LEDs and power distribution systems for airport lighting
Optimus Corporation and Veracity Engineering, support
contractors for FAA AND 520 have prepared a paper on what new power distribution
system(s) should be considered for the future. This task evaluates the
options available for airport lighting power distribution circuits when
the circuit contains all low wattage light units such as available today
with LED light sources. The potential cost savings offered by the new
very efficient light source can be fully realized only when the power
distribution circuit and the power supply are designed for this lower
power environment.
The introduction of LED lighting by airport lighting manufacturers with
approval from FAA Airports AAS100 has opened opportunities for reducing
the cost of operation of airport lighting systems. System installation
costs will also be reduced. Consider the potential reduction in cost brought
about by the use of smaller cable, lower wattage series circuit transformers,
more efficient power supplies and downsizing the airport electrical vault
distribution system. Currently airports are installing LED lighting at
random locations based on the assumption that they are going to see a
'pay back' on their investment based on reduced energy and maintenance
costs.
Without a new power distribution system designed for the low wattage
lighting, airports will never realize the full potential return on their
investment. The funding of the new LED lighting when installed as part
of a system upgrade is subsidized by the FAA AIP program, therefore the
FAA has a financial incentive to maximize the return on its investment
in LED lighting. At a (April 23, 2003) workshop that looked forward to
this new era of LED lighting, several suggestions were generated as to
how the new electrical distribution infrastructure might look. The paper
evaluates those suggestions in the light of what appears to be most cost
effective for all airports. (Workshop presentations/proceedings are available
online. [http://www.veracity-eng.com/workshop.asp])
The series circuit infrastructure present at all the air
carrier airports (and also at many other smaller airports) makes it hard
to come to any conclusion other than we must be able to utilize parts
(cabling, etc.) of the existing series circuit infrastructure. The cost
to replace it would be such as to discourage the conversion to any lower
energy system. There is no doubt that in order to take full advantage
of the potential LED operational savings, thinking has to be in terms
of system design and not just the upgrading of some system components.
The FAA is planning to install a taxiway edge lighting circuit that implements
the findings detailed in the study. The test circuit(s) will utilize the
new LED taxiway edge lights with series circuit interface and a new CCR.
There will be more news to follow on this planned installation. If you
would like a copy of the study referenced in this article contact Sharon
Murray at Veracity Engineering (sharon.m.murray@veracity-eng.com).
Discussion
What are your thoughts on these and other 'future' topics? A forum for
discussing the issues associated with the use of LEDs is available on
this website
(see Standards>Future series circuit discussion), and one is also available
at the Veracity Engineering's site
[http://www.veracity-eng.com].
Share your views and help shape the future.
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