Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach

Daylight plays a significant role in achieving energy saving and comfort in buildings. It is in accordance with the human circadian rhythms and allows the best visual conditions in work environments and residential buildings. Recently, numerous researchers have focused their attention on the perform...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paolo Zazzini, Alessandro Romano, Alessio Di Lorenzo, Valeria Portaluri, Alessandro Di Crescenzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SolarLits 2020-03-01
Series:Journal of Daylighting
Subjects:
Online Access:https://solarlits.com/jd/7-37
_version_ 1828885439555043328
author Paolo Zazzini
Alessandro Romano
Alessio Di Lorenzo
Valeria Portaluri
Alessandro Di Crescenzo
author_facet Paolo Zazzini
Alessandro Romano
Alessio Di Lorenzo
Valeria Portaluri
Alessandro Di Crescenzo
author_sort Paolo Zazzini
collection DOAJ
description Daylight plays a significant role in achieving energy saving and comfort in buildings. It is in accordance with the human circadian rhythms and allows the best visual conditions in work environments and residential buildings. Recently, numerous researchers have focused their attention on the performance of technological devices able to increase natural light availability in interior areas of buildings. Among them, light shelves are commonly used with the aim of improving the depth of daylight penetration, trying to reduce the non-uniform diffusion of light entering from vertical windows. In this paper, the authors propose six different configurations of an internal-external light shelf and analyse their performance using the experimental scale model approach under real sky. Although the method is not very accurate as deduced from literature on this topic, the authors still demonstrate its usefulness in examining different geometric configurations of light shelves. In fact, even if the results highlight inaccuracies in the method used, which are accentuated under direct sun light, they are useful for considerations in the comparative analysis, particularly in regard to data logged under partially completely cloudy skies albeit with the awareness that light shelves’ effectiveness is improved under direct sun light. Despite its limits, the method is simple to use and can be considered efficient in allowing the authors to carry out considerations regarding the performance of the system analysed. Among the six different configurations proposed two seem to be the most efficient and are characterized by the presence of an internal highly reflecting surface applied on the ceiling and an external one with two different inclination angles (10° and 20°).
first_indexed 2024-12-13T11:26:32Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cbabb830e71b416885244935d0252d1c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2383-8701
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T11:26:32Z
publishDate 2020-03-01
publisher SolarLits
record_format Article
series Journal of Daylighting
spelling doaj.art-cbabb830e71b416885244935d0252d1c2022-12-21T23:48:11ZengSolarLitsJournal of Daylighting2383-87012020-03-0171375610.15627/jd.2020.4Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model ApproachPaolo Zazzini0Alessandro Romano1Alessio Di Lorenzo2Valeria Portaluri3Alessandro Di Crescenzo4Department INGEO, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, ItalyDepartment INGEO, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, ItalyDepartment INGEO, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, ItalyDepartment INGEO, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, ItalyDepartment INGEO, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, ItalyDaylight plays a significant role in achieving energy saving and comfort in buildings. It is in accordance with the human circadian rhythms and allows the best visual conditions in work environments and residential buildings. Recently, numerous researchers have focused their attention on the performance of technological devices able to increase natural light availability in interior areas of buildings. Among them, light shelves are commonly used with the aim of improving the depth of daylight penetration, trying to reduce the non-uniform diffusion of light entering from vertical windows. In this paper, the authors propose six different configurations of an internal-external light shelf and analyse their performance using the experimental scale model approach under real sky. Although the method is not very accurate as deduced from literature on this topic, the authors still demonstrate its usefulness in examining different geometric configurations of light shelves. In fact, even if the results highlight inaccuracies in the method used, which are accentuated under direct sun light, they are useful for considerations in the comparative analysis, particularly in regard to data logged under partially completely cloudy skies albeit with the awareness that light shelves’ effectiveness is improved under direct sun light. Despite its limits, the method is simple to use and can be considered efficient in allowing the authors to carry out considerations regarding the performance of the system analysed. Among the six different configurations proposed two seem to be the most efficient and are characterized by the presence of an internal highly reflecting surface applied on the ceiling and an external one with two different inclination angles (10° and 20°).https://solarlits.com/jd/7-37illuminationlight shelveenergy savingdaylight
spellingShingle Paolo Zazzini
Alessandro Romano
Alessio Di Lorenzo
Valeria Portaluri
Alessandro Di Crescenzo
Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach
Journal of Daylighting
illumination
light shelve
energy saving
daylight
title Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach
title_full Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach
title_fullStr Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach
title_short Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach
title_sort experimental analysis of the performance of light shelves in different geometrical configurations through the scale model approach
topic illumination
light shelve
energy saving
daylight
url https://solarlits.com/jd/7-37
work_keys_str_mv AT paolozazzini experimentalanalysisoftheperformanceoflightshelvesindifferentgeometricalconfigurationsthroughthescalemodelapproach
AT alessandroromano experimentalanalysisoftheperformanceoflightshelvesindifferentgeometricalconfigurationsthroughthescalemodelapproach
AT alessiodilorenzo experimentalanalysisoftheperformanceoflightshelvesindifferentgeometricalconfigurationsthroughthescalemodelapproach
AT valeriaportaluri experimentalanalysisoftheperformanceoflightshelvesindifferentgeometricalconfigurationsthroughthescalemodelapproach
AT alessandrodicrescenzo experimentalanalysisoftheperformanceoflightshelvesindifferentgeometricalconfigurationsthroughthescalemodelapproach