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  • Low Loss Electromagnetic Ballast

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    lokesc
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    Gas discharge lamps, this meaning lamps using the principle to make a gas electrically con-ductive and thereby light emitting, are a relatively old technique. Especially fluorescent lamps represent a very widespread lighting system. It is not possible to apply the line voltage directly to such lamp, be it AC or DC, a higher or a lower magnitude. Traditionally these lamps have always been operated on AC mains by means of a so-called magnetic ballast, which is nothing more than a reactor or choke, for limiting the lamp current. In recent years, as power electronics techniques came up, an alternative way of operation was introduced, the so-called electronic ballast, which converts the incoming mains frequency into a much higher frequency, usually in the range of 20 kHz to 80 kHz, to operate the lamp with. The magnetic ballast method creates a huge amount of inductive reactive power, significantly exceeding the magnitude of active power, but this reactive power can easily and cheaply be compensated without risk of any interferences, if done adequately (see section 5). The electronic ballast does not – or should not – produce substantial amounts of fundamental re-active power (displacement power factor DPF or cosφ). It need not but may be designed to operate on different mains frequencies, including DC, and different voltages, thereby also com-pensating any input voltage variances. The decisive argument put forward for its use is, how-ever, the energy saving achieved, not so much by lower internal losses in the ballast itself, but rather by an efficiency improvement of the lamp when operated at the high frequency supplied from the output terminals of such electronic ballast. For this reason they feed less power into the lamp than a magnetic ballast does. However, electronic ballasts are several times more ex-pensive than the plain passive magnetic models and much more susceptible to certain dis-turbances and are likely to become themselves a source of disturbances. Unlike the magnetic ballasts, which as a law of physics can follow only one principle of working and only one basic design, power electronics provide a lush choice of design variants and working principles to design electronic circuits for operating fluorescent lamps.

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    Gas discharge lamps, this meaning lamps using the principle to make a gas electrically con-ductive and thereby light emitting, are a relatively old technique. Especially fluorescent lamps represent a very widespread lighting system. It is not possible to apply the line voltage directly to such lamp, be it AC or DC, a higher or a lower magnitude. Traditionally these lamps have always been operated on AC mains by means of a so-called magnetic ballast, which is nothing more than a reactor or choke, for limiting the lamp current. In recent years, as power electronics techniques came up, an alternative way of operation was introduced, the so-called electronic ballast, which converts the incoming mains frequency into a much higher frequency, usually in the range of 20 kHz to 80 kHz, to operate the lamp with. The magnetic ballast method creates a huge amount of inductive reactive power, significantly exceeding the magnitude of active power, but this reactive power can easily and cheaply be compensated without risk of any interferences, if done adequately (see section 5). The electronic ballast does not – or should not – produce substantial amounts of fundamental re-active power (displacement power factor DPF or cosφ). It need not but may be designed to operate on different mains frequencies, including DC, and different voltages, thereby also com-pensating any input voltage variances. The decisive argument put forward for its use is, how-ever, the energy saving achieved, not so much by lower internal losses in the ballast itself, but rather by an efficiency improvement of the lamp when operated at the high frequency supplied from the output terminals of such electronic ballast. For this reason they feed less power into the lamp than a magnetic ballast does. However, electronic ballasts are several times more ex-pensive than the plain passive magnetic models and much more susceptible to certain dis-turbances and are likely to become themselves a source of disturbances. Unlike the magnetic ballasts, which as a law of physics can follow only one principle of working and only one basic design, power electronics provide a lush choice of design variants and working principles to design electronic circuits for operating fluorescent lamps.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    131 views3 pages

    Low Loss Electromagnetic Ballast

    Uploaded by

    lokesc
    Gas discharge lamps, this meaning lamps using the principle to make a gas electrically con-ductive and thereby light emitting, are a relatively old technique. Especially fluorescent lamps represent a very widespread lighting system. It is not possible to apply the line voltage directly to such lamp, be it AC or DC, a higher or a lower magnitude. Traditionally these lamps have always been operated on AC mains by means of a so-called magnetic ballast, which is nothing more than a reactor or choke, for limiting the lamp current. In recent years, as power electronics techniques came up, an alternative way of operation was introduced, the so-called electronic ballast, which converts the incoming mains frequency into a much higher frequency, usually in the range of 20 kHz to 80 kHz, to operate the lamp with. The magnetic ballast method creates a huge amount of inductive reactive power, significantly exceeding the magnitude of active power, but this reactive power can easily and cheaply be compensated without risk of any interferences, if done adequately (see section 5). The electronic ballast does not – or should not – produce substantial amounts of fundamental re-active power (displacement power factor DPF or cosφ). It need not but may be designed to operate on different mains frequencies, including DC, and different voltages, thereby also com-pensating any input voltage variances. The decisive argument put forward for its use is, how-ever, the energy saving achieved, not so much by lower internal losses in the ballast itself, but rather by an efficiency improvement of the lamp when operated at the high frequency supplied from the output terminals of such electronic ballast. For this reason they feed less power into the lamp than a magnetic ballast does. However, electronic ballasts are several times more ex-pensive than the plain passive magnetic models and much more susceptible to certain dis-turbances and are likely to become themselves a source of disturbances. Unlike the magnetic ballasts, which as a law of physics can follow only one principle of working and only one basic design, power electronics provide a lush choice of design variants and working principles to design electronic circuits for operating fluorescent lamps.

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    of 3

    Low Loss Electromagnetic Ballast

    1. Outline of Technology
    Fluorescent lamps are discharge lamps that require ballast to limit their current and
    thus their power. Ballasts can be classified as electromagnetic type and electronic
    type. Electromagnetic ballasts have been used since their invention in 1940s and
    are basically consisting of recyclable magnetic core and copper winding. The
    expected lifetime is 15 years.
    Since 2000s, electronic ballasts have emerged as a more energy efficient solution for
    operating T5 fluorescent lamps at a high frequency. Compared with traditional
    electromagnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts have higher energy efficiency and no
    flickering effects in the lamps. However, the expected lifetime of electronic ballasts
    is about 5 years depending on the operating life of electronic components, especially
    electrolytic capacitors.
    Low loss electromagnetic ballasts (LLEBs) have recently been developed to drive T5
    fluorescent tubes. The power loss of LLEBs is similar to that of electronic ballasts.
    LLEBs have the characteristics of controlled flicker free start-up, long designed
    product life (>10 years as claimed) and recyclable (>80% materials such as steel sheet
    and copper wires are recyclable as claimed).
    2. Product Range and Physical Dimensions
    Based on market information, the product range of low loss electromagnetic ballasts
    covers 1 x 14W, 1 x 21W, 1 x 28W and 1 x 35W.

    Photo 1 Physical sizes of a 1x14W electronic ballast (top) and 1x14W low loss
    electromagnetic ballast (bottom)

    Page 1 of 3

    Low loss electromagnetic ballasts are much heavier than standard electronic ballasts,
    i.e., 538 grams for 1 x14W, 838 grams for 1 x 28W and over 1,300 grams for 1 x
    35W. Whereas, the weight of typical electronic ballasts of similar ratings is about
    200 grams. Photo 2 below shows disassembly of the 1 x 14W LLEB. When
    selecting and using LLEB, key considerations include product range, physical size and
    weight. Moreover, as LLEBs are in general thicker than their electronic ballast
    counterparts, LLEBs may not be suitable for some existing modular T5 lighting fittings
    with limited space.

    Photo 2 Disassembly of the 1 x 14W Low Loss Electromagnetic ballast

    3. Energy Performance of Low Loss Electromagnetic Ballasts


    Study was conducted on energy saving potential of 1x 14W and 1 x 28W low loss
    electromagnetic ballasts in comparison with standard electronic ballasts of same
    ratings. It is found that the energy saving potential of the low loss electromagnetic
    ballasts under study is comparable with standard electronic ballasts. For information,
    both types of low loss electromagnetic and electronic ballasts under study are
    certified to Class A2 in the classification of Energy Efficiency Index (EEI)1 and have
    similar energy saving performance.

    4. Summary
    Low loss electromagnetic ballasts have been developed to drive T5 fluorescent tubes.
    They are claimed to be more sustainable than its electronic ballasts counterparts as

    Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) is based on the classification scheme of Federation of National
    Manufacturers Associations for Luminaires and Electrotechnical Components for Luminaires in
    the European Union (CELMA).

    Page 2 of 3

    over 80% of the product materials of low loss electromagnetic ballasts, such as iron
    core and copper winding etc. can be recycled. The main advantages of low loss
    electromagnetic ballasts are its recyclability, long product life time and their energy
    efficiency are comparable to their electronic ballast counterparts. When selecting
    and using low loss electromagnetic ballasts, product range, physical size and weight
    are key considerations.

    Reference
    1) http://www.ke.hku.hk/eng/highlights/2012/Environmentally%20Friendly%20Ballast

    Page 3 of 3

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