Characterizing the Thermal Resistance Coefficient of LEDs
Examples of LED-based MR16 lamps.
An analysis of LED junction temperature and board temperature showed a linear relationship between the two.
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Heat is a significant factor in the performance of LED lighting, and can have negative effects on light output, color and life. The amount of heat at the p-n junction of an LED, where light is created, can vary with the application. For example, an LED-based MR16 lamp in a well-ventilated fixture will have less heat than the same lamp in an insulated fixture, such as recessed can.
Accurately measuring LED junction temperature (Tj) is crucial to predicting LED performance. However, it is difficult to measure LEDs that are packaged into a system, such as an MR16 or PAR lamp, without taking the system apart. Instead, researchers use indirect measurement methods.
The most common indirect method requires knowledge of the LED’s thermal resistance coefficient, a measure of how much resistance the heat flow will encounter between the junction and the electronics board, where the LED is attached.
The accuracy of the Tj estimate depends on the value of the thermal resistance coefficient. Most LED manufacturers characterize a product’s thermal resistance for only one drive current, ambient temperature, and junction temperature. However, these parameters may change when LEDs are packaged into a system, which in turn may change the thermal resistance coefficient.
EXPERIMENT
The LRC conducted an experiment to understand the dependence of the LED thermal resistance coefficient on changes in power, ambient temperature, heat sink size, and orientation for high-power 1 W and 3 W LEDs. Board temperature (Tb) was also measured and analyzed.
RESULTS
LRC researchers found:
- Thermal resistance increases when the power or the ambient temperature increases.
- Thermal resistance decreases when the size of the heat sink increases.
- The orientation of the LED attached to the heat sink affects the LED’s heat dissipation. As a consequence, the thermal resistance changes.
This study also showed a linear correlation between Tj and Tb of an LED attached to a heat sink and operated at constant power. This linear relationship can be used to estimate the junction temperature for any board temperature.
FUTURE WORK
The next step is to find a relationship between the outer surface temperature of an LED lamp and the LED junction temperature. This would provide an easy, indirect method of estimating the performance of a complete LED system.
TECHNICAL PAPERS
Jayasinghe, L., T. Dong, and N. Narendran. 2007. Is the thermal resistance coefficient of high-power LEDs constant? Seventh International Conference on Solid State Lighting, Proceedings of SPIE 6669: 666911.
Full-text PDF
Jayasinghe, L., Y. Gu, and N. Narendran. 2006. Characterization of thermal resistance coefficient of high-power LEDs. Sixth International Conference on Solid State Lighting, Proceedings of SPIE 6337, 63370V.
Full-text PDF
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