Harmonic and Power Characteristics of Electronic Ballasts for Fluorescent Lighting Applications, Energy Smart Design : Ballast Technical Reference.

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5391074

Lorusso, Anthony; Bowes, Kenneth B ^[1]

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1. Northeast Utilities, Hartford, CT (United States)

This study was conducted to investigate the harmonic and power characteristics of electronic ballasts used in fluorescent lighting applications. A total of 108 tests were performed on 54 different ballasts from six different manufacturers. Ninety-four of these tests were performed on electronic ballasts. The remaining 14 tests were performed on energy-saver magnetic, and standard magnetic ballasts for comparison purposes with the electronic ballasts. Results of this study indicate that there is a wide variation in performance among the electronic ballasts tested with respect to harmonic current generation and power consumption. The range of values in total harmonic distortion (THD) for all ballasts tested was 4.8 to 56.1%. It was found that 40% of the electronic ballasts tested exceeded 30% THD. (At high levels of current THD, neutral current can exceed phase currents in 4 wire, wye connected lighting systems. The 30% THD figure utilized in this study incorporates a safety margin to allow for lighting system phase current imbalance and variations in individual ballasts). Power factor of tested electronic ballasts was found to be excellent - in the range of 0.88 lag to 0.86 lead. Data recorded in this study may prove useful in encouraging manufacturers to produce electronic ballasts of lower harmonic generation and higher efficiency. 10 refs.

• Research Organization: United States. Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5391074
• Report Number(s): DOE/BP-39833-51; ON: DE92013816
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
42 ENGINEERING
426000 -- Engineering-- Components
Electron Devices & Circuits-- (1990-)
BALLASTS
Ballasts (Electricity)
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DATA
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS
ELECTRICAL TESTING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORESCENT LAMPS
FREQUENCY MIXING
Fluorescent lighting
HARMONIC GENERATION
INFORMATION
LIGHT BULBS
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER FACTOR
TESTING