Q9Electrical Energy Conversion And Auditing
Question
Q.9. Explain balast of electronic in energy.
Answer
Electronic ballasts control the current supplied to fluorescent/discharge lamps using high-frequency solid-state circuitry, replacing older magnetic ballasts, and thereby save substantial energy through reduced ballast losses, elimination of visible flicker, and improved lamp efficacy at high operating frequency.
An electronic ballast is a solid-state device used to control and limit the current supplied to a fluorescent or other gas-discharge lamp, replacing the older magnetic (electromagnetic/core-and-coil) ballast design. Electronic ballasts operate the lamp at a much higher frequency (typically 20-50 kHz, compared to the 50/60 Hz line frequency used by magnetic ballasts), which improves lamp luminous efficacy (more light output per watt of input power) and completely eliminates the visible 100/120 Hz flicker associated with magnetic-ballast-driven lamps. Electronic ballasts also have substantially lower internal losses than magnetic ballasts (since they use efficient switching power-electronic circuitry rather than a lossy iron-core magnetic choke), directly reducing the overall energy consumption of the lighting system for the same light output, making electronic ballast retrofit one of the most common and cost-effective lighting-related energy conservation measures identified during energy audits.