Water cooled LEDs?

So im planning a more sophisticated jet, and I am thinking now about the lighting. I see that many people have built big boxes that connect the jet to the lighting via PMMA. I have PMMA here and I plan to use it however it seems to me that theres no point stringing the fibre along for miles. My plan is to house the LEDs under the jet, so the whole thing is in one unit. I think I can machine an aluminium block that holds the LEDs at an angle so the PMMA can come straight out of the bottom of the jet and then sweep gently in to the LEDs. I plan to machine a plastic block that sits on top of the aluminium block to position the fibres.

Anyway the point of this post was to ask if anyone has ever tried water cooling the LEDs? It seems that with so much water about, cooling with a fan seems like such an odd way of doing it. If I were to wire cut a large channel in the bottom of the LED block, water could be taken off the main line with a T and then put back into the bottom of the jet with another T. Cant really hurt the jet, wont introduce any jitter and it will run silent, with no fans to go wrong.

Good idea, or not?


Pete.

I had a design that would water cool the LED's. I still think that would be an awesome way to go. I never got around to actually building it. But when I build my next one I plan on making a pvc housing that has the acyrilc tubing. This would house the LED and then the LED would be attached and sealed by the aluminum plate. (plate>>LED>>Housing>>Acyrlic)

I always imagined a single LED the most powerful possible. I did some hand calculations and a 40W LED would be suffiiciently cooled with a thin plate .060 that was 2" in diameter.

I'm really excited to see how yours is going to come together. It sounds like you have some excellent machinery. If I only had a 5 axis mill........

I would probably machine an aluminum block that holes the diodes in a triangular configuration, at an angle facing in, so the fibres have a nice sweep in from the centre.

This is the machine it will probably be made on:

http://www.vimeo.com/11810376
Password: bananabox

We were filming this part being made (thats why the door is open) and the finished video is below.

http://www.vimeo.com/12806537
Password: bananabox


Il get the jet working first, and do this after. Think its possible to get the diodes in a nice compact block and cool it with the water flow.

Pete.

wow... CNC machine

That is a great tool !!