Hybrid solar lighting

Hybrid solar lighting (HSL) or hybrid lighting systems combine the use of solar with artificial light for interior illumination by channelling sunlight through fiber-optic cable bundles to provide solar light into rooms without windows or skylights, and by supplementing this natural light with artificial light—typically LED—as required.[1]

The bundles are led from exterior/rooftop optical light collectors through small openings or cable ducts and carry the light to where it is needed. The optical fibers end in hybrid luminaires where the sunlight is joined with electric light, either on demand or to automatically maintain a constant light level even as the available sunlight decreases.[2]

Method of operation

Solar lighting systems capture light from the sun and conduct it towards a room using optical fibers. They use rooftop collectors: mirrored dishes that track the sun. The collectors adjust to aim the sunlight onto a bundle of optical fibers which are contained within a single cable. The optical fibers are flexible and can be connected to hybrid light fixtures with diffusing rods that disperse the light. A single collector can power several hybrid light fixtures.

The hybrid lights also use artificial lighting which is mixed with the natural sunlight. Photosensors determine how much light needs to be generated to add to the natural light to keep a room well illuminated. Hybrid solar lighting systems should be used in rooms with direct roof access.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Technically, any combination of the use of natural and artificial light, such as e.g. simple windows and incandescent lamps, could be called hybrid lighting, but the term "hybrid lighting" is usually understood to mean hybrid solar lighting as defined here.
  2. ↑ Maxey, Curt. "Fiber Optics Brings Sunlight Inside."[link removed] Hybrid Solar Lighting: 1.Photonics.com. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.
  3. ↑ Schirber, Michael. "Hybrid Solar Lighting May Be Next Big Thing." Bringing a Little Sunshine Into Our Lives (Mar. 2005): 2. NBC News. Web. 18 Oct. 2009.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.