Patent ID: 8616846

Claim:
An active flow control system for use with a wind turbine that includes at least one blade having a longitudinal axis and a chord wise axis, said active flow control system comprising: an air distribution system at least partially defined within said at least one blade, said air distribution system comprising at least one aperture defined through said at least one blade; and, an aperture control system in operational control communication with said air distribution system, said aperture control system comprising: a sensor coupled to the wind turbine and configured to measure at least one of an environmental condition and an operating condition of the wind turbine; and an actuator at least partially positioned within said at least one blade, said actuator comprising a vortex generator configured to rotate from said at least one blade, beyond the aperture and into an outer air flow over said at least at one blade to control a flow of air discharged through said at least one aperture based on the measurement of said sensor.