Monitoring and fault prediction in relation to a mechanical component of a rotating system

A method for monitoring a condition of a wind mill or wind turbine having a main bearing, by a control unit, comprising:

• arranging a first measurement device at a first location on a first side of the main bearing that determines a first measurement indicating a current flow at the first location;
• arranging a second measurement device at a second location on a second side of the main bearing, the second side is an opposite side of the first side, that determines a second measurement indicating a current flow at the second location;
• receiving, by the control unit, the first measurement;
• receiving, by the control unit, the second measurement;
• forming, by the control unit, a first parameter based on the first measurement and the second measurement;
• matching, by the control unit, the first parameter with a plurality of predetermined current flow profiles, each of the plurality of predetermined current flow profiles being indicative of a condition of the main bearing;
• determining, by the control unit, if a matching current flow profile is found within the plurality of predetermined current flow profiles, a relevance level for the corresponding condition;
• providing, by the control unit, an indication of an alarm if the relevance level is above a predetermined threshold;
• and
• predict the main bearing failure of the wind mill or wind turbine based on the matching current flow profile and historically matched current profiles for the corresponding condition.

A system comprising:

• a first measurement device at a first location on a first side of the main bearing that determines a first measurement indicating a current flow at the first location;
• a second measurement device at a second location on a second side of the main bearing, the second side is an opposite side of the first side, that determines a second measurement indicating a current flow at the second location;
• and a management server comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing program instructions for monitoring a wind mill or wind turbine having a main bearing thereon, the program instructions executable by the processor to cause the management server to:
• receive the first measurement;
• receive the second measurement;
• form a first parameter based on the first measurement and the second measurement;
• match the first parameter with a plurality of predetermined current flow profiles, each of the plurality of predetermined current flow profiles being indicative of a condition of the main bearing;
• determine, if a matching current flow profile is found within the plurality of predetermined current flow profiles, a relevance level for the corresponding condition;
• provide an indication of an alarm if the relevance level is above a predetermined threshold;
• and
• predict the main bearing failure of the wind mill or wind turbine based on the matching current flow profile and historically matched current profiles for the corresponding condition.