A simple physical low pressure discharge lamp model

A simple physical low pressure discharge lamp model has been proposed in this paper. The new model is based on the physical processes inside a fluorescent lamp by considering the increasing rate of electron density and the ambipolar diffusion process. The model can accurately predict not only the lamp electrical terminal characteristics but also the electron density and electron temperature inside the fluorescent lamp. The results are comparable with the predictions from the complicated plasma models. The simple lamp model can accurately predict the lamp characteristics at both high and low operating frequencies, and the voltage spikes caused by arc reignition at each half cycle when the lamp is operated at mains frequency. This model can be easily implemented into MATLAB/Simulink as a simple, accurate and user-friendly CAD tool.