Mobile solution for light fitting evaluation

LimeSpec - Measuring tool for characterising lighting systems and to explore sites of solar installations

In Europe, about 14 per cent of total electric power consumed is used for public and private lighting. By 2020, the annual energy consumption for lighting in Europe will reach 40TWh, which is equivalent to approximately 18 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The European municipalities are therefore required to implement the EU regulation of 2008 for gradually phasing out certain light sources. In future, they could be supported in these efforts by an innovate measuring tool for characterising lighting installations developed in Vienna.

Vienna is one of the few cities with its own light laboratory used to determine luminous and electrical engineering parameters of lamps and light fittings and inspect light systems, such as street and tunnel lighting. Lighting engineers at the City of Vienna's responsible department, the Research Centre, Laboratory and Certification Services, are also engaged in improving light engineering testing and measuring methods.

In this context, the municipal department is currently involved in the development of a compact, portable and autonomous measuring tool providing detailed and time-saving evaluation of municipal lighting systems. The development of the tool, which is called LimeSpec, is funded within the New Energy 2020 research programme by the Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG), the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.

Upon completion, the measuring tool will measure optical and luminous parameters together with variables, which reflect environmental factors relevant to the measurement such as, for example, temperature, global position, orientation of the optical axis or a photographic image of the measured scene. The combination of spectrally dispersed indicators with integral indicators enables identification of the specific light fitting. The measuring tool will thus also be able to identify the age of the light and the degree of soiling on the light fitting. Weighting of the spectrally dispersed measurement with various evaluation functions allows, among other things, statements to be made regarding the degree to which nocturnal insects are attracted to the light. This provides municipalities with accurate information and detailed records on their street lighting. The recorded data can provide a decision-making basis with regard to the improvement or renewal of street lighting and the appropriate choice of locations for solar panels.

Another field of application for LimeSpec would be the efficient establishment of a register of light fittings. In this way, light fittings of lower energy efficiency can be identified and, if appropriate, replaced by those of higher efficiency.

Using LimeSpec, up to 10 per cent of energy consumed by municipal lighting can be saved in the future. With about 58 million public lights in Europe, this would mean savings of approximately four terawatt hours of electricity annually and again, based on an average distribution of primary energy sources, a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 1.5 million tonnes or an equivalent of approximately EUR 50 million.

MA39_02_Light Engineering

Facts & Figures

Light laboratoy equipment details

  • Goniophotometer
  • Luminance camera
  • Ulbricht globe photometer (1.5m diameter)
  • UV-VIS Dr. Gröbel spectrometer
  • Double monochromator 200nm to 3μm, Gooch & Housego
  • Climate chamber with natural convection, -25°C to +50°C

Research project period and milestones

  • 2009: application to the Austrian Research Promotion Agency
  • 2010: completion of the technical and optical design beginning of the test programme on two prototypes in the laboratory and field measurements
  • 2011: completion of hardware and software development, test programme and evaluation of project results

Phases of the LimeSpec research project

  • Phase 1: definition of requirements for the measuring system derived from standards and recommendations
  • Phase 2: support design
  • Phase 3: laboratory tests, comparison measurements with reference tools
  • Phase 4: laboratory tests and field measurements, comparison measurements with reference tools
  • Phase 5: evaluation, final report

 

Contact
DI Rainer Müller
Tel. +43 1 4000 84267
Fax +43 1 4000 7997
rainer.mueller@tinavienna.at 

 

Links

 

back