LIGHTING DESIGN & APPLICATION

treet lighting has long been the focus of utilities trying to reduce costs. Now technology is providing answers.

Performance findings of municipal/ EEDSM projects on street lights

Energy efficiency demand side management (EEDSM) projects carried out on municipal street lighting in Oudtshoorn and in Knysna have provided significant savings in energy. A corporate technical audit team from the University of Cape Town was appointed as the measurement and verification (M&V) body by Eskom DSM. It has found that an average saving of 25% real power (kW), roughly 30% apparent power (kVA) and a decrease in the average reactive power (kvar) of approximately 43%, was achieved. The method used to achieve the savings was via the installation of specially designed lighting energy controller devices. The saving achieved has resulted in a valuable contribution to the EEDSM challenge that the DME has set for energy services companies (Escos). The purpose of the performance assessment report by an independent body is to determine how the EEDSM project has performed and to what degree the original targets have been met. The project, initiated by Maemsa, was to reduce the excessive kW energy consumption by street lights. In the municipalities of Oudtshoorn and Knysna, energy demand was reduced by 0,258 MW and 0,163 MW respectively. Measurements were taken at both towns lighting circuits on the voltages, current, power and power factor. With these four values, the real, reactive and apparent power was calculated. Information from Maemsa The measurements were done while the lighting energy controllers were in bypass mode to determine the baseline and in the savings mode to determine the post implementation demand. From the measurements taken it was clear that the device consistently lowered the voltage by 10%. This drop is allowed by manufacturers when measured on the load side. The improved power factor caused by the controller at the lower voltages is possible due to the lamps drawing reduced current. The conclusion reached by the M&V team was that the contractor was correct in predicting a saving of approximately 25%. The energy controllers worked according to specifications by lowering the voltage supplied to HID street lamps of all sizes and types for different types of roads. Various spot measurements were performed to calculate the light levels while the devices were activated. On both MV and HPS type lamps of different sizes, the average reading of 9 lumens was measured in the bypass mode. After activation of the savings mode, the light intensity levels dropped marginally to an average of 8 lumens, still comfortably within the SANS 10098 standard for light intensity. Regardless of all the perceptions and speculations made by luminaire suppliers, the M&V team verified that the change of 1 lumen was not significant and could
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Ground level control gear.

Pole-mounted transformer and control gear.

not be detected by the human eye. It was further recorded by the M&V team that reducing energy consumption by means of the lighting energy controller was in fact a real contribution to

Secure enclosures.

the saving of valuable energy that was often wasted by uncontrolled methodologies in cases such as streetlights.

It is well known that lamp manufacturers over-design their lamps in order to accommodate all levels of nominal supply. This also applies to HID lamps that are used for all types of roads. The wattage specified for all lamps is indeed much higher than required. Tests carried out by leading international lamp manufacturers, (GE, developers of the HPS lamp, Sylvania (Osram) and others) have shown that most lamps can readily operate on significantly reduced current. Furthermore, it is clear that too-high voltages (which are common on our networks and those of streetlights) reduce the life expectancy of the HID lamp. Therefore, regulating the voltage supply to HID streetlights by means of a regulator not only irons out damaging voltage spikes, but also saves valuable energy. For this reason the practice of reducing energy consumption by means of bi-directional devices (not dimmers) is used successfully by large metros and industries in over 39 countries.

Municipalities and other power users wanting to save energy on their HID and fluorescent light infrastructures can thus gain access to international and local expertise, equipment and technical support. In this way the technology also contributes to the reduction of green-house gases and the national initiative to reduce loads. This is a viable, low risk, turnkey energy management solution. This solution is partly funded by Nersa. It overcomes the drawbacks of old light infrastructures by saving energy. The control of the voltage supply to discharge lights is acceptable within specific limits and is permitted by lamp manufacturers internationally. Does it resolve the energy crisis no, not on its own. Does it add to savings yes, definitely! Contact Francois Kriel, Maemsa, Tel 011 674-2772, kriel@maemsa.co.za D

Caution from IESSA Council regarding lighting energy efficiency claims

The Illumination Engineering Society of South Africa (IESSA) wishes to state the correct principles and facts applicable to mains input voltage reduction devices as reported on in the above article. A reduction of mains input voltage reduces the lamp current and therefore the luminous flux emitted by a lamp. Mercury vapour (MV) and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps display almost identical reductions in luminous flux against corresponding reductions in mains input voltage. The principle of voltage reduction is illustrated in the following table: A reduction of 10% in voltage supply results in:
Based on a 70 W HPS lamp Voltage (V) Luminous flux (lm) Power (VA) Power factor Power (W) At rated voltage 230 5700 96,6 0,88 85,0
l

a 17% reduction in power consumption, but associated with: a 35% reduction in luminous flux and thus lighting levels (lux).

Some companies, both nationally and internationally, offer this system as an energy saving method, by promoting devices that simply reduce the mains input voltage. They guarantee, among others, a 25% energy saving to end users. Lighting installations are usually designed with a maintenance factor of 0,75 over the lamp life of the installation, to compensate for lamp lumen depreciation and dirt depreciation over time. An additional 35% reduction in luminous flux due to a 10% reduction in mains input voltage
At reduced voltage 207 3705 78,7 0,90 70,8 Change -10% -35% -19% 2% -17%

would require that these installations would have had to be over-designed by an additional 50% in order to still comply with the standards as stated by SANS 10098, otherwise authorities would be faced with customers whose lighting and therefore security levels have been reduced by a third. Lighting voltage controllers are only appropriate as an energy saving device for public lighting if: l The controlling devices intelligence ensures that the output voltage never drops below 10% of the ballast rating, which is typically 230 V; l The lighting levels as required in terms of SANS 10098 is not reduced below the standards as prescribed. It should further be noted that lighting levels are assessed by making use of an illuminance meter, also called a lux meter, which provides incident light level readings in lux, not lumen. Contact IESSA Council, Tel 011 476-4171, info@iessa.org.za D

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