Getian Liquid-cooled LED Technology Leading the Trend
Liquid-cooled LED technology is a technology that uses the high thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer characteristics of liquid to achieve efficient heat dissipation by directly or indirectly contacting LED chips or modules through liquid cooling media (such as water, mineral oil or special coolant).
Liquid-cooled LED technology is a technology that uses the high thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer characteristics of liquid to achieve efficient heat dissipation by directly or indirectly contacting LED chips or modules through liquid cooling media (such as water, mineral oil or special coolant). Compared with traditional air cooling or natural convection heat dissipation, liquid cooling technology can significantly reduce the junction temperature of LEDs, improve light efficiency, life and stability, especially suitable for high power density LED application scenarios.
Getian launched liquid-cooled led module 300W 400W 600W 800W and 1500W in white color and UV, IR, R,G, B, colors, Dual white, RGBW version also available.
The most compact structure.
The following is a detailed analysis of the technical principles, advantages, applications and challenges:
I. Principles of liquid-cooled LED technology
1. Direct liquid cooling
- LED chips or modules are directly immersed in insulating coolant (e.g., mineral oil, fluorinated fluid) and the heat is removed through direct contact with the liquid.
- Typical solution: Immersion Cooling, no heat sink construction, reduced thermal resistance path.
2. Indirect liquid cooling
- Using a microchannel cold plate, heat pipe, or coolant circulation system, the coolant flows through a metal heat dissipation component (e.g., copper/aluminum substrate) connected to the LED.
- Typical solution: Closed-loop liquid cooling system with a pump to circulate the coolant and an external radiator.
Getian is a high power density COB LED manufacturer from 10W to 7000W since 2005. Getian is also the first one to combine liquid cooling technology with high power density leds.
II. Technical advantages
1. Efficient heat dissipation
The thermal conductivity of liquid (0.1~0.6 W/m·K) is much higher than that of air (0.02 W/m·K), and the convective heat transfer efficiency is increased by 3-5 times, which can control the LED junction temperature below 60°C.
2. Performance improvements
- Low temperature operation reduces light decay (2 times longer life for every 10°C drop in junction temperature) and maintains high light efficiency (e.g. above 150 lm/W).
- Support higher current drive (e.g., above 1000mA) to increase the power density of a single LED.
- Eliminates the need for large heat dissipation fins, reduces the volume by 30%~50%, and is suitable for space-constrained scenes (such as car headlights and projectors).
4. Low noise & high reliability
- No fan vibration, noise < 20dB, and dust accumulation, suitable for clean environments (medical, laboratory).
III. Application scenarios
1. High-end lighting
- Automotive lighting: matrix LED headlights, laser headlights (e.g., some Audi models use liquid cooling).
- Film and television lighting: High-brightness camera lights (e.g. ARRI SkyPanel S360-C).
2. Industrial & Specialty Lighting
- UV-LED curing: High-power UV LEDs (e.g., printing, 3D printing) need to be stable and controlled.
- Plant factory: high-density LED supplemental light system, liquid cooling to reduce the heat load in the shed.
3. Display technology
- Micro/Mini LED: Liquid cooling for ultra-dense pixel screens (such as Samsung's The Wall) solves the problem of hot crosstalk.
- Laser projection: High-lumen projectors (e.g. Christie 4K lasers).
4. Other areas
- Data centers: Liquid-cooled LEDs are co-designed with server liquid-cooled systems (e.g., Microsoft Submarine Data Center).
- Military/Aerospace: LED lighting that is resistant to extreme environments (e.g. submarines, satellites). -
IV. Key technical challenges
1. Sealing and leakproof
- The risk of coolant leakage (especially direct liquid cooling) and material compatibility (e.g., corrosion of rubber seals by fluorinated fluids) need to be addressed.
2. Cost and complexity
- The cost of liquid cooling system is 30%~100% higher than that of air cooling, and additional components such as pumps, pipelines, and heat exchangers are required.
3. Maintainability
- The coolant needs to be replaced regularly (e.g. 2-5 years), and the system is more difficult to clean than traditional heat dissipation.
4. Low temperature condensation
- Cold surfaces may condense and require anti-condensation coatings or humidity control systems.
V. The future development trend
1. Material innovation
- Nanofluids (e.g., graphene dispersions) improve heat transfer efficiency, and phase change materials (PCMs) combine with liquid cooling to cushion thermal shock.
2. System integration
- Miniaturized liquid-cooled pumps (e.g. piezoelectric pumps) and flexible heat pipe technology for smaller LED modules.
3. Intelligent control
- Dynamic temperature control system (adjusts the liquid cooling flow according to the LED load) with AI predictive maintenance.
4. Green and environmental protection
- Biodegradable coolant (e.g. vegetable oil-based), pumpless passive liquid cooling design.
VI. Conclusion
Liquid-cooled LED technology is an ideal solution for high-power, high-density lighting scenarios, especially in the automotive, display, and industrial sectors. Despite the cost and maintenance challenges, liquid cooling technology is expected to become the mainstream solution for next-generation LED heat dissipation as materials and system design advances, driving the development of more efficient and compact lighting systems.