Abstract: The high pressure sodium lamp is a high energy outdoor light source that belongs to the high intensity discharge lamp family. It comes in different shapes and requires a ballast to start it. The high pressure sodium lamp is a source of interference to the power line communications channel as it injects noise when connected to the 220V mains. This paper investigates the influence of the high pressure sodium lamp on the narrowband and broadband power line communications channel. It is shown that the frequency band: 3kHz – 150kHz is not highly infected whereas in the band: 150kHz – 30MHz, PLC signals compete with Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) levels

De Beer, A. S.

Emleh, A.

Ferreira, Hendrik C.

Han Vinck, A. J.

English

De Beer, A.S.

Ferreira, H.C.

Han Vinck, A.J.

Name not available

The influence of high pressure sodium lamps on the power line communications channel

University of Johannesburg Institutional Repository

The Influence of High Pressure Sodium Lamps on the Power Line Communications Channel     A. Emleh,   A.S. de Beer,   H.C. Ferreira  Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science  University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa {aemleh, asdebeer, hcferreira}@uj.ac.za A.J. Han Vinck  Institute for Experimental Mathematics Duisburg-Essen University Ellernstr. 29, D-45326, Essen, Germany vinck@iem.uni-due.de   Abstract— The high pressure sodium lamp is a high energy outdoor light source that belongs to the high intensity discharge lamp family. It comes in different shapes and requires a ballast to start it. The high pressure sodium lamp is a source of interference to the power line communications channel as it injects noise when connected to the 220V mains. This paper investigates the influence of the high pressure sodium lamp on the narrowband and broadband power line communications channel. It is shown that the frequency band: 3kHz – 150kHz is not highly infected whereas in the band: 150kHz – 30MHz, PLC signals compete with Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) levels.  Index Terms— High Pressure Sodium Lamp; Electronic Ballast; Electromagnetic Ballast; Power line Communications; PLC, Interference; EN 50065-1; EMC.  I. INTRODUCTION For a long time, this type of lamp has been used as one of the main outdoor lighting sources. Many countries around the world still use the high pressure sodium lamps since they are highly efficient light sources. Their strong yellow light color restricts their usage to the outdoor areas only. They are mainly used in sport arenas, parking lots, harbors, street lighting, commercial and open industrial areas, as well as security lighting, function stages and landscaping. They are gas discharge lamps and come in different shapes, design and sizes, as shown in Fig. 1. They range from 35 – 1000 watts and give an average luminous output of 70 – 160 lumens/Watt. They are considered long-life bulbs, in the vicinity of 20000 hours [1 – 3]. The lamp contains an arc tube and has a mixture of xenon, mercury and sodium. It is supplied with 220V AC in series with electric ballast in order to provide a constant current and sufficient voltage to start the lamp [3]. When the lamp comes to the end of its life, it faces the “cycling” period, that is usually caused by a loss of sodium gas in the arc, which causes the lamp to switch on and off several times a day. Using simple electromagnetic ballast during the cycling period results in injecting more noise to the PLC channel since it cannot control the lamp from being an interference source; however, the new electronic ballasts (see Fig. 2) are more “intelligent” and can extinguish the lamp and prevent it from being a source of interference to the power line communications channel [4].                 Fig. 1.  The Inside Structure Of The High Pressure Sodium Lamp [5].  High pressure sodium lamps with ballasts inject undesired noise into the power-line communications channel (PLC).  In case of CENELEC band: 3kHz – 150kHz, the noise level does not exceed the allowed maximum interference levels. Therefore, the high pressure sodium lamp with electronic or electromagnetic ballasts can be considered as a“friendly” noise source. For the broadband channel: 150kHz – 30MHz, the noise levels from the high pressure sodium lamp with electronic or electromagnetic ballasts compete with, or exceed the allowed maximum Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) levels [6].  This paper investigates the cases when the high pressure sodium lamp is seen as a noise source to the power line communications channel, and the effect that the electronic and electromagnetic ballasts have on the narrowband and broadband frequency levels [7].   Fig. 2.  Electric Ballast Used with High Pressure Sodium Lamp.  II. MEASUREMENT SET-UP Fig. 3 & 4 show the process and measurement set-up used for the experimental tests.  The 220VAC power line wires supply the high pressure sodium lamp with power through an isolation transformer and Line Impedance Stabilization Network (LISN).  The isolation transformer is used as the LISN causes an earth-leakage current to flow, which trips the supply; therefore, floating the LISN rectifies this fault condition. It is necessary to use a LISN for this type of measurements as the LISN filters noise from the AC supply. The measurement side (current probe and high pressure sodium lamp in Fig. 3 & 4) is therefore clean from any noise on the power line and an accurate assessment of the noise produced by the high pressure sodium lamp can therefore be made. A clean 50Hz 220VAC is supplied to the high pressure sodium lamp. The LISN also supplies a standardized noise load to the conducted interference created by high pressure sodium lamp. At higher frequencies (typically > 1MHz) the noise load impedance presented by the LISN (and seen by the high pressure sodium lamp) is 50Ω [6] Measurements and conclusions in this paper are made for two regions of the emission spectrum: • 3kHz – 150kHz: This is the frequency range of the so called CENELEC bands as defined by EN 50065-1 [8]. Measurements for these bands are made in the frequency domain to obtain harmonics from the resulted spectral density shape. A Rhode & Schwarz Spectrum Analyzer (ESR EMI Test Receiver) and ETS-Lindgren current probe (1GHz) are used. It is assumed that the Common Mode (CM) currents are negligible in this band and that all interference is in Differential Mode (DM) – an assumption also used in EN 50065-1. Results are downloaded to a PC for processing [6]. This is shown in Fig. 3 & 4, depending on the used ballast.   Fig. 3.  Set-up for Measurements in the 3kHz – 30MHz Range (Electronic Ballast).  • 150kHz – 30MHz: This is the frequency range for Broadband PLC. It spans the range traditionally used to measure conducted emissions as per CISPR-16 [9]. Measurements for this frequency range are also made using a Rhode & Schwarz Spectrum Analyzer (ESR EMI Test Receiver) and ETS-Lindgren current probe as shown in Fig. 3 & 4.  Fig. 4.  Set-up for Measurements in the 3kHz – 30MHz Range (Electromagnetic Ballast).  ELECTRICAL BALLAST DRIVER In general, the electronic ballasts are seen as serious noise sources to the power line system, rather than the electromagnetic ballasts since they contain electronic components and circuits as shown in Fig.5. Electronic ballasts are widely used for high pressure sodium lamps because of the “intelligent” function that switches the lamp off at its life end. This “intelligent” function exists in the electronic ballast only, as the ballast prevents the lamp from being a source of noise and disturbance on the power line system, especially when the lamp reaches the end of its life as it starts to switch on and off several times a day; this causes the lamp to produce more interference on the PLC channel.  The electromagnetic ballast is simplemainly contains a laminated transformer, wusually added to the circuit (see Fig. 4) inlamp, to assist in providing sufficient voltagpower factor.  III. HARMONICS - CENELEC BThe interference that the high pressure electric ballast produces can affect the so bands; however, the signal levels that the inteis below the allowed maximum signal levels Fig. 5.  Electronic ballast driver for high pressure sodiu       Fig. 6. Frequency domain waveforms and harmon in design, as it here igniters are  order to start the e and correct the ANDS sodium lamp with called CENELEC rference can reach . Fig. 6 & 7 show the noise levels in dBuV wfrequency domain. This is dFourier Transform (DFT) on onharmonics that make up the timcompare the obtained current hchannel signal voltages, the multiplied with typical power lof the harmonic frequencieimpedance can be approximatLISN that is used for measuremcharacteristics are specified in EThe conducted measuremethat when using electromagnetof noise is relatively small anmade on the power line wirinhigh pressure sodium lamp wobtained, Fig. 7 leads to the facdiffers, and the lamp is not sinterference can still be considbands standards [8].  The high pressure sodium when applying switching off buttons. They can reach the futherefore, no interference can ba “unique” case, as most of theuse ballasts to start, need a wam lamp. ics for 3kHz – 150kHz range (Electromagnetic Ballast). hich are represented in the one by performing a Discrete e cycle of data which yields the e domain waveform. In order to armonics to typical power line current magnitudes must be ine channel impedances for each s. This power line channel ed by using the values of the ents (Fig. 3 and 4). The LISN N 50065-1 [6], [8]. nts in CENELEC bands show ic ballast, as in Fig. 6, the level d communications can still be g system. The results from the ith electronic ballast are also t that the amount of interference table. However, this amount of ered safe against the CENELEC lamps need no warm-up period and on again to their power ll output in less than a second; e recorded in that period. This is  high energy outdoor lamps that rm-up period of several minutes  in order to reach their full output. The turn-onan amount of interference in figures, 6 andwhen the power button is switched on and the IV. BROADBAND SPECTRUMFig. 8 shows the results that are obtainedmeasurements in the broadband spectrum of The interference voltage from the high preswith electromagnetic ballast is plottElectromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) averagFig. 7. Frequency domain waveforms and harmonFig. 8. Frequency domain waveforms and harmon operation records  7. This happens  lamp starts.   when conducting 150kHz – 30MHz. sure sodium lamp ed against the e and peak/quasi-peak disturbance levels. It is secompete with or exceed, in somEMC levels. During the turn-ocalled risky and heavy on the Pto communicate over the powreaches its full output, typicallthe lamp on.  Fig. 9 shows the interferencsodium lamp with electronic band peak/quasi-peak disturba150kHz – 30MHz. In the Cics for 3kHz – 150kHz range (Electronic Ballast). ics for 150kHz – 30MHz range (Electromagnetic Ballast). en that the interference levels do e cases, the allowed maximum n operation, the noise is, then, LC system; therefore, it is safer er line channel when the lamp y after one second of switching e voltage from the high pressure allast versus the EMC average nce level limits in the band ENELEC bands from 3kHz –   150kHz there are dedicated maximum silevels. These do not exist in the 150kHz – maximum signal transmission is assumeElectromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) limitseen in Fig. 9 that the interference voltage ofsodium lamp is close to, and even exceeds, the beginning of the band. This can bemanufacturer will only filter noise to the EMsave on manufacturing costs. In stark cCENELEC bands, PLC signals in the 150kHhave to directly compete with noise from may have a zero S/N ratio at certain frequenc  V. CONCLUSION In this paper, the high pressure sodiumelectromagnetic or electronic ballasts to statested for noise generation in the power-linchannel. The lamps produce interference in the 3kHbut this poses no risk for PLC. Howevinterference in the 150kHz – 30MHz band detrimental effect on the PLC channel. The PLC signal levels are governed bystandards. Unless these standards are revisedare allowed to exceed the EMC limcommunication signals will have to compete noise ratios. The further measurements showed that sodium lamp needs no warm-up period andoutput in one or two seconds. This is differeoutdoor light sources, as they require a few up when they are repowered.  Fig. 9. Frequency domain waveforms and harmonicsgnal transmission 30MHz band and d to be at the  levels. It can be  the high pressure the EMC limit in  expected as the C limit in order to ontrast from the z – 30MHz band other devices and ies [6].  lamps that use rt the lamps were e communications z - 150kHz band, er, they produce which can have a  the same EMC  and PLC signals its, power line with zero signal to the high pressure  can reach its full nt from all major minutes to warm-ACKNOWThis work is based on the rNational Research Foundation unique reference number (UID)  REFE[1] G. Sincero, A. J. Perin, “HPower Factor Electronic BaIEEE Transactions on PoweLighting Applications, Vol. 2pp. 804 – 814. [2] R. Geens, E. Wyner, “ProgreTechnology”, IEE ProceedinTechnology, Vol. 140, Issue – 464. [3] K. Bum Suk, K. Hee-Jun, “Hfor High Pressure Sodium Region 10 Conference: TEN1999, pp.887 – 890. [4] W. Wang, W. Zhang, G. Gaoballast for high pressure sodiIEEE Power Electronics aIPEMC 2000, Vol. 3, Publica[5] Commercial Lighting, “HiSodium Vapor Arc, 5137 Clwww(dot)clcbulbs(dot)com, L[6] A. 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The influence of high pressure sodium lamps on the power line communications channel

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