Heat exchange system

Abstract

A heat exchanger (10) including a hot process stream (14) fluidly connected to an industrial process, a cold process stream (16) fluidly connected to an industrial process, and a membrane distillation system (18). The membrane distillation system (18) includes a vapourising stream (12) comprising a mixture of components, a condensing stream (20), and a membrane (30) located between the vapourising stream (12) and the condensing stream (20). The vapourising stream (12) and condensing stream (20) are in fluid communication through the membrane (30). The membrane (30) facilitates transfer of at least one volatised component of the vapourising stream (12) into the condensing stream (20). The membrane distillation system (18) also includes a first heat transfer area (24) between the hot process stream (14) and the vapourising stream (12). In use, the first heat transfer area (24) facilitates the transfer of a quantity of heat energy from the hot process stream (14) to the vapourising stream (12) to heat the vapourising stream (12). Additionally, the membrane distillation system (18) includes a second heat transfer area (26) between the condensing stream (20) and the cold process stream (16). In use, the second heat transfer area (26) facilitates transfer of a quantity of heat energy from the condensing stream (20) to the cold process stream (16).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.