Light guide design principles

Conference · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6413159

Johnson, K.; Selkowitz, S.

A general theory of optical transport systems has been developed that can be used to determine preliminary design specifications for light guide systems. Several generic light guide types are analyzed, including hollow reflective light guides, prism light guides, solid dielectric and fluid-filled light guides, lens guides, and open light wells. Minimum theoretical aperture requirements are determined for each type as a function of the specified optical transport efficiency and design parameters (light guide length, transmitted luminous flux, etc). Generally, a system's aperture requirement would be inversely related to its cost. Solid dielectric (e.g., optical fiber) light guides would be very compact and practical for retrofit applications, but their high cost option, but would require the greatest aperture area. Hollow reflective light guides, prism light guides, or lens guides may offer the best compromise between cost and space requirements. But in order to achieve optical concentrations and efficiencies near the theoretical limit, the collector system would need to maintain optical and tracking tolerances exceeding the capabilities of existing systems so further advances in core daylighting will require improvements in collector technology. 4 figs., 16 refs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6413159
• Report Number(s): LBL-20546; CONF-861109-7; ON: DE89008177
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
320107 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
BEAMS
DAYLIGHTING
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
FIBER OPTICS
FIBERS
LENSES
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OPTICAL FIBERS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRISMS
REFLECTION
REFRACTIVITY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT