Hollow fiber membrane modules for use in distillation systems

A membrane module comprising:

• a housing;
• a first chamber disposed within the housing;
• a second chamber disposed within the housing;
• a conduit interconnecting the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the first chamber, the second chamber, and the conduit are configured to provide flow paths for a feed solution flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber via the conduit;
• and
• a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber, and having inner hollow regions configured to provide flow paths for a distillate fluid, the plurality of hollow fiber membranes having first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, wherein the first segments are configured to allow transmission of distillate fluid vapor therethrough and the second segments are configured to substantially prevent transmission of distillate fluid vapor therethrough while allowing transmission of thermal energy therethrough.

A system for separating a distillate fluid from a feed solution, the system comprising:

• a feed loop for providing a supply of the feed solution;
• a distillate loop for providing a supply of the distillate fluid;
• at least one membrane module comprising:
• a housing;
• a first chamber disposed within the housing;
• a second chamber disposed within the housing;
• a conduit for permitting flow of the feed solution from the first chamber to the second chamber;
• and
• a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber, the plurality of hollow fiber membranes separating the at least one membrane module into a shell side and a tube side, wherein the shell side is in fluid communication with the feed loop and the tube side is in fluid communication with the distillate loop, and wherein at least one of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprises:
• a first segment located within the first chamber and being configured to allow transmission of distillate fluid vapor from the shell side to the tube side;
• and
• a second segment located within the second chamber and configured to substantially prevent transmission of distillate fluid vapor from the shell side to the tube side, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy between the tube side and the shell side.