Membrane distillation module and multi-effect process

A distillation system for generating a distillate, the system comprising:

• a first distillation module that receives a hot feed at an evaporation part;
• intermediate distillation modules that receive the hot feed from the first distillation module;
• and
• a last distillation module that receives the hot feed from the intermediate distillation modules,
• wherein at least the first distillation module uses an output feed of the evaporation part as a coolant for a condensation part of the first distillation module, and
• wherein the intermediate distillation module comprises:
• a housing having first and second adjacent chambers, with no liquid communication between the first and second chambers, the first chamber having a hot inlet for receiving the hot feed and a hot outlet for expelling the hot feed, and the second chamber is configured to collect a distillate formed on a non-porous conduit;
• a porous membrane located inside the housing and having an outside surface that defines an enclosure, the outside surface being configured to contact the hot feed, wherein the porous membrane is configured to prevent the hot feed from passing from outside the porous membrane to an inside of the enclosure;
• and
• the non-porous conduit located inside the enclosure, the non-porous conduit having a side surface, an inlet for receiving a cold feed and an outlet for expelling the cold feed, the inlet and the outlet being located outside the first chamber,
• wherein an entirety of the side surface of the non-porous conduit is separated from the porous membrane by an air gap, and
• wherein each of the porous membrane and the non-porous conduit partially extends within the first chamber and partially extends within the second chamber.