Solid state light fixture with cooling system with heat rejection management

• US 8,651,704 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Musco Corporation
• Inventors: Gordin, Myron, Crookham, Joe P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US12/623,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/147, 362/149, 362/218, 362/294, 362/373
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/60 characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0092 with heating or cooling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/056 the air at least partially flowing over lighting fixtures, the heat of which is dissipated or used outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces combined with lighting fixtures F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: G16C 20/40 Searching chemical structures or physicochemical data

Abstract

Systems and methods for solid-state light source heat management are provided. A solid-state light source, e.g. having one or more LEDs, can be mounted within an enclosure. In some embodiments, a heat sink associated with semiconductor material and/or power electronics can be placed on a separate side of the enclosure that is thermally insulated or separated from the state-light source. The enclosure can include a first side or portion that allows light from the solid-state-light source (e.g., LEDs) to pass through to a target area. A fluid transfer conduit may be connected to the second side or portion of the enclosure for passing a fluid (e.g., air, water, coolant, etc.) across the heat sink to transport heat generated by the power electronics and/or semiconductor material away. The heated fluid can then be routed to, as examples, an HVAC system, a vent, water heating systems, heat exchanger systems, and/or storage systems (e.g., batteries).

Claims

1. A system for cooling solid-state lighting fixtures, the system comprising:

a solid-state light source having one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a heat source, wherein at least a part of the heat source is associated with a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the heat source;

an enclosure having a plurality of portions with a first portion of the plurality of portions being at least partially transparent and one of the plurality of portions including a fluid transfer conduit interface, wherein the solid-state light source is mounted within the plurality of portions to form two sections of the enclosure that are separated from one another, the LEDs are located in the first section facing the first portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transparent and the heat sink is located in the second section of the enclosure; and

a fluid transfer conduit connected to the enclosure via the fluid transfer conduit interface to allow fluid to transport heat generated by the heat source away from the heat sink of the solid-state light source;

wherein the second section of the enclosure encases the heat sink within a heat chamber, and wherein the heat chamber includes inside surfaces and external surfaces with a gap between the inside surfaces and the external surfaces, the inside surfaces are thermally conductive, the external surfaces are thermally insulated, and the fluid is able to flow through the gap between the inside surfaces and external surfaces extracting heat being dissipated by the heat sink.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a second portion of the plurality of portions includes a vent, the heat sink includes one or more air ducts, and wherein fluid moving through the fluid transfer conduit causes air to be drawn through the vent and across the heat sink and through the one or more air ducts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second section of the enclosure encases the heat sink within a heat chamber that includes an opening to allow the heat chamber to be connected to the fluid transfer conduit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is air or building coolant.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer conduit is insulated to minimize heat transfer from the fluid inside the fluid transfer conduit to a space external to the fluid transfer conduit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer conduit is connected to a fan, a pump, or a blower that forces the fluid through the enclosure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer conduit connects multiple solid-state light sources within individual enclosures.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the individual enclosures associated with the multiple solid-state light sources include independently controllable fans to force the fluid across the heat sink associated with the solid-state light source housed within the enclosure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the solid-state light source is mounted in a building structure, the fluid transfer conduit is in fluid communication with an outside of the building structure at one end and in fluid communication with the enclosure at another end, and wherein connected to the fluid conduit is a fan, blower, or pump for moving fluid from the outside of the building, through the fluid transfer conduit, and through the enclosure.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the solid-state light source is mounted in a building structure, the fluid transfer conduit is in fluid communication with an outside of the building structure at one end and in fluid communication with the enclosure at another end, and wherein connected to the fluid conduit is a fan for moving fluid through the enclosure, through the fluid transfer conduit, and to the outside of the building.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer conduit is coupled to a building heating/cooling system.

12. A system for cooling solid-state lighting fixtures, the system comprising:

a solid-state light source having one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a heat source, wherein at least a part of the heat source is associated with a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the heat source;

an enclosure having a plurality of portions with a first portion of the plurality of portions being at least partially transparent and one of the plurality of portions including a fluid transfer conduit interface, wherein the solid-state light source is mounted within the plurality of portions to form two sections of the enclosure that are separated from one another, the LEDs are located in the first section facing the first portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transparent and the heat sink is located in the second section of the enclosure; and

a fluid transfer conduit connected to the enclosure via the fluid transfer conduit interface to allow fluid to transport heat generated by the heat source away from the heat sink of the solid-state light source;

wherein the fluid transfer conduit connects multiple solid-state light sources within individual enclosures, wherein each of the individual enclosures associated with the multiple solid-state light sources include independently controllable fans to force the fluid across the heat sink associated with the solid-state light source housed within the enclosure.

13. A system for cooling solid-state lighting fixtures, the system comprising:

a solid-state light source having one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a heat source, wherein at least a part of the heat source is associated with a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the heat source;

an enclosure having a plurality of portions with a first portion of the plurality of portions being at least partially transparent and one of the plurality of portions including a fluid transfer conduit interface, wherein the solid-state light source is mounted within the plurality of portions to form two sections of the enclosure that are separated from one another, the LEDs are located in the first section facing the first portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transparent and the heat sink is located in the second section of the enclosure; and

a fluid transfer conduit connected to the enclosure via the fluid transfer conduit interface to allow fluid to transport heat generated by the heat source away from the heat sink of the solid-state light source;

wherein the solid-state light source is mounted in a building structure, the fluid transfer conduit is in fluid communication with an outside of the building structure at one end and in fluid communication with the enclosure at another end, and wherein connected to the fluid conduit is a fan, blower, or pump for moving fluid from the outside of the building, through the fluid transfer conduit, and through the enclosure.

14. A system for cooling solid-state lighting fixtures, the system comprising:

a solid-state light source having one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a heat source, wherein at least a part of the heat source is associated with a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the heat source;

an enclosure having a plurality of portions with a first portion of the plurality of portions being at least partially transparent and one of the plurality of portions including a fluid transfer conduit interface, wherein the solid-state light source is mounted within the plurality of portions to form two sections of the enclosure that are separated from one another, the LEDs are located in the first section facing the first portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transparent and the heat sink is located in the second section of the enclosure; and

a fluid transfer conduit connected to the enclosure via the fluid transfer conduit interface to allow fluid to transport heat generated by the heat source away from the heat sink of the solid-state light source;

wherein the solid-state light source is mounted in a building structure, the fluid transfer conduit is in fluid communication with an outside of the building structure at one end and in fluid communication with the enclosure at another end, and wherein connected to the fluid conduit is a fan for moving fluid through the enclosure, through the fluid transfer conduit, and to the outside of the building.