A multi-nozzle electrospray cooling device for high-power LEDs

High-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) face critical thermal challenges owing to their high heat flux and compact size. Conventional cooling technologies, such as heat sinks, thermoelectric coolers, and forced air convection, often face limitations in terms of size, noise, and power consumption. This study experimentally investigated an optimized multi-nozzle electrospray cooling system designed for the efficient thermal management of high-power LEDs. A deionized water-ethanol mixture was atomized using three 26G nozzles, and the effects of voltage (4-10 kV), flow rate (10-20 ml/h), and power input (15-25 W) on the thermal performance were analyzed. The maximum voltage enhancement ratio was 1.62 at 10 kV and 20 ml/h for the optimized multinozzle, outperforming single-nozzle configurations in all conditions despite having a lower electric field strength. The results showed that the surface temperatures decreased by more than 50 % as a result of cooling compared to natural convection and significantly higher temperature decreases compared to the values reported in the literature. Furthermore, the system achieved this performance without the need for fans or moving components, highlighting its potential as a silent and energy-efficient cooling solution for high-power LED modules in the future.