Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering - BEng(Hons) in BSE
SBS5312 Lighting Technology
Tutorial Questions L9 Overcast sky simply means fully cloudy sky without any direct sunshine from the sun.
Refer to Slide #11 of Lecture 9 for the detailed meaning of overcast sky.
Q1. The overcast sky can be considered as an inhomogeneous diffuse emitter with a
luminance distribution, L(β, φ), given by:
L(β, φ) = Lz (1+2sinβ)/3 The general formula of CIE standard overcast sky.
where β is the altitude angle from horizon, φ is the azimuthal angle from South
(the above expression means that L is independent of azimuth), and Lz is the
luminance at zenith. Suppose Lz is 9200 cd/m2,
(a) Determine the illuminance produced on the horizontal surface by an
unobstructed sky with this luminance distribution.
(b) A large sports arena is covered with fabric that is a perfectly diffusing
transmitter. The area is circular with a diameter of 150 m. The fabric is 45 m
above the playing field and can be considered flat for the purpose of this
calculation. Assuming the fabric has uniform transmittance of 0.3, determine
the horizontal illuminance at (i) the centre, and (ii) the edge of the playing field
under an unobstructed overcast sky as given above.
S1. (a) Illuminance E = 7πLz/9 = 7π x 9200/9 = 22480 lx Refer to Slide #66 of Lecture 9.
(b) Exitance at bottom of fabric = ρE = 0.3 x 22480 = 6744 lm/m2
Light from the sky falling on the outer surface of
(i) Illuminance at centre the fabric = 22480 lx
Using unit hemisphere method = πL(1 – cos α)/2 Transmittance of the fabric = 0.3 meaning that
= 6744 {1 – cos[2 tan-1(75/45)]}/2 only 30% of light can pass through the fabric
= 4959 lx The light emitting from the inner surface of the
fabric = 6744 lm/m2 = πL
(ii) Illuminance at the edge
= 6744 {1 – cos[tan-1(150/45)]}/2
= 2403 lx
1
Q2. The CIE standard overcast sky has a luminance distribution described by the
following equation:
L(θ) = Lz (1+2sinθ)/3
where L(θ) is the sky luminance at an elevation θ and Lz is the sky luminance at
zenith.
(a) Derive an expression for the illuminance at a point on a horizontal plane from
an unobstructed CIE standard overcast sky. Hence, determine (i) the average
luminance of the CIE standard overcast sky and (ii) the angle of elevation to a
point at which this mean luminance exists.
(b) An art gallery has a hemispherical dome shape with a circular roof light at the
top (see Figure Q2). The diameter of the hemispherical dome and roof light are
20 m and 6 m respectively. The light transmittance of the roof light is 0.8 and
can be assumed to be constant for all angles of incidence. Assuming a CIE
standard overcast sky, determine the sky component of the daylight factor at
the centre of the floor of the art gallery.
Figure Q2
Assuming the transmittance is 1. 41.8° is valid as long as the CIE standard overcast
S2. (a) Equating 7πLz/9 = πLav gives Lav = 7Lz/9 sky is concerned.
7Lz/9 = Lz (1+2sinθav)/3 sinθav = (3 x 7/9 – 1)/2 = 0.6667 θav = 41.8°
90°
(b) Sky component = 0.8 x 2 x 3/7 72.5°
sinθ cosθ 1+2sinθ dθ = 9.1%
SC = Ew/Eh Refer to Slide #64 of Lecture 9.
Illuminance at the centre due to a ring of the sky, Ew = T x Integrated (2πLθsinθcosθ) from 72.5° to 90°
72.5° = cos-1(3/10) (i.e. between the horizon and the ring)
and because it is a CIE standard overcast sky, Lθ = Lz(1+2sinθ)/3
it becomes Ew = 0.8 x (2πLz/3) [sin2θ + 2sin3θ] from 72.5° to 90° = 0.0715πLz
Eh = 7πLz/9
2
SC = 9.1%
Q3. A cylindrical room with a flat ceiling and a floor has a diameter of 5 m. The only
openings are two windows cut into the curved walls. The windows are each 1.3 m
high and have a width of 2.5 m measured across the chord. The lower edge of each
window (i.e. the window sill) is 1.1 m above the floor. The line joining the centres
of the two windows is a diameter of the circular horizontal plane of the room (i.e.
the windows are opposite to each other). (See Figure Q3)
Figure Q3
Assuming that the sky luminance conforms to a CIE standard overcast sky and
there are no external obstructions, calculate the sky component of the daylight
factor at the centre of the working plane which is 0.8 m above floor.
S3. Horizontal illuminance due to the unobstructed sky:
π/2 2π
Eh = 0 0
LZ [(1+2sinθ)/3] sinθ cosθ dθ dφ = 7πLz/9 Refer to Slide #66 of Lecture 9.
From 0 to π/2: from horizon to zenith From 0 to π: from north to east to south to west back to north
Illuminance at the centre of the working plane:
θ 2π/3
Ei = θ 2 0 LZ [(1+2sinθ)/3] sinθ cosθ dθ dφ = 0.2415 x 2πLz/9 Refer to Slide #67 of
1
Lecture 9.
Sky component SC = Ei/Eh = 0.2415 x 2/7 = 6.9%
θ1 = 6.843°
2π/3 = 60° + 60° θ2 = 32.619°
3
Q4. Consider two small rooms in the same residential block of 40 storeys, one on the
40th floor (top floor) and the other on the 1st floor. This block is facing a group of
residential blocks with the same height in a row at a distance of 30 m apart. (See
Figure Q4)
Room dimensions: width (along window wall) = 2.5 m
depth (perpendicular to window wall) = 3 m
floor-to-ceiling height = 2.6 m; floor-to-floor height = 2.8 m
Window in one wall only: window width = 2 m; window height = 1.3 m
sill height = 1.1 m; glazing transmittance = 0.85
Room surface reflectances: ceiling = 0.7; walls = 0.5; floor = 0.2; window = 0.1
There is no overhang or other extensions from the window wall and the window
plane can be assumed to be at the outer wall surface of the building.
Determine the average daylight factor of these two rooms. Compare with
comments your calculated values between the two rooms.
Figure Q4
S4. Aw = 2 x 1.3 = 2.6 m2
A = 2 x 2.5 x 3 + 11 x 2.6 = 43.6 m2
R = (7.5 x 0.7 + 7.5 x 0.2 + 26 x 0.5 + 2.6 x 0.1)/43.6 = 0.459 Area-weighted average reflectance
θ for the 1st floor = tan-1[30/(39 x 2.8 + 1.05)] = 15.22°
1.05 = 2.8 - 1.3/2 - 1.1
θ for the 40th floor = tan-1(30/1.05) = 88.0°
Therefore, CIBSE formula gives: Refer to Slide #26 of Lecture 9 for the calculation of DFav
DFav (1st floor) = (0.85 x 2.6 x 15.22)/[43.6 x (1 – 0.4592)]% = 0.98%
DFav (40th floor) = (0.85 x 2.6 x 88.0)/[43.6 x (1 – 0.4592)]% = 5.65%