Issues of introduction of induction lamps in lighting systems. Choosing induction lamps from the manufacturer ETC

To ensure the most favorable "climate" in the greenhouse, lighting plays an important role. In the course of numerous experiments and serious scientific research, induction lamps for plants have been developed that mimic sunlight very accurately. Lamps of this type provide plants with the "light supply" of the required spectrum and saturation. They accurately simulate daily and seasonal cycles in the greenhouse, helping to increase yields and reduce greenhouse maintenance costs.

This article will discuss the types of induction lamps for greenhouses, their advantages and disadvantages, selection rules and options for their use.

The induction lamp is, by its design, a modernized fluorescent lamp. The main difference is the absence of electrodes and the presence of an induction coil.

The design of the induction lamp

The design of the induction fluorescent lamp includes the following elements:

• a gas discharge tube, the inner surface of which is coated with a phosphor;
• an induction coil with a magnetic ring mounted around the gas discharge tube;
• high-frequency current generator (electronic ballast), which can be built into the lamp housing or installed separately.

Types of induction lamps for greenhouses

Modern industry produces induction lamps for greenhouses of the following types:

• TILgp is a universal lamp for greenhouses. A balanced spectrum of its lighting will suit any plants during their growth and fruit ripening. The ratio of red and blue spectrum in such lamps is 40% and 49%. The total yield of light useful for plants is 95.8%.
• TILgp (fl) + cl - modification of a universal lamp. Additional control allows you to make appropriate changes to the total spectrum, creating the effect of sunrise and sunset.
• TILvg - the ratio of the red and blue spectrum 31/59. Vegetative cultivation and germination of plants will be better under the light of such a lamp. The total yield of light useful for plants is 96.5%.
• TILfl - this type of lighting is ideal for plants in the period of fruit ripening. Red spectrum 50%. The total yield of light useful for plants is 96.5%.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of this type of light sources is that the luminous flux emitted by them, according to its main characteristics, is as close as possible to sunlight.

Dependence of plant activity on the wavelength of light

In addition, the use of induction lamps for lighting greenhouses has a number of other advantages, among which the following deserve special attention;

• High color rendering index Ra > 80.
• Low operating temperature. The flasks of these lamps are heated to a temperature of 50-70 °C, which allows, by significantly reducing the distance between the lamp and plants, to increase the intensity of illumination without harming the plants. In addition, the use of such lighting improves moisture control and, as a result, reduces the need for watering plants.
• Long service life. The resource of light sources of induction type reaches 100000 hours. TIL can function effectively for 15-20 years. TIL manufacturers usually provide at least five years of warranty for their products.
• Immunity to temperature extremes. TIL functions equally effectively in the range from -35 to +40-50 °C.

Profitability. The use of TIL allows you to save electricity. For example, replacing a sodium gas discharge lamp DNAT 600W with a TIL 300W provides 56% direct savings in electricity costs. Compared to LED lamps, TIL allows you to save about 40% of costs.

• Ease of installation and operation. In order to remove or install the device with your own hands, special skills and knowledge are not required.
• Safety. The light source is in a sealed glass tube. Leakage excluded. The low operating temperature poses no danger to either people or plants.

Naming the disadvantages of induction lamps, we can mention them high cost. But, considering the purchase of such a lamp as a "long-term investment", it should be recognized that the funds spent on the purchase of these devices quickly pay off.

How to choose the right lamp

Having determined all the advantages and disadvantages of induction lighting, you can begin to select lamps for your greenhouse.

First you need to clearly define the tasks that are set for the greenhouse and the goals that you want to achieve as a result of its operation.

Universal lamps (TILgp, TILgp (fl) + cl) - a wide spectrum of radiation and the possibility of dimming (changing the intensity of radiation) allow you to use these lamps throughout life cycle plants.

For growing seedlings, the use of universal light sources is impractical, primarily from an economic point of view. Universal lamps are not cheap.

There are highly specialized induction lamps designed for certain stages of plant development. Their cost is several times less than universal ones. The use of such lamps will bring you no small cost savings.

For the germination stage, it is advisable to use light sources of the TILvg type, the blue spectrum of which is 59%. TILfl induction lamps, in which the amount of the red spectrum is 50%, are “relevant” at the stage of flowering and the formation (tying) of the fruit.

The lamp is effective for additional illumination of seedlings before planting in the ground

Installation and distribution in the greenhouse

When installing induction lighting in a greenhouse with your own hands, it must be taken into account that, unlike other types of lamps, even such well-known and familiar ones as fluorescent ones, an induction lamp does not create a powerful heat flux, an electric ballast and a gas discharge tube do not emit much heat. This important feature induction light sources allows you to reduce the distance to a minimum and install them in close proximity to plants or the soil surface.

Application of induction lamps different types allows you to design and install separate lighting for each section of the greenhouse. For example, by installing orderly lighting, you can not be afraid that the intensity of lighting or the overlapping of light fluxes from other lamps will be damaged. Design features of TIL and their unique technical characteristics make their operation very convenient. Together with such lamps, various devices can be used, which will make the greenhouse lighting system more flexible.

To direct the maximum amount of light to the desired sector, you can use special screens that have a different shape and allow you to focus the light flux on the desired area.

As a rule, such screens are completed with "wings", planes with easily changeable turning angles. Such designs allow you to adjust the direction of the light flux, thereby creating sectors with different illumination. For example, using a parabolic reflector, you can evenly distribute light over the entire height of the plant.

In contact with

Relatively recently appeared on the consumer market the new kind lighting fixtures. For example, induction lamps, which are growing in popularity. They have become quite common in the HID lamp segment. Their price is high, but this is due to the long service life and high technical specifications.

The device of induction lamps

The main feature of induction lamps is the absence of electrodes in them. However, this difference is only conditional. The lamp consists of three main parts:

• gas discharge tube;
• a rod with an induction coil or a magnetic ring;
• electronic ballast.

A hermetically sealed phosphor lamp filled with gas is connected to an induction coil. The last element can be internal or external. The ballast can also be built-in or separate. The flask filled with plasma acts as a generator of light energy.

These devices are often called electrodeless, since the working element does not have direct contact with the gaseous medium. Service life is greatly increased due to the absence of metal electrodes inside the flask.

Operating principle

According to their action, induction lamps are quite simple. The induction field arises in the gaseous medium filled with the flask. After that, a discharge appears, and the phosphor converts the energy of the discharge into a glow.

To create such a device, it was necessary to modernize the well-known fluorescent lamp.

However, the results obtained are impressive, since the technical characteristics of such a lamp are much better than those of other lighting devices used. It can be called a high frequency transformer, where the function of the secondary winding is performed inside the bulb by a high-frequency discharge. Coil ( primary winding) can be connected to different power sources: to a network of 220 or 380 W or to direct current.

Varieties of lamps

Thanks to the scheme of induction-type lamps, such products can be produced with different power ranging from 15 to 500 watts and more. Most powerful devices are used for industrial purposes.

A simple arrangement of light bulbs allows you to very quickly and easily convert an ordinary lamp into an induction one. For this reason, lamps are produced with standard cartridges. Manufacturers also make ring lamps.

Most often they are found in sales as a collection than individual lamps. Products are also produced in kits so that it is possible to convert an ordinary lamp into an induction one. They include a mounting system and a light bulb with a socket.

Main characteristics

Due to the electrodeless design, the service life of induction bulbs is much longer than that of traditional fluorescent counterparts. Manufacturers claim a working period of 60,000-150,000 hours.

The main characteristic of these lighting devices is a high light output of about 80 lm/W. In some cases, manufacturers are trying to increase these indicators, which leads to a decrease in the working resource. People using modern light bulbs note that when low-tech devices are turned on and off, there is a temporary wait.

Luminaires of this type have advantages in this regard compared to other gas-discharge counterparts. For example, the time for complete cooling after a power outage will be no more than 5 minutes. In terms of color reproduction, induction lamps are very similar to mercury lamps in their characteristics. This is due to the filler, which is similar in content to almost all types of such devices.

Among the operational features, one can also single out their ability to change the radiation intensity in a wide spectrum - 30–100%. This makes it possible to expand the options of intelligent control systems, applied, for example, to outdoor appliances.

Linking devices with automatic system power control with built-in astronomical timer makes it possible to adjust optimally in order to save energy. Induction lamps also provide for expansion in terms of color temperature range. After purchase, the user, if desired, chooses natural and soft radiation for the premises. You can also choose a colder backlight for outdoor use. Some models have a built-in auto-tuning feature.

Scope of application

The technical characteristics of induction lamps allow them to be used in many areas for indoor and outdoor lighting. Own properties they develop most effectively where high color rendering and light output are needed, for example:

Such lighting devices provide comfortable illumination of territories and premises due to the spectrum, reminiscent of sunlight without flickering. Of great importance is the high energy efficiency of induction lamps during operation.

However, most often they are used in conditions familiar to many people. They are used for outdoor lighting of garden plots, cottages. Despite the high cost of the lamps, they quickly pay off, because for many years consumers will not think about servicing the device or buying a new one.

Not only LED lamp can boast today of high technical characteristics. Another option for an economical light source is induction lamp. Induction lamps belong to fluorescent lamps, but differ in a more advanced design due to the absence of electrodes inside the bulb.

To create the necessary electrical intensity (an alternating electric field with a frequency of 190 kHz to 250 kHz), forcing the gas inside the bulb to radiate electromagnetic waves, the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction serves. Therefore, the lamp is called an induction lamp.

Such lamps are produced for low direct (12 V or 24 V) and mains alternating (120 V, 220 V, 277 V, 347 V) voltage, at a rated power from 12 to 500 W, and at a color temperature from the range of 2700 K up to 6500 K typical for conventional fluorescent lamps.

During the operation of an induction lamp, several phenomena appear simultaneously: phosphor glow - the result is similar, however, the service life of induction lamps is approximately 10 times greater than compact fluorescent lamps and gas discharge lamps of popular types, reaching 100,000 hours.

In addition, the light output of induction lamps is higher than 70 lm / W, and drops by a maximum of 30% even after 60,000 hours of operation, that is given source light is superior in energy efficiency and light quality to electrode fluorescent lamps. The color rendering index of induction lamps is more than 80, and the human eye perfectly perceives such light as comfortable and even. The heating of the flask during the operation of the lamp is minimal.

Today, induction lamps with external and internal induction are presented on the market, depending on the location of the inductor. For lamps with external induction, the inductor is located around the bulb tube, and for lamps with internal induction - inside the bulb. In addition, the electronic ballast can be located separately from the bulb or be built into the housing. The electronic ballast of an induction lamp is a high-frequency converter, in which the gas inside the lamp bulb plays the role of the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer.

Example of an induction lamp with internal induction - lamp Venus E40 80 watts. The lamp has a standard E40 base, thanks to which it can be immediately installed in an existing lighting fixture, without the need to purchase any special one - just replace the lamp. The bulb has the usual shape, like an incandescent lamp. The color temperature can vary from 3000 to 5000 K - optimal for human perception. The guaranteed lamp life, declared by the manufacturer, is 14 years with 12 hours of daily operation.

The design of the lamp is traditional for induction - electrodeless. The electronics of the lamp is located in the base, which is connected to the induction coil. The detachable connection of the bulb and the ballast base makes it convenient to transport such lamps and install them easily.

The electronic ballast is made of high quality components that will not fail even with repeated switching on and off. The volume of the flask is large enough so that the lamp does not heat up significantly during operation, that is, the problem of overheating of the elements electronic ballast will not occur.

By replacing an incandescent lamp with an induction power of 80 watts, for example, in a hangar spotlight, in a workshop, in an office, or in any room of a municipal institution, the consumer will receive a luminous flux of 6000 lumens with a luminous efficacy of up to 75 lm / W, and will reduce the cost of electricity consumed by lighting 4-10 times. A person will be able to forget about the need for maintenance and replacement of the lamp for a long time.

This lamp will last up to 8 times longer than a compact fluorescent lamp and up to 60 times longer than an incandescent lamp. These induction lamps work without problems both in summer and in winter, even in unheated premises, such as garages or building materials warehouses.

An example of an induction lamp with external induction - induction lamp Saturn 40 W. This lamp is perfect for wall or ceiling, home or office lamp, its luminous flux is 3200 lumens. More powerful models similar induction lamps are installed in street lighting spotlights. 80 Lm/W is a very decent light output, which speaks of the high efficiency of the lamp. Color temperature - 3000/5000 K. Guaranteed lamp life - 100,000 hours.

The electronic ballast is made remote, its device allows you to use the lamp, turn it on and off for 23 years with continuous work cycles of 12 hours a day. At the same time, maintenance costs are reduced by about 5 times compared to other types of lamps, and regular lamp replacement can be forgotten for a very long time.

As for the installation of the lamp, it can be installed directly above the workplace without the expectation of providing convenient conditions for replacement and maintenance. The same applies to more powerful lamps for road spotlights - they can be installed directly above the roadway, without relying on the fact that you will often need to rise to the spotlight in order to replace the spent lamp in a timely manner, as is usually the case with sodium lamps.

In this way, design features Saturn-type lamps eliminate the problem of excessive heating, making the service life a record, and overall operation is very economical. The color temperature is as close as possible to natural light, the color rendering index is above 80. With all this, the lamp will pay off in 1.5 years, and will last for more than a dozen years. The manufacturer also gives a five-year warranty.

Lamps with external induction are universal. They can easily be installed both indoors and outdoors, where they can easily withstand winter frosts down to -40°C. In industrial and domestic premises, induction lamps clearly compete with LED ones (see -). In the lighting of bridges, roads, tunnels, sports facilities, stadiums, warehouses - everywhere induction lamps will take their rightful place, even where required high quality color reproduction.

In general, the advantages of induction lamps can hardly be overestimated. In fact, they surpass LED lamps in real life, because LEDs lose their luminous flux faster, and usually need to be replaced after 7 years, while an induction lamp will continuously last more than 15 years, confidently retaining an average of 85% of the original luminous flux, moreover, an unlimited number of on-off cycles is allowed.

The light output of induction lamps reaches 160 Lm / W, and the more powerful the lamp, the higher the light output, and therefore energy efficiency (economical). The efficiency of induction lamps is on average about 90%.

What is induction lighting?

induction lighting is a new technology system that saves more energy and lasts much longer than H.I.D. and energy saving lamps. This is based on a unique physical principle of light generation. Induction lamps - a breakthrough for professional and specialty lighting. Induction lamps do not have electrodes, which achieves an unprecedented service life of 100,000 hours. All this is combined with excellent lighting quality and energy efficiency.

Principle of operation

induction lamp consists of three main parts: a gas discharge tube, the inner surface of which is coated with a phosphor, a magnetic ring or rod (ferrite) with an induction coil, an electronic ballast (high-frequency current generator). There are two types of design of induction lamps according to the type of induction:

• External induction: the magnetic ring is located around the tube.
• Internal induction: the magnetic rod is located inside the flask.

Two types of design of induction lamps according to the method of placing electronic ballast:

• Induction lamp with separate ballast(electronic ballast and lamp are separated as separate elements).
• Induction lamp with built-in ballast(electronic ballast and lamp are in the same housing).

Electronic ballast generates a high-frequency current flowing through an induction coil on a magnetic ring or rod. An electromagnet and an induction coil create a gas discharge in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, and under the influence of the ultraviolet radiation of the discharge, the phosphor glows. Structurally and according to the principle of operation, the lamp resembles a transformer, where there is a primary winding with high-frequency current and secondary winding, which is a gas discharge occurring in a glass tube.

Characteristics

• Long service life: 60,000 - 150,000 hours

(thanks to the electrodeless design, the service life is much longer than that of traditional light sources)

• Rated light output lmW
• Photopic efficiency (perceived by the eye): 120 - 180 fm/W(This parameter is often used by specialists to qualitatively evaluate a light source and the ability of the human eye to perceive light and color shades. For example, a high pressure sodium lamp has a nominal light output of 70-150 lm / W, but is actually perceived as a light source with a light output of 40-70 flm / W)
• High lumen output after prolonged use

(after 60,000 hours the luminous flux is over 70% of the original);

• Energy efficiency: has a higher efficiency compared to incandescent lamps, electrode discharge lamps, electrode luminescent lamps, LEDs (except LEDs from leading manufacturers)
• No hot cathodes or filaments
• Instant on/off

(there is no waiting time between switches, which is good advantage in front of a mercury lamp DRL and a sodium lamp HPS, which require a time to enter the mode and a cooling time of 5-15 minutes after a sudden power outage)

• Unlimited on/off cycles
• Color rendering index (CRI): Ra>80

(comfortable lighting, soft and natural emitted light, which favorably affects the perception of color shades, unlike sodium lamps (Ra> 30), which have a yellow-orange tint of light and unnatural color reproduction);

• Rated voltages: 120/220/277/347V AC, 12/24V DC
• Rated power: 12 - 500 W
• Color temperature range: 2700K - 6500K
• Flicker-free: operating frequency from 190kHz to 250kHz or units of megahertz depending on models
• Low lamp heating temperature: +60 °C - +85 °C
• Wide operating temperature range: -40 °C ~ +50 °C
• Possibility of dimming (changing light intensity): from 30% to 100%
• High power factor of electronic ballast (λ>0.95)
• Low harmonic distortion (THD<5%)
• Environmental friendliness of the product: special amalgam; solid mercury content<0,5мг, что значительно меньше, чем в обычной люминесцентной лампе

Induction lamps are a fairly new type of lighting fixtures in the domestic market. Their popularity is growing, but for many potential buyers, the price of induction lamps seems excessively high. Obviously, in order to assess the feasibility of such an acquisition, it is necessary to take into account the operational characteristics and service life of induction lamps.

The device and principle of operation of induction lamps

The principle of operation of an induction lamp is quite simple: an induction field arises around the induction coil, a discharge appears in the gas filling the flask, and the phosphor converts the discharge energy into a glow. It is obvious that no discoveries hitherto unknown to mankind were required to create induction lamps, and, in fact, this novelty is familiar to everyone, which has undergone modernization. At the same time, the results of the modernization are impressive, because thanks to them, induction lamps were able to achieve performance characteristics that markedly distinguish them from a number of previously used lighting devices.

An induction lamp is a gas-filled phosphor hermetically sealed lamp with an induction coil connected to it. The coil can be internal or external. The ballast of an induction lamp can also be built-in or separate.

From the point of view of field induction, an induction lamp is a high-frequency transformer, in which the role of the secondary winding is performed by a high-frequency discharge inside the bulb. The primary winding (coil) can be connected not only to a standard 220 or 38 Volt network, but also to a DC source.

Types of induction lamps

The scheme of an induction lamp allows the production of products of various power - from 15 to 500 watts and above, with the most powerful lamps intended for industrial use. The device of the lamps allows you to easily convert an ordinary lamp into an induction lamp, for which induction lamps are produced with standard cartridges E14, E27, E40. In addition, circular induction lamps are produced.

Complete induction lamps are more common on the market than individual lamps. Kits are also produced for converting ordinary lamps into induction ones, including an induction lamp with a cartridge and a mounting system.

Advantages and disadvantages of induction lamps

Users call the main disadvantage of induction lamps high. The price of a twenty-watt lamp is 700-800, and for some manufacturers it is 1000 rubles.

Concerns about the content of mercury in the lamps of induction lamps are completely unfounded, since the content of this substance in this type of lamp is much less than that of fluorescent lamps and is less than 0.5 mg. In addition, induction lamps are protected by a special amalgam.

Lack of electrodes in induction lamps

This feature is called among the main advantages of induction lamps, so you should elaborate on how it affects the operation of the lamp.

In the presence of electrodes, the lamp bulb warms up unevenly, which leads to the formation around the electrodes over time (the place of maximum heating). In addition, the electrode material during long-term operation is deposited on the inner surface of the cylinder. Such changes lead to a loss of brightness, which is greater the longer the life of the lamp and often by the time of replacement the brightness of the source is less than half of the original. Induction lamps without electrodes do not have this drawback.

Luminaires with induction lamps have a number of other virtues:

• service life - at least 60 thousand hours, for some lamps - up to 150 thousand hours,
• efficiency = 0.9,
• comfortable light, no color distortion,
• no flicker,
• the absence of a pause between the moment the lamp is turned on and the moment it reaches full power (instantaneous switching on, no “burning up” process),
• work perfectly indoors and outdoors in the temperature range from -40 to +60 degrees,
• the warranty period for induction lamps is 5 years,
• tolerates well, network "jumps".

Specialists also name additional advantages related to the features of the operation of induction lamps and including data on photo-optical efficiency, color rendering index, etc., however, for an ordinary user, in order to draw conclusions about the operation of this type of lighting devices, the above data is quite enough.

The device of induction lamps allows you to install them almost anywhere in the house, cottage or garden plot. If desired, they can replace all lighting devices and this will be economically justified, since in the next few years the issue of maintenance and the purchase of new lamps to replace failed ones will not worry the owners of the house.

If the cost of induction lamps seems too high to a potential buyer, it is advisable to install them in places where maintenance of lighting devices is difficult, as well as where uninterrupted operation of the light source is fundamentally important. In particular, powerful induction lamps installed in the security lighting system of the perimeter of land holdings will significantly increase the security of the territory and minimize the likelihood of unpleasant situations.

How much do induction lights cost?

Prices for induction lamps depend not only on the power of the lamp, but also on additional properties (explosion-proof, moisture resistance, etc.). So, a 40 W household induction lamp with an E27 base costs about a thousand rubles.

Powerful lamps for greenhouses (150 W) cost 11-13 thousand rubles. The price of small lamps for plants with 40 W lamps, installed and not afraid of high humidity, is from 2.5 thousand rubles. An office ceiling lamp with a lamp of the same power will cost 4.5 thousand rubles, and a more powerful one (80 W) costs a little more than 6 thousand rubles.

A park lamp with a 40 W lamp has increased resistance to external influences, is not afraid of temperature changes and humidity and, accordingly, costs more - 7-9 thousand rubles.