Indoor Solar Lighting by Optical Fibers

Optical fibers are flexible cables made of glass or plastic that have a wide range of applications, including the new communication revolution, 5G. However, for light transmission from a source to another end use place, there are still some challenges, in particular the bending and transmission efficiency. This study aimed to study the concept of the manifestation of solar radiation for indoor lighting. To achieve the objective, an experimental investigation of optical fiber to transmit direct solar light to indoor space. The work consisted of experimental measurements and analysis of space lightning by optical fibers. The selected research variables are length of the optical fiber, 0.1, 0.2. 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 m, and batch of optical fiber 10, 20, 30 and 40 units. In addition, the bending effect on the optical fiber capability is also tested. The tests were performed at various simulated solar light. It has been concluded that the increment of the optical fiber length and decrement of number of units per batch decreases the overall measured illuminance inside the lightened space. The light distribution was also studied, and it is validated that illuminance decreased as it’s further away from the source of the illuminance which is the end of the optical fiber itself. A bending test was conducted, and it is reasoned that bending doesn’t affect the illuminance of optical fiber in any way. The analysis done for optical fiber daylighting system suggests that it would be a possible alternative to the current electricity consuming indoor lighting system.