FR2681754A1 - ELECTRICAL LIGHTING INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND MONITORING THE SAME. - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric lighting installation including discharge lamps (10) comprising, for each discharge lamp (10), a generator/starter module (13) including an oscillator and a starter circuit and arranged near the lamp and a supply and drive module (11) including a DC voltage generator, a circuit for controlling the oscillator and a circuit for detecting the mean direct current delivered by the generator and which is permanently plugged into the network (4), the two modules being linked by a DC power transmission line (12), all the supply and drive modules (11) being linked, by a current-carrier connection with the network (4), to a lighting control and monitoring unit (5).

Description

The present invention relates to lighting networks such as

  road lighting networks and more generally public lighting; for reasons of reliability and profitability, high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamps are used, such as

  mercury vapor or sodium vapor lamps.

  Currently, in public lighting installations, the lamps are divided into groups, each supplied by a supply line and controlled by a common switch. There is no possibility of individually controlling each lamp or modulating its

lighting level.

  This possibility of modulating the level of light-

  rage is particularly advantageous for lighting networks of communication channels Indeed, in the middle of the night traffic is reduced and lighting can be reduced, which has led, in some cases to extinguish a

lamp out of two in the middle of the night.

  This is aggravated by the fact that the network voltage varies in significant proportions; for example the voltage can increase by 10% during off-peak hours at night, which further increases the

  lighting level at times when it is not needed

  be able to have a strong lighting It is therefore

  table to be able to control the lighting level of the lamps.

  Regarding maintenance, monitoring

  launch of a public lighting network requires a "tour" during which the maintenance agents observe all the lamps which must be lit for this inspection This requires either an operation at night or lighting in broad daylight of the network for its verification. In any case, this examination can only detect defective lamps which no longer light up, but it did not provide information on the state of the lamp; in particular, it is desirable to detect the aging of the lamps, which decreases their level of lighting. European patent application 319 440 describes a device for detecting malfunctions of lamps; each lamp is associated with a current detector acting on an oscillator when the current

  consumed drops below a certain level The oscil-

  reader whose frequency is characteristic of the lamp in question sends a signal by carrier current on the power supply network to a power supply cabinet which is connected by a telephone link to a computer

central monitoring.

  Such a device can only detect the failure to light the lamps and it gives no

  indication of their condition In particular, this provision

  tif gives no indication as to the aging of

the lamp.

  Another disadvantage of lighting installations

  current rage is that they require a power line

  specific station with an electric energy meter

  only to be able to know the electricity consumption of

the installation concerned.

  The present invention proposes to provide a lighting installation in which each lamp can be controlled individually by controlling its lighting level and monitored automatically in this

  which concerns its operating condition, and which does not require

  site no specific power network.

  To this end, the subject of the present invention is an electrical lighting installation comprising discharge lamps powered by a medium frequency oscillator which is provided with a starting circuit and which is

  controlled by a DC voltage supplied by a general

  DC voltage tester comprising in particular a condenser

  storage charger, whose charging current is com-

  connected by a self-inductor, and a switch connected

  in series with said storage capacitor, characteristic

  sée in that it comprises, for each discharge lamp, a generator-igniter module which comprises the oscillator and the ignition circuit and which is arranged near the discharge lamp and a power supply and control module which comprises the DC voltage generator, an oscillator control circuit and a circuit for detecting the average direct current delivered by said DC voltage generator and which is permanently connected to the power supply network, in that the generator-initiator module is connected to the module

  supply and control by a transmission line

  DC power supply and in that all the power and control modules are connected, by a carrier current link on the electrical power network, to a control and monitoring unit.

lighting.

  The use of a DC voltage generator with storage capacity controlling a medium frequency oscillator enables the discharge lamp to be supplied independently of network disturbances, in particular voltage drops or micro-cuts; this supply device is described in French patent 2,627,911, the text of which is incorporated in the

  this request for reference.

  In such a power supply device, only the medium frequency oscillator creates disturbances, in particular by radiation, and the fact of having this oscillator in the immediate vicinity of the lamp allows

  very easily eliminate these disturbances.

  However, the voltage generator continues to

  storage capacitor and self-inductor switch

  tance supplies a DC voltage free from interference which can therefore be transmitted by a simple two-wire line of the power supply and control module

  to the generator-initiator module This allows in particular

  bind to place the power and control module away from the generator-igniter module, in accessible places while the generator-igniter module is

  for example arranged at the top of a candelabra.

  The power supplied by the medium frequency oscillator, which may for example be constituted by a current-controlled series push-pull oscillator, is

  controlled by the voltage supplied by the power module

  As a result, each lamp can be individually controlled by its

  power and control module.

  The control and monitoring unit can therefore

  control and monitor each lamp in the installation

  separately This control and monitoring unit

  lance can be connected to a centralized control station by a switched telephone network It can be

  arranged in an electrical energy distribution station

  such as a medium voltage / low voltage substation.

  Advantageously, the power and control module is connected to the electrical energy network

  through a disturbance filtering circuit

network bations.

  The lighting installation according to the invention does not require a specific supply line since each of the supply and control modules is

  directly connected permanently to the general energy network

electric.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the control circuit of the oscillator controls the DC voltage generator so that it provides several levels of DC voltage which

  each corresponds to a lamp lighting level.

  Advantageously, provision is made for three levels of

lighting of 50%, 75% and 100%.

  The present invention also relates to a

  method for controlling the above-mentioned installation

  sed in that, when a discharge lamp is started, the voltage supplied by the DC voltage generator is the predetermined voltage corresponding to the level

lowest lighting.

  This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the constraints

  test on the discharge lamp and therefore increase

ter its lifespan.

  The invention also relates to a method for monitoring a lamp of an installation of the type

  which is characterized in that, during the operation-

  discharge lamp, the value indicated by the average DC detector is compared with a set value corresponding to the chosen lighting level and in that, in the case where the value indicated by the current detection circuit continuous average delivered has a variation greater than a predetermined threshold compared to the set value, the

  power supply and control module produces information

  alarm that can be transmitted to the control unit

  lighting control and monitoring.

  This alarm information warns the control and monitoring unit and, possibly, the centralized control station of lamp aging

considered.

  Advantageously, the aforementioned comparison is carried out with a certain delay with respect to the moment of ordering the ignition, for example after twenty minutes, so as to monitor the lamp in

  the absence of any transient phenomenon.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, when the power supply and control module issues an order to start the discharge lamp, if the value indicated by the detection circuit of the average direct current delivered is less than a value of predetermined threshold, the pilot power module produces alarm information which can be transmitted

  to the control and monitoring unit.

  This information indicates that the lamp concerned

does not light up.

  Other features and advantages of the

  vention will emerge from the following description of a

  exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is the diagram of an installation

  electric lighting in accordance with this invention

tion; and

  Figure 2 is the diagram of the power supply module

  control and generator-initiator module of a

lamp.

  Figure 1 shows a lighting installation

  rabies comprising high pressure discharge lamps with metal vapor, for example sodium vapor lamps of which only three, marked 10, 20 and 30 have been shown The lighting installation is supplied by an electrical energy network comprising for example a medium-voltage-low-voltage distribution station 1 comprising a transformer 2 disposed between a medium-voltage line 3 and low-voltage outlets 4.4 ′ and

4 ".

  According to the invention, each lamp is supplied directly on the low voltage network, for example on the feeder 4, by means of a power supply and control module 11, respectively 21 and 31, which is permanently connected on the low voltage network 4 by a two-wire connection Each of the power and control modules comprises in particular a

  DC voltage generator which provides, via

  medium of a two-wire direct current supply line 12, respectively 22 and 32, a direct voltage to a generator initiator module 13, respectively 23 and 33, essentially comprising a medium voltage oscillator controlled by the voltage supplied by the power supply module and driving and supplying the lamp 10,

20 and 30 respectively.

  Each supply and control module is connected by carrier current link on the low voltage network to a control and monitoring unit of the lighting installation 5 which is also permanently connected to the low voltage network and which is

  located for example in distribution station 1.

  This lighting control and monitoring unit is itself connected to a centralized control station 6 which is, for example, equipped with a computer 7 and 8,8 'and 8 "interfaces each connected to a unit.

  The monitoring link between the

  side 8 and the control and monitoring unit 5 is

  carried out by means of a switched telephone network 9.

  Figure 2 shows a lamp 10 with sound

  power supply consisting of the power module

  mentation and control 11 and the generator module-

initiator 13.

  The latter essentially comprises an oscilla-

  medium frequency detector 14 and a starting circuit 15 which are controlled by the DC voltage supplied by the

two-wire line 12.

  This DC voltage is provided by a general

  DC voltage tester 16 which is arranged in the power supply and control module 11, the output of which is constituted by the two-wire line 12 The power and control module 11 is connected to the network 4, the voltage of which is sent to the generator 16 by means of a circuit 17 for protection against disturbances in the network, in particular the harmonic components This circuit 17 also includes a protection against overcurrents constituted for example by

a fuse.

  The power supply and control module 11

  carries a communication circuit 18 by carrier current

  and it is therefore also connected to the low voltage network 4.

  This transmission circuit 18 is connected by ail-

  their to a conditioning interface 19.

  This conditioning interface 19 manages the transmissions with the control and monitoring unit 5, it transmits the commands and the set values to a circuit 24 controlling the DC voltage generator 16 and it transmits the information provided by a circuit 25 of control and diagnosis at the control and monitoring unit 5 This control and diagnosis circuit 25 essentially comprises a detector of the mean value of the direct current supplied by the generator 16 to the generator-initiator module 13 by the

line 12.

  The power supply and control module 11 also includes a circuit 26 for immunization against short cuts in the power supply network. This immunization circuit is a safety circuit which blocks the operation of the charge circuit of the storage capacitor in order to '' eliminate the possible effects of

brief voltage cut.

  Embodiments of these different circuits are described in French patent 2,627,911

which was cited above.

  The operation of the installation which has just been described is as follows; programs and

  lighting guidelines for each installation are developed

  res in the centralized control station 6 and sent to each control and monitoring unit 5 which sends orders of the operating instructions to each of the lamps 10, 20 and 30; the orders are specific for each lamp and we can thus modulate the lighting

  as needed; you can program the function-

  so that the lighting is maximum during peak hours and reduced in the middle of the night during the hours

hollow.

  As indicated above, the circuits used in the two modules make it possible to obtain a reference power independently of the value of the network voltage without having to fear micro-cuts or

voltage drops.

  As indicated above, when a lamp is started, the setpoint power corresponds to the lowest level and, when the lamp is on, a new command is obtained to obtain the level of illumination

longed for.

  Advantageously, when the discharge of the discharge lamp does not occur, the order of ignition is

  deleted after a predetermined time.

  So we see that we can easily realize

  a modular type electric lighting installation

  re; we can in particular add lamps very easily since there is no power line

specialized for lighting.

  Metering of absorbed energy

  by the lighting installation, are carried out directly-

  In the centralized control station Indeed, there is no need for a meter since the different levels of illumination correspond to a predetermined power consumption and it suffices to know the operating program of a lamp to determine

consumption.

  With regard to maintenance, there is no longer any need to carry out inspection rounds since the power supply and control module supplies the control and monitoring unit which transmits them to the station. centralized control, all information concerning the operating status of the lamps, such as

  that non priming and aging.

  The voltage supplied to each lamp is precisely controlled to obtain a predetermined level of lighting; This results in energy savings, for example during off-peak hours. The fact that the lamps can be operated at reduced power significantly increases their lifespan, which further increases the profitability of the installation. he

Claims (12)

  1 Electrical lighting installation comprising discharge lamps (10,20,30) supplied by a medium frequency oscillator (14) which is provided with an ignition circuit (15) and which is controlled by a direct voltage supplied by a DC voltage generator (16) comprising in particular a storage capacitor, the charging current of which is controlled by a self-inductance, and a switch connected in series with said storage capacitor, characterized in that it comprises, for each discharge lamp (10,, 30), a generator-igniter module (13,23,33) which includes the oscillator (14) and the ignition circuit (15) and which is arranged near the lamp discharge and a power supply and control module (11,21,31) which comprises the DC voltage generator (16), an oscillator control circuit (24) and a DC current detection circuit (25) means delivered by said DC voltage generator e t which is permanently connected to the power supply network (4), in that the generator-initiator module (13,23,33) is connected to the power supply and control module (11, 21,31) by a current energy transmission line   continuous (12,22,32) and in that all the feed modules   mentation and piloting (11,21,31) are linked, by a   carrier current link on the electric power network   (4), to a control and monitoring unit lighting (5).   2 electric lighting installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting control and monitoring unit (5) is connected   at a centralized control station (6).   3 electric lighting installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the lighting control and monitoring unit (5) is connected to the centralized control station (6) by a network dial-up telephone (9).   4 Electric lighting installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the lighting control and monitoring unit (5) is   arranged in an electrical energy distribution station that (1).   Electrical lighting installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the oscillator is   a current controlled push-pull oscillator.   6 Installation of electric lighting according to   claim 1, characterized in that the supply module   ment and piloting (11,21,31) is connected to the electrical energy network via a   network disturbance filtering circuit (17).   7 Installation of electric lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the oscillator control circuit (24) controls the DC voltage generator (16) so that it provides several DC voltage levels each corresponding to a level of illumination of the discharge lamp controlled by said power supply and control module (11.21 = -31).   8 Electric lighting installation according to claim 7, characterized in that three are provided   lighting levels of 50%, 75% and 100%.   9 electrical lighting installation according to claim 1, wherein the discharge lamps (10,20,30) are candelabras, characterized in that the power supply and control module (13, 23,33) is   arranged in the candelabra and in that the general module   teur-initiator (11,21,31) is arranged inside the luminaire.   Method of controlling an installation of   electric lighting according to claim 7, characterized in that, when a discharge lamp (10,20,30) is started, the voltage supplied by the DC voltage generator (16) is the predetermined voltage   corresponding to the lowest light level.   11 Method for monitoring a discharge lamp of an electrical lighting installation according to the   claim 1, characterized in that, during operation-   discharge lamp, the value indicated by the average DC detector (25) is compared to   a setpoint corresponding to the light level   rage chosen and in that, in the case where the value indicated by the detection circuit of the average direct current delivered exhibits a variation greater than a predetermined threshold with respect to the set value, the supply and control module produces a alarm information which can be transmitted to the   lighting control and monitoring.   12 Method for monitoring a flashlight   charge of an electric lighting installation according to claim 11, characterized in that, when the supply and control module (11,21,31) issues an order to start the discharge lamp, if the value indicated by the detection circuit (25) of the average direct current delivered is less than a predetermined threshold value, the pilot power supply module (11,21,31) produces alarm information which can be   transmitted to the control and monitoring unit (5).   13 Method for monitoring a flashlight   charge of an electrical lighting installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the comparison is carried out with a certain delay with respect to   the instant of priming command.   14 Method for monitoring a flashlight   charge of an electrical lighting installation according to the   claim 12, characterized in that, when the amor-   discharge lamp discharge (10,20,30) does not occur, the ignition order is deleted after a predetermined time.