The subject matter described herein relates generally to wind turbines and, more particularly, to a vortex generator assembly for use with a wind turbine rotor blade.
At least some known wind turbines include a nacelle fixed atop a tower, wherein the nacelle includes a rotor coupled to a generator through a shaft. In known rotor assemblies, a plurality of blades extend from the rotor. The blades are oriented such that wind passing over the blades turns the rotor and rotates the shaft, thereby driving the generator to generate electricity. As wind flows over an outer surface of the rotor blade, a boundary layer is formed over the outer surface that facilitates generating lift across the rotor blade.
At least some known rotor blades include a root portion that facilitates coupling the rotor blade to the hub. At least some known root portions include a cylindrically shaped outer surface. As wind flows over at least some known rotor blade root portions, the boundary layer separates from the rotor blade outer surface and reduces the lift across the rotor blade. This reduction in lift further reduces the overall aerodynamic efficiencies of the rotor blade, which results in a reduction in annual power production of the wind turbine.