Research & Development
Annual Report 2018

Seminar: PV Cooling- Increased Efficiency and Longer Life Span
Date: 22nd March 2018
Venue: UTAR Perak Campus, Malaysia

Photovoltaic (PV) panels become hot during operation. This will affect their efficiency. They operate more efficiently if the rear of the panel is cooled. Cooling can be effected using various methods such as natural and forced convection air and water cooling, heat pipes, PCM and thermoelectric. This seminar provided a common forum for Industries, Researchers, Scientists, Engineers and Practitioners to discuss the developments of PV cooling to help in the development and improvement of a Green and Sustainable Technology. This seminar provided a common forum for Industries, Researchers, Scientists, Engineers and Practitioners to discuss the developments of PV cooling to help in the development and improvement of a Green and Sustainable Technology. Participants from various institutions gave the opportunity to present their research findings or latest applications during this full day seminar (as listed in table below). Total 44 participants attended PV cooling seminar including 10 speakers, 23 participants, 5 committee members, 6 student helpers).

The details of speakers and their positions were as follows:

The tentative program was as follows:

Paper presented were as follows:

Session #1

1. Dr. M. H. Tan & Prof. K. S. Ong. (UTAR). PV Cooling with heat pipes and natural convection air.
2. Dr. B. Singh (UiTM). Experimental investigation of natural convection cooling for photovoltaic.
3. Prof. M. H. S. C. Metselaar (UM). Use of phase change materials in PV cooling.
4. A/P Dr. Y. Munusamy (UTAR). Challenges in practical application of phase change material in PV cooling.

Session #2
5. Dr. S. I. Gilani & Mr. V. Jegathesan (UTP). Impact of PV panel’s cooling on its power yield under Malaysian climate.
6. Dr Adnan Ibrahim (UKM). PVT R&D in UKM.
7. Prof. Dr. H Al-Kayiem Hussain (UTP). PVT efficiency enhancement by embedded ground coil.

Session #3
8. Dr. W. B. Ng (UniKL). Photovoltaic Panel with thermosyphon cooling technique.
9. Dr. C. W. Lai & Dr. K. H. Lau. A review of surface modification for enhanced heat transfer performance.
10. Mr. Sakhr M. S., Prof. C. P. Tso & Dr Ervina E. M. N. (MMU). PV cooling technique with a solar water collector.

Group photos

Dr Yap Vooi Voon (Dean of FEGT) Prof Ong Kok Seng (chairman of CEGT and PV cooling Seminar) gave welcome and open speech.