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Multi-Objective Design Optimization and Experimental Investigation of a Low-Cost Solar Desalination System Under Al Qassim Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Bilel Najlaoui

    (Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, National Engineering School of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5019, Tunisia)

  • Abdullah Alghafis

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraida 51452, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hussain Sadig

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraida 51452, Saudi Arabia)

  • Eihab A. Raouf

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraida 51452, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohamed Alobaidi Hassen

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraida 51452, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Water is one of humanity’s most fundamental needs. The demand for freshwater rises in tandem with population expansion. Only 0.01 percent of freshwater is available as surface water in lakes, wetlands, and rivers. As a result, the only choice is to extract water from the oceans. Desalination is an effective option for this. This study focused on the multi-objective design optimization, fabrication, and thermal evaluation of an integrated desalination system combining a solar still with a flat plate collector (SS-FPC). The study investigated the trade-off between two competing objectives: maximizing the efficiency of the SS-FPC system while minimizing its total cost. A numerical code is written in MATLAB to simulate the influence of changing design parameters (DPs) on the SS-FPC performances. The optimal SS-FPC design, offering low costs and a high thermal efficiency, was identified using the multi-objective colonial competitive algorithm (MOCCA). This design was subsequently fabricated and experimentally evaluated under the climatic conditions of Unaizah in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The optimal numerical results were compared with both the literature values and experimental measurements. The comparison revealed strong agreement with the experimental data, with a maximum relative error of 4%. Moreover, the obtained results indicate that the optimized SS-FPC design is capable of achieving a 31% increase in efficiency and a 49% reduction in total cost relative to those reported in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Bilel Najlaoui & Abdullah Alghafis & Hussain Sadig & Eihab A. Raouf & Mohamed Alobaidi Hassen, 2025. "Multi-Objective Design Optimization and Experimental Investigation of a Low-Cost Solar Desalination System Under Al Qassim Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-24, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1771-:d:1595202
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ganjehkaviri, A. & Mohd Jaafar, M.N., 2020. "Multi-objective particle swarm optimization of flat plate solar collector using constructal theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    2. Muhannad Alaraj & Ibrahim Alsaidan & Astitva Kumar & Mohammad Rizwan & Majid Jamil, 2023. "Advanced Intelligent Approach for Solar PV Power Forecasting Using Meteorological Parameters for Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Mostafa AbdEl-Rady Abu-Zeid & Yasser Elhenawy & Monica Toderaș & Mohamed Bassyouni & Thokozani Majozi & Osama A. Al-Qabandi & Sameh Said Kishk, 2024. "Performance Enhancement of Solar Still Unit Using v-Corrugated Basin, Internal Reflecting Mirror, Flat-Plate Solar Collector and Nanofluids," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-23, January.
    4. Pazouki, Ehsan, 2021. "A practical surface irrigation system design based on volume balance model and multi-objective evolutionary optimization algorithms," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    5. Om Prakash & Asim Ahmad & Anil Kumar & Rajeshwari Chatterjee & Somnath Chattopadhyaya & Shubham Sharma & Aman Sharma & Changhe Li & Elsayed Mohamed Tag Eldin, 2022. "Performance Analysis, and Economic-Feasibility Evaluation of Single-Slope Single-Basin Domestic Solar Still under Different Water-Depths," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-15, November.
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