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Light tube

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This article is about "light tubes". For other uses of the phrase "light tubes", see Light tube (disambiguation).
Total external reflection, hollow light tube
Total internal reflection, block of acrylic

Light tubes (also known as light pipes or tubular skylights) are physical structures used for transmitting or distributing natural or artificial light for the purpose of illumination, and are examples of optical waveguides.

In their application to daylighting, they are also often called tubular daylighting devices, sun pipes, sun scopes, or daylight pipes. Light pipes may be divided into two broad categories: hollow structures that contain the light with reflective surfaces, and transparent solids that contain the light by total internal reflection. The principles governing the flow of light through these devices are those of nonimaging optics.[1]

Types

The Copper Box, venue for Handball at the 2012 Summer Olympics, makes use of light tubes to reduce energy use.

IR light pipes/IR light tubes

Manufacturing custom designed Infrared light pipes, hollow waveguides and homogenizers is non-trivial. This is because these are tubes lined with a highly polished infrared reflective coating of Laser Gold, which can be applied thick enough to permit these tubes to be used in highly corrosive atmospheres. Laser Black can be applied to certain parts of light pipes to absorb IR light (see photonics). This is done to limit IR light to only certain areas of the pipe.

While most light pipes are produced with a round cross-section, light pipes are not limited to this geometry. Square and hexagonal cross-sections are used in special applications. Hexagonal pipes tend to produce the most homogenized type of IR Light. The pipes do not need to be straight. Bends in the pipe have little effect on efficiency.

Light tube with reflective material

A light tube installed in the subterranean train station at Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, seen from above ...
... and below ground.

Also known as a "tubular skylight" or "tubular daylighting device", this is the oldest and most widespread type of light tube used for daylighting. The concept was originally developed by the ancient Egyptians[citation needed]. The first commercial reflector systems were patented and marketed in the 1850s by Paul Emile Chappuis in London, utilising various forms of angled mirror designs. Chappuis Ltd's reflectors were in continuous production until the factory was destroyed in 1943.[2] The concept was rediscovered and patented in 1986 by Solatube International of Australia.[3] This system has been marketed for widespread residential and commercial use. Other daylighting products are on the market under various generic names, such as "SunScope", "solar pipe", "light pipe", "light tube" and "tubular skylight".

A tube lined with highly reflective material leads the light rays through a building, starting from an entrance-point located on its roof or one of its outer walls. A light tube is not intended for imaging (in contrast to a periscope, for example), thus image distortions pose no problem and are in many ways encouraged due to the reduction of "directional" light.

The entrance point usually comprises a dome (cupola), which has the function of collecting and reflecting as much sunlight as possible into the tube. Many units also have directional "collectors", "reflectors" or even Fresnel lens devices that assist in collecting additional directional light down the tube.

In 1994, the Windows and Daylighting Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) developed a series of horizontal light pipe prototypes to increase daylight illuminance at distances of 4.6-9.1 m, to improve the uniformity of daylight distribution and luminance gradient across the room under variable sun and sky conditions throughout the year. The light pipes were designed to passively transport daylighting through relatively small inlet glazing areas by reflecting sunlight to depths greater than conventional sidelight windows or skylights.[4][5]

A set-up in which a laser cut acrylic panel is arranged to redirect sunlight into a horizontally or vertically orientated mirrored pipe, combined with a light spreading system with a triangular arrangement of laser cut panels that spread the light into the room, was developed at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane.[6] In 2003, Veronica Garcia Hansen, Ken Yeang, and Ian Edmonds were awarded the Far East Economic Review Innovation Award in bronze for this development.[7][8]

Light transmission efficiency is greatest if the tube is short and straight. In longer, angled, or flexible tubes, part of the light intensity is lost. To minimize losses, a high reflectivity of the tube lining is crucial; manufacturers claim reflectivities of their materials, in the visible range, of up to almost 99.5 percent.[9][10]

At the end point (the point of use), a diffuser spreads the light into the room.

The first full-scale passive horizontal light pipes were built at the Daylight Lab of Texas A&M University where the annual daylight performance was thoroughly evaluated in a 360 degree rotating 6 m wide by 10 m deep room. The pipe is coated with a 99.3% specular reflective film and the distribution element at the end of the light pipe consists of a 4.6 m long diffusing radial film with an 87% visible transmittance. The light pipe introduces consistently illuminance levels ranging between 300 lx to 2,500 lux throughout the year at distances between 7.6 m to 10 m.[11]

To further optimize the use of solar light, a heliostat can be installed which tracks the movement of the sun, thereby directing sunlight into the light tube at all times of the day as far as the surroundings´ limitations allow, possibly with additional mirrors or other reflective elements that influence the light path. The heliostat can be set to capture moonlight at night.

Optical fiber

Optical fibers can also be used for daylighting. A solar lighting system based on plastic optical fibers was in development at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2004.[12][13] The system was installed at the American Museum of Science and Energy, Tennessee, USA, in 2005,[14] and brought to market the same year by the company Sunlight Direct.[15][16] However, this system was taken off the market in 2009.

In view of the usually small diameter of the fibers, an efficient daylighting set-up requires a parabolic collector to track the sun and concentrate its light. Optical fibers intended for light transport need to propagate as much light as possible within the core; in contrast, optical fibers intended for light distribution are designed to let part of the light leak through their cladding.[17]

Optical fibers are also used in the Bjork system sold by Parans Solar Lighting AB.[18][19] The optic fibers in this system are made of PMMA (PolyMethylMethAcrylate) and sheathed with Megolon, a halogen-free thermoplastic resin. A system such as this, however, is quite expensive.[20]

The Parans system[21] consists of three parts. A collector, fiber optic cables and luminaires spreading the light indoors. One or more collectors is placed on or near the building on a place where they will have good access of direct sunlight. The collector consists of lenses mounted in aluminum profiles with a covering glass as protection. These lenses concentrates the sunlight down in the fiber optic cables.

The collectors are modular which means they come with either 4,6,8,12 or 20 cables depending on the need. Every cable can have an individual length. The fibre optic cables transport the natural light 100 meters (30 floors) in and through the property while retaining both a high level of light quality and light intensity. Examples of implementations are Kastrup Airport, University of Arizona and Stockholm University.

A similar system, but using optical fibers of glass, had earlier been under study in Japan.[22]

Corning Inc. makes Fibrance Light-Diffusing Fiber. Fibrance works by shining a laser through a light diffusing fiber optic cable. The cable gives off a lighted glow.[23]

Optical fibers are used in fiberscopes for imaging applications.

Transparent hollow light guides

A prism light guide was developed in 1981 by Lorne Whitehead, a physics professor at the University of British Columbia[24][25] and has been used in solar lighting for both transport and distribution of light.[26][27] A large solar pipe based on the same principle has been set up in a narrow courtyard of a 14-floor building of a Washington, D.C. law firm in 2001,[28][29][30][31][32] and a similar proposal has been made for London.[33] A further system has been installed in Berlin.[34]

The 3M company developed a system based on optical lighting film[35] and developed the 3M light pipe,[36] which is a light guide designed to distribute light uniformly over its length, with a thin film incorporating microscopic prisms,[25] which has been marketed in connection with artificial light sources, e.g. sulfur lamps.

In contrast to an optical fiber which has a solid core, a prism light guide leads the light through air and is therefore referred to as hollow light guide.

The project ARTHELIO,[37][38] partially funded by the European Commission, was an investigation in years 1998 to 2000 into a system for adaptive mixing of solar and artificial light, and which includes a sulfur lamp, a heliostat, and hollow light guides for light transport and distribution.

Disney has experimented in using 3D printing to print internal light guides for illuminated toys.[39]

Fluorescence based system

In a system developed by Fluorosolar and the University of Technology, Sydney, two fluorescent polymer layers in a flat panel capture short wave sunlight, particularly ultraviolet light, generating red and green light, respectively, which is guided into the interior of a building. There, the red and green light is mixed with artificial blue light to yield white light, without infrared or ultraviolet. This system, which collects light without requiring mobile parts such as a heliostat or a parabolic collector, is intended to transfer light to any place within a building. [40][41][42] By capturing ultraviolet the system can be especially effective on bright but overcast days; this since ultraviolet is diminished less by cloud cover than are the visible components of sunlight.


Properties and applications

Solar and hybrid lighting systems

A simple light tube, showing collection, transmission, and distribution

Solar light pipes, compared to conventional skylights and other windows, offer better heat insulation properties and more flexibility for use in inner rooms, but less visual contact with the external environment.

In the context of seasonal affective disorder, it may be worth consideration that an additional installation of light tubes increases the amount of natural daily light exposure. It could thus possibly contribute to residents´ or employees´ well-being while avoiding over-illumination effects.

Compared to artificial lights, light tubes have the advantage of providing natural light and of saving energy. The transmitted light varies over the day; should this not be desired, light tubes can be combined with artificial light in a hybrid set-up.[26][43][44][45]

Some artificial light sources are marketed which have a spectrum similar to that of sunlight, at least in the human visible spectrum range,[46][47][48] as well as low flicker.[48] Their spectrum can be made to vary dynamically such as to mimick the changes of natural light over the day. Manufacturers and vendors of such light sources claim that their products can provide the same or similar health effects as natural light.[48][49][50] When considered as alternatives to solar light pipes, such products may have lower installation costs but do consume energy during use; therefore they may well be more wasteful in terms of overall energy resources and costs.

On a more practical note, light tubes do not require electric installations or insulation, and are thus especially useful for indoor wet areas such as bathrooms and pools. From a more artistic point of view, recent developments, especially those pertaining to transparent light tubes, open new and interesting possibilities for architectural design.

Settings

Light tubes have been used in schools,[51] warehouses, retail environments,[52][53] homes,[54] government buildings, museums, hotels[55] and restaurants.

Security applications

Due to the relatively small size and high light output of sun pipes, they have an ideal application to security oriented situations, such as prisons, police cells and other locations where restricted access is required. Being of a narrow diameter, and not largely affected by internal security grilles, this provides daylight to areas without providing electrical connections or escape access, and without allowing objects to be passed into a secure area.

In electronic devices

Molded plastic light tubes are commonly used in the electronics industry to direct illumination from LEDs on a circuit board to indicator symbols or buttons. These light tubes typically take on a highly complex shape that uses either gentle curving bends as in an optic fiber or have sharp prismatic folds which reflect off the angled corners. Multiple light tubes are often molded from a single piece of plastic, permitting easy device assembly since the long thin light tubes are all part of a single rigid component that snaps into place.

Light tube indicators make electronics cheaper to manufacture since the old way would be to mount a tiny lamp into a small socket directly behind the spot to be illuminated. This often requires extensive hand-labor for installation and wiring. Light tubes permit all lights to be mounted on a single flat circuit board, but the illumination can be directed up and away from the board by several inches, wherever it is required.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tubular daylighting devices.

Overview

  • Corning Fibrance Light-Diffusing Fiber
  • Light Tubes on "Potsdamer Platz" are made by Heliobus AG Switzerland [2]
  • HTML
  • Solar lighting and Illumination of Buildings using Light Pipes, Florida Solar Energy Center (at the University of Central Florida)
  • Daylighting Using Tubular Light Guide Systems (thesis)
  • (in German) an overview over light guidance – PDF, HTML
  • "A Study of Performance of Light Pipes Under Cloudy and Sunny Conditions in the UK"
  • "Sunlight in a tube", World Science, 2005
  • A series of technical reference information pages from the UK, referring to installation and mounting information
  • "Use of prismatic films to control light distribution", K. G. Kneipp, International Lighting in Controlled Environments Workshop, T.W.Tibbitts (editor), 1994, NASA-CP-95-3309 (with an overview on the piping of light)
  • (in German) Alexander Rosemann: Hohllichtleiter für Tageslichtnutzung. Pflaum Verlag, München 2002. ISBN 3-7905-0862-4
  • Jenkins, David; Muneer, Tariq; Kubie, Jorge (2005), "A design tool for predicting the performances of light pipes", Energy and Buildings, 37 (5): 485, doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2004.09.014
  • UK based Monodraught SunPipe (and www.sunpipe.info) with extensive technical and reference information
  • UK based <http://www.glidevale.com/downloads/Sunscoop%20Tubular%20Rooflights.pdf> and www.glidevail.com with extensive technical and reference information
  • Monodraught SunPipe – the UK's largest and most successful vendor of Light Tube products and solutions.
  • Case study installing light tubes in an older residential bungalow
  • Using Water as a Light Tube

Other approaches to sunlight capture and transmission

References

  1. ^ Chaves, Julio (2015). Introduction to Nonimaging Optics, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1482206739. Archived from the original on 2016-02-18.
  2. ^ Science & Society Picture Library Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine Advertisement for Chappuis’ patent reflectors, c 1851–1870.
  3. ^ Solatube International, history Archived 2009-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ LBNL:The Design and Evaluation of Three Advanced Daylighting Systems: Light Shelves, Light Pipes and Skylights
  5. ^ LBNL:Advanced Optical Daylighting Systems: Light Shelves and Light Pipes
  6. ^ Ken Yeang:Light Pipes: An Innovative Design Device for Bringing Natural Daylight and Illumination into Buildings with Deep Floor Plan Archived 2009-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, Nomination for the Far East Economic Review Asian Innovation Awards 2003
  7. ^ Lighting up your workplace — Queensland student pipes light to your office cubicle Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine, May 9, 2005
  8. ^ Kenneth Yeang Archived 2008-09-25 at the Wayback Machine, World Cities Summit 2008, June 23–25, 2008, Singapore
  9. ^ "MIRO LIGHTPIPE". Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ (in French) Tube de Lumière Archived 2007-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ LO Beltran:Assessing the Lighting Performance of an Innovative Core Sunlighting System
  12. ^ Article on Hybrid Solar Lighting "Let the Sun Shine in", Discover Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 07, July 2004 Archived 2006-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ ORNL - Solar Technologies Program Archived 2013-07-01 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ HSL Featured in Popular Science's What's New Section Archived 2005-12-17 at the Wayback Machine June 2005, Page 28
  15. ^ Oak Ridge National Laboratory - New Oak Ridge company putting hybrid solar lighting on map Archived 2006-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Sunlight Direct- Architectural Design Information Archived 2006-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Use Of Diffusive Optical Fibers For Plant Lighting Archived 2006-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Parans Bjork Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Parans Bjork system review by Inhabitat Archived 2010-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Typical system starting at $10,000 Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Parans Light Guide" (PDF).
  22. ^ Hybrid Solar Lighting: Bringing a little sunshine into our lives , NBC News, March 2005
  23. ^ Corning Fibrance official website
  24. ^ Switch off the lights, here comes the sun Archived 2012-03-30 at the Wayback Machine Toronto Globe and Mail, 2012 January 28
  25. ^ a b Use Of Prismatic Films To Control Light Distribution Archived 2006-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ a b Solar Canopy Illumination: Solar Lighting at UBC Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ research frame Archived 2005-11-03 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Solar Light Pipe in Washington, D.C Archived 2006-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ IDOnline.com - The International Design Magazine - Graphic Design, Product Design, Architecture Archived 2006-09-05 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2006-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF) (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2006-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ "Solar Light Pipe in Washington, D.C.", DETAIL 4/2004, Building with light Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Apple London - Special Ceiling Archived 2006-06-22 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ (in German) "Tageslicht aus der Tube", Faktor Licht, Nr. 4, 2003 Archived 2006-11-05 at the Wayback Machine (with a description of the light pipe on Potsdamer Platz, Berlin)
  35. ^ Heliobus with 3M Optical Lighting Film (OLF) Archived 2006-09-06 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ 3M Light Management Solutions (US) Archived 2003-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2006-08-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ Mingozzi, Angelo; Bottiglioni, Sergio. "An innovative system for daylight collection and transport for long distances and mixing with artificial light coming from hollow light guides" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007.
  39. ^ "Disney develops 3D-printed lighting for toys". BBC News Online. 3 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012.
  40. ^ Fluorosolar Archived January 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ FluoroSolar - Bringing the Sunshine Inside Archived 2007-05-06 at the Wayback Machine, Treehugger, February 5, 2006 (retrieved on January 13, 2007)
  42. ^ Video Archived 2007-02-02 at the Wayback Machine on fluorescence based system
  43. ^ Night Lite Archived 2006-08-05 at the Wayback Machine
  44. ^ [1] Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Sunlight Direct- Lighting Design Information Archived 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ True-Lite Archived 2002-01-08 at archive.today
  47. ^ "What is SoLux?". Solux.net. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  48. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (in German). Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2006-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  49. ^ "Archived copy" (in German). Archived from the original on 2006-06-25. Retrieved 2006-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  50. ^ "Archived copy" (in German). Archived from the original on 2006-06-15. Retrieved 2006-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  51. ^ Maile Petty, Margaret (March 1, 2007). "High-performance design creates healthy environments for high-performance learning". Architectural Lighting Magazine. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  52. ^ Wilson, Marianne. "Making the Switch to LEDs". Chain Store Age. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30.
  53. ^ Rigik, Erin (May 16, 2011). "Kum & Go Receives Energy Efficiency Leader Award". Convenience Store Decisions. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  54. ^ Wolf, Sarah. "10 Products that Wow You". Better Homes & Homes Exteriors (Spring–Summer 2010 ed.). Archived from the original on 2006-01-31.
  55. ^ Mandal, Dattatreya (May 17, 2011). "Greenest hotels in the world". EcoFriend. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
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