Time Based Intensity Control for Energy

Optimization Used for Street Lighting

Gursewak Singh Sidhu
Abhishek Kumar Agrawal
Sweta Patil
Group Leader mail_id :

11EE35013
11EE35012
08EE1032
sidhus234@gmail.com

AbstractIn this paper we have designed a simple, robust

and energy efficient street light control system which requires
minimum maintenance. The principle used is sensing time ,
visibility and traffic for deciding the intensity of street light.
KeywordsLighting control; Automatic control; control
equipment___ micro-controller; Street lighting; Efficency;

I. INTRODUCTION
Providing street lighting is one of the most important and
expensive responsibility of a city. Lighting can account for 1030% of the total energy bill in typical cities worldwide
(NYCGP 2009). Inefficient lighting wastes significant financial
and energy resources each year. Supply uncertainty and price
volatility of the fossil fuels and dependence of the energy on
their supply, as well as growing concern about negative effects
of global warming, have led in recent years to develop policies
to promote and encourage the rationale use of the energy and
energy saving [1].
In this context we propose a concept called Time based
intensity control for energy optimization used for street
lighting, to save energy and increase the efficiency of the
system currently being used for street lighting. The objective is
to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the same
energy services, without diminishing our comfort and quality
of life, protecting the environment, ensuring the supply and
promoting sustainable in its use [1].
The work related to design of energy efficient street
lighting system mainly focuses on using sensor based
technology. The work can be classified broadly in two
categories, to sense the demand by detecting traffic in the
vicinity or to detect ambient natural light. The sensor based
systems hence developed decide the state of the street light
based on the data received from the sensors.
Mr Mukul Joshi, Rajashri Madri in [2] have discussed a
Time Based Intensity control, a standalone system working on
look up table method. Jeremy Lagorse, Damien Paire,
Abdellatif Miraoui in [3] have discussed optimization of street
lighting system powered by hybrid system using fuel cell , PV
and battery. Paper [3] discusses a framework devolped for a
dynamic switching of street lamp based on pedestrians
locations and desired safety zones. Mr. Ji Ming Yu, Feng Wu,
Xiao Yong Yan in [4] have discussed energy saving algorithm

Department of Electrical Engineering

IIT Kharagpur
Kharagpur, India

based on wireless sensor network to detect illumination,

persons position and other condition to control intensity of
lights. The major issue with use of just sensor based system is
their reliability and cost of set-up and maintenance. Thus, it is
essential to develop a smart reliable energy efficient system
which requires minimum maintenance, is reliable, and can be
centrally monitored.
In this paper we propose such a smart system which works
on sensor technology, relays data, and also work as standalone
system in times of communication and power failure.
II. METHODOLOGY
This section briefly explains the solution to the problem. In
section II.A we shall briefly discuss the approach to system
architecture and in II.B discuss the proposed algorithm.
II.A System Identification and specifications.
In first approach, the case using only PV array, battery and
street light is considered. The lead- acid battery is commonly
used in standalone systems for their proven reliability and low
cost. With healthy life cycle of 5 years or more and efficiency
of approx.
= 80%, this type fits well with the system.
Nowadays, most of the street lamps use gas-filled
technology and last an average of 12,000hrs. With 50,000 of
light hours, LED lamps dont have to be changed for a long
period of time. Though the cost of LED lamps is quite high, but
this can be compensated by longer life cycle and cost savings
as they require less energy. Secondly, LED lamps dont emit
infrared light, hence do-not attract insects and are thus
environment friendly.
The power source (PV array) is non-linear in nature. Thus
to obtain maximum power from PV array ,a MPPT (Maximum
Power Point Tracking) algorithm based battery charging
system is required. A direct connection between PV array and
LED lights will also work, but both the systems wont be
operating at same time.
For PV cells, three commercialized technologies are
currently available: the amorphous, the polycrystalline and the
monocrystalline. The monocrystalline technology with an
efficiency of 15% compared to 10% of polycrystalline and 6%
of amorphous is best suited for case.

For an yearly operation of the system the amount of energy

required would be 328.5 kWh (see Eq.(1)). The lights are
supposed to work 12hrs a day on an average.
Eq.(1)
= 60 Watt

and receive data from the sensors for future reference

and sharing with other departments like metrological
department (visibility sensor data) or traffic light
control (traffic sensor).

Street Sub-system: This is second tier of control which

provides visibility and traffic information to block of
street lights depending upon their location. It mainly
consists of distributed sensor system (visibility and
traffic sensor) at appropriate points.

Block of street lights: This represents a smallest unit, it

could be a whole street or a single light depending
upon the locality. This represents system which
generates a PWM wave to control the intensity of the
LED array light depending on the instructions it
receives.

= 80%

Considering an Indian region like Kharagpur, West Bengal

where the annual solar insolation is little less that
3KWh/ /day approximately 200 monocrystalline cells have
to be used[5]. Such PV array represents a huge surface of 2
for only one street light. To reduce this surface, the only
solution is to add another power source, which in our case is
210V AC power available. Secondly, in above calculations it is
also assumed that the battery is large enough to store power
source throughout the year, but it largely neglects the effect
that enough sunlight is available in summers, but not in
winters.

Central Control Center

Street sub-controller
Street light system

Traffic
sensor
. Communi
cation
Module

Fig. II.c Control Hierarchy

Microcontroller

PWM
Generator

RTC

LED
array
Visibility
sensor
Fig II.a System structure

Solar
Panel

Battery
Charger

12V Lead
acid Battery

MPPT
controller

Control Algorithm: Below explained is the algorithm

proposed. The decision to vary the PWM wave duty cycle
depends on various conditions. In II.B.a , the switching
circuit between battery and power line is explained. In
II.B.b the control algorithm have been explained and in
II.B.c some special events have been mentioned where
central control server will overtake as master and direct the
intensity control on some special conditions.
II.B.a SWITCHING CIRCUIT OPERATION
The switching between battery power and 12V DC
power supply is directed by the micro-controller based
upon detection of battery voltage. When battery voltage
falls below a pre-specified label (11.5 V), the power to
LED array is switched to 12V dc supply.

Lead acid
Battery

Fig II.b Battery Charging Block Diagram

LED Array

II.B PROPOSED ALGORITHM

The heart of the system lies in a micro-controller that takes
all the decisions and is able to communicate with central
control hub and other street sub-hubs. The system is divided in
three layer system as below:

Central Control Hub: The basic decision making

Centre which can act in case of special circumstances

12V Rectified
DC supply

Control
Signal

Fig II.d Switching circuit block diagram

Case

Battery Voltage

LEDs Power
source

> 11.5V

Battery

< 11.5V

12V DC power

III. RESULTS

Table II.a
II.B.b CONTROL ALGORITHM
The micro-controller produces a PWM wave to control
the intensity of the LED array lights. The decision of duty
cycle is taken upon below described algorithm.

Real time clock provides the date and time data to

micro-controller. Based upon the date, the microcontroller selects the sunset and sunrise time from
the LUT (Table II.b) [6], already stored in its
memory. This defines the LED switching on and
off time based on sunset and sunrise time. In case
of communication failure because of disaster or
any other reason, the street lighting will keep
functioning till power supply from battery and / or
DC 12V supply is ensured.
Dates

Sunset

Sunrise

01, Jan. to 30,March

06:30hrs

17:30hrs

01,April to 30,June

05:15hrs

18:30hrs

01,July to 30,Sep

05:15hrs

18:20hrs

01,Oct. to 31,Dec

06:00hrs

17:00hrs

Fig III.a

Fig III.b

Table II.b

In case of storms, rain, fog or other conditions

when, visibility has fallen below a certain level,
the lighting system could be powered up.

Traffic sensor would be utilized to reduce the

intensity of the LED array in a phased manner
with decrease in traffic. Last half hour traffic
information would be utilized to decrease or
increase the intensity depending on the volume of
traffic. If traffic falls below a certain level, the
lights could be switched off entirely and only be
powered back when traffic reappears. The data of
approaching traffic to a certain section of the city
will be communicated by the second layer of the
system. If there is special arrangement for
pedestrians and cycling lanes with separate
lighting system, then only those specific lights can
be activated. But, the above stated pedestrian and
cycling lane lighting system can be implemented
only if required infrastructure is available.

Fig III.c

Fig III.d

II.B.a SPECIAL EVENTS FOR CENTRAL CONTROL

Activation of light on special occasions like

festive seasons, VIP visits, Curfew etc.

Activation of special installing for seasons timer.

Activation of lighting signal for warning on

dangers.

Fig III.e

In all above plots the x axis depicts the time in 24 hours. In

fig III.a the plot represents the input from real time clock, one
depicts day and 0 depicts night. In fig III.b y axis depicts
percentage of intensity of sunlight with time. In fig III.c y axis
depicts special events , one represent when the central hub
want the light to remain at full intensity. In fig III.d shows
traffic sensor data which is crossing the specific block under
simulation test. And in fig III.e the profile of light intensity of
the LED array is shown.
In fig III.a 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs depicts the day light and
hence, if only LUT was to be used the LED lights would have
been off throughout the day. But, in this simulation we
assumed that the weather turns cloudy and the visibility starts
falling after 14:00 hrs (refer fig III.b) , hence the intensity
based control takes over and turns the LEDs on from 14:00 hrs
to 18:00 hrs based on traffic data profile and visibility data.
Real time clock triggers sunset at 18:00 hrs (refer fig III.a) ,
hence the LED array is traffic sensor controlled and the lights
are completely shut down at 22:00 hrs (refer fig III.e) , as
traffic is zero after that time. The central hub sends a message
to turn on the power of LEDs fully at 00:00 hrs to 02:00 hrs
(refer fig III.c), hence it overtakes all the other control modes
and the LEDs operate at full power. This has been done to
verify special event control by central hub.
PWM wave is used to control the intensity of the LED
array. To avoid stressing the LED arrays unnecessarily by fast
switching, a saturator was used. Whenever the duty cycle of
PWM wave generated by micro-controller is greater than or
equal to 95%, it was accepted as 100% and if less than or equal
to 5%, it was accepted as zero and LEDs remained completely
turned on/off.
In current scenario throughout India, most of the street
lights remains on throughout the night. Hence taking that as
benchmark, the power saving was calculated to be 40% , as on
an average 40% of the time (3hrs during night), the traffic
observed was zero and it was waste of power to keep lights on.
In the simulated environment simulations the efficiency was
observed to vary between 30% to 45%. The simulations shown
in the paper shows reduction of power consumption by 36%. If
only LUT algorithm is used, there is no need for a sensor
network to be implemented and maintained and even that could
result in significant savings of power. But shortcoming of such
a system is that there is no real time control, and it does not
vary according to the changing environment. Also, the
proposed algorithm takes real time feedback from the
environment, hence it actively lights up the street lights in case
of environmental emergencies when intensity suddenly falls
down.
IV. DISCUSSION
The simulation was done in an ideal environment. In era of
internet of things, the information collected from the visibility
sensor could be passed on to metrological department and

traffic control department for weather observation and warning

the traffic. The traffic sensing could have been more useful if
separate roads do exist for pedestrians and vehicles. In such a
case two separate lighting system , low power for pedestrians
and high power for traffic could be implement thus further
bringing the energy bill cost.
The biggest advantage of such a system is its reliability and
ease of operation. This smart system can not only reduce power
consumption and provide reliable lighting, but also act as a
small part of smart city project providing traffic and visibility
sensor data to central hub. Thus, the cost of operating separate
traffic signals and street lighting can be shared a same
department and be monitored through a single terminal.
The system being able to communicate could also be
upgraded to self-diagnosis, where each and every block would
be able to communicate any failure with the central system.
This facility could help prove a boon for maintenance persons
as he/she would be able to directly locate the fault point and
reason of failure. This is another research area where lot of
future work can be done.

V. CONCLUSIONS
With just a LUT based system the cost of energy bill could
be brought down by 10% and also chances of irregular
operations are minimized. But, with a smart system as
proposed in this paper, not only the power consumption is
minimized, a reduction of 40% energy bill was observed in
simulated conditions on an average day, also it can act as selfdiagnosis system, increasing the effectiveness of maintenance
persons. This system if implemented can reduce the use of
human labor for maintenance and operation to a large extent
and also act as a part of smart city system providing and
sharing traffic and visibility sensor data among other
departments of the city.
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[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]
[6]

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Mukul Joshi, Rajashri Madri, Shruti Sonawane, Abhinav Gunjal, Dr.
D.N. Sonawane, Time Based Intensity Control for Energy Optimization
Used for Street Lighting, 2013 Texas Instruments India Educators
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Reinhard Mullner and Andreas Reiner, Development of street lighting
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Ji Ming Yu, Feng Wu, Xiao Yong Yan, Energy-Saving Algorithm
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Website, www.nrel.gov/international/images/india_dni_annual.jpg".
Website, http://in.weather.com/climate/sunRiseSunSet/kharagpur".