| Title |
Theoretical Prediction of AC Characteristics of Low Pressure Lamps |
| Abstract |
In order to develop a mathematical model which can predict the operating voltage and current of a discharge lamp, the properties and the physical phenomena of a low pressure gas discharge are investigated. Fluorescent lamp which uses a low pressure mercury-argon gas discharge is used in the model development. In a low pressure mercur-argon gas discharge, the continuity equation for each excited atom and electron, and the electron energy balance equation can predict the physical quantities of discharge. By coupling these equations and the circuit equation, the electrical characteristics of the discharge lamp can be predicted. To verify the validity of the suggested model, we calculated the voltage and current of a fluorescent lamp operating with inductor ballast for source frequency of 5KHz, 8KHz, 10KHz, and 13KHz. The results show good agreements in wave forms between the measured voltage and current, and the difference between the measured and calculated one is less than 5%. |