Energy conservation is the bottomline of the latest innovations. A new light bulb has the combined attractions of less energy, more efficiency and a longer life. Filled with inert gas and sulphur, the bulb gives an output equivalent to several hundred mercury lamps. Besides, the light has sunlight-like radiance and less ultraviolet content which makes it suitablefor growingplants andfor displaying works of art. Apparently the bulb can burn on endlessly as it has no filament to burn out
A NEWLY invented light bulb promises to
offer significant energy savings and better light to future users worldwide,
according to the US department of
energy (DOE). The bulb is filled with
inert gas and a small amount of sulphur
that is bombarded by microwaves to
produce luminescence. The Washington
Post writes, "one golf ball-sized sulphur
bulb, when irradiated by the kind of
compact microwave generator found in
ordinary kitchen ovens, puts out as
much light as hundreds of high-intensity mercury vapour lamps".
A small microwave generator at the
base of the bulb bombards the inert gas,
heating it. The hot gas energises electrons in the sulphur, which then emits a
large amount of visible light. The bulb
itself is rotated quickly by a motor to
cool it - otherwise it would melt.
According to DOE, the new lighting
has attractive optical qualities. Experts
note that the 'new-fangled' bulb emits
less ultraviolet light than traditional
large-area lighting, making it favourable
for displays or works of art. In addition,
the new kind of light, which is optically
somewhat similar to sunlight, seems to
be good for growing plants.
At the moment, nobody knows how
long the new bulbs will last. Since they
do not have electrodes, there are no filaments to burn out - so they may last a
long time. Light output does not seem
to diminish after extensive use - and
since this high-efficiency lamp does not
make use of mercury, there is no toxic
mercury to dispose off.
The new lighting "technology is
likely to usher in high quality,
high-efficiency illumination for large
indoor or outdoor spaces" once it
is made commercially available
according to the US Information Service'
Science Update. The DOE announced
last year that it was "inaugurating
the use" of the new light bulb which has
been installed on an experimental basis
at its Forrestal headquarters building
and at the Smithsonian National Air
and Space Museum in Washington DC.
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