Electronic Control Gear Research Articles

Performance and measurement of power quality due to harmonics from street lighting networks

The municipality government of San Miguel de Tucumán city in Argentina is interested in applying energy saving policies to street lighting facilities. In this frame, devices like astronomical programmable clocks and electronic control gear (ballast) will be used to replace photocells and inductive control gear. Also luminaries in use could be replaced by more efficient ones. A technical-economical evaluation was necessary and the technical aspect was request to the Lighting Department of Tucumán University. The performance of the devices and the power quality impact in the lighting networks evaluation was also necessary to evaluate. The study carried out involved outdoor and laboratory test. During 1,5 month six lighting networks with 273 semi-cutoff luminaires were tested. Network selected belong to residential areas which represent more than 60% of total city lighting facilities (26.000 luminaires). In addition laboratory test were conducted with a sample of inductive (in use) and electronic control gear, for high pressure sodium discharge lamps (HPS) 150W. Performance varying voltage input for aged was analyze. Some results from tests points out that: • The use of programmable astronomical clocks instead of photocell produces 11% of energy saving because of actual time on and off schedule set. • Electronic control gear instead of inductive control gear produces 28% energy saving. • Luminaire replacement of current HPS 150W by HPS 100W with Electronic control gear and photocell control produces 43% in energy saving. Outdoor test results from measurement of electrical input parameters and harmonics of existing inductive control gear in street lighting, indicate that: while THD V voltage is about 2,8%, THD A current can be reduced from 38% to 6,5% even when electronic control gear is set to the lower output power step (70% of power output and 60% of initial average illuminance value). The results obtained will be used as arguments for the widespread replacement in the city which would involve considerable investment and a new experience in the region.

Radiant characteristics of high power excilamps with binary exciplexes of XeCl and XeBr

The characteristics of the coaxial binary excilamps containing two exciplexes of XeCl* and XeBr* were studied based on the dielectric barrier discharge with various annular gap, driven by sinusoidal electronic control gear. The effect of the gas pressure, halogen fraction, and discharge gap were investigated. The optimum total pressure is 150–200 mbar and 200–250 mbar for 308 nm and 282 nm, respectively, leading to about 200 mbar for the total radiant efficiency. The optimized total halogen percentage is in range of 0.2%–0.3%, which is slightly increased, with a higher bromine ratio. Additionally, the radiant efficiency shows weak dependence on the discharge gap.

Radiation characteristics of coaxial KrBr* excilamps based on a dielectric barrier discharge

The characteristics of the emission spectra of coaxial KrBr* excilamps driven by sinusoidal, rectangular and pulsed electronic control gear (ECGs) are investigated, based on the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with an annular gap of 10.5 mm. The radiant power of intense narrow band ultraviolet radiation at 207 nm is derived from the irradiance according to the Keitz formula, while the input power is computed from the integral of the product of voltage and current. The radiant characteristics of the 207 nm spectral line have been studied with regard to total pressure and bromine percentage, demonstrating an optimum pressure at 300–350 mbar as well as an optimum bromine percentage 0.1–0.3%, resulting in (3–4%) ± (0.3–0.5%) radiant efficiency at the optimum lamp power density of 360–540 W m−1. Of the three ECGs, results indicate that the pulsed waveform produces a higher efficiency than rectangular and sinusoidal waveforms.

Photo-dissociation of dimethylamine by KrBr* excilamp

A study of dimethylamine photo-dissociation in the gas phase has been conducted using UV radiation delivered from a KrBr* excilamp, driven by a sinusoidal electronic control gear with maximum emission at wavelength of 207nm. The electrical input power and radiant power of the lamp were measured to determine their effects on the degradation. The influence of flow velocity and initial concentration of dimethylamine were also examined. In order to evaluate the photo-dissociation process comprehensively, several parameters were investigated, including removal efficiency, energy yield, carbon balance and CO2 selectivity. It is shown that the removal efficiency increases with enhanced input power and decreased gas flow rate. A high removal efficiency of 68% is achieved for lamp power 102W and flow velocity 15m3h−1. The optimum dimethylamine initial concentration is around 3520mgm−3, for which the energy yield reaches up to 442gkWh−1 when the input power is 65W. In addition, two chain compounds (1,3-bis-dimethylamino-2-propanol; 3-penten-2-one, 4-amino) and three ring organic matters (1-azetidinecarboxaldehyde, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl; N-m-tolyl-succinamic acid; p-acetoacetanisidide), were identified by GC–MS as secondary products, in order to demonstrate the pathways of the dimethylamine degradation.

The efficiency of coaxial KrCl* excilamps

The spectrum, input power and 222 nm radiant efficiency were measured for coaxial KrCl* excilamps based on a dielectric barrier discharge. The inner tubes of the lamps have an inner/outer diameter (ID/OD) of 14/16 mm. The OD of the outer tubes is 40 mm with wall thicknesses of 1.2, 1.5 or 2.0 mm. The lamps were driven by sinusoidal, rectangular and pulsed electronic control gears (ECGs). The 222 nm radiant power is derived from irradiance, according to the Keitz formula. The input electric power is measured with an oscilloscope, combined with a voltage probe and a current probe. The results show that the maximum efficiency of the 222 nm radiation is 9.2% for a KrCl* excilamp with a wall thickness of 1.2 mm, filled with krypton (198 mbar) and chlorine (2 mbar), driven by a pulsed ECG. The effects of waveform, frequency, wall temperature and transmittance of the tube are discussed. We observe that the filament configuration of the micro-discharges changes for different voltage waveforms. The results of gas composition and pressure show an optimum pressure at 200 mbar and an optimum chlorine percentage around 0.4–1.0%.

Influence of electrode, buffer gas and control gear on metal halide lamp performance

In this paper the influence of electrode composition, buffer gas fill pressure and control gear on the performance of metal halide lamps is investigated. It is shown that pure tungsten electrodes improve lumen maintenance and reduce voltage rise over lamp life. An optimum buffer gas fill pressure condition is discovered which allows for reduced electrode erosion during lamp starting as well as under normal operating conditions. Use of electronic control gear is shown to improve the performance of metal halide lamps.

Comment 1 on ‘Advantages and disadvantages of the use of compact fluorescent lamps with electronic control gear’ by FV Topalis, MB Kostic and ZR Radakovic

Comment 1 on ‘Advantages and disadvantages of the use of compact fluorescent lamps with electronic control gear’ by FV Topalis, MB Kostic and ZR Radakovic

Comment 2 on ‘Advantages and disadvantages of the use of compact fluorescent lamps with electronic control gear’ by FV Topalis, MB Kostic and ZR Radakovic

Comment 2 on ‘Advantages and disadvantages of the use of compact fluorescent lamps with electronic control gear’ by FV Topalis, MB Kostic and ZR Radakovic

Advantages and disadvantages of the use of compact fluorescent lamps with electronic control gear

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis dealing with the behaviour and economics of electronic compact fluorescent lamps. The economic analysis, based on the results of the test concerning the lifetime and the lamp lumen maintenance factor of electronic compact fluorescent lamps, and conducted using the cost-discount method, showed an obvious advantage for lamps of this type compared with incandescent ones. The strategic importance of the mass use of electronic compact fluorescent lamps, as well as serious power quality implications it can cause to the network, are explained in detail. Possible solutions of this problem are also presented.

Increasing efficiency

As part of a research and development programme, the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough has been continuously testing components and materials for Concorde. To simulate the calculated extremes of heat, pressure and stress expected in flight from ground level to ten miles high, at twice the speed of sound, A.E.W. Ltd were asked to design and build special test ovens and electronic control gear. Specifying very close limits to tolerance on all aspects of design, the overriding stipulation called for reliability and continuous operation on programmes of 30,000hr (3½ year) duration.

British Railway's experience with electronic control gear on locomotives: 1966–1968 : G. G. Kibblewhite, IEE Conf. Reliab. Electron., Conf. Publ. No. 60, 10–12 December (1969), p. 57

British Railway's experience with electronic control gear on locomotives: 1966–1968 : G. G. Kibblewhite, IEE Conf. Reliab. Electron., Conf. Publ. No. 60, 10–12 December (1969), p. 57