Aerodynamic Component for Flat Floodlight Drag Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flat floodlights face high wind loads due to their large exposed surface area, leading to complex dimensioning and frequent maintenance requirements, particularly for their fastening systems, which affects safety and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The integration of aerodynamic components on flat floodlights reduces drag and turbulence, lowering the Scx or Cw value, allowing for a more compact and durable design by minimizing wind resistance and enhancing thermal optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the floodlight is mounted at high height to illuminate large area, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the wind load acting on the floodlight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination coverage areaVSAvoidwind load
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curved aerodynamic components with streamlined surfaces to the floodlight structure. These curved elements guide wind flow smoothly around the floodlight, reducing turbulence and pressure differential that cause wind load. The curvature radius is specifically designed to optimize flow attachment and minimize drag forces while maintaining the floodlight's large surface area for illumination coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Area of stationary object

If the floodlight has large surface area for illumination, then the lighting coverage is improved, but the flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting surface areaVSAvoidflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the large floodlight surface into multiple sections and attaches separate aerodynamic components to different segments. This segmentation allows each component to independently manage local flow patterns, reducing overall flow resistance while preserving the total illuminated area. The components are strategically positioned at edges and corners where turbulence is most pronounced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Streamlined curved surfaces are applied to the floodlight structure to guide wind flow smoothly around the large surface area. The curvature radius is optimized to maintain attached flow over the extended surface, minimizing pressure differential and reducing form drag while preserving the full illumination coverage area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If conventional floodlights are used without aerodynamic components, then the structure is simple, but the wind load causes complex dimensioning and frequent maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces aerodynamic components as intermediary elements between the wind environment and the floodlight structure. These components act as flow management devices that reduce wind load forces before they reach the mounting system. By placing this flow control layer in front of the floodlight, the mounting structure can be optimized for reduced loads, simplifying dimensioning while improving reliability and reducing maintenance frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces wind loads on flat floodlights, enabling more efficient dimensioning with less material, increasing service life, and improving their aerodynamic and thermal performance while maintaining attractive appearance under high wind conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the aerodynamic side reduces the flow resistance of the planar floodlight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerodynamic drag reduction: Drag

Implementation Method 2

the aerodynamic side is curved/arc-shaped, convex and/or streamlined. Consequently, the drag of the aerodynamic component, and thus also of the planar floodlight, is further reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStreamlined flow: Laminar Flow

Implementation Method 3

The aerodynamic component reduces turbulence that occurs when the flat floodlight is exposed to airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence reduction: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3572714B1Aerodynamic component for a flat floodlight
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3572714B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3572714B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3572714B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an aerodynamic component (100, 200) for reducing the drag of a planar floodlight (1), wherein the aerodynamic component (100, 200) has an aerodynamic side (101, 201) and is designed to be mounted to the planar floodlight (1), such that when the aerodynamic component (100, 200) is mounted to the planar floodlight (1), the aerodynamic side (101, 201) reduces the drag of the planar floodlight (1). The invention further relates to a planar floodlight (1) with the aerodynamic component (100, 200) and to an aerodynamic kit for reducing the drag of a planar floodlight (1) with aerodynamic components (100, 200) according to the present invention.