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Performance analysis of light shelves in providing visual and thermal comfort and energy savings in residential buildings

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Abstract

Using light shelves (LSs) is one of the passive-enhancement methods for energy saving and providing better thermal comfort conditions of the building users. The goal of this research is to create a consistent daylight environment that improves the visual and thermal comfort of users in buildings. Comfort effects on the four fronts of a building (in the Pars residential complex of Mashhad city in Iran as a case study) are investigated. Five types of LSs are suggested for improving the building’s thermal and visual conditions. Then, the illuminance analysis is performed for the building with and without the LSs. Horizontal and vertical LSs are considered in building to enhance visual quality and uniformity of daylight in the building space. According to the highest and lowest light intensity in the investigated spaces, the LS that provides optimal visual conditions for space is selected. Then, the role of optimum LS in thermal comfort and energy indicators (heating, cooling, and electricity) has been investigated and compared with the base situation. Analyzing the results reveals that using the optimal LS causes an annual average improvement of 18%, 11%, and 7% in the demand for heating, cooling, and electricity, respectively, of the building throughout the year.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

    Amir Ebrahimi-Moghadam

  2. Khorasan Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran

    Paria Ildarabadi & Faramarz Fadaee

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Montazeri, Khorasan Razavi Branch, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Mashhad, Iran

    Karim Aliakbari

  4. Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Esbjerg, Denmark

    Ahmad Arabkoohsar

Authors
  1. Amir Ebrahimi-Moghadam
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  2. Paria Ildarabadi
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  3. Karim Aliakbari
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  4. Ahmad Arabkoohsar
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  5. Faramarz Fadaee
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Amir Ebrahimi-Moghadam or Paria Ildarabadi.

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Technical Editor: Jose A. R. Parise.

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This article has been selected for a Topical Issue of this journal on Nanoparticles and Passive-Enhancement Methods in Energy.

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Ebrahimi-Moghadam, A., Ildarabadi, P., Aliakbari, K. et al. Performance analysis of light shelves in providing visual and thermal comfort and energy savings in residential buildings. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 42, 484 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-020-02565-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-020-02565-2

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