Hotline of power engineering specialists:
Engineers of IDGC of Centre — Belgorodenergo division completed comparative testing of energy-saving technologies in outdoor lighting. Four types of lighting fixtures burning in the streets of the regional city were assessed on their power, light flux, luminous efficiency, colour rendering index, life cycle and other performance characteristics. Experts took into account both the objective characteristics of the instrument lighting features and subjective views of Belgorod residents.
In real conditions the experts of Belgorodenergo tested the lamp DKU-98-110 with LED matrices, induction lamp YML-ZD01, and arc sodium lamps (HPS) of two types: traditional and modern. The traditional lamps are used in outdoor lighting from the 30’s of the last century. They are equipped with electronic-magnetic control gear (EMCG). Modern lighting fixtures with HPS lamps are equipped with electronic control gear (ECG). In lighting networks of Belgorodenergo they are not used yet, although the experts note some objective advantages.
The objective lighting characteristics such as power consumption, average illumination, luminous efficiency, uniformity of illumination, were evaluated by the experts on a
In terms of the expenses for operation and payment of electricity consumed the most effective were the induction lights. With the standard schedule of urban outdoor lighting of 5000 hours per year the induction lamps will last up to 20 years! The HPS lights with ECG are a little behind, in third place — HPS with EMCG. The cost of the operation for the LED lights cannot compete so far.
In terms of subjective perception (colour rendering and comfort) to the human eye the most pleasant is soft and powerful bluish light emitted by the induction lamps (9.6 points), second place — LED lamps. The human vision perceives “orange” HPS lamps not very well, because, according to the Belgorod residents, they encolour all illuminated objects in orange.
The study of the power engineers concluded that the widely used in the region HPS lamps with EMCG are not as effective as we would like and they should gradually become obsolete. Their modern counterparts can come as their change — sodium lamps with electronic ballasts, and induction lighting devices whose operation is based on the emission of mercury vapour in the ionization process under the influence of an electric current. Long service life of these lamps is caused by the absence of an electrode, a glowing filament and other elements that can “burn out”. As for the LED lighting devices we can say today that they are considered fashionable and quite promising. There is no talk about any benefits of theirs. However, progress is inexorable, and the ineffective today LED technology in a few years could catch up and overtake other technologies.
“We are constantly in search, and this is important — comments the experimental results Head of energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement Office of IDGC of Centre — Belgorodenergo division Natalia Yakshina. — Not only we are interested in the result of our experiments, but also the regional authorities that provide outdoor lighting in areas. In the end, we work for citizens, who should feel lighter, cheaper and more comfortable”.