Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg, Germany says that, as part of a pilot project, modules containing its Duris E 3 LEDs have been used in intelligent LED luminaires made by SchahlLED Lighting GmbH of Unterschlei?heim, Germany that have replaced fluorescent lamps in the Jakobsmarkt parking garage in Nuremberg. An integrated presence detector only switches the illumination from the default basic illumination to maximum output where this is actually required. Combined with the energy efficiency of the LEDs, this function saves 70% on power consumption.
Modern LED luminaires from SchahlLED Lighting's IPL series have been illuminating the Nuremberg parking garage at Jakobsmarkt since November 2012, replacing the fluorescent lamps previously used. The LED luminaires were specially designed for applications in low-ceilinged spaces such as parking garages or warehouses. One luminaire has five modules, each fitted with 120 Duris E 3-LEDs from Osram Opto. "The combination of the luminaires and our low-power LEDs has enabled the operator to slash energy consumption in the parking garage," says Andreas Vogler, responsible product manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors. "Whereas one fluorescent lamp with a typical system power draw of 75W was formerly required for the active illumination of two parking spaces, this is now achieved by just one LED luminaire with 35W, or 15W in the basic illumination mode."
Using a presence detector, an intelligent control system in the luminaires activates the lighting in the building, only selecting maximum output in the locations where this is currently required. Only if a vehicle is driving through the garage or a pedestrian is moving do the luminaires installed in the vicinity increase their brightness to the maximum output of 35W. Otherwise, they operate at a much lower basic illumination output of 15 W, saving energy and costs. As a result, the activation period per parking deck is cut to a third of the former value, or less. "By the time the project had been under way for just a few months, we had already saved a great deal of energy and hence also costs – despite it being the busy winter months," says SchahlLED Lighting's managing director Erich Obermeier. "We expect the activation period to sink further in the summer. The acquisition costs for the connected luminaires will thus have paid off within as little as about three years," he adds.
"After extensive comparative tests, replacing the fluorescent lamps in the parking garage with intelligent LED system luminaires was an easy decision to make," says Gerald Stuible, managing director of the parking garage company. "We were looking for a future-oriented, energy-saving solution that would cut operating costs, not least because our company also operates other parking facilities," he adds. "What convinced me to opt for lighting solution from Osram Opto Semiconductors and SchahlLED Lighting was above all the good experiences made in the trial operation."
The Duris E 3-LEDs can be expected to last for over 50,000 hours in this application (even operating at full load), minimizing maintenance costs. With the IPL series, however, the LEDs will only be operated at maximum output for a fraction of the time, so service life could be well over ten years.
The intelligent parking garage luminaire is being unveiled in SchahlLED Lighting's booth (No. 1-D06, Hall 1) at the Parken 2013 trade fair in Wiesbaden, Germany (19-20 June).
