KNX shows world-class control in Indian airport
The KNX building control standard forms the basis of the lighting control system for the new terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, which has around 100 000 light fittings. The control system is based on ABB’s I bus KNX technology and was designed by Entelechy Systems and is regarded as an outstanding reference for KNX.
This 111 600 m2 terminal can handle over 10 000 passengers a day. Even though lighting must be on 24 h a day, there is scope for saving energy by reducing brightness and automatic dimming/switching according to patterns of demand. It is possible to make maximum use of daylight, and systems can be automated using timing and occupancy programs.
The public areas were divided into zones to facilitate implementation. In busy areas, lighting is on continuously at full brightness. In areas such as arrivals and departures, lighting is controlled according to whether the zone is activated or deactivated — in which case lighting is dimmed by 90%. In vacant sanitary facilities, lighting levels are halved.
Lighting and HVAC systems in offices and service rooms can be controlled by presence sensors as required. Some lighting in deactivated areas can be switched on manually.
Presence sensors are evaluated by the control monitoring system of the HVAC installation to establish the correct temperatures in those areas. Signals from the fire-alarm system activate emergency lighting and lighting on escape routes. In addition consumption data computed by KNX can be used to control costs.
