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A Numerical and Experimental Study of a Novel Heat Sink Design for Natural Convection Cooling of LED Grow Lights

Author

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  • Ram Adhikari

    (Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Dawood Beyragh

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Majid Pahlevani

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • David Wood

    (Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

Abstract

Light-emitting diode (LED) grow lights are increasingly used in large-scale indoor farming to provide controlled light intensity and spectrum to maximize photosynthesis at various growth stages of plants. As well as converting electricity into light, the LED chips generate heat, so the boards must be properly cooled to maintain the high efficiency and reliability of the LED chips. Currently, LED grow lights are cooled by forced convection air cooling, the fans of which are often the points of failure and also consumers of a significant amount of power. Natural convection cooling is promising as it does not require any moving parts, but one major design challenge is to improve its relatively low heat transfer rate. This paper presents a novel heat sink design for natural convection cooling of LED grow lights. The new design consists of a large rectangular fin array with openings in the base transverse to the fins to increase air flow, and hence the heat transfer. Numerical simulations and experimental testing of a prototype LED grow light with the new heat sink showed that openings achieved their intended purpose. It was found that the new heat sink can transfer the necessary heat flux within the safe operating temperature range of LED chips, which is adequate for cooling LED grow lights.

Suggested Citation

  • Ram Adhikari & Dawood Beyragh & Majid Pahlevani & David Wood, 2020. "A Numerical and Experimental Study of a Novel Heat Sink Design for Natural Convection Cooling of LED Grow Lights," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:16:p:4046-:d:394705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. János Hegedüs & Gusztáv Hantos & András Poppe, 2020. "Lifetime Modelling Issues of Power Light Emitting Diodes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-30, July.
    2. Krzysztof Baran & Antoni Różowicz & Henryk Wachta & Sebastian Różowicz, 2020. "Modeling of Selected Lighting Parameters of LED Panel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-22, July.
    3. Kathrin Specht & Rosemarie Siebert & Ina Hartmann & Ulf Freisinger & Magdalena Sawicka & Armin Werner & Susanne Thomaier & Dietrich Henckel & Heike Walk & Axel Dierich, 2014. "Urban agriculture of the future: an overview of sustainability aspects of food production in and on buildings," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(1), pages 33-51, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sungjoon Byun & Seounghwan Hyeon & Kwan-Soo Lee, 2022. "Guide Vane for Thermal Enhancement of a LED Heat Sink," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, March.

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