The University of Manchester and DialightLumidrives are collaborating to apply the advantages of light-emitting diode (LED) technology to road lighting.
More filial, brighter, longer life
LEDs first appeared in digital watches and computers in the 1970s. Today, this technology has advanced to make durable, low-energy, and community-friendly road lighting.
LED lighting is not only environmentally friendly but also safe. It does not contain glass, filament or mercury, so there is no explosion of the lamp due to halogen or high-intensity current (HID). The voltage current can completely guarantee the safety of consumers. At the same time, its cost is low and it is not subject to mercury treatment limitations due to sodium vapor units. Moreover, since the LED volume is so small, the possibility of manufacturing a more sleek, lighter and lighter illuminator is greatly increased.
The color LED module makes the color very realistic, and it can gradually increase the high brightness output according to the model size and energy consumption rate, and the energy efficiency is higher than that of the incandescent lamp unit. High-pressure sodium-steam street lamps, which are very common in Europe, can produce 85 lumens of illumination per watt of electricity consumed, and LED technology has produced more than 150 lumens per watt of electricity. With the emergence of new semiconductors, this number is expected to be even higher.
LEDs have a long life expectancy, and the LED street light modules under study have a life span of more than 10 years, which is more than four times the life of ordinary street lamps. The long life of LED street lights means that there is no need to change them frequently, which reduces the potential for traffic disruptions and reduces the maintenance costs paid by the government for this purpose.
Low energy consumption and more beautiful
The general manager of DialightLumidrives believes that LEDs will become the main source of illumination in the next 10 years and are now moving in this direction.
Dr. Roger Charterworth of the University of Manchester's Power Conversion Department said: "In the 20th century, old-fashioned sodium lamps that made everything look orange would gradually be replaced by high-pressure lamps. These high-pressure sodium lamps glow brighter. And it is visually aesthetic, and it can help solve street crimes and anti-social behaviors while at the same time being low in energy consumption."
"LED technology for the first time shows its excellence in the display of appliances in the 1970s, and then we are increasingly seeing LEDs used in things like traffic lights and car lights."
He added: "As environmental issues are mentioned at the top of the national and government agenda, energy conservation has become an important issue. Imagine how many lights there are in the UK, then you will know about energy and cost savings. There is a big chance."
Researchers point out that while reducing energy consumption and overall operating costs, LED street lights can also help reduce light pollution, and the era of large cities emitting heat to the sky may be a thing of the past. Company personnel said that replacing existing street lights with LED street lights should be simple because no complicated electronic technology is required.
To be a big man still needs to "honed"
If LEDs are used to provide illumination, the energy consumption can be reduced by 25% to D50%. But when 12,000 lumens (a typical 60-watt bulb is 800 lumens) or more is needed, heat and other electrical-related problems can be an obstacle to LED technology.
The challenge that researchers are now trying to solve is how to reduce the amount of heat generated by a group of LEDs that are tightly packed together. Since LED modules can be used outdoors, it is also necessary to take into account actual environmental factors, such as the possibility of nesting birds on critical heat sinks. There is also a regulatory issue. The current regulations stipulate the glare of the lamp and the light pollution limit, and clearly define the area where the LED light source can be installed. These are all challenges.
Under normal operation, the LED undergoes a process in which the light output is gradually reduced, and this process continues. The reason for the decrease in light output may be due to the reduced efficiency of LED light production or due to the reduced light path within the LED compression package. However, as long as there is no overload, LED street lights can reach 70% of the original light output after 50,000 hours or 10 years of operation.
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