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2 - What Are The Main Sources of Light
2 - What Are The Main Sources of Light
of light?
Electrical Load Classification and Types – Part Four
In the previous topic, Electrical Load Classification and Types – Part Three , I indicated the differences between Linear
and Non-Linear electrical Loads and explain the effects of using Non-Linear loads in electrical design.
And today, I will explain the electrical loads calcification and types according to the load function.
You can review the following previous topics for more information and good following.
a- What is light?
Visible light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye
Sunlight is electromagnetic radiation by sun and which includes the full spectrum of visible light (as well as frequencies
beyond the sensitivity of the eye, known as ultra violet and infrared)
Artificial light sources are other sources of light which developed to compensate for /assist the natural light. It will have
different frequencies and wavelengths that determine the light color.
Effects of Using Day Lighting Source in Electrical Design
A Particular attention must be given to day lighting while designing a building lighting system due to the following:
The daylight entering a building may include direct sunlight when the window has a view of the sun, as well as diffuse
sunlight that has been refracted by clouds, and reflected from various surfaces such as clouds, ground or other
buildings.
Daylight can therefore vary greatly with weather conditions, ranging from total cloud cover to clear sky with direct
sunlight.
The effectiveness of daylight as a light source is measured as the “Daylight Factor”.
Daylight Factor
It is the ratio of internal light level to external light level and is defined as follows:
Where:
Eo = simultaneous outdoor illuminance on a horizontal plane from an unobstructed hemisphere of overcast sky.
Daylight factors are used to determine if the natural lighting levels in a space will be sufficient for the occupants of the
space to carry out their normal duties.
Calculating daylight factors requires complex repetition of calculations and thus is general undertaken by a proprietary
computer software product such as Radiance.
CIBSE Lighting Guide 10 (LG10-1999) which broadly bands average daylight factors into the following categories:
DF Under 2 – Not adequately lit – artificial lighting will be required.
DF Between 2 and 5 – Adequately lit but artificial lighting may be in use for part of the time.
DF Over 5 – Well lit – artificial lighting generally not required except at dawn and dusk – but glare and solar gain may
cause problems.
3- What are the types of day lighting technologies?
there are two types of technology that are used for utilizing the day lighting source as follows:
It is a system of collecting sunlight using a mechanical device to increase the efficiency of light collection for a given
lighting purpose. Active day lighting systems are different from passive day lighting systems in that passive systems are
stationary and do not actively follow or track the sun
It is a system of both: collecting sunlight using static, non-moving, and non-tracking systems such as Windows, Sliding
glass doors, most skylights, light tubes, and reflecting the collected daylight deeper inside with elements such as light
shelves. Passive day lighting systems are different from active day lighting systems in that active systems track and/or
follow the sun, and rely on mechanical mechanisms to do so.
4- What are the Common Methods for using Passive day lighting technology in a building?
there are many methods for using Passive day lighting technology in a building but the common ones will be as
follows:
1- Windows
Windows are the most common way to admit daylight into a space. Their vertical orientation means that they
selectively admit sunlight and diffuse daylight at different times of the day and year.
The optimal area of skylights varies according to climate, latitude, and the
characteristics of the skylight, but is usually 4-8% of floor area.
Light shelves are an effective way to enhance the lighting from windows on the equator-facing side of a structure, this effect being obtained by placing
a white or reflective metal light shelf outside the window.
Usually the window will be protected from direct summer season sun by a projecting eave. The light shelf projects beyond the shadow created by the
eave and reflect sunlight upward to illuminate the ceiling. This reflected light can contain little heat content and the reflective illumination from the
ceiling will typically reduce deep shadows, reducing the need for general illumination.
4- Tubular Day lighting Devices (TDDs) (see fig.3)
It uses modern technology to transmit visible light through opaque walls and roofs. The tube itself is a passive component consisting of either a simple
reflective interior coating or a light conducting fiber optic bundle. It is frequently capped with a transparent, roof-mounted dome 'light collector' and
terminated with a diffuser assembly that admits the daylight into interior spaces and distributes the available light energy evenly.
5- Smart glass (see fig.4)
It is the name given to a class of materials and devices that can be switched between a transparent state and a state which is opaque, translucent,
reflective, or retro-reflective. The switching is done by applying an electric voltage to the material, or by performing some simple mechanical operation.
Windows, skylights, etc., that are made of smart glass can be used to adjust indoor lighting, compensating for changes of the brightness of the light
outdoors and of the required brightness indoors.
5- Problems generated from using day lighting source
Two potential problems associated with the use of day lighting buildings are as follows:
1- Glare
Glare occurs when a bright light source such as the sun is in the field of view of users. It can also occur when reflections of the sun are in the field of
view.
2- Heat
Daylight is always associated with heat, and the challenge is to maximize the benefit from daylight with minimum heat gain.
all the above information will guide the electrical designer for utilizing the Daylight Source (in cooperation with the architecture engineer) to have the
best lighting design which meet the user requirements and in same time increase energy savings in the buildings.
In the next topic, I will explain the artificial lighting sources and loads. So, please keep following.