The researcher's focus is centered on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Their work encompasses several critical areas: 1. **Photovoltaic Optimization Techniques**: The researcher has conducted extensive research on polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon modules, exploring their structures' effects on performance and degradation. 2. **Solar Cell Materials and Integration**: Their studies delve into materials like c-Si solar cells and the role of soldering in connecting these components, ensuring seamless integration for optimal functionality. 3. **Soldering Technologies**: The researcher investigates advanced soldering processes, such as lead-free sponging and Taguchi optimization, to mitigate issues like joint integrity, which are crucial for PV system reliability. 4. **Thermal Cycling and Environmental Impact**: Their work examines how environmental factors influence solar cell performance, focusing on thermal behavior under cycling conditions and the role of materials like bricks in energy-efficient building envelopes. 5. **Energy Efficiency Challenges**: The researcher analyzes the energy impacts of integrating various technologies into the power grid, particularly highlighting the need for adaptive strategies in hot-humid climates. In summary, the researcher's work is comprehensive, concentrating on improving solar PV system design and performance, with a strong emphasis on module structures, soldering, thermal management, environmental interactions, and grid integration.
Faculty Biography
Gabriel Takyi is a Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST). He has a BEng (Hons) degree in Manufacturing Engineering, MSc in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and PhD in Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly at the University of Salford, Manchester, UK. He worked as a Research Engineer at Nortel Technology (Harlow, Essex, UK) where he developed a plasma etching/cleaning solution for fluxless soldering and also a Senior Development Engineer at JDS Uniphase, Plymouth, UK where he was involved in the characterization and assembly of 980 and 1440 nm pump laser devices used in the optoelectronics industry. His main research interests are in renewable energy systems and electronics manufacturing and assembly processes. He was the Principal Investigator of USAID, PEER Science Project on the Reliability and Performance Evaluation of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) modules due to solder joint degradation and other effects in the Sub-saharan Africa region.He was the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, KNUST and the Director of The Brew-Hammond Energy Centre (TBHEC), KNUST. He worked as a consultant on the curriculum development and validation of the Postgraduate Programmes in Energy that led to the establishment of the PAN African University (PAU) in Energy, an initiative of the African Union. He currently teaches courses such as small hydropower, clean energy technology, alternative and renewable energy technology as well as analysis of manufacturing processes at the postgraduate level and basic mechanics, maintenance engineering, mechanical engineering materials and manufacturing technology at the undergraduate level.
Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions
Advanced Sensor Technologies Research
Electronic Packaging and Soldering Technologies
Energy and Environment Impacts
Hygrothermal properties of building materials
Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials
Islanding Detection in Power Systems
Metal and Thin Film Mechanics
Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques
Silicon and Solar Cell Technologies
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology