Sustainable solar desalination using an inclined solar still: Experimental investigation and hybrid
                    GA
                    ‐machine learning optimization

Manoj Kumar Shanmugam; Arunkumar Munimathan

doi:10.1002/ep.70448

journal article Mar 30, 2026

Sustainable solar desalination using an inclined solar still: Experimental investigation and hybrid GA ‐machine learning optimization

Manoj Kumar Shanmugam

Arunkumar Munimathan

Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/ep.70448

Abstract

Abstract

Solar desalination is a technology that demonstrates an environmental innocuous method of freshwater generation in water‐stressed areas; however, the application of the technology is limited by low thermal efficiency and unpredictable performance in different climatic conditions. This paper presents an experimental study of a inclined solar still, which has been complemented with a phase‐change material (PCM) and optimized using a hybrid Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithm. Design and operating variables, such as the angle of the glass cover, the depth of the water in the basin, and the temperature of the glass surface were all optimized to achieve maximum thermal efficiency as well as to achieve maximum distillate yield. It was experimentally shown that the optimized configuration achieved a peak thermal efficiency of about 44%, and the highest freshwater yield of 4.9 L m
−2
day
−1
. The combined GA‐ML approach, in turn, will optimize the usage of energy and predictability of its operations, which in turn facilitates the evolution of smart and low‐emission solar desalination systems allowing it to be used in decentralized and off‐grid water‐supply systems.

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Published: Mar 30, 2026
License: View

Authors

M

Manoj Kumar Shanmugam

Department of Mechatronics Engineering Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology Coimbatore Tamil Nadu India

A

Arunkumar Munimathan

Department of Mechatronics Engineering Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology Coimbatore Tamil Nadu India

Cite This Article

Manoj Kumar Shanmugam, Arunkumar Munimathan (2026). Sustainable solar desalination using an inclined solar still: Experimental investigation and hybrid GA ‐machine learning optimization. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.70448

Sustainable solar desalination using an inclined solar still: Experimental investigation and hybrid GA ‐machine learning optimization

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