Frontiers of Architectural Research >

2014 , Vol. 3 >Issue 4: 398 - 412

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2014.07.001

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparison between lighting performance of a virtual natural lighting solutions prototype and a real window based on computer simulation

  • R.A. Mangkuto , 1 ,
  • S. Wang 2 ,
  • M.B.C. Aries 1 ,
  • E.J. van Loenen 1,3 ,
  • J.L.M. Hensen 1
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  • 1. Building Physics and Services, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
  • 2. Sustainable Energy Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
  • 3. Philips Research, High Tech Campus 34, 5656 AE Eindhoven, the Netherlands

Received date: 26 Feb 2014

Accepted date: 10 Jul 2014

Published date: 07 Jan 2015

Copyright

2014 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Abstract

This article discusses the measurement and simulation of a first generation prototype of Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions (VNLS), which are systems that can artificially provide natural lighting as well as a realistic outside view, with properties comparable to those of real windows and skylights. Examples of employing Radiance as a simulation tool to predict the lighting performance of such solutions are shown, for a particular case study of a VNLS prototype displaying variations of a simplified view of overcast, clear, and partly cloudy skies. Measurement and simulation were conducted to evaluate the illuminance distribution on workplane level. The key point of this study is to show that simulations can be used to compare an actual VNLS prototype with a hypothetical real window under the same sky scenes, which was physically not possible, since the test room was not located at the building's façade. It is found that the investigated prototype yields a less rapidly drop illuminance distribution and a larger average illuminance than the corresponding real window, under the overcast (52 lx compared to 28 lx) and partly cloudy (102 lx compared to 80 lx) sky scenes. Under the clear sky scene, the real window yields a larger average illuminance (97 lx) compared to the prototype (71 lx), due to the influence of direct sunlight.

Key words： Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions; Light; View; Simulation; Virtual window; Prototype

Cite this article

R.A. Mangkuto , S. Wang , M.B.C. Aries , E.J. van Loenen , J.L.M. Hensen . Comparison between lighting performance of a virtual natural lighting solutions prototype and a real window based on computer simulation[J]. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 2014 , 3(4) : 398 -412 . DOI: 10.1016/j.foar.2014.07.001

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