Sustainable Energy Practices in Thailand and Application of Thermosyphons to High-Power Light-Emitting Diodes

Abstract

The goal of this paper is first to give a general overview of energy use in Thailand, and review sustainable alternatives in generation and application. As a developing country, infrastructure is rapidly developing as well, presenting an opportunity to implement a basis for more sustainable energy production as well as use, without facing inertia of a more solidified existing system. Sustainable energy sources to meet the production needs of the country are examined, and light-emitting diode lighting (LED) is considered as an option to decrease energy use. Secondly, within this context, the viability and advantages of applying thermosyphons to reduce heat in chip-on-board high-power light-emitting diodes are investigated. These newer LEDs create considerable heat and will face damage, and particularly a shorter life span, if this heat isn’t managed. Heat sinks are traditionally used for cooling, but thermosyphons are an alternative that may be able to further manage the heat, as well as provide a cheaper and practical alternative in various scenarios. This experiment found a single thermosyphon and heat sink combination reduced LED heat by up to 11-13° C below the maximum LED operating temperature of 85°C, and moreover that adding a second thermosyphon reduced the temperature a total of 22-24° C below this, demonstrating that thermosyphons are viable to cool LEDs and should be considered during production and installation of LED lamps.