Giuseppe Parise

Impact of building automation, controls and building management on energy performance of lighting systems

In a lighting system design to estimate the actual energy efficiency of lighting control systems is an important goal since an accurate evaluation could help and guide designers towards the most appropriate control system. This paper analyzes the methodology for calculating energy consumption for lighting systems and the impact of the Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). It promotes a comprehensive ecodesign of lighting systems consisting in the adoption of the appropriate lighting components and the adaptive partitioned architecture of electrical distribution system and lighting system in general and independent local systems. It allows structurally to satisfy in each sub-area lighting and energy performances and to provide a basic efficient control system suitable for a manual or automatic regulation.

Ecodesign of Lighting Systems

This article analyzes the methodology for calculating the energy consumption of lighting systems and the impact of building automation and control system (BACSs). The article also promotes a comprehensive ecodesign (ED) of lighting systems, consisting of the adoption of appropriate lighting components and adaptive-partitioned architecture for electrical distribution systems and lighting systems in general and independent local systems.

A new summary on the iec protection against electric shock

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publication 60364-4-41 “Electrical installations of buildings” fifth edition offers a layout rationalized of complete protective measures against electric shock. To provide an overall analysis of the protection by automatic disconnection of supply, the author suggests a unified model for all grounding systems (TN, TT, and IT systems), including common and global grounding systems that assist in giving an explanation to the IEC approach. For electrical risk assessment, this paper proposes the analysis of risk exposure in analogy with dynamical collision problems.

Daylight Impact on Energy Performance of Internal Lighting

Daylight in interior offers a considerable contribute of energy allowing to reduce the level of electric lighting. The key to design an integrated lighting system is the electric lighting control strategy. An optimal lighting system has to consider the different presence of daylight in the zones to arrange the most favorable luminaires layout. An automatic control system could be employed to switch or dim selected groups of luminaires. The paper suggests a criterion to evaluate the yearly daylight impact on energy performance of internal lighting according to daylight availability, the lighting system layout and the control system arranged. The evaluation is useful for designers to estimate the operation costs in reference to the initial costs.

Prospected Evolution for Low Voltage Customers: Ecodesign of the Electrical Distribution System

In the last years important improvements are developing in the European Union EU electrical systems: the process of electrical market liberalization, extended to all the customers, small and residential included, and a strong encouragement towards the energy saving and the installation of small renewable power sources. The actual distribution system for low voltage customers appears inadequate to comply with these improvements. The electricity market has to recognize the constitution of union of Customers Bunches. For an actual safety progress, a comparative analysis of international electrical approaches on distribution systems will promote an understanding of their similarities and differences and the design of new integrated common solutions. The authors suggest the ecodesign of the residential and commercial low voltage distribution for the next future that allows to accomplish the goals about safety, power quality, emergency systems, load shedding and energy management. The ecodesign requires imagination and intelligence that can reveal opportunities, expose risks and support strategic decision making.

Arc-fault protection of branch circuits, cords, and connected equipment

In electrical power systems, the fault frequently involves arcing and burning of wiring exposed to mechanical damage and other insulation stresses including wiring not fixed and connected by flexible cords and cables. IEC Standard 60364 ends the design of electric power systems at the outlets of branch circuits or at the fixed equipment. A complete design should include the connections of portable equipment and of extension cords (as requested by NFPA 70) that are exposed to arc faults and may cause fire and/or electric shock hazards. Since cords supplying Class II equipment are without a grounding protection conductor, the failure of the double insulation, caused by external damage, is unlikely to be easily detected as a ground fault. Protection must be provided to prevent the fault from extinguishing itself without being detected and remaining energized, thus presenting an electric shock hazard by direct contact with a live part, rendered accessible after local insulation failure. The authors highlight this worst case and suggest the protection achieved by wiring the circuits, particularly extension cords, with special power cables. Ground-fault forced cables (GFFCs) convert a line-to-line fault into a line-to-ground fault, that will be detected and protected by ordinary ground-fault protective devices. By adopting the GFFC type of cables internally to Class II equipment, the disconnecting protection could also be extended to equipment.

Electrical safety for employee workplaces in Europe and in the USA

The USA and Europe use different standards to provide electrical safety for employee workplaces. This paper examines the two standards NFPA70E and EN 50110, shows some of the similarities and differences, and looks at the possibilities for a gradual harmonization between the two systems. The paper would contribute to improve the electrical safety continuity in the worldwide globalization efforts.

Combined electric light and daylight systems ecodesign

Natural daylight in interiors has two main characteristics: It is extremely pleasant to humans, and it is a free energy. The electric lighting system has to be able to combine the daylight contribution with consequent savings on the energy bill. The application of sensors, control systems, and information technologies can reduce significantly the need for human work. Controlling the electric lighting in such a way that the daylighting penetration matches the lighting level to the actual need allows saving on the energy costs and improving the human comfort and efficiency. This paper highlights that lighting controls work with effectiveness if the lighting system is well structured both in luminaire arrangement and control group subdivision, according with a comprehensive approach that considers working zones and daylight contributions. At this aim, this paper suggests an adaptive criterion and a rule of thumb to evaluate the daylight availability and its internal penetration since the preliminary design.

Daylight impact on energy performance of internal lighting

Daylight in interior offers a considerable contribution of energy saving, the key is to design an integrated lighting system between the electric lighting system configuration and its control strategy. An optimal lighting system has to consider the different presence of daylight in the zones to arrange the most favorable luminaires layout. An automatic control system could be employed to switch or dim selected groups of luminaires. The paper suggests a criterion to evaluate the yearly daylight impact on energy performance of internal lighting according to daylight availability, the lighting system layout, and the control system arranged. A simplified evaluation by the daylight lumen method is useful for designers to estimate the operation costs in reference to the initial costs in preliminary design.

Basic concepts and auto-check for clearing procedures

Safety when working in presence of electricity is a universal goal. Finding practical methods to achieve this safety, however, is not always easy or obvious. Maintenance personnel must take the necessary steps to assure that the system or portion of the system on which they plan to work is in an electrically safe working condition. The accepted, reliable way to provide safety is to de-energize the equipment first, then to connect the equipment to ground so that it cannot be re-energized. Complexity of the electrical system normally determines the level of detail planning required for system clearing procedures. Complex power distribution systems that may have several sources into an area require several switching steps to isolate a portion of the system. It is necessary to use more elaborate clearing procedures and written switching instructions for systems together with a single-line diagram. The instructions and/or procedures should include verifying that the power has been removed (by live line testing or other means) followed by the placing of grounds and locking/tagging of isolating devices. The clearing procedures should be completely written, checked and understood by all persons involved before applying them to any portion of the power distribution system. This paper considers the subject from both European and American points of view. It investigates the basic concepts and definitions to give prominence to operating bonds and to help the procedure-project. It proposes some simple rules, a graphical representation and an algebraic model of electrical status to allow an auto-check of the clearing procedure.