Horticultural LED Lighting Thermal Management

Alternative agricultural productivity is needed to grow enough grains, fruits and vegetables in different regions with varying weather conditions. "Urban farming" involves the reuse of abandoned underground tunnels or bunkers, as well as the roofs and walls of buildings. However, these sites often lack the sunlight that plants need to grow, which is why LED lighting systems are increasingly being used as an alternative light source so that plants can also be grown on demand. With well-controlled light frequency, plant growth can even be optimized to produce more plants, improve yields, and reduce harmful substances. Moreover, this method can also adjust the color and flavor of the crop. UV LEDs also protect plants from microorganisms, spores and bacteria.

Extend LED lamp life through thermal management

LED lights are much more efficient than traditional halogen bulbs, using up to 50 percent of the electricity to produce visible light, but that means they still emit about half the energy in the form of heat. As LED lamps become smaller and require more energy at the same time, more and more heat output is generated. In the long run, this affects the lifespan of the LED light.

Current LED lights have a lifespan of 2,000 to 4,000 hours. Excessive temperatures mean they can lose up to one-sixth of their lifespan, so thermal management solutions are important in extending the performance of LED lights, which can also drastically reduce the need for replacement and maintenance operations during operation. need.

Custom Cooling Elements

There are no off-the-shelf thermal management solutions on the market due to the multitude of factors to consider. Are customers using low power, medium power or high power LEDs? What temperature is expected to be reached? How much space is available in the client application? Also, is noise one of the contributing factors?

Generally speaking, there are active and passive solutions available in the market. Passive solutions include heat sinks and thermally conductive foils from suppliers such as Assmann, Fischer Elektronik or 3M. Active solutions are fans and blowers such as those offered by Adda, Delta and Jamicon.

Design friendly radiator

The main difference between radiator products is the material. Finned heat sinks made of aluminum are ideal if a relatively large amount of heat needs to be dissipated efficiently. Due to their attractive purchase price, they are suitable for cost-sensitive applications. Vendors can also provide custom solutions, precisely sized for cooling needs.

A plastic heat sink conducts heat, but it is an electrical insulator. And, depending on the plastic composite, a high level of light reflection can also be provided. Plastic can be used directly as the housing, eliminating any additional cooling elements. The reflectivity of plastic means that the light doesn't lose any brightness. Plastic heat sinks are just as design friendly as aluminum heat sinks, but are lighter in weight, making them especially useful for applications where weight control is important.

Boron nitride is a plastic that is particularly suitable for conducting and dissipating heat, also known as "white graphite". This synthetic material with a graphite-like structure is a pure white electrical insulator.

If the material properties are maintained, the heat dissipation index of boron nitride is as high as 15 W/(m?K). Boron nitride cooling fillers can be designed to be easily redirected in any direction, allowing control of heat dissipation to either vertical or horizontal directions. Boron Nitride is particularly suitable for thin-walled and complex geometries, and 3M can supply heat sinks to match.

Regardless of the cooling method and material used, thermal management solutions are virtually always custom developed, as thermal requirements and local conditions are very specific and vary from project to project. As a result, professional technical support has become even more important for customers looking for the ideal thermal management solution for the application at hand.