Most of us still use today the traditional incandescent light bulbs to light our homes. But as the traditional light bulbs have a high energy consumption, most turn nowadays to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
CFLs are used more and more because of their efficiency in energy consumption(almost one third of a traditional light bulb) and because of their durability (almost 1,000 times longer compared to the normal light bulbs).
But there are still open points to be solved regarding CFLs functionality:
– they don’t work with dimmer switches(“when a CFL is used with a dimmer switch, its bulb can burn out sooner than expected” said Dr. Praveen Jain)
– the energy efficiency is compromised by the poor power factor problem(it means that a part of CFLs consumed energy is used to power the bulb, resulting a waste power).
However, the Queen’s Center for Energy and Power Electronics Research teams started to work on solving these open points which will make CFLs one of the most used light bulb on the planet. The global market is estimated at $80 billion.
“Consumer-grade CFLs need to be compact and inexpensive. Until now, the complicated circuitry needed to power these bulbs most efficiently has been too large and too costly for consumer-grade compact fluorescents. In its current form, the household CFL takes away the very benefit to the power grid that it was supposed to provide” says professor Praveen Jain, and world expert on electronic power supplies.
The research is opportune since many countries, including Australia and the European Union, have already begun phasing out incandescent bulbs in favor of the CFLs.
And the solution did show up finally as John Lam, PhD candidate, developed a compact, simplified circuitry and controller which overcomes both problems, poor power factor and dimmable, making CFLs inexpensive and very attractive to the consumer market.
The technology transfer office of Queen’s, will work with major CFL manufacturers to bring the technology to market as soon as possible. I really hope all of us will sustain this action and will go to CFLs lighting.
The technology is getting better day by day and now its time to have CFLs rather than to go for incandescent bulbs.The use of CFLs will really help us in saving a lot of energy.and as far as Junny’s comment is conecerned I do agree with him.The use of havells lamps can really make our way much easier.
A nice article indeed.Truly said about the advantages of CFLs.I have been using Havells Sylvania CFLs from a long time and would for sure say that they have very low energy consumptions.
Check this http://www.idimllc.com, it may help
Dana
This technology is really needed not just for dimmable lighting in the first world. We have found in Haiti that the power can get down to as low as 80-90 volts. CFL’s do not seem to last long in this environment. Yet they are needed TODAY. The electricity for the country comes from a single hydro plant that is not maintained and cannot provide even the power needed today in that third world country. Wattage sipping CFL’s I think really help stretch the countries limited power. But they have a high failure rate. I am sure it is because the countries whole power grid is one dimmable grid. Real dimmable CFL’s should last much longer in that environment. The third world really needs dimmable CFL’s…..at a price they can afford.
Hi,
This does seem like a good idea, and it seems that some company is almost ready to launch a new product.
PureSpectrum, Inc.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS183040+23-Jul-2008+MW20080723)
I found that article by typing “high power factor dimmable cfl” in a search engine.
Let me know what others think.
Thank you
Eventhoug these new light bulbs are certainly a huge step forward, the best thing that everyone can do to help the situation is to try to cut back on their energy usage on a consistent basis. Research has shown that if everyone just took the time to turn off the lights in their homes when they were not in use, that it would help to cut back the amount of energy being used by up to twenty five percent.
I used to love CCFLs, however one fear I have is manufacturers going ‘cheap’ on the high-voltage conversion & safety factor (from fire) is reduced
So I will gladly replace them with LED arrays, I saw a pack at my local costco for around $16 for a 3-pack for the candle-type bulbs and they are much more efficient (around 1/7 the power consumption of CCFL!) and of course a much lower voltage requirement for driving LED arrays
Once they start manufacturing standard size LED array bulbs I will gladly start replacing my CCFL units (they burn out more often than expected and manufacturers are not ready to replace as easily as in the past)
cheers
Heello.
Concerning Dimmable Compact Fluorcent Light… mos theology .I have dune this device at 1997.(see link O.P.O.)
http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?locale=en_V3&adjacent=true&KC=A1&date=19990514&NR=2770943A1&DB=EPODOC&CC=FR&FT=D
Current controlled MOS DIMMER
Electronics controller of current and /or Voltage A.C. input
This device makes possible to control the current and /or the Voltage in most of the A.C. power supply.
power supplies for resistive, capacitive or inductive load. Using MOS technology. It can protect effectively the sources
and the load from over current and /or over Voltage’s overload by controlling and/or limiting
the current output
The regulation is obtained using a simple and inexpensive electronic circuit replacing
advantage , equal to the existing dimmers using Triacs.orThyristors (NEW GENARATION)
The Power factor = 1 (the output current 100% is in phase with the input voltage
(resistive load only)
No E.M.C noises
Power Factor:= 1 (one)on all positions
Cost : equal to classics ones ( inclosing the cost of E.M.C. protection of the Triacs )
The control can be done either way : variation resistor, .D.C. voltage 0 to5 v. insolated from
mains ,feedback
APLICATIONS
1) Variable speed control for AC/DC motoror variable AC sources.
2)Dimming compact fluorescent light bulb
3) Start without overload of electronic equipment ( TV, computers,…)
4) Variable light intensity control with protection of overload and short-circuit.
5) Limitation of current in any type of circuit
6) Soft start of AC/DC motor
7) Stabilized AC/DC adapters, convectors.