Solid State Plasma Lighting

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Item ID: 80

Solid State Plasma Lighting

High Bay/Outdoor Area or Street Lighting: Solid State Plasma vs. HID

High-lumen output in a small electrodeless bulb. Gas similar to a metal halide is excited to a plasma state by a driver with RF induction.

Synopsis:

Light emitting plasma technology produces a high quality white light in high light output packages. It uses a solid-state device (driver) to generate RF (radio frequency) energy to power a plasma light source by ionizing the gasses enclosed in a quartz bulb. The technology has an interesting history, evolving from the sulfur lamps that had great promise in the 1990s (now manufactured by LG). Each manufacturer is using a slightly different approach to the technology, with various pros and cons of each approach.

Plasma lighting is set to compete in outdoor roadway and area lighting and high-bay interior lighting, as well as specialty applications in architectural and entertainment lighting, and it looks like it may be an energy efficient way to light sports stadiums. Energy savings of about 40% over high pressure sodium and metal halide systems, and the long lamp life should reduce maintenance costs.

The lamp itself is quite small, though there are additional highly technical components required. Several companies are currently marketing the products which cost from about the same as a 400W pulse-start metal halide (http://www.luxim.com/pdfs/LUXIM-MEEA-2009.pdf) to 85% more than 400W metal halide but requiring fewer fixtures (http://www.plasmabright.com/lg.warehouse.asp).

Energy Savings: 40%

Energy Savings Rating: Limited Assessment What's this?

Level	Status	Description
1	Concept not validated	Claims of energy savings may not be credible due to lack of documentation or validation by unbiased experts.
2	Concept validated:	An unbiased expert has validated efficiency concepts through technical review and calculations based on engineering principles.
3	Limited assessment	An unbiased expert has measured technology characteristics and factors of energy use through one or more tests in typical applications with a clear baseline.
4	Extensive assessment	Additional testing in relevant applications and environments has increased knowledge of performance across a broad range of products, applications, and system conditions.
5	Comprehensive analysis	Results of lab and field tests have been used to develop methods for reliable prediction of performance across the range of intended applications.
6	Approved measure	Protocols for technology application are established and approved.

Simple Payback, New Construction (years): 5.1 What's this?

Simple Payback, Retrofit (years): 13.9 What's this?

Simple Payback is one tool used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a proposed investment, such as the investment in an energy efficient technology. Simple payback indicates how many years it will take for the initial investment to "pay itself back." The basic formula for calculating a simple payback is:

Simple Payback = Incremental First Cost / Annual Savings

The Incremental Cost is determined by subtracting the Baseline First Cost from the Measure First Cost.

For New Construction, the Baseline First Cost is the cost to purchase the standard practice technology. The Measure First Cost is the cost of the alternative, more energy efficienct technology. Installation costs are not included, as it is assumed that installation costs are approximately the same for the Baseline and the Emerging Technology.

For Retrofit scenarios, the Baseline First Cost is $0, since the baseline scenario is to leave the existing equipment in place. The Emerging Technology First Cost is the Measure First Cost plus Installation Cost (the cost of the replacement technology, plus the labor cost to install it). Retrofit scenarios generally have a higher First Cost and longer Simple Paybacks than New Construction scenarios.

Simple Paybacks are called "simple" because they do not include details such as the time value of money or inflation, and often do not include operations and maintenance (O&M) costs or end-of-life disposal costs. However, they can still provide a powerful tool for a quick assessment of a proposed measure. These paybacks are rough estimates based upon best available data, and should be treated with caution. For major financial decisions, it is suggested that a full Lifecycle Cost Analysis be performed which includes the unique details of your situation.

The energy savings estimates are based upon an electric rate of $.09/kWh, and are calculated by comparing the range of estimated energy savings to the baseline energy use. For most technologies, this results in "Typical," "Fast" and "Slow" payback estimates, corresponding with the "Typical," "High" and "Low" estimates of energy savings, respectively.

Details

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Solid State Plasma Lighting

High Bay/Outdoor Area or Street Lighting: Solid State Plasma vs. HID

High-lumen output in a small electrodeless bulb. Gas similar to a metal halide is excited to a plasma state by a driver with RF induction.

Item ID: 80

Sector: Commercial

Energy System: Lighting--Lamps & Ballasts

Technical Advisory Group: 2009 Lighting TAG (#1)

Synopsis:

Baseline Example:

Baseline Description: 320W pulse-start metal halide
Baseline Energy Use: 1620 kWh per year per unit

Comments:

High wattage metal halide lighting is typically used at car dealer lots where the white light shows off the colors of the cars. The lighting is generally operated all night, at full power, and on dark cloudy days as well. 400W metal halide lamps have been a standard, but with pulse-start technology only a 320W system is needed to provide more light, 25,000 lumens.
Regarding new luminaires, from 150-500W, standard magnetic ballasts and probe start lamps are not allowed, with some exemptions, since 2009, as regulated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) provides a summary of the law at Http://www.nema.org/gov/energy/upload/NEMA-summary-and-Analysis-of-the-Energy-Independence-and-Security-Actof-2007.pdf
In existing fixtures, retrofits to use pulse start technology are common to take advantage of their benefits in cluding higher efficacy, better lumen maintenance, longer life and more. While manufactures tend to compare their new products to standard technology, a better comparison is to puse start systems. A 320W system uses 370 watts and has a lamp life of 20,000 hours and puts out around 21,000 to 29,500 mean lumens depending on being clear or coated. If operated 12 hours a night year around energy use is 1620kWh/yr.

Manufacturer's Energy Savings Claims:

"Typical" Savings: 40%
Savings Range: From 4% to 40%

Comments:

The main manufacturers are Luxim LiFi, http://www.luxim.com/ and Topanga, http://topangatech.com/. Luxim provides calculators that show around 40% energy savings over HPS and MH and Topanga claims 50% over 1000W MH. Both focus on reduced maintenance due to longer life and the benefits of white light. Both offer dimming as a feature to extend life, though no mention of what that does to efficacy is mentioned on the websites.
While the Luxim product shows only a 4% energy savings over a 250W HPS in a warehouse setting it is likely most customers will use the product when higher savings are available or other features are also attractive. This technology is at its best in the higher light output applications.

Best Estimate of Energy Savings:

"Typical" Savings: 40%
Energy Savings Reliability: 3 - Limited Assessment

Comments:

In street lighting applications 40% energy savings are possible. In a conversation with the Superintendent of Public Works in Nashville, TN, Jim Binckley , he reported that after 440+days they saw 40% energy savings per lamp of their installation of LiFi lamps, having replaced 600 400-Watt high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps with 266-Watt LEP lamps, and no dimming has been implemented yet, although they expect to do so in the future.

Energy Use of Emerging Technology:

972 kWh per unit per year What's this?

Energy Use of an Emerging Technology is based upon the following algorithm.

Baseline Energy Use - (Baseline Energy Use * Best Estimate of Energy Savings (either Typical savings OR the high range of savings.))

Comments:

Ratings vary with the product -- from 30,000-70,000 hours. These life expectancies have to be considered tentative, however, because, as one Luxim representative pointed out, “the industry is not yet 70,000 hours old.”

The example above, the Luxim STA-41-01, has a life of 50,000 hours at 70% of initial brightness and carries a warranty for emitter and driver of three years excluding labor and Topangas is about the same, though labor was not mentioned. Both products are dimmable to 20% and doing so will extend life.

Technical Potential:
Units: unit
Currently no data available.

First Cost:

Installed first cost per: unit
Emerging Technology Unit Cost (Equipment Only): $730.00
Emerging Technology Installation Cost (Labor, Disposal, Etc.): $80.00
Baseline Technology Unit Cost (Equipment Only): $430.00

Comments:

Replace 320W PSMH with 280W Light Emitting Plasma for auto sales lot.

Assumed $25 demolition of existing fixture, $5 recycle lamp, $50 installation (per Luxim website)

A case study of a parking lot for a manufacturer in Silicon Vally CA, saved 55% energy going from 400WHPS to 275WLEP, improving quality of light as well. Occupancy sensors for high/low operation contributed to the saving even more. http://www.luxim.com/technology/case-studies/42-lep-parking-lot-lighting-in-silicon-valley

Cost Effectiveness:

Simple payback, new construction (years): 5.1

Simple payback, retrofit (years): 13.9

What's this?

Cost Effectiveness is calculated using baseline energy use, best estimate of typical energy savings, and first cost. It does not account for factors such as impacts on O&M costs (which could be significant if product life is greatly extended) or savings of non-electric fuels such as natural gas. Actual overall cost effectiveness could be significantly different based on these other factors.

Comments:

Cost savings are due to reduced energy use, directional light control, and reduced maintenance. In some cases fewer fixtures will be required than previous installations or with another technology. See the case studies under Prior Work for additional information. Cost of ownership and energy use fall in the 35-40% range for the limited numbers of studies available with payback often around two-and-half years, though one facility paid back in under four months.

Detailed Description:

Plasma lighting (sometimes called LEP, light emitting plasma) is a category of solid-state lighting, but is not the same as a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The fundamental difference is that LEDs use the solid-state device itself for light generation while plasma light sources use a solid-state device (driver) to generate RF (radio frequency) energy to power a plasma light source by ionizing the gasses enclosed in a quartz bulb.

Topanga Technologies uses a proprietary configuration of an electrode-free plasma lamp placed external to the resonator. Cerevison uses a quartz RF resonator and integral plasma burner (lamp), a transition unit (the system which couples the RF energy from the source into the resonator), an RF microwave source in the form of a magnetron, and an (AC) power supply. LiFi by Luxim uses a dielectric resonant cavity to couple power from a solid state power amplifier into a high intensity discharge vessel, unlike other electrodeless sources. An AC to DC power converter is also used by all manufacturers.

The result is a very small device, called an emitter, with the lamp in it about the size of a Tic Tac® mint that produces a somewhat directional (unlike the other electrodeless lamp-induction), high brightness and broad spectrum white light with a high color rendering index up to 94 with a variety of color temperatures. It is dimmable to about 20% of light output, and dimming improves lamp life.

The amount and intensity of light allows this technology to perform in applications that LEDs currently cannot. The rated life varies with models from 30,000 to 50,000 hours when 70% of original light output is reached. It is promoted for larger lighting needs, above 5000 lumens output, such as street and area lighting, big box stores, industrial facilities, some sporting venues with overhead lighting, agricultural/horticultural lights, decorative, billboard, towers and arrays, and for television and film work, and the field is growing. A 266 Watt unit replaces a 400 Watt metal halide lamp for about 40% energy savings. Operating temperature range is -40 to 45 C. The Ceravision product claims at least 90 lumens/Watt (Lm/W), LiFi produces 115 Lm/W, while Topanga claims 90-110 Lm/W (system watts), though it is not clear if they are all using the same measurement or not. That is, whether they are including the energy use of the power supply and driver. When comparing in efficiency to other technologies, it is also important to note that the very small point source of the lamps makes it easier to control the light output, making it possible to design very efficient luminaires, too. In April 2013, Topanga Technologies introduced a 50,000 lumen output lamp, the APL1000. At 455 Watts, it replaces a 750 or 1000 Watt HID lamp, for up to 50% savings, with an overall system efficacy of 110 Lm/W at a CRI of 70. Topanga Technologies and Luxim produce the light engines, and depend on luminaire manufacturers to make complete light products. Ceravision produces complete lumaires.

Currently these companies are producing this type of lighting:
Ceravision, http://www.ceravision.com, trade name Alvara
Luxim, http://www.luxim.com/ used by Stray Light Optical, http://straylightoptical.com
Topanga, http://topangatech.com/
PlasmaBright, http://plasmabright.com/, info@lgelighting.com

Product Information:
Topanga Technologies, APL1000 Luxim, Lifi Ceravision, High Efficiency Plasma Lighting

Standard Practice:

The plasma lighting is competing where High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH, probe, pulse and ceramic), and indoor applications high bay fluorescent lighting is used. LEDs are now also beginning to enter these markets and are gaining ground in street-lighting applications especially. The plasma lighting industry at this time does not see LEDs as competition, but that could change.

Development Status:

The first practical plasma lamps were the sulfur lamps manufactured by Fusion Lighting in the early 1990s. They were light engines that distributed light through light pipes from a central source. This lamp suffered a number of practical problems and did not prosper commercially, and was gone by the late 1990s, though LG has now taken over the technology and has commercial product available.

The new plasma technologies started being developed in the early 2000s and produced in the mid/late 2000s.

The LiFi product was used in a rear projection television in 2007, but that product has now been discontinued.

End User Drawbacks:

There is still a little mercury in the gas mixes, so if mercury is a banned substance that may be a problem, though the quantities are very small.

This is not a retrofit product; a new luminaire is required.

First costs can be high.

Update from the October 2012 BPA roadmapping workshop: good product selection is still hard to find.It would be helpful to develop luminaire optics for plasma light sources with integrated EMIshielding that meets RP8 and other standards. (12-14-12 CW)

Operations and Maintenance Costs:

Baseline Cost: $204.00 per: unit per year
Emerging Technology Cost: $137.00 per: unit per year

Comments:

	PSMH	LEP
Annual Operating Cost (@ $0.10 kWh)	$162	$122
Annual Maintenance Cost	$42	$15
Total Annual Cost	$204	$137

Additionally the PSMH lamps will need replacement every 3.1 years at $30 ea and the LEP every 11.4 years at $70 each, plus $100 labor for each with 12 hour/day operation, http://www.luxim.com/technology/energy-savings-calculator

Effective Life:

Anticipated Lifespan of Emerging Technology: 11 years

Comments:

Competing Technologies:

High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH, probe, pulse and ceramic), and indoor applications of high-bay fluorescent lighting. LEDs may be competitive in the lower illuminance levels. At least three companies are making the plasma lights.

Reference and Citations:

WSJ, 04/17/2013. Topanga Technologies Launches the APL1000 Light Engine, a New Ultra-Efficient Solution for High Mast, High Output Applications
Wall Street Journal

Maury Wright, 08/31/2010. Outdoor Lighting: Light Emitting Plasma leads street-light news
LEDs Magazine

Plasma, 01/01/2009. Plasma Light History
Plasma International

Rank & Scores

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Solid State Plasma Lighting

2009 Lighting TAG (#1)

Technical Advisory Group: 2009 Lighting TAG (#1)
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