3.2. WT noise impact on the environment
As it has already been mentioned, in average, human ear hears sounds, the frequency of which is between 16 Hz and 20 kHz. Sounds lower than 16 Hz are called infrasound, whereas higher than 20 kHz – ultrasound 29 and 30. Human hearing does not perceive them; however, higher levels of infrasound and ultrasound evoke a feeling of discomfort, and cause harm to human health [5] and [31]. Human hearing reacts more to a relative change of sound pressure than to the absolute one, thus sound pressure is expressed in logarithm scale by sound pressure level Lp decibels (dB). The level of variation intensity of human hearing sound pressure pulsation is approximately found in the limits from 0 to 140 dB. The sound levels of noise, which are higher than 140 dB, evoke pain and may injure hearing organs [32] and [33]. Research reveals that WT generated and background noise is a function of wind speed. Processes of aerodynamic noise management are rather complicated. WT mechanical noise processes and their suppression means evoke much less problems than those of aerodynamic.
From the data given in Fig. 6, it may be observed that the biggest sound strength exists in the field of low-frequencies (from 0 to 200 Hz). Further on, when frequencies increases from 200 Hz sound strength intensifies, later it evenly reduces. The noise of different frequencies is generated by flowing the WT rotor blades and other parts, also by the influence of the background noise structure [6].
Research indicates (Fig. 8) that at high wind speeds (v≥12 m/s), WT generated noise insignificantly influences total noise level. When WT operates, total noise level at x=50 m distance from WT tower is equal to 55.9 dB(A), whereas after stopping WT, it is reduced to 50.3 dB(A). Data given in Fig. 8 shows that WT acoustic noise is generated in frequency range from 200 Hz to 5000 Hz. This is a range of frequencies, where human hearing organs react to noise most sensitively.