Smart Solar-Powered LED Outdoor Lighting System Based on the Energy Storage Level in Batteries

Abstract

A novel smart solar-powered light emitting diode (LED) outdoor lighting system is designed, built, and tested. A newly designed controller, that continuously monitors the energy status in the battery and, accordingly, controls the level of illumination of the LED light to satisfy the lighting requirements and/or to keep the light “on” the longest time possible, has been developed. The use of such a reliable solar energy-driven lighting system, with maximum time when the light is “on”, will eliminate the sudden-death of light problem present in conventional photovoltaic (PV) outdoor lights and, therefore, will enhance the natural surveillance and feeling of safety in sustainable buildings and cities. Furthermore, the new smart control eliminates the overdischarge of the system battery and, thus, ensures a longer lifetime of the system battery. Experimental measurements on a system using a 30 W LED light showed that the operating hours of the new system reached 29.16 h (1750 min), while the operating hours for a similar conventional system were 20.86 h (1252 min). Thus, the new lighting system was demonstrated, securing more than 40% of operating hours than the conventional systems.

Adaptation of an Insulated Centralized Photovoltaic Outdoor Lighting Installation with Electronic Control System to Improve Service Guarantee in Tropical Latitudes

“…The energy deficit that is generated in the months with less solar radiation has been verified and it derives into repetitive sudden crashes of the system. Thus, optimization changes are proposed to improve the efficiency considering only aspects within the PVB sys-tem: efficiency improvement or elimination of components and introduction of regulation control elements to reduce the energy made available on the lamp's grid [11].…”

“…That is, once the minimum battery discharge value is reached, the light suddenly turns off. The study of the regulation of these autonomous systems, so that the maximum duration of their lighting is guaranteed regardless of the meteorological circumstances, has led to studies such as that of Kiwan et al [11], where new controllers are designed for each luminaire. In that study, new controllers are designed to minimize the problem of sudden luminaire shutdown and extend the life of the battery system.…”

Impact of Solar Radiation on Luminaires and Energy Efficiency in Isolated Residential Photovoltaic Systems

“…Photovoltaic technology has made a significant global impact, particularly in large buildings, where it has enhanced indoor natural lighting efficiency, boosted performance in outdoor lighting system designs, and heightened overall security [6]. Many governments worldwide have adopted sustainable city goals as a response to issues such as overpopulation, pollution, and global warming [7]. In tropical regions, innovative technology applications demonstrate how suburban buildings can benefit from attached greenhouses, which help regulate indoor temperatures and generate energy for household consumption [8].…”

Assessing the electricity energy efficiency of university campus exterior lighting system and proposing energy-saving strategies for carbon emission reduction

“…They have succeeded in designing a new lighting system that securing more than 40% of working hours compared to traditional systems. Kiwan et al ( 2018 ) Exterior Street lighting The economic effect of intelligent dynamic control in urban exterior lighting has been investigated. A new approach is proposed using real-time sensor data, based on artificial intelligence techniques and graphical transforms.…”