Research Update

In the months since my last post, I have been diligently addressing issues pertaining to the moving components of the light-gathering apparatus. The dish that I started with underwent transformation from a 'point and secure' radio signal gathering instrument to a 'bearing-assisted reflective dish' that is now armed with circuitry to follow the sun in its transit across the sky.

Fabricating a bearing mount, sourcing and soldering together electronic parts such as a sub-fractional horsepower dc motor, comparators, light sensors and limit switches has taken time. The resulting prototype is still a compromise, but should yield a respectable light intensity given the use of a single-axis solar tracker and a 27" reflective surface as a solar collector.

Much remains to be done!

• The reflective surface will initially be self-adhesive chrome tape on a vinyl backing (think sign lettering), and has yet to be applied since the plexi-mirror warped from heat,


• Mounting the dish and solar tracking apparatus to the exterior face of the building has yet to take place, but is close at hand for testing the solar tracking device (not just the motor as I have done in my shop),


• UV/IR glass has to be sourced for removing the sunlight's harmful components prior to introducing scalding concentrated sunlight to valuable and vulnerable fiber optic cable,


• Lighting application-appropriate fiber optic cable has now been located! BL Innovative Lighting is one of four manufacturers in the world that makes the type of end-glow fiber optic cable I need, and they're in Vancouver, BC !,


• Once all components are mounted, light is distributed through a fixture or lens, and all is functioning, light measurement data needs to be collected, and


• A final report has to be written for submission by December of 2010.

In an effort to focus on the solar-lighting aspect of this research, the 'hybrid' component has been relegated to the use of a previously existing electrical lighting system, and a carefully adjusted photocell for auxiliary lighting. Efforts to make the hybrid system automatic or tied in with the existent fiber-optics will be examined in future versions.

Check back for new developments in the weeks to come - thanks for reading,

Tony.

First Piece of the Puzzle

Well, final exams are behind, job applications are out there, and research moves on too. Posting an ad on Craigslist for a suitable satellite dish at near zero cost, I got a grand total of one immediate response. For the princely sum of a six-pack of Kokanee, I am now the proud owner of a 27" metal dish and mount that was formerly used for satellite internet access. Thanks Scott! Upon further inspection, I wonder if it has an accurate enough parabloidal shape to focus light to a small-enough, concentrated area. In order to test it out, I have to look at inexpensively making it into a reflector, probably with chrome paint. Then I will try it out in the sun and see if I get an acceptable concentration point before looking at higher quality reflecting surfaces (like chrome plating, or form-fitting a plexiglass mirror). Wish me luck on the test, (and on getting some sun!)

Check out the pics of my first 'solar collector' in my workshop.

Cheers,

Tony

Even Better !

G.Schlegel et al. have taken things still further at capturing energy from the sun. By simultaneously using the visible spectrum of sunlight for lighting purposes, and using the infrared (invisible) component of sunlight to fuel thermo-photovoltaic cells, his team has gained even more from the single solar-tracking collector. The extra complexity pushes the boundaries of the experimentation aspect of my research, but begs further consideration in my research report.

In Schlegel's research, an advanced simulator was used to measure the efficacy of the combined system. The simulator used, nick-named TRNSYS, exists at the Oakridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, USA. Findings from this research led to conclusions that cost per kwh of electricity played a large part in determining which climate generated the best rate of return for the investment in hybrid solar lighting. In 2003, the highest cost of electricity in the study occurred in Hawaii, where rates came in at $0.165/ kWh. By way of comparison, BC Hydro charges us $0.591/kWh for the first 1398 kWh, and $0.827/kWh after that. Clearly rates for electricity have gone up and the case for alternate sources of lighting and electricity improves!

Evaluation of Hybrid Solar Lighting for Residential Application in Kamloops, BC

Abstract Outline

Hybrid Solar Lighting, a daylighting system which utilizes mainly sunlight to illuminate interior spaces, has been conceptually existent for more than 30 years. As the quest to reduce energy consumption in a sustainable, responsible way advances, so too has the conceptually viable principle of solar daylighting. The latest research in sunlight collection and distribution within buildings has resulted in commercially available, out-of-the-box systems for installation on a residence. The question that this paper addresses is: What is the cost and payback information on the latest commercially available hybrid solar lighting systems when applied to a home with a full basement in Kamloops, B.C., and are there ways to moderate these expenses, ie. build your own?

Firstly, an analysis of the lighting needs in an original home design that includes a full basement will quantify the light output requirements of the desired system. IESNA standard lighting calculations will determine the lumens output and light distribution characteristics desired. Illustrations and calculations will reveal that the lighting needs of a residence require a modest system of supplementary solar lighting as compared with applications that have been primarily aimed at commercial lighting needs. Directional orientation data for local solar light collection will be gathered from area's solar product suppliers and installers to determine the optimal parameters for solar tracking devices.

Tabulated costing information, including shipping and installation estimates, will enable a comparative analysis of the commercially available hybrid solar lighting systems. The variety of collection systems, and associated costs to manufacture, will be a primary factor in choosing the most cost-effective design. Exotic systems containing extraordinary optic assemblies of individual lenses that track the sun have high costs associated with their manufacture, control devices and shipment. Parabolic dish collectors have inherent cost efficiencies in that dishes and tracking systems have already been pioneered and cost deflated in the satellite television industry, so commercially available versions of this system type will be expected to fare well. Large core optical fibre, the light conduit from rooftop to interior, is an inherent and supplied component to all of these systems, and its performance will be compared with the more common communications-grade fibre optic cable that may be obtained at a lesser expense.

Finally, the initial cost comparisons will reveal that one manufacturer has the lowest priced system to supply the light output required, and the summarized costing information will be assessed against the time to payback its purchase. Comparison with conventional light sources including incandescent and fluorescent lighting at average electricity supply rates will reveal that the payback time will be lengthy.

The author shall examine cost-reduction strategies, and, as addendum, report on the attempted simulation of a home-built hybrid solar lighting solution. Ideas for this simulation include sourcing a minimum 48" diameter used satellite dish and tracking system, having the surface reflectorized, and mounting a secondary element to strip the infrared and ultraviolet components from the sunlight. Utilizing surplus commercial communications-grade fibre optics and lenses to disperse the light will further reduce costs, and will lead to the finalization of the home-built HSL experiment. The success of the experimental component of the research will be a footnote to answering the paper's question: What is the cost and payback time for installing a commercially available hybrid solar lighting system in a residential application in Kamloops, B.C.?

Thesis Question For Comment

My proposed thesis question is:

"How can Hybrid Solar Lighting be made affordable for a BCBC compliant single family residence in Kamloops, B.C. ?"

The application for my research is lighting interior rooms in single family homes generally, and in the Kamloops region specifically.

Avenues for investigation to make HSL affordable:

• Using the appropriate type of recycled satellite dishes, sent for chroming,
• Using recycled Fibre Optic cable from communications providers such as CN Rail, Shaw, Telus,
• Separating auxiliary lighting from automatic "hybrid" lighting,
• Sourcing low-cost dish tracking system,
• Investigating government/crown corporation (BC Hydro) grant possibilities,
• Increasing the dish area to account for losses in the cable due to bends and other inherent system losses,
• Make shutters or shading simpler, ie. mechanical vs. switch-operated,
• Intelligently assess need for solar lighting, ie. where it would be most beneficial in the home.

Thanks for any help or comments on the thesis question !

Residential and Commercial Light Differences 2

Ideally, light quality and light consistency can be achieved in one system. A 'hybrid' light source marries up the supplementary light source with the natural light source. By turning the power off to the supplementary system, you have natural lighting only. On the Parans brand system, to turn off natural light (think shiftworker sleeping mid-day) requires the purchase of a switching system to turn the solar-collecting lenses away from the sun.

It seems to me, full control is required on a residential system. The least expensive way to achieve full control, is to have parallel light sources that are unconnected, and a manual blind made available which turns off the sunlight if desired.

Commercially, it makes sense to me to desire a full hybrid solar lighting system. Light needs are more or less constant throughout the day, and the varying degrees of supplementary lighting added must occur without thought - automatically.

Commercial users are probably the largest component of the interested market because they are operational through the day and have more interior versus window-walls than residences do.
They also spend a considerable amount on electricity for lighting purposes - I have read estimates are as high as 30% of the total electricity consumed.

For my project, which looks at a residential application of solar lighting, I foresee two parallel systems - one for natural lighting, one for anytime lighting.

The first is solar, and nets as much capability as it can gather. The need for lighting at home during the day is reduced unless you work at home and home-based business is pretty popular! If you are an artist, a stay at home parent with children who school at home, or maybe you grow plants indoors away from windows (hmmm) then solar lighting sounds good.

The second can be a conventional light system, supplemented by PV panels or just using high efficiency lighting, ie. LED or fluorescent fixtures. Because science hasn't gotten to the place of storing light for later use, we need this secondary ( or should I be calling it 'primary') light source for nighttime use anyway.

Thanks for reading - Please comment anytime!

Residential and Commercial Lighting Differences

Welcome Back,

Further readings on the benefits of natural lighting for people who are awake from dawn to dusk (I am getting closer to being awake during all these hours), leads me to believe that there are two major motivation camps for using solar lighting:

Camp 1./ Residential/Aesthetic/Light-Quality Driven

Camp 2./ Commercial/Supplementary/Energy-Saving/ Light-Quality Driven

Camp 1 wants all the variability of natural light - dawn to dusk, reds and oranges through full spectrum, dim to bright.

Camp 2 wants uniform light for working under, therefore light sensing devices that boost the available sunlight to preset levels of illumination.

More to come..!