The simplified equipment selection method for the cove lighting

Abstract

Cove lighting has become a widespread way of interior lighting due to the current popularization of linear LED strips. It is a type of indirect lighting usually used as interior decoration. However, it is possible to use this lighting type to meet general lighting requirements. The work presents the theoretical description of the cove lighting effects and the results of computer simulation and experimental tests on the mock-up model. The accuracy of computer simulation of cove lighting is sufficiently high. Because of that, it was possible to carry out further simulation tests. The results determined how the individual components of the geometry of the illuminated room (height, surface area, and the location of cove lighting equipment) affect the obtained level of average illuminance and its uniformity. The main result of the work is the determination of a simplified procedure for selecting cove lighting equipment. Thus, it is possible to quickly determine the value of the luminous flux of the LED strips so that a proper level of average illuminance (with relatively high uniformity) in the interior with a known height and surface area is achieved. The proposed procedure may significantly facilitate the design of cove lighting for architects and engineers.