Use of sunlight in road tunnels: An approach to the improvement of light-pipes’ efficacy through heliostats

Peña-García, Antonio; Gil‐Martín, Luisa María; Hernández‐Montes, Enrique

doi:10.1016/j.tust.2016.08.008

Cited by 50 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Some technological devices, such as light pipes, are increasingly being used in residential or commercial buildings [22][23][24][25] because they contribute in uniforming the distribution of light on the work-plane. They have recently been used also in infrastructures with different utilities, such as farms or road tunnels, as attested in [26][27][28][29][30]. In the field of tubular daylight system, recent studies by Spacek et al [31] have proposed the use of new materials, as polymer metallized with aluminum, which is cheaper than the reflecting materials currently marketed by several companies, with costs reduced by 50% for a 35% lower efficacy of the device.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach

Zazzini¹,

Romano²,

Lorenzo³

et al. 2020

Journal of Daylighting

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Daylight plays a significant role in achieving energy saving and comfort in buildings. It is in accordance with the human circadian rhythms and allows the best visual conditions in work environments and residential buildings. Recently, numerous researchers have focused their attention on the performance of technological devices able to increase natural light availability in interior areas of buildings. Among them, light shelves are commonly used with the aim of improving the depth of daylight penetration, trying to reduce the nonuniform diffusion of light entering from vertical windows. In this paper, the authors propose six different configurations of an internalexternal light shelf and analyse their performance using the experimental scale model approach under real sky. Although the method is not very accurate as deduced from literature on this topic, the authors still demonstrate its usefulness in examining different geometric configurations of light shelves. In fact, even if the results highlight inaccuracies in the method used, which are accentuated under direct sun light, they are useful for considerations in the comparative analysis, particularly in regard to data logged under partially completely cloudy skies albeit with the awareness that light shelves' effectiveness is improved under direct sun light. Despite its limits, the method is simple to use and can be considered efficient in allowing the authors to carry out considerations regarding the performance of the system analysed. Among the six different configurations proposed two seem to be the most efficient and are characterized by the presence of an internal highly reflecting surface applied on the ceiling and an external one with two different inclination angles (10° and 20°).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach

Zazzini¹,

Romano²,

Lorenzo³

et al. 2020

Journal of Daylighting

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“…In recent years, research groups around the world have focused their efforts on the development of strategies to introduce natural light inside the tunnels [31][32][33], or to shift the threshold zone, which is the most consuming part, out of the tunnel, using a part of the sunlight, properly filtered and attenuated [34][35][36][37][38][39]. The most promising strategy in this last case is the use of pre-tunnel pergolas, whose construction before the portal gate can yield energy savings in the threshold zone of about 40% [35].…”

Section: Lighting Infrastructures: Use Of Sunlight In Road Tunnelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proposal to Foster Sustainability through Circular Economy-Based Engineering: A Profitable Chain from Waste Management to Tunnel Lighting

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The increasing demands of infrastructures in terms of energy consumption, raw material demand, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, treatment of components after their lifetime period, and financial costs are nowadays a serious threat for sustainability. Given that the resources are limited, it is difficult to ensure an accurate level of well-being for future generations. For this reason, new perspectives in design, production and consumption are necessary. In this work, the principles of circular economy are applied to concrete branches of engineering. Departing from a design orientated to new uses after life period of infrastructures, a circular economy-aimed engineering makes possible the connection and mutual profit of such different branches like waste management and tunnel lighting. The benefits in environmental and financial terms are a strong argument in favor of a stronger link between engineering and circular economy.

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“…For example, various technical solutions have been proposed like green or sustainable lighting [35][36][37], sustainable tunnel ventilation [38] and green tunnel lining [39]. Even very detailed proposals are made like the forestation of the portal surrounding [40] to decrease the energy demands of lighting. Also, managerial solutions have been proposed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Sustainability into Major Infrastructure Projects: Four Perspectives on Sustainable Tunnel Development

et al. 2019

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Although sustainability is on the agenda of many countries and agencies, it is still a great challenge to properly integrate sustainability into major infrastructure projects, like tunnels. This is remarkable, as it is commonly accepted that the construction and operation of these civil infrastructures have a heavy impact on environmental, economic and social sustainability. In academia, the foregone conclusion seems to point to a lack of vision about sustainability with respect to tunnels. This article presents an empirical study that investigates sustainability ideas amongst tunnel practitioners in the Netherlands. The case was used as a practical environment to get access to tunnel practitioners, to explicitly define the meaning of a sustainable tunnel in its development phase. Perceptions of sustainable tunnels were extracted by means of a commonly accepted research methodology called Q-methodology. By applying this method, four perspectives were obtained: perspectives with a focus on energy, resilience, social or a transitional focus. Each perspective highlights distinct focal points on how to operationalize sustainability for tunnel projects. Each perspective is also accompanied by an anti-focus; how sustainability should not be approached, sometimes contrary to other perspectives. These insights help project practitioners in creating awareness for the existence of different perspectives, and subsequently help to focus project management efforts to implement sustainability in specific projects.

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Use of sunlight in road tunnels: An approach to the improvement of light-pipes’ efficacy through heliostats

Cited by 50 publications

References 20 publications

Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach

Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Light Shelves in Different Geometrical Configurations Through the Scale Model Approach

Proposal to Foster Sustainability through Circular Economy-Based Engineering: A Profitable Chain from Waste Management to Tunnel Lighting

Integrating Sustainability into Major Infrastructure Projects: Four Perspectives on Sustainable Tunnel Development

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