Compact fluorescent lamp harmonic analysis and model development- An undergraduate research experience

Abstract

Modern electrical devices should operate efficiently to reduce electricity consumption and environmental impacts without introducing undesirable side effects. Incandescent electric illumination is a very inefficient method for producing light. Compact fluorescent lamps have much higher conversion efficiencies but produce non-sinusoidal currents with high harmonic content. These harmonics can cause power quality problems in distribution systems that have significant numbers of compact fluorescent lamps installed. This paper documents the results of an undergraduate research experience in which a student performed harmonic analysis tests on compact fluorescent lamps from three manufacturers. The tests determine the harmonic composition of the lamp currents and their sensitivity to line voltage variation. Measurements using multiple lamps examine how harmonic currents combine. A circuit model derived from test data describes the lamp harmonic performance as voltage varies. An example tests the circuit model and computes voltage harmonic distortion for different levels of lamp load. The research experience utilizes many topics and skills taught in the student's curriculum and gives practical application to theory within a research context. The paper summarizes how this research experience enhanced the student's normal academic performance. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.