Domestic Lamp Replacement Project
In February 2007 the Commonwealth Government announced that Australia would phase out the use of ordinary incandescent (GLS) light globes by 2010, in favour of compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.
Since the issue became prominent in the early 1990s, a number of studies have considered the impact of CFLs on power quality in distribution networks. These studies have varied a great deal in their conclusions, largely resulting from differences in key assumptions made. Conclusions to the effect that CFLs pose significant issues for distribution utilities often stem from considering atypical scenarios where CFLs form the majority of the load on distribution feeders, where network parameters and loadings are not held constant when substituting CFLs for GLS lamps, or where the reduction in lighting power demand is not taken into account.
An assessment has been undertaken based on a model that reproduces key features of a typical medium voltage (MV) distribution feeder and its associated low voltage (LV) feeders supplying predominantly residential load. A model was constructed in harmonic load flow simulation software, taking into account the behaviour of conductors and transformers at harmonic frequencies and the spatial distribution of customer loads. Particular attention was given to the consequences of CFLs on thermal loading, power flows, steady-state voltages, and harmonic voltage distortion in the network.
Top | Last updated 12/05/2008
