Thermal simulation simplifies the development of LED light sources [图图]

Introduction

Any form of electrical lighting product produces a negative product: heat. From incandescent sources to fluorescent lighting, generations of engineers are developing ways to minimize heat or separate heat from light sources or equipment. However, LED lighting is currently bringing new and different challenges in an ever-increasing quality and increasing form.

The development of heat will reduce the LED light output, causing a change in color and, at the same time, shortening the life of the component. It is said that thermal management is by far the most critical aspect of LED system design. From an engineer's point of view, this means learning tools that are common across structural and electronic design fields, and familiar with processes outside the scope of structural and electronic design. Fortunately, there are already thermal design solutions that can help simplify the engineer's design path in terms of thermal verification and testing challenges.

Verification design concept

When developing a new light source system, it is necessary to verify the most basic product concepts so that the structural and aesthetic aspects of the idea can be unified with the actual needs of the thermal performance.

The key to successful LED system design is to efficiently transfer the heat of the active device from its PN junction to the environment. Both the PCB board and the housing that solder the LEDs participate in the heat flow path. The design engineer must determine that the enclosure and shroud are efficient at transferring heat. Manufacturing and testing a series of physical samples to verify this is expensive and takes a lot of time, so recent design engineers typically use a software-based approach in the early stages of design.

A more popular approach is to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD=Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis to virtually simulate a planned device. For early design concepts, this method is much more flexible and effective than building a physical sample. After the virtual model has been well characterized, the physical sample can be used to determine what works and what does not. CFD simulations have traditionally been performed by analysts with advanced data and fluid mechanics backgrounds who require analysts to perform complex CFD modeling tools.

The latest development brings CFD technology to the desktop of structural engineers, greatly simplifying and speeding up analysis. The new process, Synchronous CFD, automates most of the work steps required to prepare and perform simulation analysis. Seamless integration into a common MCAD environment, such as Pro/ENGINEER®, enables structural engineers to create virtual simulation models of a new light source design and detect thermal performance.