Berlin, January 2022. EnergyLabs’ solution ActiveEnergy includes the AE PowerStation, our hardware. The AE PowerStation increases the lifetime of electrical devices in usage in a building. It happens when optimizing the voltage and improving the power quality. In this blog post, we look at both factors in closer detail.
How does voltage optimization affect the lifetime of electronic devices?
“Voltage Optimization” is the process of reducing the voltage levels in buildings, thereby enabling energy savings.
Electrical power is supplied to us by electricity supply companies and grid operators. According to the IEC 60038 standards, electricity utilities and grid operators must provide voltage levels of 230 V ± 10%. They are supposed to supply 230 V.
Every electrical device must be able to work within a range of plus and minus 10% of 230 V. This fact means that every device is able to work between 207 Volts and 254 Volts. Although, every volt above 207 V is more than what is needed for electrical devices to work. In the voltage optimization process, voltage levels in buildings are reduced to the minimum level of this voltage range, thereby achieving energy savings. The voltage optimization is performed by our AE PowerStation.
When we limit the voltage supplied to the devices to 207 Volts, the action results in less energy consumption. But it also results in less heat dissipation in devices and cables. This directly affects the lifetime of devices.
When considering the lifetime of devices, the general rule of thumb is that every increase of 10 Kelvin in temperature reduces component life by half. Or we can state it the other way round:
Every decrease of 10 Kelvin in temperature doubles the lifetime of the electronics components and devices.
Affect of Voltage and Temperature Reduction on Lighting Devices
Voltage Optimization leads to lower temperatures in the cabling and electronic devices. In the case of lighting devices, the lower temperature has a significant impact on the lifetime of devices.
For example, according to a study (1) done by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), a reduction of 10 Kelvin in operating temperature leads to life span extension by 140%. In a study (2) by OSRAM, if a 20 Volt reduction is applied, the lifetime of halogen lamps and light bulbs is doubled.
Graphics: EnergyLabs
References:
- LED-Treiber Hanspeter Hochreutener, 11. Juni 2013. Zentrum für Signalverarbeitung und Nachrichtentechnik, School of Engineering Zürcher Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (zhaw).
- Zuverlässigkeit und Lebensdauer von LEDs, Applikationsschrift, OSRAM, Munich Germany.
- https://www.electronics-cooling.com/2017/08/10c-increase-temperature-really-reduce-life-electronics-half