Experimental characterization of arc motion and light flicker frequencies in HID lamps : application to CDM-T elite 50W/930 and 35W/930

Abstract

© 2019, School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics. All rights reserved. In order to reduce the electric consumption for high intensity discharge lamps, the use of high frequencies electronic ballasts represents both a solution and many advantages such as the decrease in the congestion and low costs. However, high frequency operation is not regarded as perfectly reliable due to the appearance of acoustic resonances inside the arc tube, which can result in low frequency light flicker and even lamp destruction. Therefore a predictive model was established in order to give us at which frequencies light flicker can be expected. Moreover, we conducted an experimental study, which allows the electrical detection of frequency regions, in which the discharge arc behaves instable. Furthermore, an optical system is incorporated to record images of the discharge arc during stable and instable operating conditions. The results enable a considerably better understanding of the flicker phenomenon in HID lamps and facilitate the development of energy efficient drivers.