1、NEMA Standards PublicationNational Electrical Manufacturers AssociationAlternatives to Mercury-Containing Light Sources2004 National Electrical Manufacturers Association 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1847 Rosslyn, VA 22209 (703) 841-3200 FAX: (703) 841-5900 WEB: http:/www.nema.org Alternatives to Me
2、rcury - containing Light Sources This Position Paper contains a brief review of mercury - containing and mercury - free electric lamps that are in current use and those which may be available in future. The overwhelming environme ntal effects from the use of electric lighting are from the power gene
3、ration over the life of the lamps. These effects depend on the power source and include atmospheric emissions of mercury, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide, noise, and ra dioactive waste. Efficient lighting systems which use mercury - containing lamps will typically reduce these effec
4、ts by at least 75% because of their lower power requirements. Power generation effects dwarf any environmental emissions which might occur dur ing the manufacture or proper disposal of mercury - containing lamps. 1 Generally, mercury - free electric lamps cannot be substituted for mercury containing
5、 lamps because of incompatibilities of light output, shape, color, life, electrical characteristics, an d excessive heat, or because their increased energy consumption may violate energy codes, and overload electrical circuits. Fluorescent Lamps Despite continuous research by the private sector, gov
6、ernment research laboratories, and academia, no viable rep lacement has been discovered for mercury in general purpose fluorescent lamps. Mercury - free xenon - based fluorescent discharges are available in a flat panel format, suitable for back lighting of liquid crystal displays. The efficiency is
7、 approximately 30 % of a normal mercury - based fluorescent lamp, and therefore this technology is environmentally counterproductive for general lighting applications. HID Lamps 2 There are better prospects for mercury - free HID lamps. Mercury - free high - pressure sodium lam ps are available up t
8、o 150 watts, with some higher wattages under development. This has been achieved by re - engineering the arc tube geometry and fill pressure. The lamps will retrofit into existing sockets and operate on existing ballasts. 1 Discharge lamps pp 60 et seq. Meyer however these lamps are much less effici
9、ent than mercury - containing lamps and typically consume approxim ately 4 times more power for the same light output than a fluorescent lamp. This, in turn, raises the mercury and other emissions from power generation by a factor of four excluding additional power needed for air conditioning system
10、s to remove the excess heat. CONCLUSION While fossil fueled power generation remains the most significant source of mercury emissions, efficient lighting will continue to be one of the principal methods of abatement. If emission controls become commonplace on this source of power, efficient mercury
11、- containing lighting will still be preferred for its conservation of whatever resources are used for power generation. Approved by NEMA Lamp Section, April 2001. Members include OSRAM SYLVANIA, GE Lighting, Philips Lighting, SLI Lighting, ADLT/Venture Lighting, Eye Lighting International of North America, Ushio America, and Voltarc Technologies . NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 1300 NORTH 17TH STREET, SUITE 900 ROSSLYN. VA 22209www.NEMA.orgTO ORDER ADDITIONAL NEMA STANDARDS VISITWWW.GLOBAL.IHS.COM OR CALL 1-800-854-7179/1-303-397-79565612_0514TB