Fluorescent lamp model with power and temperature dependence for high-frequency electronic ballasts

The electrical behavior of a fluorescent lamp operating at high frequency can be characterized by a resistance. The lamp equivalent resistance varies with the operating power and ambient temperature. On this basis, an electrical circuit model of the fluorescent lamp for high-frequency steady-state operation is developed. A test system is set up to emulate the dimming operation of fluorescent lamps in a temperature range from -15°C to 55°C. For a given lamp, the voltage equation can be obtained from few test data. Then, the equations for the arc current and the equivalent resistance can be derived. These lamp equations can be used for predicting the operating characteristics of the dimmable ballast-lamp circuits with considerations on the temperature effects. The verification of the proposed lamp model is illustrated by implementation examples.