CFL Full Form – Compact Fluorescent Lamp

CFL Full Form: Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFC) are becoming popular among industrial, commercial, and domestic users. It illuminates interiors with bright and soothing visible lights and lets you save on electricity bills.

CFLs replace incandescent lamps conveniently, avoid overheating of interiors, and last longer than conventional lamps.
This blog gives a detailed overview of CFLs with their types, structure, and benefits and also keeps you informed on how to use and handle them for optimum results.

What is the Full Form of CFL?

The full form of CFL is Compact Fluorescent Lamp where:

• C stands for Compact
• F stands for Fluorescent
• L stands for Lamp

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) is a light that effectively replaces conventional incandescent lamps for better results. The CFL contains a spiral or U-shaped glass tube that contains mercury vapor. It gets excited by the flow of electric current and reaches a state where it radiates ultraviolet light.

The UV light strikes the inner fluorescent coating of the lamp and visible light is generated. CFLs can produce the same amount of visible light as incandescent lamps, but the energy consumption is much less.

That’s why they are highly preferred in industrial and domestic applications.

Do Check: List of all Important Full Forms

CFL Structure

The CFL has two parts: A tube filled with mercury vapour and a ballast attached.
The magnetic ballasts used earlier are now replaced with electronic parts that effectively address the problem of slow-starting or flickering associated with CFLs.
It also allows easy replacement of incandescent lamps with CFLs. There are two types of CFL available for use:

• Integrated CFL: This type of CFL contains a tube and ballast in a single unit. It can be fixed easily by replacing the existing incandescent lights in a compact place.
• Non-integrated CFL: This type of CFL has the ballast permanently fixed to the light fittings, and only the tube requires changing. These lamps are larger than integrated ones and typically last longer.

CFL Advantages

The Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) offers many advantages compared to traditional incandescent lamps. Let’s find out what are the CFL advantages:

• Energy Efficiency – A CFL consumes about one-fifth of electrical energy compared to an incandescent lamp for generating the same amount of illumination. You can use a 15-watt or 20-watt CFL to get the same light as a 60-watt or 100-watt incandescent lamp.
• Reduced Costs – The energy bill is likely to be less as CFLs use less electricity. The initial cost of CFL is higher than that of conventional lamps. However, it offers a significant cost advantage in the long run due to energy savings. Moreover, CFLs run for a longer period. It also helps you save money.
• Environmental Benefits – CFLs use less electricity, which means the overall demand for electrical energy reduces with more use of CFLs. It implies that fewer fossil fuels will be used in thermal power plants to produce electricity. It significantly reduces the volume of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
• Less Heat Generation – The heat generated by CFLs is also less than that of incandescent lamps. With indoor lighting using CFLs, air-conditioning requirements are also reduced. It results in further electricity savings.

Also Check: EWS Full Form

CFL Limitations

Some features of CFL raise concerns among its users. The potential CFL Limitations are mentioned below:

• CFLs deliver the best results when left on for a longer period. Frequent switching on and off will decrease efficiency. It might also shorten their life.
• CFLs are best suited for a specific temperature range. Their efficiency might reduce at lower temperatures.
• CFLs are generally designed for indoor use. Some lamps may not work properly outdoors if exposed to extreme cold weather.
• In cooler climates, the heat generated by CFLs in an indoor environment may not be sufficient.

So, an additional heating system is required that incurs costs. CFL turns on immediately but takes some time to reach its full brightness.

The infrared radiation from CFL might interfere with electronic devices that operate on infrared sensors.

CFL and Mercury

The essential component of CFL is mercury, which is stored in the lamp in vapour form. Mercury is highly toxic and harmful for humans. So, the concern is inhaling the vapour by any means, although the chance is rare. Mercury is used in CFL to produce UV light, which turns into visible light through fluorescent coatings inside the bulb.

No substitute for mercury is found till date to produce the same effect. The amount of mercury used in CFLs has decreased over time, but still, a minimum amount is required to make CFLs function properly as desired. A CFL typically contains 3 -5 milligrams of mercury.

Also Check: ATP Full Form

CFL Disposal

Disposal of CFL is a matter of concern because broken lamps might release mercury vapour or even contain small amounts of solid mercury.
So, CFL disposal must be carried out very carefully. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that if all the CFLs sold in 2007 were sent to landfill sites, they could generate around 0.13 metric tons of mercury.
The agency recommends a stepwise process for cleaning broken CFLs, as given below:

• Turn off the central heating or cooling system, so fumes aren’t transferred to another room.
• Open the windows and let the room ventilate for 15 minutes.
• Remove the broken pieces using gloves so you don’t touch any mercury powder.
• Don’t use your vacuum cleaner; put broken pieces in a plastic bag.
• Clean the area with a damp paper towel and put it in the plastic bag.
• Seal the bag and immediately throw it in the waste bin.

CFL vs. LED

Considering the increasing demand for energy-efficient lighting, a new type of lamp has been designed. It contains a light-emitting diode (LED) that generates light while electricity flows through it. LED lamps are found to be more energy-efficient and environment-friendly than CFLs.
The table below shows a CFL vs LED comparison based on certain features:

Conclusion

The CFL in full form is a Compact Fluorescent Lamp. It offers a great solution by improving energy efficiency and reducing electricity consumption and associated costs. CFLs act as effective replacements for conventional incandescent lamps with better quality, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

Also Check: CBSE Full Form

CFL Full Form FAQs

Can used CFLs be recycled?

Yes. CFLs can be recycled to recover the remaining mercury and prevent it from entering the environment.

Why are most CFLs not suitable for outdoor use?

Most CFLs are unsuitable for outdoor use because extreme temperatures can reduce efficiency and shorten life span.

Do enclosed fixtures affect CFL performance?

Enclosed fixtures can affect CFL performance because they might trap heat and cause CFL failures due to overheating.

What can be the CFL equivalent of a 100-watt incandescent lamp?

The CFL of 25-30 watt is equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent lamp for getting the same illumination. Secondary keyword: CFL advantages CFL limitations CFL disposal CFL vs. LED