Electronic ballasts for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps have achieved significant improvements over magnetic ballasts by increasing efficiencies from ~80-85% to ~90-93%, while improving power factor, lamp re-start, and the avoidance of acoustic resonance. In order to further improve the efficiency of these ballasts to greater than 95%, advanced power electronics - such as silicon carbide (SiC) diodes and MOSFET devices, along with low-loss magnetic core materials and lower effective series resistance (ESR) capacitors - must be developed. This project will systematically evaluate each of these new power electronic devices to achieve further improvements in ballast efficiency and determine the cost/benefit ratios for each technology. In Phase I, a common-module HID electronic ballast will be fabricated with new SiC dodioes and MOSFETs devices, low-loss magnetic cores, and low-loss ESR capacitors. Measurements on the ballast will be conducted to determine the power losses in each basic common-module building block, sub-block circuit, and component. The experimental data will be compared and evaluated against computer simulation data. The results will then be analyzed to identify potential improvements in each building block. Finally, controls for quick restart and dimming will be incorporated.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Highly-efficient HID electronic ballasts could be used to drive a wide range of lamp power systems from low-to-high wattage systems. For instance, roadways and street lighting would be even more economical if these high-efficiency ballasts had the ability to dim the lamps in a step fashion in the early evening and morning hours. The technology also could be applied to markets such as residential housing for accent, track, suspended, high-bay, and low-bay lighting areas
