Automatic design system of optimal sunlight-guiding micro prism based on genetic algorithm

Abstract

Sunlight-guiding micro prism, one of the daylighting systems, can redirect the sunlight into the room to increase indoor daylighting. However, this passive system still has limitations; it cannot accommodate the sun's movement and might produce unwanted glare. An automatic design process is proposed to generate an optimal prism based on the user's location. It uses Python to connect genetic algorithms, 3D computer-aided design, optical simulation software, and image-processed related technology for generating geometric parameter sets, modeling, optical simulation, and data evaluation. The optimal triangular sunlight-guiding prism calculated by the light-guiding fitness function for a 24° north latitude location has 100% light-guiding efficiency at 35°–65° solar elevation angle and has more than 90% at 20° and 70°. It shows that the proposed automatic design process could provide the customized optimal design of the sunlight-guiding prism with a widely applicable solar elevation angle range based on the user's building condition.

Keywords

• Sunlight-guiding structure
• Genetic algorithm
• Daylighting system
• Micro prism
• Optical analysis