An Integrated Smart Desalination/Refrigeration System Using PVT Collectors for Enhanced Efficiency

In regions like the Sahara, where solar potential is high and freshwater resources are scarce, leveraging solar energy for seawater desalination and refrigeration offers substantial benefits. This study presents an integrated system combining a Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) desalination unit with an Absorption Refrigeration Machine (ARM), powered by solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors. The system incorporates advanced artificial intelligence models to dynamically adjust operational parameters based on real-time weather conditions and environmental data. These AI-driven adjustments optimize the incidence coefficient (CI), atmospheric mass (m), and Linke turbidity (TL) to maximize solar energy absorption and improve overall system efficiency. This approach not only enhances the ARM’s coefficient of performance (COP) but also demonstrates the significant advantages of smart, integrated energy systems for sustainable resource management.