Transient Performance Analysis of the Solar Optical Guide Lighting System in Building Groups

Fei Cao, Heng Zhang, Hao Zhou and Na Lu
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Fei Cao: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China
Heng Zhang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China
Hao Zhou: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China
Na Lu: Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technology (SMART) Lab, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: With accelerating urbanization, lighting problems frequently appears for residents at lower levels of buildings. In order to solve the sunlight blocking problem between high buildings, a new solar optical guide lighting (SOGL) system is proposed in this study. Numerical simulations are carried out to evaluate the SOGL system according to the light distribution both inside the buildings and between building groups at different times. Experimental setups are built to validate the simulated results. Main factors influencing the optical efficiency are discussed. It is found from this study that the SOGL system can realize the lighting purpose inside and between high buildings. The shadow areas between buildings are lightened into acceptable levels. The stronger the solar irradiation is, the higher the optical efficiency would be. And decreasing the ratio of optical guide pipe length to its radius would lead to the rise of optical efficiency.

Keywords: buildings; solar lighting; optical guide; numerical simulation; solar energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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