Introducing Connected Lighting Into Hazardous Locations For Sustainability And Maintenance Optimization

In the recent past, process environments started their transition from lamp based technologies to light emitting diode (LED) lighting to improve lighting performance, increase lifespan, and lower electrical costs over traditional lighting such as high-pressure sodium (HPS) or high intensity discharge lamps (HID). Introducing lighting controls to further these aims in process environments has been difficult due to the complexity of the hazardous environment, code and facility requirements, installation efforts, and competing maintenance priorities causing slow adoption within facilities. This paper will describe how combining wireless radio communication and environmental sensors integrated with a facility-wide monitoring and control software solution offers new insight into plant operations. This enables identification of opportunities to further reduce energy consumption, track carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction history to meet corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets, enhance facility safety, and simplify lighting maintenance prioritization. Guidelines for optimizing lighting performance through commissioning and creating custom controls are included. Examples of practical applications of controlling and monitoring lighting in hazardous areas will be reviewed.