Apparatus and method for aerodynamic performance enhancement of a wind turbine

A wind turbine comprising:

• a hub;
• at least one rotor blade connected to the hub, the at least one rotor blade comprising an inner portion and a profiled outer portion defined by a leeward protrusion, and wherein the inner portion extends from the hub to a start of the leeward protrusion of the profiled outer portion;
• and
• at least one dual bimorph synthetic jet (DBSJ) disposed in the wind turbine and in fluid communication with a plurality of openings formed in one of the hub or in the inner portion of the at least one rotor blade and the hub, the at least one dual bimorph synthetic jet (DBSJ) generating a flow of pressurized air through the plurality of openings that is opposed to an incoming wind directed at the plurality of openings,
• wherein the flow of pressurized air redirects the incoming wind directed at the plurality of openings toward the profiled outer portion of the at least one rotor blade in an operational state and does not redirect the incoming wind directed at the plurality of openings in a non-operational state.

A method for aerodynamic performance enhancement of a wind turbine comprising:

• providing the wind turbine including a hub and at least one rotor blade connected to the hub, the at least one rotor blade having an inner portion and a profiled outer portion, and wherein the inner portion extends from the hub to the profiled outer portion;
• determining the presence of winds exceeding preset parameters;
• rotating the at least one rotor blade about its longitudinal axis to generate energy,
• wherein the wind turbine includes a plurality of openings formed in one of the hub or the inner portion of the at least one rotor blade and the hub and wherein a flow of pressurized air flows through the plurality of openings, and
• directing the flow of pressurized air in a direction opposed to an incoming wind to redirect the incoming wind toward the profiled outer portion of the at least one rotor blade when winds to not exceed the preset parameters.