Utilization of Data-Driven Methods in Solar Desalination Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Renewable energy sources have been used for desalination by employing different technologies and mediums due to the limitations of fossil fuels and the environmental issues related to their consumption. Solar energy is one of the most applicable types of renewable sources for desalination in both direct and indirect ways. The performance of solar desalination is under effects of different factors which makes their performance prediction difficult in some cases. In this regard, data-driven methods such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) would be proper tools for their modeling and output forecasting. In the present article, a comprehensive review is provided on the applications of different data-driven approaches in performance modeling of solar-based desalination units. It can be concluded that by employing these methods with proper inputs and structures, the outputs of the solar desalination units can be reliably and accurately forecasted. In addition, several recommendations are produced for the upcoming work in the relevant areas of the study.