Systems including a condensing apparatus such as a bubble column condenser

A desalination system, comprising:

• a humidifier comprising a humidifier liquid inlet fluidly connected to a source of salt-containing water, a humidifier gas inlet fluidly connected to a source of a gas, and a humidifier outlet, wherein the humidifier is configured to produce a vapor-containing humidifier outlet stream enriched in water vapor relative to the gas received from the humidifier gas inlet;
• a bubble column condenser comprising a condenser inlet fluidly connected to the humidifier outlet, a condenser gas outlet, and a condenser water outlet, wherein the bubble column condenser is configured to remove at least a portion of the water vapor from the humidifier outlet stream to produce a condenser gas outlet stream lean in water relative to the humidifier outlet stream and a condenser water outlet stream;
• and
• a heat exchanger separate from the bubble column condenser and fluidly connected to the condenser water outlet, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from the condenser water outlet stream to produce a heat exchanger outlet stream.