A Luminaire/Plenum/HVAC Simulator

This paper describes a new apparatus designed to model the physical parameters that affect fluorescent lamp performance under realistic operating conditions. These parameters include fixture type, mounting configuration, HVAC integration, and room air temperature, which directly determine the minimum lamp wall temperature (MLWT) and, therefore, the resulting light output of the lamp/ballast system. This apparatus is used principally to measure MLWT under operating conditions, which enables us to identify the effects the major parameters have on lamp/ballast system performance. Initial parametric results illustrate the use of this apparatus to provide representative MLUTs for a range of application conditions.