Date of Award:

12-2012

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Department name when degree awarded

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Byard D. Wood

Committee

Byard D. Wood

Committee

Barton Smith

Committee

Liejun Li

Abstract

This thesis describes and documents the design and construction of a light source which is tunable and has the ability to mimic the spectral output of the sun in the photosynthetic active radiation range (400 - 700 nm). To adjust the spectral output at different wavelengths different types of LEDs were chosen and combined. This thesis describes the design, construction, testing, and suggestions for further improvements to this light source. The light source is comprised of 900 LEDs with 26 different peak wavelengths within the photosynthetically active radiation range. The light source is made tunable through the use of a control system utilizing pulse width modulation. This unique light source will allow studies to be performed to understand spectral influences on microalgae and lipid production as well as other photosynthetic organisms.

Checksum

67fa24893a2d94979b62102f2aa11b7c

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on December 21, 2012.

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