Tomas Novak

The Proposal Model of Energy Savings of Lighting Systems in the Smart Home Care

Abstract The optimal draft and quality construction of Smart Home Care must be based on detailed knowledge of older people needs. One of the basic assumptions is to have safe and stable control of operational and technical functions with an emphasis on energy savings in buildings. The article describes the proposal model of energy savings in lighting systems with artificial lighting, which is working in combination with daylight, for use in the Smart Home with Assistive Care.

Measurement of illuminance of interior lighting system automatically dimmed to the constant level depending on daylight

The article describes verifying of behaviour of dimming in a regulated lighting system in Smart Home (SH) which was controlled to the constant level of illuminance. The proposed method of measuring was realized as an upgrade for evaluation of curves of interior illuminance caused by daylight. A reference room in SH with a measuring device evaluating illuminance in the places of visual tasks and at the same time scanning illuminance caused by daylight on an outdoor unshadowed horizontal plane was used for measuring. The used measuring device was supplied with a dimmable lighting system of artificial lighting using luminance controller situated on the ceiling of the room in combination with controlling system KNX to reach the constant level of illuminance regarding the influence of both elements of artificial light and daylight. The article shows that there might be difference between the set value of illuminance, which is regulated by a KNX system, and real illuminance in the place of a visual task. Due to this difference, the lighting system may not meet the normative requirements, which is absolutely inacceptable.

Comparison of LED properties, compact fluorescent bulbs and bulbs in residential areas

A significant share of total electricity consumption at home is lighting, which can use up to 15% of total consumption. But it is possible to achieve significant savings if we choose the right light sources. Every room in the house or apartment has different requirements for light, and also different light sources have different light properties. Correct selection of sufficient and energy-saving lighting is not simple, and therefore it should be carefully considered.

Solution of lighting for pedestrian crossing to increase their visibility

The paper describes the basic rules for the construction of a pedestrian crossing and its lighting. It shows the issues that must be solved. It is mainly the location of a pedestrian crossing, the correct value of illuminance and luminance ratios in the area of a pedestrian crossing. It shows how the pedestrian himself can increase his safety when he is participating in traffic.

Photovoltaic power plants in terms of investment costs and payback in the Czech Republic

This paper focuses on the analysis of the economic costs of the photovoltaic power plants. There are given real investment costs and the prices of photovoltaic panels, prices of individual items of plant investment costs and returns of individual systems in 2010 and in this year 2011.

Suggestion of long-term measuring of daylight contributions in interiors

The confirmation of the prediction system model of economies in illumination systems with regulation for constant illuminance required the realization of a measuring device for long-term measuring of illuminance in interior workplaces. The suggested system makes this measuring possible in 10 points of interior and at the same time outdoor on the plain without shadows.

Classification of environmental zones in the Czech Republic

Nowadays obtrusive light is discussed quite often and so this term has become well-known not only to professionals in the field of lighting but also to the public, designers and administrators. Quantification of obtrusive light depends on many factors. The biggest factor is the amount of the luminous flux directly emitted into the upper hemisphere. Other factors include the reflection qualities of illuminated surfaces and finally conditions in the atmosphere. Based on knowledge of the amount of luminous flux directly emitted into the upper hemisphere, depending on the surroundings (size of the agglomeration, protected landscape areas – national preserves, observatory, etc.), we can classify obtrusive light into several classes according to the standards EN 12464-2 and EN 12 193. These standards use only four environmental zones. For any outdoor lighting system it is possible to calculate the amount of luminous flux emitted into the upper hemisphere and determine if this potential source of obtrusive light is appropriate for the environmental zone. These calculations can also show if the lighting system is a significant contributor to the amount of obtrusive light. This paper tries to describe problems over larger areas where different environmental zones can exist side by side. Adjacent environmental zones should not differ by more than one level (for example E1 to E2 only). The aim of this paper is to establish methodologies for classifying environmental zones. A specific example of classification relates to a 420 kV outdoor electricity distribution substation, which is located in a selected area of the Czech Republic.

Testing the properties of illuminance sensors designed for controllable lighting systems

Abstract Currently, when the price of electric power keeps increasing, it is very effective to control a lighting based on pre-programmed requirements depending on the actual value of illuminance. To be able to perform such control, it is necessary to measure the illuminance value as accurately as possible. This paper deals with testing of several low-cost industrial sensors of illuminance intensity. There is a detailed description of industrial illuminance sensors of the lighting labelled MAX44009 and TSL2561. These sensors provide information about the illuminance intensity in a digital form and communicate via serial I2C communication. The results of photometric measurements of both sensors give satisfactory results. In the future it is planned to use these sensors in FARCOM-ECO system of firm TRAKCE to control illuminance levels in the platforms and train yards. The control of illuminance will significantly reduce an energy consumption of the lighting systems.

Development of measuring instruments for long-term measurement of low level illuminances and luminances

The paper deals with long-term measuring instruments for light data collected under the night sky. The point of such measurements is to quantify the obtrusive light and compare the level of the obtrusive light in populated industrial areas and out of them. For long-term measurements of low level illuminances (about 10-2 lx) and luminances (about 10-3 cd/m2) should be applied not only the measuring instruments with high sensitivity, but also completely independent instruments with the ability to save the measured data. For low level illuminances measuring is described luxmeter satisfying the above requirements. The issue of measuring the low luminances is solved by digital photographs. In this paper is also showed the astronomical camera with cooled CCD chip, which is able to minimize the thermal noise. The last described device for long-term measuring of the night sky is astronomical instrument (Sky quality meter), which evaluates the luminances of the night sky. This instrument does not work with lighting units (cd/m2), but in magnitudes (mag). For traditional reasons, astronomers use the term magnitude, expressed in units called magnitudes. Magnitude is a logarithmic value. This instrument is able to compare the astronomical measurements and lighting ones. For illuminances measurement is needed photovoltaic sensor capable to convert low illuminances to electricity. Nowadays luminance measurements with the digital photography is very effective in levels from 1 cd/m2 to 100 000 cd/m2. However, for measuring of very low level luminances it is not enough and there must be used very sensitive CCD cameras with cooled chips.

Prototype of a low-cost luxmeter with wide measuring range designed for railway stations dynamic lighting systems

The paper presents the development of a low-cost luxmeter designed for usage in automatic applications for continual (long-term) measurement of illuminance. The measured information is used to adjust the level of lighting systems of artificial lighting on railways (platforms, marshalling yard, tracks etc.). The reason of this measuring device is a requirement for massive deployment of dimmable lighting systems for railways, in order to limit the maximum energy consumption. Due to the requirements for its deployment it is necessary to put particular emphasis on its low cost, reliability and universality, not accuracy. The concept of the device is designed so that it can transmit measured data especially in the FARCOM-ECO system, which is used to control of technological processes on the railways in the Czech Republic.