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Thermal CFD Analysis of Tubular Light Guides

Author

Listed:
  • Ondřej Šikula

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Veveří 331/95, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic)

  • Jitka Mohelníková

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Veveří 331/95, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic)

  • Josef Plášek

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Veveří 331/95, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Tubular light guides are applicable for daylighting of windowless areas in buildings. Despite their many positive indoor climate aspects they can also present some problems with heat losses and condensation. A computer CFD model focused on the evaluation of temperature distribution and air flow inside tubular light guides of different dimensions was studied. The physical model of the tested light guides of lengths more than 0.60 m proves shows that Rayleigh numbers are adequate for a turbulent air flow. The turbulent model was applied despite the small heat flux differences between the turbulent and laminar model. The CFD simulations resulted into conclusions that the growing ratio of length/diameter increases the heat transmission loss/linear transmittance as much as by 50 percent. Tubular light guides of smaller diameters have lower heat transmission losses compared to the wider ones of the same lengths with the same outdoor temperature being taken into account. The simulation results confirmed the thermal bridge effect of the tubular light guide tube inside the insulated flat roof details. The thermal transmittance of the studied light guides in the whole roof area was substituted with the point thermal bridges. This substitution gives possibility for simple thermal evaluation of the tubular light pipes in roof constructions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ondřej Šikula & Jitka Mohelníková & Josef Plášek, 2013. "Thermal CFD Analysis of Tubular Light Guides," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:6:y:2013:i:12:p:6304-6321:d:30991
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Al-Marwaee, Mohammed & Carter, David, 2006. "Tubular guidance systems for daylight: Achieved and predicted installation performances," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(7), pages 774-788, July.
    2. Probert, S.D. & Thirst, T.J., 1980. "Design and performance of roofs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 79-97, March.
    3. Batty, W. J. & O'Callaghan, P. W. & Probert, S. D., 1984. "Energy and condensation problems in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 1-14.
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