Patent ID: 8321062

Claim:
A method of operating a wind turbine that includes an active flow control system having an air distribution system at least partially defined within at least one blade of the wind turbine, the active flow control system including a detection device including an isolation device, said method comprising: operating the wind turbine in a normal mode using the air distribution system; operating the wind turbine in a cleaning mode that is different than the normal mode by: positioning the isolation device within a manifold of the air distribution system; activating the isolation device to partition the manifold into at least two chambers; and, channeling a fluid flow into at least one of the two chambers within the manifold; acquiring operational data of the wind turbine during at least the cleaning mode by: determining a first pressure within a first chamber of the two chambers; determining a second pressure within a second chamber of the two chambers; and, comparing the first pressure with the second pressure; determining a state of fouling of the air distribution system using the acquired operational data; and, performing an action based on the state of fouling of the air distribution system.