Phase-resolved thermal modeling of a fluorescent lamp electrode as a function of current waveshape and frequency

A modeling technique for calculations of approximate phase resolved temperature profiles of a fluorescent lamp electrode is presented. Analytical expressions for instantaneous electrode temperature are derived by solving a set of simplified differential equations describing time domain electrode temperature dynamics. The electrode surface temperature fluctuations are a function of current waveshape and its operating frequency. The model shows that moderate temperature fluctuations may indicate the safe operating conditions as far as lamp life expectancy is concerned.<
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