A comprehensive harmonic study of electronic ballasts and their effect on a utility's 12 kV, 10 MVA feeder

This work presents the results of three stages of research performed on energy-efficient electronic ballasts for T8 fluorescent lamps: (a) laboratory experiments on 1/spl phi/ and 3/spl phi/ configurations, (b) field testing on a building before and after retrofit, and (c) computer simulations of a building, and of an actual 12 kV feeder with residential, commercial, and industrial loads. Some of the results indicate: (1) V/sub THD/ (total harmonic distortion) reduction when magnetic and electronic ballasts are combined, (2) neutral current increase or decrease in 3/spl phi/ electronic-ballasts configurations depending upon its type, and (3) decrease in V/sub THD/ along the modeled feeder for lightand heavy-loads after retrofit, and a "maximum allowable" I/sub THD/ for an electronic ballast for retrofit.<
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