Patent ID: 7931445
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: F03D,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An active flow control (AFC) system for use with a wind turbine that includes at least one rotor blade, said AFC system comprising: at least two manifolds at least partially defined within the at least one rotor blade; at least one aperture in flow communication with each manifold of said at least two manifolds; a gas supply coupled in flow communication with said at least two manifolds; an AFC controller operatively coupled to said gas supply and configured to determine that at least one manifold of said at least two manifolds is fouled; and a valve system coupled in communication with said AFC controller and operatively coupled to said gas supply, said valve system configured to block a gas flow to a first manifold of said at least two manifolds to redistribute the gas flow to a second manifold of said at least two manifolds upon the determination that the at least one manifold of said at least two manifolds is fouled.