CHAPTER 4. SCREENING ANALYSIS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4.1 INTRODUCTION

......................................................................................................... 4-1

4.2 SCREENED-OUT TECHNOLOGIES

.......................................................................... 4-2

4.3 REMAINING TECHNOLOGIES

................................................................................. 4-2

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.3.1 Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Design Options

................................................... 4-3

4-iCHAPTER 4. SCREENING ANALYSIS

4.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter discusses the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) screening analysis of the technology options identified for fluorescent lamp ballasts. As discussed in chapter 3 of the preliminary technical support document (TSD), DOE consults with industry, technical experts, and other intere sted parties to develop a list of technology options for consideration. The purpose of the screening analysis is to determine which options to consider further and which to screen out.

Section 325(o)(2) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) provides that any new or revised standard must be designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is determined to be technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)) In view of the EPCA requirements appendix A to subpart C of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 430 (10 CFR part 430), Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products (the Process Rule) sets forth procedures to guide DOE in its consideration and pr omulgation of new or revised efficiency standards. These procedures elaborate on th e statutory criteria provided in 42 U.S.C. 6295(o) and, in part, eliminat e problematic technologies early in the process of prescribing or amending an energy efficiency standard. In particular , sections 4(b)(4) and 5(b) of the Process Rule pr ovide guidance to DOE for dete rmining which design options

are unsuitable for furt her consideration:

1. Technological feasibility. DOE will consider technologies incorporated in commercial products or in working protot ypes to be technologically feasible.

2. Practicability to manufacture, install, and service. If mass production and

reliable installation and se rvicing of a technology in commercial products could be achieved on the scale necessary to serve the relevant market at the time the standard comes into effect, then DOE will consider that technology practicable to manufacture, install, and service.

3. Adverse impacts on product utility or prod uct availability. If DOE determines a technology would have significant adve rse impact on the utility of the product to significant subgroups of consumers, or would result in the unavailability of any covered product type with performance ch aracteristics (including reliability), features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the same as products generally available in the United States at the time, it will not consider this technology further.

4. Adverse impacts on health or safety. If DOE determines that a technology will have significant adverse impacts on health or safety, it will not consider this technology further.

4-1Section 4.2 discusses the technology op tions DOE screened out from further

consideration. Section 4.3 lists the remaining design options DOE considered in its analyses.

4.2 SCREENED-OUT TECHNOLOGIES

This section addresses the technologies that DOE screened out, having considered the following four factors: (1) technological feasibility; (2) practicability to manufacture, install, and service; (3) adverse impacts on product utility to consumers; and (4) adverse impacts on health or safety.

DOE examined all of the technology options presented in the technology assessment. Of those options, DOE screened out one: laminated sheets of amorphous steel. The following discussion details DOE’s co nsideration of this option in the context of the four screening criteria.

A ballast’s efficiency can be improved by using higher-quality inductors. The transformer affects the efficiency of magnetic and electronic ballasts. For electronic ballasts, transformers influence the efficiency of the electromagnetic interference, power factor correction, and output stage of the balla st. For magnetic balla sts, the transformer influences the efficiency of the output stage and current-limiting portion of the ballast. One method of decreasing transformer losses is to create the core of the inductor from laminated sheets of amorphous st eel, insulated from each other.

DOE screened out this technology because this method increases the size and weight of the ballast and therefore is not “practicable to manufacture, install, and service.” Larger inductors may cause probl ems in installing a nd servicing ballasts because the ballast could be too large to fit in a fixture. DOE also believes this technology option could have adverse imp acts on consumer utility. Specifically, increasing the size and weight of the ballast may limit the places a consumer could use the ballast in a building. DOE is unaware of whether this technology option is technologically feasible or whether it has adverse impacts on health or safety.

4.3 REMAINING TECHNOLOGIES

After screening out laminated sheets of amorphous steel in accordance with the policies set forth in 10 CFR Pa rt 430, Subpart C, Appendix A, (4)(a)(4) and 5(b), DOE is considering the design options in the follo wing table as viable means for improving ballast efficacy. Chapter 3 provides a detailed description of these design options, which DOE will consider in the engineering analysis (chapter 5).

4-2Table 4.3.1 Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Design Options

Technology Option Description

Magnetic Ballast Use a magnetic ballast design.

Electronic Ballast Use an electronic ballast design.

Lamp Diameter Vary the lamp diameter to improve system performance.

Improved Components Transformers Use grain-oriented silicon steel or amorphous steel to reduce core

losses.

Use litz wire to reduce winding losses.

Diodes Use diodes with lower losses.

Capacitors Use capacitors with a lower effective series resistance.

Transistors Use transistors with low drain-to-source resistance.

Improved Circuit Design Cathode Cutout Remove filament heating after lamp has started.

Integrated Circuits Substitute discrete components with an integrated circuit.

Starting Method Use instant start instead of rapid start as a starting method for lamp operation.

4-3