Development of a Fiber-Optic Hybrid Day-Lighting System for Mobile Shelter Applications

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Lawless ◽  
Ravi Gorthala
Keyword(s):  
Solar Collector ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Light Output ◽  
Fresnel Lens ◽  
Wind Loading ◽  
Lighting System ◽  
Tracking Accuracy ◽  
Fiber Optic Cable ◽  
Fresnel Lenses

This paper discusses a Fiber-Optic Hybrid Day-Lighting system that can cut energy consumed by buildings for lighting significantly. This system is designed for mobile applications such as military shelters. The system is comprised of two primary components: the solar collector and the Solar Hybrid Lighting Fixture. The first component, the solar collector, consists of a housing, structural stand, a dual axis tracking system, Fresnel Lenses, secondary optics, and fiber-optic cables. The collector is integrated into a dual-axis tracker, which is then mounted on a tripod. The tripod can be staked into the ground and weighed down to protect the system from any wind loading and the collector height can be adjusted so that there is no shading of the collector by nearby structures. The collector with an aluminum housing holds eight 10-inch diameter Fresnel Lenses that focus sunlight onto eight secondary optics based on TIR (total internal reflection) which filter UV/IR and deliver uniform light to the fiber-optic cables. The secondary optic is coupled to the fiber-optic cable with index matching gel so that Fresnel reflection losses are minimized. The solar collector tracks the sun’s movement through the day with a dual-axis tracker (azimuth/tilt), ensuring the light is concentrated into the fiber-optic cables. The optics has been designed to have a high half-acceptance of 1.75° and can accommodate a tracking accuracy of 1.50° or better. The opposite end of the fiber-optic cable attaches to the second part of the Day-Lighting system, the Solar Hybrid Light Fixture (SHLF). The SHLF comprises of two lighting systems: 1) a solar fiber-optic system and 2) an LED system. The fiber-optic cable is coupled to an acrylic light diffusing rod that evenly delivers the light into the room. During sunny periods, depending on the length of the cable, solar fiber-optic lighting could provide full illumination of the space. In order to keep lighting uniform even during fluctuations of the light output from the sun during cloudy periods, the LED portion of the light will allow for constant lighting at a lower power consumption. The LED lighting has dimming capabilities due to a photosensor that regulates the light output of the LEDs based on how much solar light is delivered by the fiber-optic cables. On a typical sunny day with an overall concentration factor of ∼400 from the Fresnel Lens system to the optical fiber, it is possible to generate an output of 2,000 lumens with a 20-foot cable, with each fiber-optic cable experiencing a 1% loss of light per foot of cable. The LED portion of the hybrid light fixture produces about 1,800 lumens as well.

scholarly journals Design and Development of a Fiber-Optic Hybrid Day-Lighting System

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Lawless ◽  
Ravi Gorthala
Keyword(s):  
Solar Collector ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Total System ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Lighting System ◽  
Tracking Accuracy ◽  
Acceptance Angle ◽  
Fresnel Lenses

The primary objective of this study was to develop a fiber-optic hybrid day-lighting system for mobile application such as military shelters in order to cut energy use and the use of fossil fuels. The scope included the design, development, and testing of a hybrid lighting system that is capable of producing about 16,000 lm output with design challenges including light-weight, compactness, and optics that can tolerate a high tracking misalignment. The designed system is comprised of two subsystems: the solar collector and the solar hybrid lighting fixture (SHLF). The solar collector, consists of a housing, a structural stand (tripod), a dual axis tracking system, Fresnel lenses, secondary optics, and fiber-optic cables. The collector is a telescoping aluminum box that holds eight 10-in diameter Fresnel lenses, which focus sunlight onto eight secondary optics and deliver uniform light to the fiber-optic cables. The secondary optics have filters to block UV/IR. The optics has been designed to have a high half-acceptance angle of 1.75 deg and can accommodate a tracking accuracy of 1.50 deg or better. This novel SHLF consists of two components: a solar fiber-optic system and a light emitting diode (LED) system. The fiber-optic cable is coupled to an acrylic light diffusing rod that delivers the sunlight into the room. During sunny periods, the solar fiber-optic lighting could provide full illumination level. In order to keep the same level of lighting during cloudy periods, the LED portion of the light fixture can supplement the output of the SHLF. A compact, light-weight prototype system was built and tested. The results showed that the system's output per lens for the 20 ft cable was about 1750±50 lm at a global solar illuminance of 115,000 lx. The total system was capable of delivering 14,000 lm of sunlight.

Spectral Transmission of a Solar Collector and Fiber Optic Distribution Hybrid Lighting System

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Maxey ◽  
J. E. Parks ◽  
D. L. Beshears ◽  
D. D. Earl ◽  
M. V. Lapsa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Solar Light ◽  
Spectral Transmission ◽  
Lighting System ◽  
Nir Light

Increased use of solar energy will reduce requirements for non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels and reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits of replacing fossil-based energy with solar energy are often dependent on the application and operational or duty cycle for power demand. One particularly efficient use of solar energy is hybrid lighting. In hybrid lighting, solar light is concentrated into optical fibers and then coupled with supplemental electrical lighting to maintain a constant level of illumination. The system is able to offer reliable lighting with less energy consumption from the electrical grid (which is often driven by non-renewable sources). This technique offers energy efficiency benefits since the solar light is used directly and suffers no conversion losses. Furthermore, the solar spectrum provides an illumination that lighting engineers value for it’s quality; office inhabitants appreciate for its comfort; and retailers believe leads to increased sales. When available solar light is low, the hybrid system allows traditional light sources to reliably meet lighting demands. The success of the solar hybrid lighting system is dependent on the collection and transmission efficiency of the system. In this study, the spectral transmission of a hybrid lighting system is characterized. The system is composed of a 200-sun concentration reflective solar collector and a plastic fiber optic distribution network. The ultraviolet (UV), visible, and near-infrared (NIR) spectral transmission was characterized over a spectral range of 200 nm to 2400 nm. The UV and NIR performance of the system is critical since optical fiber damage can be caused by both UV and NIR light; thus, optimal system design maximizes the collection and transmission of visible light while minimizing the transmission of the UV and NIR light. Spectral transmission data for all components in the hybrid system are presented, and performance properties relative to solar applications are discussed.

Luminous Environment and the Perceived Environment

2019 ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Banu Manav
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Light Output ◽  
Lighting Design ◽  
Lighting System ◽  
Main Concept ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Perceived Environment ◽  
Efficiency Cost ◽  
Lighting Systems ◽  
User Friendly

In lighting design, the main concept is to achieve a healthy environment, which addresses energy efficiency, cost, maintenance, and quality. User-friendly lighting systems shall be adopted to architecture and interior architecture. User control over the lighting system is important, by dimming or increasing light output, by changing the colour of the light sets the inner atmosphere and affects user mood. Standards and codes on lighting shall also be evaluated by means of these topics. The paper aims to analyse how the luminous environment is affective on the perceived environment. Hence, a series of experimental studies and recent research will be evaluated in regard to understanding and designing luminous environment.

The ROLE OF CHINA-PAK ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC) IN LOGISTIC SYSTEM OF PAKISTAN’S AND CHINA’S

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-50
Author(s):  
Ikram Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Persian Gulf ◽  
Lead Time ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Delivery Time ◽  
Fiber Optic Cable ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Economic Complexity ◽  
Shipping Cost ◽  
The Impact

This study will explain the impact of China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) on logistic system of China and Pakistan. This project is estimated investment of US $90 billion, CPEC project is consists of various sub-projects including energy, road, railway and fiber optic cable but major portion will be spent on energy. This project will start from Kashgar port of china to Gwadar port of Pakistan. Transportation is sub-function of logistic that consists of 44% total cost of logistic system and 20% total cost of production of manufacturing and mainly shipping cost and transit/delivery time are critical for logistic system. According to OEC (The Observing Economic Complexity) currently, china is importing crude oil which 13.4% from Persian Gulf. CPEC will china for lead time that will be reduced from 45 days to 10 days and distance from 2500km to 1300km. This new route will help to china for less transit/deliver time and shipping cost in terms of logistic of china. Pakistan’s transportation will also improve through road, railway and fiber optic cabal projects from Karachi-Peshawar it will have speed 160km per hour and with help of pipeline between Gwadar to Nawabshah gas will be transported from Iran. According to (www.cpec.inf.com) Pakistan logistic industry will grow by US $30.77 billion in the end of 2020.

Optical data signals in fiber optic communication links with fading

2019 ◽  
pp. 94-104
Author(s):  
I. Juwiler ◽  
I. Bronfman ◽  
N. Blaunstein
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Efficiency ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Fiber Optic Cable ◽  
Optical Signals ◽  
Dispersion Properties ◽  
Optical Cable ◽  
Time Dispersion ◽  
Communication Links ◽  
Fiber Optic Communication ◽  
Optic Communication

Introduction: This article is based on the recent research work in the field of two subjects: signal data parameters in fiber optic communication links, and dispersive properties of optical signals caused by non-homogeneous material phenomena and multimode propagation of optical signals in such kinds of wired links.Purpose: Studying multimode dispersion by analyzing the propagation of guiding optical waves along a fiber optic cable with various refractive index profiles of the inner optical cable (core) relative to the outer cladding, as well as dispersion properties of a fiber optic cable due to inhomogeneous nature of the cladding along the cable, for two types of signal code sequences transmitted via the cable: return-to-zero and non-return-to-zero ones.Methods: Dispersion properties of multimode propagation inside a fiber optic cable are analyzed with an advanced 3D model of optical wave propagation in a given guiding structure. The effects of multimodal dispersion and material dispersion causing the optical signal delay spread along the cable were investigated analytically and numerically.Results: Time dispersion properties were obtained and graphically illustrated for two kinds of fiber optic structures with different refractive index profiles. The dispersion was caused by multimode (e.g. multi-ray) propagation and by the inhomogeneous nature of the material along the cable. Their effect on the capacity and spectral efficiency of a data signal stream passing through such a guiding optical structure is illustrated for arbitrary refractive indices of the inner (core) and outer (cladding) elements of the optical cable. A new methodology is introduced for finding and evaluating the effects of time dispersion of optical signals propagating in fiber optic structures of various kinds. An algorithm is proposed for estimating the spectral efficiency loss measured in bits per second per Hertz per each kilometer along the cable, for arbitrary presentation of the code signals in the data stream, non-return-to zero or return-to-zero ones. All practical tests are illustrated by MATLAB utility.

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