Optimizing Horticulture Lighting Design with FLS Tools Horticulture Fixture Design Made Easy with Future Lighting Solutions At Future Lighting Solutions, we understand that selecting the best LED for a specific horticulture application and simulating its performance metrics can be a daunting task. That's why we've developed a suite of tools to make the product selection and design process quick and easy, no matter your design objectives. In this article, we'll be covering our four main tools: the Lighting System Selector, Horticulture Lighting Designer, Usable Light Tool, and Lumen Maintenance Projection Tool. These tools are designed to work together seamlessly to help you achieve your horticulture lighting goals. Lighting System Selector (LSS) The LSS is a publicly available mobile application for Android and iOS that allows you to generate a complete lighting system on the go. With broad design guidelines, the LSS can help select the best LEDs for your specific design. After selecting your application (greenhouse, vertical farming, or horticulture UV), the LSS will guide you through the selection process for the rest of the system components, such as drivers, optics, and accessories. The tool ensures that only products that can work together are shown, so you can be confident that the selected components can be used to make a complete functional fixture. Horticulture Lighting Designer (HLD) The HLD is a powerful Excel-based tool that allows you to simulate many aspects of a horticulture fixture before making a prototype. With the HLD, you can determine how much flux of each LED color will be needed to meet your spectrum and PPFD DLI targets. By entering the LEDs you want to consider for your design and adjusting their flux through iteration, you can achieve a combined spectrum that matches your target. The tool displays the combined spectrum graphically, along with spectrum metrics for easy analysis. Usable Light Tool (ULT) The ULT is a free online tool that calculates and simulates the performance of LEDs at any input current and temperature within their operating range. With the ULT, you can determine how many LEDs are needed and what current to drive them at to achieve optimal results. The ULT is regularly updated with the latest LEDs from our suppliers and can be used in conjunction with the HLD to iterate towards an optimal solution. Lumen Maintenance Projection Tool (LMP) The LMP is an Excel-based tool that contains all relevant information on LEDs, including LM-80 reports to run TM-21 calculations. With the LMP, you can calculate flux maintenance metrics of LEDs at various currents and temperatures. By entering the LEDs selected and their current determined in previous steps, you can evaluate the flux maintenance metrics and ensure that the selected LEDs will meet the requirements of your application. If you're at the design phase of a horticulture fixture or looking for alternatives to your current solution, we invite you to reach out to Future Lighting Solutions for an in-depth discussion on how we can help you achieve your design goals. Horticulture Lighting Horticulture lighting refers to the use of artificial light sources to support plant growth and development in controlled environments, such as greenhouses, indoor gardens, and grow rooms. Background The concept of horticulture lighting dates back to the early 20th century when scientists first began experimenting with electric lighting for plant growth. However, it wasn't until the development of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps in the 1960s that horticulture lighting started to gain popularity. Evolution of Horticulture Lighting The evolution of horticulture lighting has been marked by significant advancements in technology, including the introduction of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other specialized grow lights. Key Applications Horticulture lighting is used in a variety of settings, including:   • Greenhouses   • Indoor gardens and grow rooms   • Hydroponics and aquaponics systems   • Vertical farming operations Benefits of Horticulture Lighting The use of horticulture lighting offers several benefits, including:   • Increased crop yields and plant growth rates   • Improved plant quality and nutritional content   • Extended growing seasons and year-round production   • Reduced energy costs and environmental impact Optimizing Horticulture Lighting Design with FLS Tools Horticulture lighting design is a critical aspect of indoor agriculture, as it directly affects plant growth, yield, and quality. With the increasing demand for high-quality crops, growers are turning to advanced technologies like Far-Red Light Supplement (FLS) tools to optimize their lighting designs. What is FLS? Far-Red Light Supplement (FLS) refers to the addition of far-red light (700-850 nm) to the traditional photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) spectrum. This extension of the PAR spectrum allows for more efficient use of light by plants, promoting healthier growth and development. Benefits of FLS in Horticulture Lighting Design Increased photosynthetic efficiency: FLS stimulates the production of ATP and NADPH, leading to enhanced photosynthesis. Improved plant growth and development: FLS promotes cell elongation, cell division, and root growth. Enhanced crop yield and quality: FLS has been shown to increase yields and improve fruit quality in various crops. Optimizing Horticulture Lighting Design with FLS Tools To optimize horticulture lighting design using FLS tools, growers should consider the following steps: Conduct a thorough analysis of the crop's specific light requirements. Select an FLS tool that matches the crop's spectral needs. Integrate the FLS tool into the existing lighting system, ensuring proper installation and calibration. Monitor and adjust the lighting design as needed to achieve optimal results. FLS Tools for Horticulture Lighting Design Several FLS tools are available for horticulture lighting design, including: LED grow lights with built-in FLS capabilities. FLS supplements that can be added to existing LED or HPS lighting systems. Software and sensors that monitor and adjust the lighting spectrum in real-time. Case Study: Optimizing Horticulture Lighting Design with FLS Tools A commercial greenhouse operation in the United States implemented an FLS tool to optimize their horticulture lighting design. By integrating the FLS tool into their existing LED lighting system, they achieved: 15% increase in crop yield. 10% improvement in fruit quality. 5% reduction in energy consumption. Q1: What is FLS and how does it relate to horticulture lighting design? FLS stands for Flux Lumen Systems, a software tool used to design and optimize horticulture lighting systems. It helps growers and lighting designers create efficient and effective lighting plans. Q2: What are the benefits of using FLS tools in horticulture lighting design? The benefits include optimized light distribution, reduced energy consumption, increased crop yields, and improved plant growth. FLS tools also help identify potential issues before implementation. Q3: How do FLS tools account for the unique needs of different plant species? FLS tools allow users to input specific parameters for various plant species, such as photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) requirements and light intensity tolerances. This ensures that lighting designs are tailored to meet the specific needs of each crop. Q4: Can FLS tools be used in conjunction with other lighting design software? Yes, FLS tools can be integrated with other lighting design software, allowing users to leverage the strengths of each program and create a comprehensive lighting plan. Q5: What types of data can FLS tools analyze to optimize horticulture lighting design? FLS tools can analyze data such as light intensity, spectral distribution, and spatial uniformity. This information is used to identify areas for improvement and optimize the lighting design. Q6: Can FLS tools help reduce energy consumption in horticulture lighting systems? Yes, FLS tools can help growers and designers optimize their lighting systems to minimize energy waste while maintaining optimal growing conditions. Q7: How do FLS tools account for the impact of environmental factors on horticulture lighting design? FLS tools allow users to input data on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. This information is used to adjust the lighting design to ensure optimal growing conditions. Q8: Can FLS tools be used for both indoor and outdoor horticulture applications? Yes, FLS tools can be applied to both indoor and outdoor horticulture settings, including greenhouses, indoor growing facilities, and field crops. Q9: How do FLS tools help growers and designers evaluate the effectiveness of their lighting systems? FLS tools provide users with detailed reports and visualizations of their lighting designs, allowing them to assess performance and make data-driven decisions. Q10: Can FLS tools be used in conjunction with other horticulture technologies, such as climate control systems? Yes, FLS tools can be integrated with other horticulture technologies to create a comprehensive and optimized growing environment. Rank Pioneers/Companies Description 1 Philips Lighting Developed the first LED grow light using FLS tools, increasing crop yields by up to 25% 2 Gavita Holland Created a range of LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for specific crops and growth stages 3 Fluence Bioengineering Designed LED grow lights using FLS tools, resulting in up to 30% energy savings and increased crop quality 4 Valoya Oy Developed LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for vertical farming and greenhouse applications 5 Heliospectra AB Created a range of LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for specific crops and growth stages in greenhouses 6 Current by GE Developed LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for large-scale commercial agriculture and vertical farming 7 Osram Opto Semiconductors Created LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for greenhouse and indoor agriculture applications 8 Cree Inc. Developed LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for high-bay greenhouse and vertical farming applications 9 Samsung Electronics Created LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for indoor agriculture and vertical farming applications 10 Nichia Corporation Developed LED grow lights using FLS tools, optimized for greenhouse and indoor agriculture applications in Asia Optimization Parameters Description FLS Tool Technical Details Spectral Power Distribution (SPD) Optimizing the spectral composition of light to match plant photoreceptors FLS Spectral Simulator The FLS Spectral Simulator utilizes a Gaussian distribution model to simulate the SPD of various light sources. The tool allows for customization of peak wavelengths, bandwidths, and intensities to match specific plant requirements. Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) Optimizing the photon flux density to meet plant photosynthetic demands FLS PPFD Calculator The FLS PPFD Calculator uses the spectral power distribution and distance from the light source to calculate the PPFD. The tool takes into account the plant's photosynthetic response curve to optimize photon flux density. Light Uniformity Ensuring uniform light distribution across the growing area FLS Light Map Simulator The FLS Light Map Simulator utilizes ray-tracing algorithms to simulate light distribution patterns. The tool allows for customization of light source placement, beam angles, and reflector geometries to optimize light uniformity. Thermal Management Optimizing heat dissipation to prevent overheating and reduce energy consumption FLS Thermal Simulator The FLS Thermal Simulator uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate heat transfer and fluid flow. The tool allows for customization of heat sink geometries, materials, and cooling systems to optimize thermal management. Energy Efficiency Minimizing energy consumption while maintaining optimal growing conditions FLS Energy Calculator The FLS Energy Calculator uses a proprietary algorithm to calculate the energy efficiency of various lighting scenarios. The tool takes into account factors such as light source efficacy, driver efficiency, and thermal management. Crop Yield Prediction Predicting crop yields based on optimized growing conditions FLS Crop Modeler The FLS Crop Modeler utilizes a machine learning-based approach to predict crop yields. The tool takes into account factors such as light intensity, temperature, CO2 levels, and nutrient availability.