Luxim claims 140 lumens per watt in new plasma lightbulbs

lys3rg0

http://news.zdnet.com/2422-13568_22-192842.html?tag=nl.e540

didn't hear anything about the cost Razz

eta: this should prolly be in Current Energy News, mods please move it.

vision-master

I like it. Cool

steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2425 Location: MA

Luxim's plasma lightbulb (140 Lumens per watt!)

Looks pretty good, twice as bright as LED!

Also they made an interesting comment that there are no electrodes.
They say it's argon, I'd guess there might be some mercury vapor in
there too and the gas is excited by either microwave or induction.
Anyway, the lack of electrodes is what makes it possible to reach much
higher temperatures (they say 6000 Kelvin), without any electrodes to erode.

Nice find lys3rg0!

FireJack · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 16, 2005 Posts: 449

Well its works but its not just how much light it can produce. Now comes the gauntlet of durability, manufacturing, cost, safety etc.

Homesteader

Are the resources available in sufficient quantity for the mass market?

I did a few google searches but couldn't find any info. Thinking REEs specifically since so many of our hi-tech gadgets need them.

steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2425 Location: MA

tsakach · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 326

The device appears to be an electrode-less halogen bulb driven by resonating microwave energy.

According to Luxim's US Patent 7,348,732, the device operates by maintaining a resonating microwave frequency between 0.5 to 30 GHz inside a solid-state waveguide. The bulb functions as part of the waveguide and contains noble gas and metal halides.

The only drawback seems to be the complexity of the electronics and bulb that functions as part of the waveguide. In comparison, just one stage of the design, such as the voltage source for the microwave transmitter may be as complex as the entire electronics for a compact fluorescent bulb.

So it might be well suited for applications such as streetlights or stadium lighting where premiums are paid for high reliability and efficiency.

steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2425 Location: MA