Nowadays with continuously increase vigour price , an efficient fashion of push utilization is becoming a major exit so as to run a profitable business and tackle clime changes . some 60 - 80 % of the total electrical energy cost and 30 - 40 % of the full price can depend on lighting rootage in modern horticulture yield facilities . Beyond that , a walloping atomic number 6 footmark is generated by the sphere as well . In recent geezerhood around 1 % of total electricity use of goods and services is triggered by , a high Christ Within - demanding , cannabis production in the US .   That ’s why choosing the proper ignition sources is vital . Today Keith Thomas , commercial director with Tungsram Agritech , explains what to count for when research LED lights .

“ If stilted lighting in a horticultural software is fairish , the organisation efficiency of the requested lamps is always a essential number and ask to be as high as potential . However , high arrangement efficiency , long lifetime , sensible price and mellow PPF at a good spectrum are rarely available together , ” Keith says . “ How should we compare unlike lamps with the same efficiency or vice versa ? What might the flatly high - efficiency numbers really mean at the brochure ’s frontpage ? What can be the positive side of a less effective lamp built with mainly blank or full - spectrum chip ? ”

The industry measure out lamp ’s efficiency by   μmol / J.   “ This is the PAR photon output   split by the input energy to produce light .   to opt the right lamp , it is good to have sex , from a grower perspective , what is contributing to a given organization efficiency . ”

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grant to Keith , first is the efficiency of the light-emitting diode chips . “ In normal conditions up to day of the month quality high power red chip fork over at peak execution around 4.1 μmol / J , white around 2.2 μmol / J , blue around 2.6 μmol / J. It is impossible to gain ground higher lamp efficiency than the efficiency of the microchip . ”

The peak performance is achieved when chips are beat back with electricity at possibly the lowest forrard current . In this case , higher efficiency numbers can be gained than the above refer , but the efficiency inclination will remain the same between the spectrums . “ If a maker scheme to make an effective LED luminaire with fleck driven by low forwards current , additional chips are needed for keep up the high idle output level . This means more cost . On the other hired man , chips beat back by lower forward current are expected to have a high life-time . ”

Another method to increase system of rules efficiency is to cause the number of cerise chips . “ What is also generally beneficial for plant growing but of line another wavelength is need as well ” , Keith adds . “ It is important to make out at lamp comparing what is the exact spectrum of the comparable lamps and where are the crown within the spectrum . Because values given by code names may change from each other . ”

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Then the ghostly ratio is also feign system efficiency . “ Perhaps , the red chips wavelength is the most advantageous for plant but it can be partly replaced by more toll - effective white or full - spectrum chips with risky μmol / J. On the other hand , with less efficient white splintering higher spectral homogeneousness can be attain which can enumerate when kindling secureness are placed intimately to plant canopy such as in vertical farms . ”

drinking glass or plastic coverage and driver of the lamp can also affect the total efficiency by 4 - 10 % . fighting cooling system is another approach to improve efficiency and level up heat dissipation but passive cooling system lamps can save more easy a reliable and lasting surgery with lower price and weight . “ In close , if a comparability is made between two lamps peachy on mind the mentioned proficiency , prioritize a few features for your goal and inquire for the accurate details ” , Keith apprise .

He concludes : “ If a lamp with long lifetime , low track cost , eminent efficiency , strong biomass production ability at humid surround is on nidus , a luminaire with a high amount of red chips , driven with quite low forward current in a peaceful cooling frame is preferable and competitory for the futurity . ”

Visit Tungsram at the Fruit Logistica at hall 21 - B08

For more selective information : TungsramLőrinc UtasiAgronomist[email   protected ]

Keith ThomasCommercial Leader[email   protected ]