Skylight Shade Element for High Angle Sunlight Occlusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Roof-mounted skylights produce excessive heat and light at high sun angles, negatively impacting energy performance and occupant comfort, and existing solutions require frequent adjustments or are costly.
Innovation Solution
A skylight shade device with a centrally positioned shade element, supported by a structure such as a wire mesh security screen or metal arm, that occludes high angle sunlight without blocking low angle sunlight, creating a daily 'eclipse' effect to manage solar gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a shade screen is installed to reduce excess solar heat gain, then energy performance is improved, but the device requires frequent installation and removal or costly mechanical operation
Solution Approach 1:
The shade element is pre-positioned above the skylight dome at a specific height and orientation, configured in advance to automatically shade high-angle sunlight without requiring any operational intervention. The preliminary positioning ensures the shade element is ready to function immediately upon installation, eliminating the need for daily adjustments or mechanical operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade element utilizes the natural movement of the sun across the sky to automatically provide shading during high sun angle periods. The fixed positioning and orientation of the shade element allow it to self-regulate based on solar position, creating a passive shading system that requires no external control or manual operation.
2Loss of energy
If a shade screen is used to block high angle sunlight, then excess heat is reduced, but the device becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential shading function from complex mechanical shade screen systems. By using a simple, fixed shade element positioned above the skylight dome, the design eliminates unnecessary mechanical components, motors, and control systems, retaining only the core function of blocking high-angle sunlight.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade element is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily installed and removed without requiring costly mechanical systems. The basic geometric shape and straightforward positioning mechanism make the shade element economically viable compared to complex automated shade screens.
3Temperature
If a shade element is positioned to block high angle sunlight, then thermal heat is minimized, but the shade element may occlude low angle sunlight
Solution Approach 1:
The shade element is designed with specific geometric properties including its size, shape, and positioning relative to the skylight dome. These local characteristics are optimized to create different shading effects for different sun angles: blocking high-angle sunlight while preserving low-angle light transmission. The specific dimensions and orientation of the shade element ensure selective shading based on solar position.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional shade screen to a three-dimensional shade element positioned above the skylight dome. This vertical positioning and geometric configuration creates spatial separation between the shading function and the skylight aperture, allowing the shade element to selectively block high-angle sunlight from above while maintaining low-angle light entry paths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The skylight shade device effectively reduces excess solar heat and light during high sun angles, enhancing energy performance and occupant comfort without requiring daily adjustments or mechanical operation, and can be applied to various skylight types and materials.
Implementation Method 1
a shade element positioned to occlude at least a portion of high angle sunlight through the skylight dome
Data Source
AI summary
A skylight shade device includes a skylight having a skylight dome and a shade element. A surface area of the shade element is smaller than the surface area of the skylight dome and positioned generally centrally within the surface area of the skylight dome to occlude at least a portion of high angle sunlight through the skylight dome without occluding low angle sunlight through the skylight dome.