Thermal management of honeycomb heat sink filled with phase change material for smart lighting applications

Abstract

Recently, thermal management of LEDs lamps has become increasingly essential due to the widespread integration of LEDs in smart lighting applications. In this work, we focus on the thermal analysis of convective heat transfer using a honeycomb heat sink designed for LEDs lamp cooling. Three different heat sink geometries were examined: an aluminum-filled honeycomb radiator, a hollow honeycomb radiator, and a hollow honeycomb radiator incorporating a phase change material (PCM) layer. The results obtained from numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics® showed that the third heat sink geometry, when employed in short-duration lighting applications, led to a 25% reduction in temperature for a 20W power lamp. We also determined the optimal operational time, during which the temperature drop is maximum. Moreover, we observed that the integration of a PCM-filled honeycomb radiator in cyclic lighting applications (involving on/off cycles and high/low power settings) significantly mitigates temperature rise in the lamp by leveraging the PCM's heat storage capacity. This approach effectively prevents thermal shocks, ensures prolonged LEDs performance, and contributes to energy savings in the lighting sector. By addressing the thermal management challenges associated with LEDs lamps through innovative heat sink designs and the utilization of PCM, our research offers valuable insights for enhancing the overall performance and efficiency of LED lighting systems.