of the blade has the most severe pressure fluctuations, which concentrate on the region of leading the edge of the airfoil and the suction surface of the airfoil. Then, the noise characteristics around a single turbine are systematically studied, in accordance with the results of the flow field. The noise characteristics around the whole turbine are also investigated to determine the directionality of the noise emission of HAHT.