Lamp Air-Guiding Surfaces for Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-power LED lamps used for illuminating large rooms or halls face challenges in effectively dissipating heat, which can lead to damage or unintended emission behavior if not managed properly, and existing solutions often require significant materials and complex designs.

Innovation Solution

A lamp design featuring through-openings on either side of the light source with air-guiding surfaces that form a funnel-shaped inflow area, directing air flow through these openings for enhanced heat dissipation, utilizing a heat sink with flat surfaces and inclined cooling ribs to improve thermal efficiency and reduce dust accumulation, while also allowing for a material-saving and thermally advantageous housing structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional heat sinks with vertically designed cooling ribs are used, then heat dissipation surface area is increased, but material consumption and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curved air-guiding surfaces that are inclined relative to the horizontal plane, forming a funnel-shaped air inflow area. These curved surfaces guide air flow more efficiently toward the light source compared to traditional vertical cooling ribs, achieving effective heat dissipation with reduced material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Temperature

If conventional heat sinks with vertically designed cooling ribs are used, then heat dissipation surface area is increased, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air-guiding function and the heat dissipation function into a single integrated heat sink structure. The curved air-guiding surfaces are formed as part of the heat sink itself, eliminating the need for separate air guidance components and simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If conventional cooling designs are used, then heat dissipation is achieved, but air flow guidance is insufficient for intensive cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling intensityVSAvoidair flow guidance structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved air-guiding surfaces with specific inclination angles (20°-85° relative to horizontal) that create a funnel-shaped air inflow area. This curved geometry naturally channels and accelerates air flow toward the light source, achieving intensive cooling without requiring complex mechanical air guidance systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This design achieves intensive and effective cooling of the light source, reducing the risk of damage and maintaining reliable operation, while being designed in a material-efficient and thermally optimized manner, suitable for high-bay applications with luminous flux outputs exceeding 10,000 lm.

Implementation Method 1

Heat sinks, which are thermally well connected to the LEDs, are usually used for the appropriate cooling of LEDs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

air can flow next to the LEDs along the cooling ribs, as a result of which the heat dissipation from the cooling ribs to the environment is forced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The air inflow area formed by the two air guiding surfaces makes it possible for air to be guided in a particularly targeted manner to the passage openings. In this way, a flow through the through-openings is forced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3249292B1Lamp with air guidance surfaces
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3249292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249292B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3249292B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a light source (2) with several light-emitting elements (3), in particular in the form of LEDs. On a first side (right) adjacent to the light source (2), the luminaire has first through-openings (5), and on a second side (left) adjacent to the light source (2), it has second through-openings (7). The through-openings (5, 7) are designed to allow airflow for cooling the light source (2). Furthermore, on the first side (right) adjacent to the first through-openings (5) and below the light source (2), the luminaire has a first air guide surface (6), and on the second side (left) adjacent to the second through-openings (7) and below the light source (2), it has a second air guide surface (8), wherein the two air guide surfaces (6, 8) are designed such that they form an airflow area (A) that widens away from the light source (2).This ensures that air is directed specifically towards the openings (5, 7). In this way, airflow through the openings (5, 7) is encouraged, thus enabling particularly effective heat transfer from the surfaces of the openings (5, 7) to the surroundings.