Bearing for a wind turbine, method for monitoring an anomaly in a bearing of a wind turbine, system for monitoring an anomaly in a bearing of a wind turbine and wind turbine

A method for monitoring an anomaly in a bearing of a wind turbine, the bearing defining a rotational axis and including:

• a first ring and a second ring rotatably arranged relative to each other about said rotational axis;
• a reference element applied to said first ring, said reference element having a first portion fixed to said first ring and a second portion spaced apart from said first portion, said second portion being arranged movably relative to said first ring;
• a sensor applied to said first ring;
• and, said sensor being configured to detect a geometrical change of said reference element by measuring a displacement of said second portion relative to said sensor;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• providing first information representative of the geometrical change of the reference element wherein the first information is determined in dependence upon the geometrical change detected by the sensor;
• determining second information depending on the first information wherein the second information is representative of whether the geometrical change exceeds a threshold;
• and,
• when the geometrical change exceeds the threshold, then generating an output signal indicative of at least one of:
• an anomaly present in the bearing and a propagation of the anomaly.

A system for monitoring an anomaly in a bearing of a wind turbine, the bearing including a first ring and a second ring being rotatably arranged relative to each other around a rotational axis, the system comprising:

• a reference element applied to the first ring;
• a sensor applied to said first ring;
• the sensor being configured to detect a geometrical change of the reference element;
• a control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to:
• provide first information representative of the geometrical change of the reference element;
• and,
• the first information being determined in dependence upon the geometrical change detected by the sensor;
• said reference element having a first portion fixed to said first ring and a second portion spaced apart from said first portion;
• said second portion being arranged movably relative to said first ring;
• and,
• wherein said sensor is configured to measure a displacement of said second portion of said reference element relative to said sensor.

A wind turbine comprising a system for monitoring an anomaly in a bearing of a wind turbine, the bearing including a first ring and a second ring being rotatably arranged relative to each other around a rotational axis, the system including:

• a reference element applied to the first ring;
• a sensor applied to said first ring;
• the sensor being configured to detect a geometrical change of the reference element;
• a control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to:
• provide first information representative of the geometrical change of the reference element;
• and,
• the first information being determined in dependence upon the geometrical change detected by the sensor;
• said reference element having a first portion fixed to said first ring and a second portion spaced apart from said first portion;
• said second portion being arranged movably relative to said first ring;
• and,
• wherein said sensor is configured to measure a displacement of said second portion of said reference element relative to said sensor.