Characterization of a new device for fluorescent lamps supplying

Electronic devices for supplying fluorescent lamps at high frequency (ballasts) have become widespread on the market. They offer better energy utilization in addition to many other technical advantages such as flicker-free starting, high power factor without compensating capacitor, hum absence, possibility of easy and continuous luminous flux regulation, ac or dc supply. It must however be pointed out that commercial electronic ballasts, in order to achieve high power factors and to avoid high frequency content in supply current are generally expensive in comparison with traditional ones working at industrial frequency. At the Faculty of Engineering of the "Federico II" University of Napoli, prototype of an innovative ballast, characterized by encouraging performances other than low cost and dimension, has been realized. The aim of the present paper is the metrological characterization of the new device in terms of power factor, efficiency and harmonic distortion introduced on the supply line. This last feature is particularly important for the Electrical Power Companies and could become a constraint in the electronic design of a ballast. For what it concerns the efficiency measurement, after a description of an accurate numerical methodology, the authors propose a simple methodology based on analog components for an on-line efficiency evaluation in the industrial environment. The 1% accuracy offered at the low cost of a very simple electronic realization, allow to presume an implementation of such methodology for quality control of large mass production.<>