Modelling of a high-frequency operated fluorescent lamp in an electronic ballast environment

Abstract

The authors describe the dynamic modelling of a high-frequency operated fluorescent lamp in an electronic ballast environment. The model inherently includes the negative resistive characteristic, allows the study of electronic ballast design using series resonant converters, and can provide useful information for the optimisation of the electronic ballast design. The fluorescent lamp model for high-frequency operation has been developed and implemented. Predictions for the lamp system operation generally agree very well with measurements obtained from a 33 kHz electronic ballast - fluorescent lamp system. The use of the model for the designing the ballast components is illustrated. This model is simple and can be employed in existing simulation packages for computer-aided electronic ballast designs. © IEE, 1998.