Process of Heating the Filaments
The next topic Ed discussed moved to an electronic aspect and the optimization of the ballast. It is important when making the lamps to make sure the filaments are not heated too fast or too slow, as each would have a negative effect in the lamp. The rate at which the filaments are heated create the result of how fast the light will turn on.
There were limitations with the first electronic ballast. Scientists did not really know what a lamp did or did not need to properly function. Once the needed adjustments were finally realized the changes could be implemented into the design, which led the new ballasts being much better than the eletro-magnetic ballast could ever be.
Since 1938, when the first practical CFL was made, the process has always been the same to create them. The function of a CFL goes something like this: the filament is heated, the electrons jump off the filaments which caused them to bump into mercury atoms. The mercury absorbs some energy and gives off some energy in the form of photons, which then land on the phosphor to create visible light. This visible light can be made into different colors based on the composition of the phosphor.
Is Mercury the BEST Element to Function in CFLs?
Mercury in CFLs has been a topic of controversy these days, with the growing green movement. So, is mercury really the best or only element that can be used to make CFLs? Ed explains why mercury is indeed important to CFL production, despite the controversy.
He says that it seems that mother nature has chosen mercury to be the ideal element for this type of lamp (CFLs). Vapor pressure in the lamps, at the right temperature, is perfect with mercury. He says using a different element, such as cadmium, would not work out for the best. In order to get the correct vapor pressure at the same level (as with mercury), it would take much longer for the light to turn on. This, coupled with the fact that the bulb would have to be a much hotter temperature and add the risk or burning anyone who touched it.
The option of combining mercury with cadmium, to lower mercury amounts, would also not be useful – Ed points out that cadmium is also a banned element.
Based on Ed’s knowledge, mercury really is the best element possible as an option at this time. The environmental impact amount of mercury that is needed in fluorescent bulbs is still less harmful to the environment than the production of incandescent bulbs. The greatest source of mercury in our today air comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal, the most common fuel used in the U.S. to produce electricity. Since CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, they are dramatically cutting down on the amount of CO2 released into the environment.
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Tags: CFL production, CFLS, electronic ballast, eletro-magnetic ballast, mercury in CFLs
This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 12:51 pm and is filed under CFL, CFL History, mercury. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.