Mercury lamp: description, scopes of lamps with DRL, disposal rules

Over the past few years, mercury arc lamps (DRL), which are usually installed in street lamps, have been very popular. The versatility and durability of such products is highly valued in various production areas and many other facilities where high-quality color reproduction is not required. Despite the fact that the principle of operation of DRL lamps is rather complicated, they have all the necessary characteristics.

Brief description and benefits

In order for the purchased lamp to serve as long as possible, you need to familiarize yourself with its characteristics in advance. The main technical parameters include the following facts:

• The power of modern DRLs can vary from 80 to 1 thousand. Tue
• The average operational life is 11 thous. hours.
• Both luminaires and lamps are endowed with a high degree of resistance to negative atmospheric influences.
• The devices are distinguished by high luminous efficiency.

Before purchasing such a product for private use, you need to take into account that during the operation of the lamps, a large amount of ozone is generated. Therefore, the room must have a high-quality ventilation system that can cope with the excess of this gas.

You can find out the power of the lamp by its marking, it is indicated by numbers that are indicated after the capital letter. The following models can be found on the modern market: DRL 1000, 700, 500, 400, 250, 125 and 80.

Each of the presented models has its own operational and technical characteristics. Most often, ordinary citizens and entrepreneurs buy a DRL 250 lamp, since it has optimal parameters:

• The product consumes 4.5 A.
• The color temperature is within 3800 K.
• The power level is 250 W.
• Average service life is 11 thous. hours of continuous burning.
• Light output - 52 Lm / W.
• Plinth type E 40.
• Luminous flux - 13 thous. Lm.

Each lamp has detailed characteristics, they are indicated in the attached instructions. Separately, it should be noted that on the basis of such products, modern manufacturers began to produce universal models called metal halide lamps. In the process of their manufacture, special iodides of different metals are used. This approach can significantly improve the efficiency of the devices.

Having studied all the characteristics, you need to familiarize yourself with the positive as well as the negative sides of the DRL lamp.

Advantages:

• Compactness.
• Long service life.
• A large selection of models of different power.
• For mercury-tungsten products, a starting choke is not required.
• The use of DRL significantly reduces the cost of maintenance and operation of street lamps.
• Quite a high level of light output.

There are not so many disadvantages, but they all affect the quality of lamp use. Before buying, you need to consider some disadvantages:

• The lamp ignition process takes a long time.
• The product cannot be restarted quickly.
• In the segment of emissions, cold tones predominate most of all, which is why the color rendition is not at the highest level.

Basic design details

One of the main parts of any lamp is the base, which ensures an even supply of electricity. This element has two powerful leads for electrodes at once, one of which is securely soldered to the lowest end point, but the second to the threaded part. The current from the network goes to the lamp through special contacts in the holder. That is why the plinth acts as a contacting part. Recently, DRLs have been in great demand, which are easily installed in any lamp where there is a corresponding cartridge.

The outer shell of the lamp is presented in the form of a specific bulb, which is made of ordinary glass with a burner fixed inside. The entire free space is filled with nitrogen. The entire inner part of the flask is covered with a phosphor coating, which ensures the timely conversion of the radiation generated by the quartz burner. Separately, it should be taken into account that two limiting resistors are mounted in the inner compartment of this flask for the coordinated operation of the ignition electrodes.

The burner itself is presented in the form of a sealed tube, in the inner compartment of which, on opposite sides, there are four powerful electrodes. Two of them are incendiary, and a couple of others are basic. The burner is made of high quality material that is resistant to chemical attack and refractory. The entire inner compartment is filled with an inert gas, and a small drop of mercury is also placed in it in a strictly metered amount.

It is worth noting that the very first DRL lamps were equipped with only two electrodes. In order to be able to light the lamp, it was necessary to have a special source of high voltage pulses in the switching circuit. Its service life was much lower than that of the lamp itself. A few years later, the production of such products completely ceased, and lamps went on the mass sale. in a four-electrode design, for the operation of which the presence of third-party pulse devices.

Modern DRL lamps consist of a high-quality bulb, a reliable threaded base and a durable quartz burner, which is mounted on the product leg. The entire free space is filled with argon with the addition of mercury. On each side of the burner there are two electrodes: ignition and main. A high-quality device provides for the presence of a current-limiting resistance, which is located in the outer bulb.

Functionality

Universal burners are made of transparent refractory material that resists negative chemical influences well. Manufacturers most often use quartz glass or durable ceramics. Inert gas is used only in a strict dosage, which is prescribed in regulatory documents. The final electrical discharge occurs due to the presence of metallic mercury. It is this approach that provides a good glow for the device.

The operation of the product is based on the action of igniting electrodes. At the moment when a current is supplied to the light bulb, a glow discharge occurs between the main and igniting electrodes. As a result of this, a kind of accumulation of charges occurs, which is quite enough to create the necessary breakdown between the available electrodes.

Experienced electricians know that it is the glow discharge that acquires the required arc shape in a short time. Intensive work of the DRL begins only 12 minutes after the current is applied. During this time period, all the electricity that flows in the product raises the rating and limits the resistance located in the ballast. When it is cold outside, the lamp starts up longer.

At the beginning of active operation, the radiation of an electric discharge becomes bright violet or light blue, this effect is observed due to the glow of the phosphor. Under the influence of electricity, a mixture of reddish and pale green light occurs. Thanks to this, a person receives quite bright lighting. It is worth considering separately that the presence of fluctuations in the network affects the luminous flux. If the voltage is insufficient, the DRL lamp may not start.

When a consumer considers the principle of operation of mercury lamps, it is important to take into account its strong heating during operation. That is why, for the safe use of such devices, it is necessary to use heat-resistant wires and high-quality contacts that will be built into the cartridge. During heating, the pressure in the inner compartment of the burner increases with a simultaneous rise in the breakdown voltage. Against this background, a highly incandescent lamp may simply not turn on. In order for the product to work again, it must be allowed to cool.

Duration of operation

The versatility of such lamps is highly regarded in the field of industrial, street and private lighting. Such popularity of these products arose against the background of the fact that the lamps have excellent ergonomic characteristics. An important factor is the fact that DRL devices have a wide range of powers, and this significantly expands their scope.

In order for the purchased product to meet all the requirements, special attention must be paid to the service life, which is necessarily indicated by each manufacturer. Depending on the frequency of use, mercury lamps lose most of their luminous flux within four months. But the power consumption remains the same. That is why it has been proven by experts that such lamps have a specific aging effect. In other words, after 500 hours of continuous operation, their luminous flux decreases by 25%, and by the end of the operational period this indicator will increase to 50%.

All these disadvantages are easily crossed out by their high simplicity and versatility, affordable price and ease of installation. Regular use of DRL is the most profitable solution, but provided that there are no strict requirements for the level of illumination at a certain perimeter.

Universal luminaires

The versatility of these devices lies in the fact that they redistribute the luminous flux in the desired directions. Inside the luminaire, various parts and elements of the electrical circuit are attached, as well as specialized switching connectors. To be able to redistribute the luminous flux from the lamp, the device is equipped with a reflective system and a high-quality diffuser.

On sale you can find original luminaires for indoor installation to illuminate warehouse, production and agricultural premises. As already described above, more often all consumers buy lamps with DRL 250, since this particular model is perfect for both outdoor and indoor lighting. The thing is that more stringent requirements are imposed on outdoor devices, since they will be affected by negative weather factors.

Many manufacturers are engaged in the industrial production of lamps with DRL lamps, which work well in an environment with high levels of humidity and dust. The presence of a durable and sealed housing has a positive effect on the fact that the device is well tolerated by torrential rains, gusty winds and heavy snowfalls.

Reasons for professional lamp disposal

Many people know that modern lighting devices contain a certain amount of mercury in their composition. That is why every consumer should know the basic rules for handling broken lamps. Experts themselves note that high-quality disposal of DRL is carried out for a number of reasons:

• Failed devices still contain a certain amount of hazardous mercury, which is why such wastes are classified as toxicity class I. Depending on the device, the amount of this metal can vary from 1 to 70 mg. The release of such luminaires to ordinary landfills and landfills can lead to global pollution of groundwater and soil. This situation will negatively affect all living things, including humans.
• Mercury belongs to the I hazard class, and this is the most toxic category of all existing today. When such a metal enters a living organism, all organs and systems suffer. High concentration of mercury is fatal.
• When this metal enters the soil from broken lamps, it forms even more dangerous compounds that pose a greater threat to all flora and fauna.
• It is strictly forbidden to store out-of-order lighting devices at home or at the enterprise, as their body is very thin and can be damaged. The generated vapors penetrate the environment and the human body.

Based on this, it can be concluded that it is strictly forbidden to throw mercury arc lamps into an ordinary trash can or landfill. Timely and high quality disposal of lighting fixtures must be carried out in accordance with all technical regulations security and at a specialized enterprise. Only in this case can the negative impact of mercury on the environment and humans be avoided.