When looking at the limitations that can affect how big these next generation high output LED fixtures can get, thermal management is a major factor. How a fixture manufacturer manages this has a direct impact on how well such systems can scale in size. In order to deliver the light intensity and beam control these next generation fixtures are delivering, they utilize specialized LEDs. These LEDs are typically specialized high power packages that deliver significant light output as well generate considerable heat. In order to deliver the tens of thousands of hours of operating life expected by LED-based lighting systems, the fixture designers need to implement fairly aggressive cooling solutions. The complexity of these thermal management solutions can present the fixture designers some challenges when you have to take into consideration size, power and noise constraints. In the end, these constraints directly impact how big these systems can be.
—Chad Stalker, Luminous Devices, as quoted by Richard Cadena in “Focus on Fundamentals,” PLSN, March 2009
