Development of daylighting systems with non-imaging concentrator

We present a cost-effective and large scale optical fiber daylighting system using non-imaging optics device such as array of linear Fresnel lenses and stepped-thickness waveguide as concentrator. The stepped-thickness waveguide is an optical component that can redirect focused sunlight from vertical to horizontal and guide light to the optical fiber. Our simulation results demonstrate an optical efficiency of up to 56.4% when the concentration ratio of the system is fixed at 100. The simulation also shows that this design has high tolerance for input angle of sunlight. The high tolerance allows replacing a dual axis sun tracking system with a single axis sun-tracking system as a cost-effective solution. Therefore, our results provide an important breakthrough for the commercialization of optical fiber daylighting systems that are faced with challenges related to high costs