The College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad addressed the challenge of solar energy intermittency due to the periodic and fluctuating nature of solar radiation, which poses difficulties in ensuring a stable and efficient thermal supply during nighttime or low-radiation periods.
The college held the public defense of Master’s student Anwar Hassan Hussein from the Department of Energy Engineering for her thesis entitled: “Experimental Performance Evaluation of Solar Thermal Collector with Latent Heat Storage” on Tuesday, 02/09/2025, at the Professor Mahdi Hantoush Hall, under the supervision of Mr. Hussein Mohammed Taqi.
The thesis aimed to provide an innovative practical solution by integrating phase change materials (PCM) into flat-plate solar collectors. Two identical systems were fabricated, each containing paraffin wax with different melting points, and experimentally tested under actual climatic conditions in Baghdad with varying water flow rates covering both laminar and turbulent flow regimes.
The study also evaluated the charging, melting, and discharging characteristics of the paraffin wax during daytime and nighttime to provide new insights into the interaction between PCM behavior and flow conditions.
The thesis concluded with several recommendations, including:
- Conducting annual tests under different climatic conditions to evaluate the long-term efficiency and reliability of the system.
- Integrating high thermal conductivity media or nanomaterials with paraffin wax to enhance heat transfer rates and storage efficiency.
- Using CFD numerical modeling to study heat transfer mechanisms and predict the optimal design of solar collectors integrated with PCM.
This research activity supports one of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, by developing practical solutions for a renewable and efficient thermal energy source.
Following the scientific discussion by the committee members, reviewing the defense, and evaluating the thesis, the student was awarded a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering with distinction (Excellent).
