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
An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means t ...
cable bundles to provide solar light into rooms without
window
A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent mat ...
s or
skylights, and by supplementing this natural light with artificial light—typically
LED—as required.
The bundles are led from exterior/
rooftop
A roof ( : roofs or rooves) is the top covering of a building, including all materials and constructions necessary to support it on the walls of the building or on uprights, providing protection against rain, snow, sunlight, extremes of temper ...
optical light collectors through small openings or cable ducts and carry the light to where it is needed. The optical fibers end in hybrid
luminaire
A light fixture (US English), light fitting (UK English), or luminaire is an electrical device containing an Lamp (electrical component), electric lamp that provides Lighting, illumination. All light fixtures have a fixture body and one or more ...
s 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.
Method of operation
Solar lighting systems capture light from the sun and conduct it towards a room using optical fibers. They use rooftop collectors, large mirrored dishes, that track the sun. The collectors adjust to aim the sunlight onto 127
optical fibers
An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means ...
which are conducted into a single chord. The optical fibers are flexible and can be connected into hybrid light fixtures that are joined to diffusing rods that disperse the light. A single collector can power up to eight hybrid light fixtures covering .
The hybrid lights also use artificial lighting which is mixed with the natural sunlight beamed in down the fiber optic chord. Photosensors focus on how much light needs to be generated to add to the natural light in order to keep a room illuminated at a constant brightness. When the sun is blocked by clouds around five percent of its sunlight requirement will need to be added. Hybrid solar lighting systems should be used in rooms with direct roof access.
Cost of hybrid solar lighting systems
The price of each hybrid solar lighting system requires to be installed with each watt of light bulb used. It is about $5–$8 per watt.
[Parker, Sara]
"Sunlight Direct Plans Commercial Release of HSL Technology in 2008."
Hybrid Solar Lighting Promises 50% Efficiency (June 2007): 1.Renewable Energy World.com. Web. 20 Oct. 2009.
See also
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Solar energy
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Renewable energy
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Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially ...
*
Sustainable energy
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Light tube
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 terah ...
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Solar thermal collector
A solar thermal collector collects heat by absorbing sunlight. The term "solar collector" commonly refers to a device for solar hot water heating, but may refer to large power generating installations such as solar parabolic troughs and so ...
References
External links
Hybrid Solar Lighting – the Future of Solar Lights
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hybrid Solar Lighting
Solar thermal energy
Energy conversion
Lighting