Nuclear Plant Achieves Margin Gain Using Unique LED Lamp for Emergency Lighting System

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Sept. 8, 2014 - PRLog -- EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Xcel Energy, Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, has evaluated and approved a unique solid-state LED lamp for emergency lighting applications to replace 60W A19 style incandescent bulbs used in the nuclear power facility. The LA-11-4/130ACDC Series lamp developed by DDP LED Solutions, is designed to provide brightness with input power ranging from 40V to 130V, either AC or DC.  Offering over 1000 lumens of output, these lamps draw only 11W compare to 60W incandescent bulbs.  The lower power draw provides energy savings during normal operation as well as margin gain back by extending battery life of critical emergency and safety systems.

"We designed our LA-11-4/130ACDC lamp in response to numerous requests from nuclear power plant engineers across the country,” explains Tony Toniolo, DDP President.

In 2011 the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan precipitated the NRC’s evaluation of safety systems in US plants. All licensed nuclear plants were mandated to review safety and back-up systems in light of a catastrophic natural disaster where AC power may fail and remain in power-down state for an extended period of time.  Area lighting in most facilities uses AC power for normal operation and switches to DC battery power during station-black-out conditions.

“We began evaluation of the DDP lamp in June and approved it August. Our goal was to identify an alternative to the 60W bulbs we were using throughout the facility for the emergency lighting system,” indicates Jennifer Forsman, Electrical Systems Engineer at Xcel Energy Prairie Island. “The incandescent bulbs cause a high draw on emergency battery back-up. During normal operation the lights run on AC power and then switch to DC in the case of a power outage. By switching hundreds of these 60W lamps to 11W LED lamps the facility achieves margin gain back on these critical emergency lighting systems."

The DDP LA-11-4/130ACDC LED lamp is designed to illuminate seamlessly when power input switches from AC to DC power.  Additionally, this versatile lamp will continue to provide illumination at input levels as low as 40V in AC or DC mode.

The DDP LA-11 incorporates high light-extraction LED technology providing upwards of 100,000 hours of operating life.  Installation of hundreds of these lamps throughout a facility translates into tens-of-thousands of dollars savings in maintenance cost for lamp changes and battery degradation.

For more information, , contact DDP at 445 South Douglas Street, El Segundo, California 90245; e-mail techsupport@ddpleds.com; call (800) 421-6815; or go to www.ddpleds.com.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electric and natural gas company, with annual revenues of $10.1 billion. Based in Minneapolis, Minn., the company operates in eight states and provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers.

About DDP LED Solutions

Established in 1970, DDP Engineered LED Solutions is a leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality, ultra-reliable solid-state lighting solutions for status indication and illumination.

DDP prides itself on developing custom engineered LED Solutions for virtually any industrial OEM or retrofit lighting application. Markets include transportation, instrumentation, medical, and aerospace. DDP LED lamps are found in industrial OEM switchgear of major brands. DDP retrofit lamps are found in power plants under the PowerLine® LED brand name. DDP also provides custom engineered LED solutions specifically for architectural lighting applications and forward-fit LED lighting products.

DDP Engineered LED Solutions is a US company. All design and manufacturing are located in the USA.   As a California-based  manufacturer,  DDP understands your commitment to utilizing U.S. made products. Manufacturing in the U.S. is a commitment we have had since our inception and is part of what makes us successful and viable in a competitive market. While many companies struggle to meet U.S. content requirements, Emerge Lighting has continuously manufactured in El Segundo, California, using U.S. components whenever possible.