Acoustic Profile of the E-3120
THE ACOUSTIC PROFILE OF THE ENDURANCE E-3120 50 kW WIND TURBINE
How Quiet is the Endurance E-3120?
The numbers show that the E-3120 is extremely quiet, but the experiences and testimonials of neighbors and owners are even more impressive. Quiet operation was the essential characteristic that Montana State University required for their wind turbine to maintain the learning environment on their campus. Prior to installation, they were assured by two other turbine owners- a farmer in Cornwall, England and the Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology- that the E-3120 was a “very quiet” wind turbine. “Very quiet” were the same words used to describe the E-3120 by Montana State University’s neighbors after it was installed.
Sound Measurement and Perception
Sound levels are measured above on the decibel scale, with an “A” weighting to account for how the ear perceives sound (dBA). A one decibel difference is perceptible, and a 10 decibel increase is usually perceived as twice as loud.
Measuring Wind Turbine Acoustics
Acoustic data has been collected and analyzed per IEC standard 61400-11: Wind turbine generator systems - acoustic noise measurement techniques. All data is based on the E-3120-1 three-phase wind turbine at a 100ft (30.6m) hub height. The E-3120-2 single phase turbine has a different acoustic profile. All wind speeds are at turbine hub height.
The turbine sound does not have irritating tones, and is not considered tonal per IEC 61400-11.
AWEA Sound Rating - 48.1 dBA
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) sound rating is 48.1 dBA – which is the sound level that is not exceeded 95% of the time in a 5 m/s average annual wind, 173ft (52.6m) from the tower base. This is per the conditions defined in the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard.
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Explanation of Sound Levels
