Daylighting enhancement with light pipes coupled to laser-cut light-deflecting panels

Abstract

The daylighting of small interior rooms via skylight and vertical light pipe may be enhanced by deflecting low-elevation light more directly through the light pipe using laser-cut light deflecting panels. Theoretical expressions for light transmission versus elevation through simple light pipes and light pipes coupled to laser-cut panels are developed and compared with measurements using a commercial light pipe. Predictions of hourly illumination levels in typical rooms are obtained. The agreement of theory and experiment justifies extrapolation to very long light pipes, the results of which suggest that light pipes coupled with deflecting panels should be effective in daylighting through several stories of a building.