Abstract

Due to the high costs of expanding generation and transmission capacities, utilities have been initiating programs to reduce peak power demand by the customer. A number of these programs, which are commonly referred to as demand side management programs, have turned to the promotion of electronic ballast compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as an alternative to traditional incandescent lamps. These lamps provide a higher luminance and increased life as compared to their incandescent counterparts. Unfortunately, electronic ballast CFLs consume large amounts of harmonic current which may prove detrimental to the power distribution system. This thesis presents an introduction to the electronic ballast CFL, including its theory of operation and its potential applications. The experimental results of a number of electronic ballast CFLs investigated are presented. A PSPICE simulation is then presented which models a typical distribution network and the electronic ballast CFL. The results of the simulation are then applied to investigate the derating of a typical distribution transformer, compliance of the system with various harmonic standards, and the derating of the distribution circuit due to triplen neutral currents. The simulation of the lamp is further used to investigate harmonic reduction techniques applied to the electronic ballast CFL.

Date of this Version

9-1-1994

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