The Vapor Lamps
The vapor lamps are high luminous power lamps. Presently there are several reactors and types of vapor lamps. All of them have an optimum energetic efficiency and a good cost/benefit for their purposes.
The vapor lamps are discharge lamps, an electrical device that transforms electric energy into luminous energy.
Get to know the types of Vapor lamps
Sodium Vapor Lamps
In 1962 the High Pressure Sodium Lamp was invented.
Under high pressure
The high pressure sodium lamp is efficient, durable and reliable. The sodium lamp uses a mixture of sodium with mercury, besides noble gases that initiate the lamp ignition.
Curiosity:
The biggest obstacle for the elaboration of this bold project was the manufacture of a discharge tube which could support the sodium aggressiveness under high temperatures and pressures. The solution was the development of a special type of translucent ceramics called alumina.
Under low pressure
It was developed around 1930. The functioning principle of this type of lamp is the discharge in a U shaped special glass tube, containing an atmosphere composed of 99% neon and 1% argon, besides the sodium.
Curiosity:
This lamp has some peculiarities that make it similar to the fluorescent lamp, as far as its functional features are concerned, such as, for example, the warmed cathodes and the connection circuit, formed by a reactor and a starter, similar to those of the fluorescent lamp.
Mercury Vapor Lamps
In 1931 the mercury vapor lamp was invented.
Under high pressure
The high pressure mercury lamp, as its name implies, is a lamp which has as its functioning principle the discharge between two electrodes which are immersed in an argon atmosphere, with a small quantity of mercury. The lamp should operate with a reactor, so that the tension current is limited to acceptable values, so that it can function with safety.
Metallic Vapor Lamps
Under high pressure
The mercury vapor lamp with metallic iodides, also known as metallic vapor lamp, is the improvement of the mercury vapor lamp. Its difference is measured by the presence of metallic iodides, by its performance and possibility to vary the lamp coloring by the selection of the metallic iodides placed inside the discharge tube.
Curiosity:
This type of lamp also has an alumina coating at the discharge tube extremities, the purpose of which is to reflect the heat that is produced to the electrodes and prevent the iodides condensation within the tube.
