Abstract
In this paper, the principle, structural composition, materials, and characteristics of solar optical fiber lighting system were discussed. The different luminance requirements of different zones of highway tunnel were identified on the basis of the analysis of tunnel lighting considering drivers’ visually self-accommodating physiological function for luminance change. Taken Huashuyan Tunnel of G109 Highway located in Hohhot of Inner Mongolia in China as the case study, the system design of solar optical fiber lighting for enhanced lighting in threshold zone of highway tunnel was made. It was indicated through calculation that the design length of solar optical fiber enhanced lighting was related to the design speed, longitudinal slope, and overhead clearance of the tunnel, and the design luminance of solar optical fiber enhanced lighting was related to the luminance outside the tunnel, the design speed, and the design traffic flow of the tunnel. Luminance analysis of the solar optical fiber lighting system of Huashuyan Tunnel was made based on the on-site experiment. Also, the 3D illuminance simulation results by DIALux software were made to indicate that the solar optical fiber lighting system in Huashuyan Tunnel still well met the enhanced lighting demand even not considering the contribution of LED lighting.
Highlights
As a kind of natural light guidance system, solar optical fiber lighting can transmit natural light and make lighting based on the total reflection principle of light in fibers made of various sorts of materials like glass or plastic, which can introduce the light from natural or artificial light source into the optical fiber and make light redistribution through the transmission of optical fiber in terms of the lighting needs
The design method of optical fiber lighting system for the tunnel lighting cannot copy that of traditional lighting and the optical fiber lighting for ordinary buildings and cannot be applied directly in tunnel lighting either
Light guide plate lighting system well accorded with the law of the luminance of pavement in tunnel threshold zone changing with the changes of luminance outside the tunnel and could save considerable lighting energy consumption, so it would have certain feasibility in enhanced lighting of highway tunnel
Summary
As a kind of natural light guidance system, solar optical fiber lighting can transmit natural light and make lighting based on the total reflection principle of light in fibers made of various sorts of materials like glass or plastic, which can introduce the light from natural or artificial light source into the optical fiber and make light redistribution through the transmission of optical fiber in terms of the lighting needs. There are few researches in the relevant filed, especially with full consideration of the problems of the tunnel environment, the demand of highway tunnel lighting of different zones, the performance of the light source, the transmission loss, and the economic efficiency [15, 16] It is quite necessary and urgent for launching the systematic research on solar optical fiber lighting for tunnel lighting based on the characteristics of optical fiber lighting and the different luminance demand of different zones of the tunnel to explore the new ways of energy saving of tunnel lighting and promote the application of solar optical fiber lighting, which would have important theoretical and practical significance in the sustainable development of highway tunnel lighting
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