The response of fluorescent lamp with magnetic ballast to voltage distortion
- Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA (United States)
- Univ. of Bologna (Italy)
Fluorescent lamps belong to the electric discharge lamp family, they convert the electrical energy into light by transforming electrical energy into kinetic energy of moving electrons and ions. The v{sub a}/i characteristic for an arc discharge lamp operating at 60Hz is nonlinear, Fig. 2a. The instantaneous power developed by the arc is p = v{sub a}i. The arc voltage v{sub a} remains nearly constant during each half-cycle of the current, Fig. 2b. The value V{sub a} depends on the lamp geometry (length, diameter) and the physical properties of the plasma (type of gas and pressure). This paper explains the light flicker mechanism in fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballast. The light flicker is caused by the jitter of the ignition angle. Voltage noninteger harmonics are found to be the main cause of flicker. Experimental oscillograms confirm the analytical model.
- OSTI ID:
- 477212
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960111--
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 0885-8977; ISSN ITPDE5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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