ISO 16079-2:2020

Overview

ISO 16079-2:2020 - Condition monitoring and diagnostics of wind turbines - Part 2: Monitoring the drivetrain - defines best practices for implementing a condition monitoring (CM) system that focuses on the wind turbine drivetrain. The standard provides practical guidance for implementing the Failure Mode and Symptoms Analysis (FMSA), selecting measurements and transducers, defining descriptors, setting alarm/alert criteria, recording baselines, and applying diagnostics and prognostics for drivetrain components including main bearings, gearbox (if applicable), generator (mechanical aspects) and subcomponents such as couplings and lubrication systems. The document also cross-references other standards where more detailed methods are available.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Failure Mode and Symptoms Analysis (FMSA): Practical steps to identify observable symptoms and prioritize monitoring needs derived from FMECA outcomes.
• Descriptor strategy: Definition and classification of descriptors used for fault detection - based on process parameters, rotational speed, vibration, stress waves and oil debris.
• Measurement and transducers: Guidance on sensor types, mounting locations and naming conventions for vibration, stress-wave and oil-debris sensors.
• Operational state (state bin) concept: Handling changes in operating conditions and selecting the correct operating bins for analysis.
• Baseline and data recording: Recommendations for initial baseline recordings at commissioning, repeatability, waveform durations and sampling considerations to support diagnosis.
• Alarm/alert criteria and monitoring intervals: Methods to establish limits for new and in-service turbines and factors influencing monitoring frequency.
• Diagnosis and prognosis: Procedures for fault diagnosis and three prognosis approaches - statistically based (failure-data), model/stress-based, and data-driven condition-based - to support remaining useful life (RUL) assessments.
• System review and cost–benefit: Guidance for assessing CM effectiveness, reviewing design and performing cost–benefit analyses.

Practical applications and target users

ISO 16079-2 is intended for:

• Wind turbine OEMs and drivetrain designers specifying CM requirements
• Asset owners/operators and wind-farm maintenance planners setting inspection and repair strategies
• Condition monitoring system integrators and sensor manufacturers defining sensor selection and installation
• Reliability engineers and diagnostics specialists developing algorithms for fault detection, diagnostics and prognostics
• Certification bodies and test labs evaluating CM system performance

Practical uses include designing drivetrain monitoring architectures, defining sensor placement and descriptor sets, setting alarm limits, improving fault diagnosis workflows, and enabling RUL-informed maintenance to minimize downtime and lifecycle costs.

Related standards

• ISO 16079-1 (series context: application design/FMECA)
• ISO 13379-1 (V-model for CM&D application design)
• References to other ISO/IEC and IEC standards for vibration, sensors and condition monitoring techniques are cited within the document for in-depth procedures.

Keywords: ISO 16079-2, condition monitoring, wind turbine drivetrain, FMSA, vibration monitoring, oil debris, prognosis, RUL, sensor mounting.