Maintaining optimum light output with a thermally conductive heat pipe

Current research in the area of lamp wall temperature control for the purpose of enhancing light output under elevated temperatures is described. More specifically, a thermally conductive heat pipe has been employed to maintain optimum lamp wall temperature under varied ambient temperatures. The advantages of a heat pipe over previous methods of enhancing light output include its independence from power and flexibility in orientation within the fixture. The experiments described include the calibration of a heat pipe against a known thermal load, the application of a heat pipe to a lamp in a test chamber, and the placement of a heat pipe within a fixture. Theory and experimental data indicate that optimum lamp operating conditions can be maintained throughout an ambient temperature range that typically reduces light output by 20%