Vertical Axis Wind-Turbine Noise Barrier- 2

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and increasing road traffic have created two important environmental challenges: rising energy demand and transportation-related noise pollution. Conventional highway noise barriers reduce the propagation of traffic noise but generally do not provide an additional energy-producing function. At the same time, small vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have attracted interest for urban and infrastructure-integrated applications because they can accept wind from multiple directions and can be installed where horizontal-axis wind turbines are difficult to accommodate. This research paper proposes an integrated Vertical Axis WindTurbine Noise Barrier (VAWT-NB) in which small vertical-axis wind turbines are incorporated into a roadside noise-barrier structure. The proposed system combines three functions: attenuation of traffic noise, harvesting of wind energy, and utilization of existing transportation infrastructure. The study reviews VAWT aerodynamic characteristics, traffic-noise barrier principles, turbine-generated noise, structural requirements, and suitable performance indicators. A conceptual design based primarily on a low-speed Savonius or hybrid Savonius-Darrieus rotor is proposed for locations characterized by turbulent and multidirectional wind. The acoustic performance can be assessed using barrier insertion loss, while energy performance can be evaluated using power coefficient, annual energy yield, and capacity factor. The proposed research methodology combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational aeroacoustics, acoustic propagation modelling, structural analysis, and experimental validation. The literature indicates that VAWTs can be suitable for constrained and turbulent environments, but urban wind conditions can also reduce energy performance and increase structural fatigue. Experimental research has identified blade-passing frequency and low-frequency sound as important components of VAWT noise. Therefore, the turbine must be designed so that its additional acoustic emission does not compromise the primary noise-barrier function. The proposed concept has potential applications along highways, bridges, railway corridors, urban expressways, industrial boundaries, and other transportation infrastructure.