Owls may hold the key to quieter wind turbines & jet aircraft

Credit: Getty Images/Wired

Both wind turbines & jet aircraft have been targets of noise complaints.

Large owls, on the other hand are masters of silent flight. So what’s their secret? A team at the University of Cambridge has been investigating.

http://www.wired.com/2015/06/owls-may-hold-secret-quieter-wind-turbines-jets/ / owl owls secret quiet quieter wind turbines 21st century windmill tips blades 100 feet long move faster winds category five hurricane wind turbines renewable energy advocates target noise health complaints blades are intentionally slowed down less effective generating electricity researchers turned to nature find solution noise problem team University of Cambridge published research wings of large owls masters at silent swooping voles high speeds undetected team discovered birds’ flight feathers create lift downy covering flexible comb of bristles leading edge porous fringe trailing edge bird intricate wing structure Professor Nigel Peake of Cambridge’s Department Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics noise from wings fan blades occurs at the trailing edge air is the most turbulent owl’s wing smooths quiets the air birds to hunt more effectively Cambridge team Virginia Tech Lehigh Florida Atlantic Universities prototype material 3D-printed plastic mimic the owls’ natural feature fitted full-sized wind turbine blades tested in a wind tunnel reduced noise generation 10 decibels significant amount of noise measured logarithmically affecting aerodynamics figured out how owls fly replicate testing the coating functioning wind turbine researchers wind farm generate several additional megawatts of electricity without appreciable increase in noise researchers solution applied to airplanes noise serious issue in aviation authorities plane makers airports minimize unpleasant side effect vital industry jet of the future fly like an owl /