Fiber Optic Refrigerated Display Lighting With Remote Light Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional refrigerated display cases using fluorescent lamps face issues such as decreased luminous efficiency at low temperatures, costly maintenance, hazardous material risks, and increased electrical load due to heat generation, which complicates lighting and cooling operations.
Innovation Solution
A lighted refrigerated display case with a remote fiber optic luminaire system that extracts and directs light from a remotely located source, reducing the need for specialist maintenance and minimizing heat introduction into the cold environment, thus requiring less electrical power and lowering cooling costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fluorescent tubes are used for illumination in refrigerated display cases, then sufficient light output over large areas is achieved, but luminous efficiency decreases significantly at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal compartment as an intermediary between the fluorescent tube and the refrigerated environment. This thermal compartment acts as a buffer that maintains the fluorescent tube at a higher temperature than the surrounding refrigerated space, allowing the tube to operate at optimal luminous efficiency while still providing illumination in the cold environment. The thermal compartment mediates the conflict between the tube's temperature requirements and the refrigerated case's temperature requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct thermal coupling system with an optical coupling system using fiber optics. Instead of having the fluorescent tube directly illuminate the display case (which would require the tube to operate in cold conditions), the patent uses fiber optic cables to transmit light from a remotely located fluorescent tube to the display case. This substitution allows the light source to be maintained at optimal temperature while delivering illumination to the refrigerated environment.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fluorescent tubes are sealed in thermal compartments to maintain operating temperature, then luminous efficiency is improved, but maintenance complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic cable acts as an intermediary that decouples the light source from the refrigerated environment. The fluorescent tube and its thermal compartment are located outside the refrigerated case, while the fiber optic cable transmits light through the boundary. This intermediary arrangement allows easy access to the light source for maintenance while maintaining the thermal compartment's protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the illumination system into separate functional components: the fluorescent tube with its thermal compartment is separated from the refrigerated display case interior. This segmentation allows the light source assembly to be independently maintained or replaced without affecting the refrigerated environment or requiring complex disassembly procedures.
3Illumination intensity
If fluorescent tubes are used in refrigerated cases, then illumination is provided, but heat generated by the tubes increases electrical load on cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat-generating fluorescent tube from the refrigerated environment and places it in a thermal compartment outside the cooled space. The fiber optic cable transmits only the light energy into the refrigerated case, while the heat generated by the fluorescent tube remains outside the cooled environment. This extraction eliminates the need for additional cooling power to remove heat from the display case interior.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If fluorescent tubes are remotely located outside the refrigerated case, then heat introduction is minimized, but light delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic cable serves as an efficient intermediary for light transmission between the remotely located fluorescent tube and the refrigerated display case. Fiber optic technology maintains high light transmission efficiency even over the distance required to position the light source outside the cooled environment, minimizing losses while achieving the goal of heat separation.
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 remote fiber optic luminaire system provides efficient illumination with reduced power consumption and simplified maintenance, minimizing heat introduction and associated cooling costs while maintaining effective lighting within refrigerated display cases.
Implementation Method 1
A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container... A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire
Implementation Method 2
The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion
Data Source
AI summary
Lighted refrigerated display case with remote light source comprises a closed container with an interior of the container refrigerated to a temperature below 7 C. The container is thermally insulated from ambient, having internal and external walls. A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container, having an elongated side-light emitting portion for emitting light from the side of the luminaire onto contents in an interior of the display case. The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion to at least one target area of said contents along a longitudinal axis of the side-light emitting portion. A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire, having a light source mounted remotely from the interior of the container.