Empirical Evaluation of the Effect of Heat Gain from Fiber Optic Daylighting System on Tropical Building Interiors

Muhammad Arkam C. Munaaim, Karam M. Al-Obaidi, Mohd Rodzi Ismail and Abdul Malek Abdul Rahman
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Muhammad Arkam C. Munaaim: School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
Karam M. Al-Obaidi: School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
Mohd Rodzi Ismail: School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
Abdul Malek Abdul Rahman: School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: A fiber optic daylighting system is an evolving technology for transporting illumination from sunlight into building interiors. This system is a solution developed by daylighting designers to reduce operational costs and enhance comfort. As an innovative technology, fiber optic daylighting systems can illuminate building interiors efficiently compared with other daylighting strategies. However, as a transmission medium in daylighting systems, optical fibers require uniform light distribution in sunlight concentration, which could generate heat. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of heat buildup produced by end-emitting fiber optic daylighting systems in tropical buildings. The applied method adopts a new fiber optic daylighting system technology from Sweden called Parans SP3, with a 10 m cable to be tested in an actual room size under the Malaysian climatic environment, particularly within the vicinity of the main campus of the Universiti Sains Malaysia. Results show that the system generated a temperature of 1.3 °C under average conditions through fiber optic diffusers and increases indoor temperature by 0.8 °C in a 60 m 3 room. According to the results, applying fiber optic daylighting systems, as renewable energy sources, generates extra heat gain in building interiors in the tropics.

Keywords: heat gain; fiber optic system; daylighting; tropical indoor environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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