ESCAP

For emergency lighting there have been and still are only two basic solutions, both of which are determined by the location of the battery:

• Central battery systems, where a central battery bank powers several luminaires
• Self-contained systems, where each luminaire has its own battery

Each alternative offers certain advantages and disadvantages. Central battery systems offer the advantage of easy testing and maintenance, whereas self-contained systems offer flexible installations due to simpler cabling. The definitive disadvantage of self-contained systems has been the limited lifespan of batteries. Besides which, the changing of batteries could be very labour intensive as the batteries are located in possibly hundreds of luminaires.

Teknoware solves the battery problem of self-contained luminaires by replacing the batteries with Escap technology. Using LED luminaires and the wireless Aalto Control remote management system together, it is possible to create a solution where the advantages of both central battery and self-contained systems can be combined and the disadvantages eliminated.

Super capacitors replace batteries

Escap is a self-contained luminaire product line which combines capacitive energy storage with the latest LED technology. Unlike traditional applications, the energy required during a power outage is not stored in traditional electrochemical batteries but in very high capacitance low-voltage capacitors.

Super capacitors cannot replace batteries directly due to their different voltage characteristics. A capacitor’s charge voltage and current must be controlled accurately and as wide a relative voltage range as possible must be utilised when the capacitor is discharged. Teknoware has developed special power converter technology to overcome these challenges and as a result, it has been possible to utilise this quickly advancing technology in practical applications.

Escap technology makes it possible to manufacture self-contained luminaires which contain no harmful substances and which require no regular battery replacements. Capacitors have a lifespan of over ten years, which matches the life expectancy of modern surface mount LEDs. As a result, the luminaire does not require maintenance during its lifespan. In addition, it does not contain any hazardous waste, so it can be recycled at the time of disposal like any ordinary electronic waste.

As an energy source, the capacitor offers the added advantage of having much shorter charge time in comparison to traditional battery technology. As a result, full emergency lighting capacity is restored quickly after a power outage. Environmental advantages also include the fact that Escap luminaires use very little energy because a fully charged capacitor is consuming practically no power at all.

Teknoware grants a ten-year warranty scheme to the light source and backup emergy source of the Escap luminaires.

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A proof of the uniqueness of this product is the fact that the ESCAP product line won the Innovation Prize at the 2008 Electricity, Lighting and Audiovisual trade exhibition.