Wind turbine sound propagation: Comparison of a linearized Euler equations model with parabolic equation methods.

Noise generated by wind turbines is significantly impacted by its propagation in the atmosphere. Hence, for annoyance issues, an accurate prediction of sound propagation is critical to determine noise levels around wind turbines. This study presents a method to predict wind turbine sound propagation based on linearized Euler equations. We compare this approach to the parabolic equation method, which is widely used since it captures the influence of atmospheric refraction, ground reflection, and sound scattering at a low computational cost. Using the linearized Euler equations is more computationally demanding but can reproduce more physical effects as fewer assumptions are made. An additional benefit of the linearized Euler equations is that they provide a time-domain solution. To compare both approaches, we simulate sound propagation in two distinct scenarios. In the first scenario, a wind turbine is situated on flat terrain; in the second, a turbine is situated on a hilltop. The results show that both methods provide similar noise predictions in the two scenarios. We find that while some differences in the propagation results are observed in the second case, the final predictions for a broadband extended source are similar between the two methods.

Validity of the effective sound speed approximation in parabolic equation models for wind turbine noise propagation.

Parabolic equation (PE) based methods are widely used in outdoor acoustics because they can solve acoustic propagation problems above a mixed ground in a refractive and scattering atmosphere. However, recent research has shown phase error due to the effective sound speed approximation (ESSA). To overcome these limitations, a new PE formulation derived without the ESSA has been proposed recently. We investigate the impact of such phase error on wind turbine noise modeling, as the classical wide-angle parabolic equation (WAPE) with ESSA is widely used in the research community. We propose a comparison between the classical WAPE with ESSA and the new WAPE derived without the ESSA in the context of wind turbine noise. We highlight large phase error (several dB) on monochromatic calculations with a point source. Using an extended sound source representative of a wind turbine, we show small phase error (<1 dB) in a wind turbine noise context where sound level variability far from the source is of several dB. The validity of previous works using WAPE with ESSA is, thus, not questioned, although we do recommend the use of the new WAPE derived without the ESSA to accurately model the effect of wind speed on sound propagation.

Synthesis of wind turbine trailing edge noise in free field.

The proposed sound synthesis tool converts a physics-based frequency-domain model of wind turbine trailing edge noise to a time-domain signal while accounting for the appropriate time shift due to the propagation between the moving blades and the fixed observer. A window function that implements cross-fading between consecutive signal grains is proposed and a method to objectively estimate the influence of the synthesis parameters is described. As the synthesis tool is independent of the aerodynamic noise model, it can be readily adapted to auralize other noise sources such as turbulent inflow noise or stall noise.

Environmental parameters sensitivity analysis for the modeling of wind turbine noise in downwind conditions.

Modeling a wind turbine sound field involves taking into account the main aeroacoustic sources that are generally dominant for modern wind turbines, as well as environmental phenomena such as atmospheric conditions and ground properties that are variable in both time and space. A crucial step to obtain reliable predictions is to estimate the relative influence of environmental parameters on acoustic emission and propagation, in order to determine the parameters that induce the greatest variability on sound pressure level. Thus, this study proposes a Morris sensitivity analysis of a wind turbine noise emission model combined with a sound propagation model in downwind conditions. The emission model is based on Amiet's theory and propagation effects are modeled by the wide-angle parabolic equation. The whole simulation takes into account ground effects (absorption through acoustic impedance and scattering through surface roughness) and micrometeorological effects (mean refraction through the vertical gradient of effective sound speed). The final results show that the parameters involved in atmospheric refraction and in ground absorption have a significant influence on sound pressure level. On the other hand, in the context of this study the relative air humidity and the ground roughness parameters appear to be negligible on sound pressure level sensitivity.

Staphylococcus capitis isolated from bloodstream infections: a nationwide 3-month survey in 38 neonatal intensive care units.

To increase the knowledge about S. capitis in the neonatal setting, we conducted a nationwide 3-month survey in 38 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) covering 56.6% of French NICU beds. We demonstrated 14.2% of S. capitis BSI (S.capBSI) among nosocomial BSIs. S.capBSI incidence rate was 0.59 per 1000 patient-days. A total of 55.0% of the S.capBSIs were late onset catheter-related BSIs. The S. capitis strains infected preterm babies (median gestational age 26 weeks, median birth weight 855 g). They were resistant to methicillin and aminoglycosides and belonged to the NRCS-A clone. Evolution was favorable in all but one case, following vancomycin treatment.

Dynamical properties of piano soundboards.

In pianos, the transfer of energy from strings to soundboard and the radiation of sound are highly dependent on the dynamical properties of the soundboard. In this paper, a numerical study is conducted for various rib configurations, showing that even slight irregularities in rib spacing can induce a strong localization of the soundboard velocity pattern. The effective vibrating area can be further reduced due to the spatial filtering effect of the bridge. Numerical predictions of modal shapes and operating deflection shapes are confirmed by series of measurements made on upright piano soundboards. Simulations of radiated pressure based on measured and calculated soundboard velocity fields show that localization tends to broaden the cone of directivity and to reduce the number of lobes.

Theoretical study for safe and efficient energy transfer to deeply implanted devices using ultrasound.

The goal of this paper is to prove that a safe and efficient energy transfer is possible between an external transducer located on the patient's skin and a device deeply implanted in the abdomen. An ultrasound propagation model based on the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral is coupled with the data from the Visible Human Project to account for the geometry of the organs in the body. The model is able to predict the amount of acoustic power received by the device for different acoustic paths. The acoustic model is validated by comparison with measurements in water and in heterogeneous liquid phantoms. Care is taken to minimize adverse bioeffects-mainly temperature rise and cavitation in tissues. Simulations based on the bio-heat transfer equation are performed to check that thermal effects are indeed small.

Suitable acoustic paths to transfer energy in depth using ultrasound.

The goal of this study is to optimize the transfer of acoustic energy deep in the body. In order to find suitable acoustic paths for the energy transfer to be efficient, we propose a model of ultrasound propagation that takes into account a realistic geometry of the tissue layers inside the human body. The data from the Visible Human Project is used to identify the tissues between the transducer array and the target point located on the epicard of the heart. The model is validated by comparison with measurements of the pressure field radiated by a focused 64-element array in water. Then, model results are presented in a realistic configuration, choosing a suitable input acoustic power so that adverse bio-effects are minimized. The model predicts the amount of acoustic energy that can be obtained at the target point, and is therefore useful to select the best acoustic path among several possibilities.

In-vitro platform to study ultrasound as source for wireless energy transfer and communication for implanted medical devices.

A platform to study ultrasound as a source for wireless energy transfer and communication for implanted medical devices is described. A tank is used as a container for a pair of electroacoustic transducers, where a control unit is fixed to one wall of the tank and a transponder can be manually moved in three axes and rotate using a mechanical system. The tank is filled with water to allow acoustic energy and data transfer, and the system is optimized to avoid parasitic effects due to cables, reflection paths and cross talk problems. A printed circuit board is developed to test energy scavenging such that enough acoustic intensity is generated by the control unit to recharge a battery loaded to the transponder. In the same manner, a second printed circuit board is fabricated to study transmission of information through acoustic waves.

Time-domain simulations of sound propagation in a stratified atmosphere over an impedance ground.

Finite-difference time-domain simulations of broadband sound propagation in a stratified atmosphere are presented. A method recently proposed to obtain an impedance time-domain boundary condition is implemented in a linearized Euler equations solver, which enables to study long range sound propagation over an impedance ground. Some features of the pressure pulse evolution with time are analyzed in both upward-and downward-refracting conditions, and the time-domain simulations are compared to parabolic equation calculations in the frequency domain to show the effectiveness of the proposed impedance boundary condition.

Clinical and ultrasonographic correlations following three surgical anti-incontinence procedures (TOT, TVT and TVT-O).

The aim of this study was to compare ultrasonographic findings on tape position, angulation and mobility following three surgical anti-incontinence procedures (trans-obturator tape (TOT), tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O)) and to correlate these data with clinical signs of cures and failures and de novo voiding disorders. In this prospective study, vesicourethral static and dynamic analysis of 81 patients (30 TOT, 28 TVT, 23 TVT-O) were evaluated using introital ultrasonography. Width, position and appearance of the tape were similar in all three groups, i.e. like a "V" at rest, round angulation on Valsalva and closed angulation at maximum retaining. Moreover, closer angulation on Valsalva was associated with voiding disorders. Closer angulation at retaining was associated with de novo urge incontinence. Larger angulation of the tape at rest appeared to be significantly associated with recurrent stress incontinence. Ultrasonography could a be useful tool assessing anti-incontinence procedures and investigating post-operative voiding disorders.

[Peritoneum and laparoscopic environment]. / Péritoine et environnement coelioscopique.

Laparoscopic surgery takes place in a closed environment, the peritoneal cavity distended by the pneumoperitoneum whose parameters, such as pressure, composition, humidity and temperature of the gas, may be changed and adapted to influence the intra and postoperative surgical processes. Such changes were impossible in the "open" environment. This review includes recent data on peritoneal physiology, which are relevant for surgeons, and on the effects of the pneumoperitoneum on the peritoneal membrane. The ability to work in a new surgical environment, which may be adapted to each situation, opens a new era in endoscopic surgery. Using nebulizers, the pneumoperitoneum may become a new way to administer intraoperative treatments. Most of the current data on the consequences of the pneumoperitoneum were obtained using poor animal models so that it remains difficult to estimate the progresses, which will be brought to the operative theater by this new concept. However this revolution will likely be used by thoracic or cardiac surgeon who are also working in a serosa. This approach may even appear essential to all the surgeons who are using endoscopy in a retroperitoneal space such as urologists or endocrine surgeons.