Dellux Technologies Inc., Canada, an international leader in LED tunnel lighting, has selected Golden DRAGON® LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors for the luminaires to be installed in the "Thüringer Schmücketunnel" on the A71 in the German state Thüringen. Upon installation of the new LED luminaires, in the fall of 2008, it will be the first tunnel in Germany and the longest in Europe to be illuminated by LED light.

The Dellux luminaires and the LED light sources from OSRAM combine to provide a virtually maintenance-free light source with a minimum life of 130,000 hours (15 years). Thanks to Dellux's patented LED Degradation Compensation technology, the luminaires being installed use 30% less energy than the 70 W high-intensity discharge lamps that have traditionally been used. Trials have already commenced in one of the bores.

Dellux's technology combined with OSRAM's Golden DRAGON LEDs guarantee a minimum life span of 15 years without light degradation. "For tunnel lighting in particular, this is a major benefit because maintaining or replacing lamps is not only an expensive business but is also inconvenient for drivers and poses a safety risk," said Michael Fiebig, Marketing Director for Solid State Lighting at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors.

"What's more," Fiebig adds, "the light sources and luminaires exceed the high safety standards for tunnel lighting. They tolerate heat, are mechanically robust, and are insensitive to pollution." Another benefit is that OSRAM LEDs have a stable lumen degradation curve and show hardly any color location shifts throughout their life, as long-term tests have documented. Together with Dellux patented light degradation technology, an impressive minimum life span of 130,000 hours can be achieved, while maintaining the required light levels.

High-bright, uniform light - day or night

The OSRAM semiconductor light sources can be dimmed and controlled and therefore adjusted to provide the prescribed luminance levels through the tunnel during both day and nighttime. By day, the required luminance in the tunnel is 4.65 cd/m²; by night, a value of 0.8 cd/m² is sufficient. The average power consumption during the day is 70 W, but, at night, an average of only 12 W is required to provide enough light to suit the conditions. An annual energy savings of 10,000 kWh overall can be realized compared with a lighting system based on high-intensity discharge lamps. This corresponds to a minimum of 30% less energy consumption.

Intelligent lighting for long system life

As a specialist in tunnel lighting, Dellux has developed an intelligent lighting concept for tunnel lighting applications such as the "Thüringer Schmücketunnel" that fully exploits the benefits of Golden DRAGON LEDs, with customized electronic circuitry and software to further increase the life of the system. "We have installed redundant LEDs in each luminaire to offset soiling and degradation losses," said Wolfgang Medenwald, VP Business Development Europe, Dellux Technologies. "We also operate the LEDs at only 85% of their rated current to achieve greater efficiency and durability. Our patented light degradation compensation technology can maintain the required light levels for a minimum of 15 years despite the difficult conditions in the tunnel."