Design of a high-efficiency collection structure for daylight illumination applications

Appl Opt. 2013 Dec 20;52(36):8789-94. doi: 10.1364/AO.52.008789.

Abstract

In developing a high-quality natural light illumination system (NLIS), the primary considerations include how to increase system efficiency and broaden its applications. This paper describes the conception, design, and analysis of a daylight collector that presents the combined advantages of excellent efficiency and a compact size. The collector structure consists of extendable two-channel collecting units, a planar light guide, and a central coupler to improve light collection efficiency and increase surface area. In this study, two types of daylight collectors are proposed for illumination applications with different light patterns. With these collectors, the NLIS can now provide sufficiently powerful light for indoor illumination.

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design*
  • Conservation of Energy Resources / methods
  • Energy Transfer*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lenses*
  • Light
  • Lighting / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Sunlight*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*