Modular Lighting Forced Cooling Radiator Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-power LED lighting systems face challenges with heat dissipation, leading to increased weight and dimension of radiators, which limits their portability and efficiency, and existing solutions do not adequately address the issue of dazzle and modularity in lighting systems.

Innovation Solution

The use of forced air circulation through electric fans and aeration holes to reduce the size and weight of heat dissipators, combined with flexible fabric light diffusion surfaces and modular design for adaptable configuration, orientation, and easy transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If high-power LED modules are used to increase lighting power, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat dissipation requirements increase leading to larger and heavier radiators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting powerVSAvoidradiator weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies forced air circulation through electric fans to create a pneumatic cooling system. Air is drawn through aeration holes in the support structure, passes through channels in the radiator fins, and is expelled by fans. This pneumatic flow actively removes heat from the LED modules, enabling high lighting power without proportionally increasing radiator size and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the thermal management approach from passive conduction-only cooling to active forced convection cooling. By introducing air flow velocity as a controllable parameter through fans, the system can maintain effective heat dissipation with reduced radiator mass, as the moving air enhances heat transfer coefficients significantly compared to static air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If traditional rigid diffusers are used to reduce dazzle, then illumination quality is improved, but the system loses portability and adaptability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedazzle reductionVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid diffuser materials with flexible fabric that can be folded and compressed. This fabric diffuser maintains its light-diffusing function while enabling the entire lighting module to be collapsed into a compact configuration for portable transport and storage, significantly improving adaptability without sacrificing illumination quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic configurability to the diffuser system. The flexible fabric diffuser can transition between extended operational positions for optimal light diffusion and collapsed compact positions for portability. This dynamic state change allows the system to adapt between fixed installation and mobile deployment scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Weight of stationary object

If forced air cooling is implemented to reduce radiator size, then weight is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional fans and aeration holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiator weightVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the support structure to serve multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the LED modules, contains integrated aeration holes for air intake, and incorporates mounting points for the fans. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity despite adding forced cooling capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enables efficient heat dissipation, reduces the weight and dimension of lighting systems, minimizes dazzle, and allows for modular, adaptable, and portable lighting configurations that can be easily transported and assembled to meet varying needs.

Implementation Method 1

one or more fans (20) mounted on said support (7) aligned on said one or more aeration holes (8), for forced cooling (20) of said heat dissipating plate (9) and of said dissipating fins (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

at least one heat dissipating plate (9), of square (not according to the invention) or round shape, applied adhering totally or partially to a face of said at least one support (7)... provided with dissipating fins (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3810983B1Modular lighting system with forced cooling
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 MEDICI SRL
  • EP3810983B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2c
  • EP3810983B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~5
  • EP3810983B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

Modular high-power lighting system with light diffuser (14) made of fabric, with one or more lighting modules (1) being assemblable, and reducible to small dimensions for transport and storage, in which cooling of the lamp or LED light sources (19) is optimized by forced air so that the weight, the resulting dimensions and the weight-power ratio of the light module (1) are minimized. The fabric of the light diffuser (14) is removable and/or interchangeable without the help of equipment. It can be used on stand structures or bases (2) that are fixed and telescopic and/or can be hung to existing structures such as shelters, projecting beams, tree branches, so that one or more modules (1) that are easily stackable or bookable to one another can multiply the lighting power according to needs, constituting in its entirety a single lighting column. The system further uses the free spaces of the stacking tubular elements (18, 26, 27) as seats for batteries (28) and can house a photovoltaic panel on the top.