Power Plant Generation Lighting is unique because of the problems associated with this environment. In facilities where steam is generated, heat is a byproduct and can't be avoided. We have years of experience working in these environments so here is our list of the top 3 problems and solutions.
Below are 3 solutions to common lighting problems that are unique to power generation utility plants.
To generate power by steam generation, you need to create steam. This means you have a hot environment. Whether its coal, natural gas, other types of fossil fuels, or nuclear, typical LED products do not work well or last for a long time in a hot environment.
The problem gets magnified in some environments where lights cannot be maintained while generation is in progress. When it comes time for scheduled down time, many of the HID lights just aren't working because they are well past their expected life span.
Let's take a look at a typical 2 year run cycle between maintenance. At 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operational hours = 8,760. Over two years, that equates to 17,520 hours. Most HID bulbs at best are good for 15,000 hours of run time. If the bulbs are working, they would be almost at end of life, and not at all producing the light levels required to work in a dangerous work environment.
Most LED solutions are not built to handle extreme temperature conditions. Most have an upper ambient temperature limit of 130F, not nearly enough for periods in summer when temperature at roof levels can exceed those ranges.
We solved this heat problem with our engineered high temperature high bay. It is powerful enough to replace 400W and 1000W HID. Along with great lighting engineering, this high bay is designed for ambient temperatures between -85F and 190F. It can operate either as a High Bay or Flood Light, depending on the mounting brackets, and can be equipped with safety cables for an added layer of security.
This light has been designed with heat (and cold) in mind. It is completely over built, under-driven and performs extremely well in conditions of heat and steam. It is also IP66 rated. These lights are warrantied for five years.
1. Power Plants can be hot environments
To generate power by steam generation, you need to create steam. This means you have a hot environment. Whether its coal, natural gas, other types of fossil fuels, or nuclear, typical LED products do not work well or last for a long time in a hot environment.
The problem gets magnified in some environments where lights cannot be maintained while generation is in progress. When it comes time for scheduled down time, many of the HID lights just aren't working because they are well past their expected life span.
Let's take a look at a typical 2 year run cycle between maintenance. At 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operational hours = 8,760. Over two years, that equates to 17,520 hours. Most HID bulbs at best are good for 15,000 hours of run time. If the bulbs are working, they would be almost at end of life, and not at all producing the light levels required to work in a dangerous work environment.
Most LED solutions are not built to handle extreme temperature conditions. Most have an upper ambient temperature limit of 130F, not nearly enough for periods in summer when temperature at roof levels can exceed those ranges.
We solved this heat problem with our engineered high temperature high bay. It is powerful enough to replace 400W and 1000W HID. Along with great lighting engineering, this high bay is designed for ambient temperatures between -85F and 190F. It can operate either as a High Bay or Flood Light, depending on the mounting brackets, and can be equipped with safety cables for an added layer of security.
This light has been designed with heat (and cold) in mind. It is completely over built, under-driven and performs extremely well in conditions of heat and steam. It is also IP66 rated. These lights are warrantied for five years.
Power facilities sometimes have a need for slightly more than 130F lighting. To satisfy this requirement we also have a solution that is powerful enough to replace 400W and 1000W HD and is good to 140F: the 300W LED HighBayFixture is DLC Premium classified and has a five year warranty.
2. The cost of engineering studies alone can be a deterrent to upgrade to LED
Changing out light fixtures in a power generation utility plant is not a simple task. Some facilities require a complete set of engineering studies done on the new fixture before the lights can be purchased and installed. This is not a fast, or a cheap process. In fact, the cost of the engineering studies alone can more than double the cost of the fixture replacement project.
In this case, retrofitting your existing light fixtures over to LED allows you to keep your fixtures in place and convert over to LED. It is not always possible to use the existing fixtures. Some of the fixtures may have deteriorated beyond the point of reuse. However, if your fixtures are in good condition, then replacing the bulb and ballast with a LED solution is cheap, fast and easy to do, and does not compromise your existing engineering diagrams.
Retrofitting HID
Replacing HID (Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium or Mercury Vapor) is a simple task involving these simple steps.
1. Turn off power.
2. Remove the bulb.
3. Remove the socket.
4. Remove the ballast.
5. If the fixture has a reflector, remove it also.
6. Install the LED driver where the ballast was and reconnect it to the incoming power supply.
7. Configure the multi-function LED head mount so it is optimal for your fixture.
8. Slide the retrofit head on the mount.
9. Wire the LED Head to the LED Driver.
MyLEDLightingGuide offers 11 Retrofit Solutions that can replace anything between 70W HID to 1500W HID. All backed with a 10-year warranty. Voltage compatibility is from 100-277V and 277-480V [HV].
Retrofitting fluorescent light is essentially the process of changing out fluorescent tubes with (LED) tubes. Our tube LED-Retrofits are self-contained, both LED components and driver are contained within the tube. Unlike a fluorescent tube where the driver is external and mounted inside the fixture, LED replacement tubes are all in one bulbs.
Replacing Fluorescent to LED is a simple task involving these simple steps.
1. Turn power off.
3. Remove the socket.
4. Remove the ballast.
5. If the fixture has a reflector, remove it also.
6. Install the LED driver where the ballast was and reconnect it to the incoming power supply.
7. Configure the multi-function LED head mount so it is optimal for your fixture.
8. Slide the retrofit head on the mount.
9. Wire the LED Head to the LED Driver.
MyLEDLightingGuide offers 11 Retrofit Solutions that can replace anything between 70W HID to 1500W HID. All backed with a 10-year warranty. Voltage compatibility is from 100-277V and 277-480V [HV].
Retrofitting Fluorescent
Retrofitting fluorescent light is essentially the process of changing out fluorescent tubes with (LED) tubes. Our tube LED-Retrofits are self-contained, both LED components and driver are contained within the tube. Unlike a fluorescent tube where the driver is external and mounted inside the fixture, LED replacement tubes are all in one bulbs.
Replacing Fluorescent to LED is a simple task involving these simple steps.
1. Turn power off.
2. Remove the bulb.
3. Remove the ballast, or disconnect the ballast.
4. Wire the input wires directly to the wires on one side of the tombstones. Un-shunted tombstones are required.
5. Install the LED into the fixture, ensuring the end of the tube that receives power is installed with the un-shunted tombstone.
Go to Homepage
3. Remove the ballast, or disconnect the ballast.
4. Wire the input wires directly to the wires on one side of the tombstones. Un-shunted tombstones are required.
5. Install the LED into the fixture, ensuring the end of the tube that receives power is installed with the un-shunted tombstone.
3. Bright Security Lighting is Paramount
It is paramount that the area around a utility plant is bright and safe, so that it can be secure. Older HID technologies like High Pressure Sodium with its low quality of light is not the answer. Metal Halide is better, but with short bulb life spans, replacing the bulbs that are no longer working will become a regular maintenance job.
In the early days of LED, high power solutions were not available. That is no longer an issue. With powerful options that can easily replace 2000W HID, or retrofit up to 1500W Metal-Halide or HID and warranties up to 10 years, these (LED) High Mast, Flood, Area Lights and retrofits are designed to work and provide high quality light for years and years.