One of the biggest challenges with LED and HPS lighting: how do you keep the fixtures cool? Each manufacturer has its own solution for this.
"Oreon is the only one who opts for water-cooling," the team with the company explains. "The fixtures are constantly cooled and the gained heat is stored separately. Stored? For sure! Heat is not an enemy and it, but can be reused. This high-end solution therefore offers great benefits. For the grower himself, but also in the field of sustainability. We are happy to explain that."
Do not let heat and CO₂ escape
To explain these advantages, a comparison with other LED fixtures is necessary. By definition, a fixture must be cooled for overheating, or it will affect the lifespan and output of the lamp. Providers of LED fixtures opt for a passive or active cooling system. The heat is removed from the lamp, but what happens to it? Heat rises to the top of the greenhouse. In this way, the greenhouse heats up entirety, making it necessary to air now and then. The grower opens the windows, where the heat and a large part of the energy used flows away to the outside air. Just like CO₂.
However, CO₂ is essential for the crop. So it is a shame to lose that CO₂ in that way, while you have to add it again at later. And that heat is also reusable, right? Think of heating premises or when the crop needs it, such as heating irrigation water or as warm air under the crop
Less chance of malfunction
An actively cooled lamp with fan also has a much greater risk of defects. The fan moves, dirt gets in and maintenance is therefore always required. That is quite a job if there are 3000 fixtures in your greenhouse. In addition, the heat is spread throughout the greenhouse, which does not always benefit the climate and the crop.
"This does not happen with active water-cooling," they further explain. "The water flows through a closed system at 25 liters per minute, leaving it free from blockage, oxidation and algae formation. It does not come into contact with electronic parts, but flows into the lamp past an aluminum plate (heatsink) that cools the light source. The hot water is collected for later reuse. CO₂ continues to do its work in the greenhouse. The LED fixture never gets warmer than 45 degrees and therefore the maximum number of micromoles remains. In addition, they are easy to clean with a high-pressure cleaner (IP67)."
Smallest fixture on the market
"But let’s discuss the biggest advantage perhaps: the compactness of the fixture. Thanks to the water cooling, it is the smallest on the market and also provides the least shade for the Oreon LED fixture. And because the output is so high, fewer fixtures are needed. This allows the grower to make maximum use of natural sunlight to illuminate the crop."
A complete system
Enough good reasons to actively cool LED fixtures with water. It ensures that the lifespan of the LED fixtures is extended and the light output is retained. In addition, you can save on energy costs, reuse the heat and you keep the CO₂ in your greenhouse.
"In this way, Oreon's LED fixtures consume significantly less energy than other lamps. The greenhouses remain at the right temperature. In fact, you have control over the climate."
"By reusing heat from the fixtures in the greenhouse and not letting CO₂ escape, huge steps can be taken in the direction of sustainability. If it is winter and want to turn the heating on again, what is cheaper and more sustainable than using your own saved heat?"
For more information:
Oreon
Lorentzlaan 6, 3401 MX IJsselstein, Netherlands
T: +31 30 760 0660
info@oreon-led.com
www.oreon-led.com