The College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad held the public defense of the Master’s thesis presented by) Enas Hamza Hilal( from the Department of Energy Engineering. Her thesis, entitled “Investigation of Heat Losses in Flat-Plate Solar Collectors under Different Design and Climatic Parameters,” was discussed on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Dr. Munther Al-Droubi Hall, under the supervision of Prof. Hussein Mohammed Taqi.
The thesis aimed to develop a mathematical model to evaluate the impact of key climatic factors on the thermal and electrical performance of photovoltaic systems. It analyzed heat loss mechanisms and power generation, and compared system performance with and without a glass cover.
The study included an assessment of the thermal and electrical performance of photovoltaic systems under various climatic conditions. A thermal network model was implemented using MATLAB to simulate system behavior. The results showed that ambient temperature is the most influential factor affecting system power output, followed by relative humidity and wind speed. Although the glass cover reduces thermal losses, it increases the cell temperature and consequently decreases electrical power output.
The thesis concluded with several recommendations, most notably:
- Designing and evaluating smart or adaptive glass covers capable of regulating thermal insulation according to climatic conditions, in order to minimize losses at high temperatures and preserve heat in colder environments.
- Investigating the integration of guided airflow channels or rear-ventilation systems to enhance cooling in glass-covered systems.
- Analyzing the effect of different types of glass covers, including anti-reflective coated glass, on the performance of photovoltaic systems.
Following the scientific discussion by the examination committee members, and after reviewing the candidate’s defense and evaluating the thesis, the researcher was awarded the Master’s degree in )Energy Engineering with A Good grade).
