Jake Dyson, son of Sir James Dyson, inventor of the Dyson vacuum cleaner, has invented an LED lightbulb that could last 37 years, reports The Guardian.
Dyson’s goal was to make an LED that could last for life. But he’s struggled with the fact that the semiconductor chips that produce the light also generate intense heat, which damages the chips over time.
He has come up with a way to extract the heat from the chip via heat pipe technology - in much the same way laptop computers work, according to the Guardian.
Dyson uses a copper heat pipe within the LED that contains a drop of water, which turns to steam from the heat of the light. The steam then disperses inside the pipe and moves heat away from the chip. With the cooling technology, the LED chip is kept at about 45C.
Recently, Dyson debuted a new overhead light - the Ariel - designed for long areas such as boardroom tables. Ariel uses six heat pipes to keep the chips cool for a single LED light. Ariel can illuminate an 86-sq-foot area, which would normally require four lights. Reducing the number of needed LEDs was also one of Dyson’s goals, along with extending the lifespan of the bulb.
The Ariel will cost about $1,250 for trade customers when available in May. The price tag is hefty, but benefits include a projected lifespan in excess of 120,000 hours and a reduction in bulbs needed per square foot.
Takeaway: LED innovation is the new frontier now that the technology has gained mainstream momentum. Companies are not only improving the technology, but looking for lucrative business models as well. For example, LumiGrow has partnered with SparkFund to offer customers a private-label payment plan for installing energy-efficient horticultural lighting upgrades at no upfront cost. The business arrangement is similar to an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), which energy service companies use to persuade customers to undertake retrofit projects with no upfront costs.
