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Building Utilities 3:: Light Sources

This document summarizes different types of light sources, including natural light sources like sunlight and artificial light sources like electric lamps. It describes various methods of producing radiation, including incandescence through heating an object, and luminescence through absorbing and re-emitting radiation without heating. Key artificial light sources are classified based on their production method, shape, size, operating characteristics, and energy efficiency.

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Izzah L
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142 views

Building Utilities 3:: Light Sources

This document summarizes different types of light sources, including natural light sources like sunlight and artificial light sources like electric lamps. It describes various methods of producing radiation, including incandescence through heating an object, and luminescence through absorbing and re-emitting radiation without heating. Key artificial light sources are classified based on their production method, shape, size, operating characteristics, and energy efficiency.

Uploaded by

Izzah L
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BUILDING UTILITIES 3:

LIGHT SOURCES
TYPES OF LIGHT
SOURCES
Natural light sources
Occur within nature
Beyond the control of people
Exploiting natural light sources remains one of the
biggest challenges

Include sunlight, moonlight, starlight, various plant


and animal sources, radioluminescence, fire.
Artificial light sources

• can be controlled when and in the amount


wanted
• include wood flame, oil and gas flames,
electric lamps, photochemical reactions,
and various reactions, such as explosives
• electric lamps have displaced almost all
other man-made sources for lighting of the
built environment
PRODUCTION OF RADIATION

• Incandescence
• The emission of electromagnetic
radiation from a hot body as a result
of its high temperature.
• An object is heated to a high
temperature, the atoms within the
material become excited by the many
interactions between them and
energy is radiated in a continuous
spectrum
Luminescence
• The generic term for the emission of light
which is not an effect of high temperature.
• The process involves a material absorbing
radiation and then re-emitting light.
• The energy may be re-radiated almost
immediately, or it may take several hours.
• Chemiluminescence – light produced by
chemical reaction
• Bioluminescence – light produced by a living
organism
• Fluorescence – light is absorbed by a substance
and re-emitted at a different wavelength
• Phosphorescence – energy is absorbed and re-
emitted but over a long period of time.
Electroluminescence

• A phenomenon of certain materials, such


as semiconductors, that causes the material
to emit light due to a strong electric field or
passage of an electric current.
• Direct conversion of electric energy to light
occurs without generation of heat.
Radioluminescence

• The phenomenon by which light is


produced in a material by the
bombardment of ionizing radiation such as
beta particles.
• An example of a common radio
luminescent material is the tritium-excited
luminous paint used on watch dials and
gun sights
Cathodoluminescence

• an optical and electromagnetic


phenomenon in which electrons
impacting a luminescent material, such
as a phosphor, cause the emission of
photons, which may have wavelengths
in the visible spectrum.
• This process is the means by which light
is generated in a cathode ray tube.
Thermoluminescence

• A form of luminescence that is exhibited by certain


crystalline materials, such as some minerals, when
previously absorbed energy from electromagnetic
radiation or other ionizing radiation is re-emitted
as light upon heating of the material.
• The best-known practical use of the method of
light production is the mantle used in some types
of gas lamps.
Electric
discharge

• An electric current that flows through a gas


• In an electric discharge, the electric current
is carried by electrons that have been
removed from the gas atoms, and ions that
are gas atoms with one or more electrons
removed.
• A good example of such a discharge is the
natural phenomenon of lightning.
CLASSIFICATION OF LIGHT SOURCES
• COLOR TEMPERATURE • COLOR RENDERING INDEX
• The term describes the • A measure of how accurately
temperature of objects by light from a source will
which they emit light. reproduce colors.
• When increasing the • Incandescent bulbs have a CRI
temperature of a “black body”, of 100 which is taken as a
it starts to emit visible light in a perfect score.
continuous spectrum.
SHAPE LAMP SIZE

• Light sources vary in shape. • The physical size of the lamp affects the
size of the luminaire and, in turn,
• The three basic shape types determines how some sources might be
used.
are point sources, line
• The number represents the size
sources, and area sources. measured by 1/8” increments
• Each radiates light
differently, thus causing
distinctive effects.
• Letters to describe shape
BALLAST OR OPERATING
TRANSFORMER TEMPERATURE
• Fluorescent lamps are sensitive
In order to operate correctly, many to temperature caused by the
electric light sources require an ambient air.
auxiliary electric device, such as a
transformer or ballast. • If the bulb of the lamp is too
cool or too hot, the lamp will
This device is often physically large give off less light than when
and unattractive and can create an operated at its design
audible hum or buzz when temperature.
operating.
• Most other lamps give off the
Transformers are used to alter the same amount of light at the
service voltage to match the lamp temperatures encountered in
voltage. normal applications.
STARTING, WARMING UP,
OPERATING POSITION AND RESTARTING

Some lamps produce more • Some lamps, especially


light or have longer lamp life
incandescent, start operating
as soon as power is applied.
when operated in specific
positions with respect to
• Other types, especially
discharge lamps, require the
gravity.
lamp to be started by a high
energy pulse.*
Metal halide lamps are • These considerations can
especially sensitive; some dramatically affect design when
versions will not operate unless safety or security might be
in the specified position. compromised by a long
warmup or restart time.
DIMMING
CHARACTERISTICS ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Dimming is the process by • The energy efficiency of a light


which lamps are operated at source is called its efficacy and is
less than full light, often as an measured in lumens per watt.
energy-saving or mood • Low-efficacy lamps, like
creating method. incandescent lamps, are less than
20 lumens per watt.*
• With incandescent lamps,
dimming is simple and
inexpensive, but with other
types, dimming can be
considerably more complex,
and, in some cases, not
advisable.
Produce light by heating filament until it glows Produce light by ionizing a gas through electrical
discharge inside the lamp

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