Dimming Control of LED Lighting Fixtures Powered with Photovoltaic Modules

This paper presents the operation of lighting control system with LED luminaires. A lighting system primarily powered by Photovoltaic panels has been studied and in order to ensure uninterrupted operation, has been reserved by the LV electrical network. Such a system can be used in tunnel lighting systems to power part of the adaptation and/or permanent lighting system. Both lighting systems work during the day, with the overall adaptation brightness being greatest during the interval 11am-2pm when the PV string power generated reaches its peak. In order to achieve more significant economic effect, neither energy storage elements, nor maximum power point tracking controller have been added. The principle of control on the luminaires has been presented according to the photovoltaic plant output voltage variation. A simulation model has been developed in Matlab aiming to simulate and analyze the systems performance. The system's characteristic have been presented for the entire range of photovoltaics operation.