Integration of a luminescent solar concentrator: Effects on daylight, correlated color temperature, illuminance level and color rendering index. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aste, Niccolò; Tagliabue, Lavinia Chiara; Palladino, Pietro; Testa, Daniele
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 114(2015)
• Page Start: 174
• Page End: 182
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Luminescent solar concentrator -- Illuminance level -- Correlated color temperature -- Color rendering index; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2015.01.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: We assessed the visual comfort parameters in a scaled model integrating a new LSC prototype. We found a decrease of CCT producing a warmer favorable light. We report an improvement of illuminance level in sunny sky conditions with LSC. We controlled color render index with LSC to comply European standard. We report the improvement in spectral efficacy due to LSC in both sky conditions. Abstract: The paper deals with the integration of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) realized with a yellow dye produced by ENI Donegani Institute and analyzed by Politecnico di Milano. The LSC component has the capability to produce electricity and substitute transparent surfaces into the building envelope using inclinations (e.g. vertical walls) and orientation (e.g. different from south) not optimal for standard photovoltaic system integration. The visual effects of the dyed LSC integration are analyzed to understand potentials and critical points of the use of such a component in the built environment. Systematic tests were conducted to evaluate the visual performance parameters related to the application of the yellow LSC component as fanlight in a partially glazed south façade of an office space, through experimental measures taken on a scaled physical model. The main effects can be ascribed to the increasing of the illuminance level and to the reduction of correlated color temperature whereas the color render index shows changes that in some cases have to be carefully assessed such as when color identification is the specific visual task.