SBIR-STTR Award

The proposed innovation is the replacement of existing test stand and parking lot fixtures with current SSL LED technology. The replacement fixtures will reduce energy consumption, generate less heat and provide maintenance free operation for over 50,000 hours. An explosion-proof fixture is capable of containing an internal combustion event without allowing flames or hot gasses to escape to the surrounding environment. The lighting fixture defined is an explosion-proof fixture for use in hazardous hydrogen/oxygen atmospheres. Current fixtures contain a 110 Watt reflectored incandescent lamp. SSL sources are remarkably efficient compared to incandescent sources. The 110 Watt lamp in existing explosion-proof fixtures will be replaced by an SSL fixture requiring only around 29 Watts for the equivalent lighting output. The proposed Energy Focus solution will be an efficient, solid-state, explosion-proof fixture for use in hydrogen/oxygen atmospheres which is compatible with current systems and provides the required lighting distribution. It will do this through advanced thermal and electrical power management to ensure long fixture life

The proposed effort will develop a solid-state LED replacement lamp for rocket engine test stand lighting and more general hazardous-location lighting. The LED lighting will produce a smoother lighting spectrum compared to the existing arc lamp sources which will improve the visual accuracy and quality of high-speed engine photography. The LED lighting will also last significantly longer than arc lamps which require frequent replacement in hazardous-gas environment. A specialized array of optical collectors will redirect the light more effectively to the needed test areas using principles on non-imaging optics. The result will be improved lighting for engine diagnostics, lower operating costs for the test stand, much longer lamp life and a safer environment by reducing or eliminating lighting maintenance operations in an explosive environment. The housing will also be shock, vibration and heat resistant to be able to withstand the proximate effects of live-fire rocket engine testing. The electronic controls for the lighting will be sited remotely from the lamp head to be consistent with the existing facility and for thermal and reliability considerations. Additionally, a hazardous-location LED lighting device for general illumination which is not for high-speed engine diagnostics will also be developed and tested.