LED Lighting Fixture Thermal Coupling to Irrigation Pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
High intensity LED lighting in applications like greenhouses generates waste heat, which requires efficient dissipation to prevent degradation and failure, and existing solutions often necessitate internal heat dissipation methods increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system where each fixture is thermally coupled to an open-sided cooling or irrigation pipe, allowing heat to be conducted away from the LED through a fluid, such as water, reducing the need for internal cooling mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high intensity LED lighting is used in greenhouses, then light output is improved, but heat generation increases requiring internal cooling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat generated by high-intensity LEDs into a beneficial cooling mechanism by thermally coupling the LED to an existing irrigation pipe. The circulating water in the irrigation pipe absorbs the waste heat, cooling the LED while potentially providing warmth to the plants. This resolves the contradiction by transforming the heat problem into a useful thermal management solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the irrigation pipe serve multiple functions: its original irrigation purpose plus a new heat dissipation function. By thermally coupling the LED to the irrigation pipe, the pipe becomes a dual-purpose component that both delivers water to plants and acts as a heat sink for the LED, eliminating the need for separate cooling infrastructure.
2Temperature
If internal heat dissipation mechanisms are added to the lighting fixture, then heat removal is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the lighting system to cool itself by utilizing the existing irrigation infrastructure. The circulating water in the irrigation pipe automatically absorbs heat from the LED through thermal conduction, requiring no additional active cooling components, controllers, or power consumption. The system serves its own cooling needs using readily available resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the lighting function and cooling function into a single integrated system by thermally coupling the LED to the irrigation pipe. This combination eliminates the need for separate cooling mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
3Temperature
If internal heat dissipation mechanisms are added to the lighting fixture, then heat removal is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the irrigation pipe serve multiple functions: its original irrigation purpose plus a new heat dissipation function. By thermally coupling the LED to the irrigation pipe, the pipe becomes a dual-purpose component that both delivers water to plants and acts as a heat sink for the LED, eliminating the need for separate cooling infrastructure and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the lighting system to cool itself by utilizing the existing irrigation infrastructure, eliminating the need for additional cooling components, controllers, or power consumption. This self-cooling approach significantly reduces manufacturing costs compared to traditional active cooling solutions.
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 configuration effectively dissipates heat from the LED, prolonging its efficiency and reducing the cost of the lighting fixture by leveraging an existing cooling or irrigation system.
Implementation Method 1
The lighting member being thermally coupled to an inside portion of the pipe coupling portion. The lighting member having a light emanating away from the cooling pipe.
Implementation Method 2
allowing heat to be conducted away from the LED through a fluid, such as water
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures coupled to a cooling pipe, each lighting fixture having an open sided pipe coupling portion and a lighting member connected to the coupling portion. The lighting member being thermally coupled to an inside portion of the pipe coupling portion. The lighting member having a light emanating away from the cooling pipe.