Enhanced Heat Dissipation Performance of Automotive LED Lamps Using Graphene Coatings

Abstract

Graphene heat-dissipating coating (GNHC) of 0.6 wt % GN concentration is utilized to promote the cooling performance of automotive light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. Three cases are studied as follows: Case 0 is the original automotive LED lamp as the baseline. Case 1 is to apply GNHC to reduce the thermal resistance of the junction surfaces between the components of automotive LED lamps. The aluminum fin radiator of Case 1 is further coated with GNHC on the surface that becomes Case 2. The spectrum, illuminance, power consumption, and surface temperature are measured at different ambient temperatures (Ta) to fully evaluate the feasibility of applying GNHC to improve cooling performance and the impacts on the related characteristics of automotive LED lamps. The results show that the maximum illuminance efficacy of Case 1 and Case 2 with high beam, irradiation angle of 0 degrees, and Ta of 80 °C is 11.03% and 8.70% higher than that of Case 0, respectively. The minimum temperature difference of heat dissipation path of Case 1 and Case 2 with high beam, irradiation angle of 90 degrees, and Ta of 80 °C is 6.41% and 5.33% lower than that of Case 0, respectively, indicating GNHC as a promising coating material for improving the cooling performance of automotive LED lamps.