Patent ID: 6940185

Claim:
An advanced aerodynamic control system for a wind turbine including a drive shaft and a blade, the drive shaft and blade being rotatable about a drive shaft axis, the control system for measuring operating data and adjusting wind turbine parameters to control the extraction of power from the wind turbine at specific wind speeds, the control system comprising: an air control system, the air control system being coupled to a duct that extends from a position adjacent a first end of the blade toward a second end of the blade, at least one slot extending along a portion of a surface of the blade, the slot being in communication with the duct; at least one instrument for measuring the operating data; and a controller that collects the operating data and compares the operating data to predetermined operating norms, the controller actuating the air control system to urge pressurized air into the duct and out of the at least one slot at a variable air flow rate based upon the comparison between the operating data and predetermined operating norms to control the extraction of power from the wind flowing through a swept area of the wind turbine.