Dirt depreciation of compact fluorescent lamp downlights

An experimental protocol and apparatus were developed to assess the relative differences in dirt depreciation between vented and unvented compact fluorescent lamp downlights under simulated conditions. A simulated plenum/ceiling chamber is designed to expose both vented and unvented fixtures simultaneously to a controlled dust environment over an extended period of time. Experimental data show that the unvented fixture depreciated faster over time due to dust exposure than the vented fixture. The convection patterns tend to reduce dirt depreciation by removing particulate matter from the lamp compartment. This conclusion is important in the development and acceptance of convective venting strategies to minimize the thermal losses with constricted thermal environments for compact fluorescent lamps.<>