LED Cooling via Hollow Pole Air Ducting
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-intensity discharge (HID) lighting dominates the market, but LEDs are not competitive due to limitations in lumen output, efficacy, longevity, and cost, particularly due to temperature and current-related issues that reduce their usability in high-demand applications like sports lighting.
Innovation Solution
An elevating structure is used to route pressurized air to high-intensity LED lighting fixtures, employing a small blower or fan to direct airflow through the lighting support pole and fixture mounts, reducing the operating temperature of LEDs and increasing their efficacy and lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LED current is increased to improve lumen output, then lumen output increases, but efficacy decreases and temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is activated before the LEDs reach damaging temperature levels. The hollow pole structure is pre-configured with air pathways, and the blower is positioned to immediately channel cool air to the LED fixtures when activated, preventing temperature-related efficacy degradation before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
Cool air acts as an intermediary medium between the heat source (LEDs) and the surrounding environment. The hollow pole serves as an intermediary conduit to deliver this cooling medium directly to the LED fixtures, enabling heat removal without requiring direct thermal contact or complex cooling infrastructure.
2Illumination intensity
If LED current is increased to improve lumen output, then lumen output increases, but operating temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic cooling by forcing pressurized cool air through the hollow pole and directly onto the LED fixtures. This pneumatic flow removes heat from the LEDs, allowing them to operate at higher currents for increased lumen output while maintaining acceptable operating temperatures through the forced air circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach moves from conventional horizontal or vertical mounting cooling to a three-dimensional solution utilizing the vertical hollow pole structure. Cool air is delivered from below through the pole's interior space, creating a vertical cooling dimension that efficiently removes heat from the LED fixtures mounted on the pole.
3Quantity of substance
If the number of LEDs per fixture is reduced to lower cost, then fixture cost decreases, but light output per fixture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system changes the thermal parameter of the LED operation by maintaining lower junction temperatures. This temperature control allows LEDs to operate more efficiently, extracting more lumens per watt from each LED. Consequently, fewer LEDs are needed to achieve the required total light output, reducing fixture cost while maintaining illumination levels.
4Use of energy by moving object
If LED operating temperature is reduced to improve efficacy, then efficacy increases, but additional cooling infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow pole structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the LED fixtures, acts as a conduit for electrical wiring, and simultaneously functions as a cooling duct for delivering pressurized air to the LEDs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling infrastructure, reducing system complexity while maintaining improved LED efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ambient air as a free cooling resource, requiring only a simple blower to pressurize and direct the airflow. The hollow pole structure already present in the lighting system is utilized as the cooling duct, eliminating the need for additional cooling infrastructure. The system essentially cools itself using resources already available in the environment and existing structure.
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 approach can increase LED efficacy by 10-15% and result in significant cost savings, extending the life of LEDs and reducing the number of fixtures needed, making air cooling economically feasible for sports and wide-area lighting applications.
Implementation Method 1
A small blower or fan is installed with its output directed into a hollow lighting support pole. Air distribution is through the pole and either coaxially through the fixture mounts, or through appropriate ducting from the pole to the fixtures.
Implementation Method 2
Air is directed through the fixtures or to the heat sink on the back side of fixtures
Implementation Method 3
Air distribution is through the pole and either coaxially through the fixture mounts, or through appropriate ducting from the pole to the fixtures
Data Source
AI summary
A high-intensity LED lighting system is presented whereby one or more LED lighting fixtures are affixed to an elevating structure, the elevating structure having a substantially continuous internal pathway. Said pathway can be used as a conduit or duct for pressurized air which is introduced at or near the bottom of the elevating structure and forced upwardly toward the lighting fixtures so to provide cooling of one or more components of the lighting fixtures so to, ultimately, improve the efficacy of the LEDs contained therein. A method of designing lighting systems, including analysis of whether or not to add air cooling to increase light source efficiency is also disclosed.