Hollow fiber membrane modules for use in distillation systems

1. A membrane module comprising:

an outer casing having an interior region;

a seal disposed within the outer case, thereby dividing a portion of the interior region into a first chamber and a second chamber;

an inlet opening extending through the outer casing at the first chamber;

an outlet opening extending through the outer casing at the second chamber;

a conduit interconnecting the first chamber and the second chamber to permit flow of a 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, and having inner hollow regions configured to provide flow paths for a distillate fluid, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes have first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, the first segments being configured to allow vapor transmission from the first chamber into the inner hollow regions, and the second segments being configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission between the second chamber and the inner hollow regions, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy therethrough.

2. The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the first segments and the second segments of at least one of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprise a microporous membrane wall, and wherein the second segment further comprises a polymeric coating disposed on the microporous membrane wall to block transmission of gas and vapor.

3. The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane wall is formed from at least one polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyetheretherketones, polyimides, polyphenylene sulfides, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polyvinylidene difluorides, and combinations thereof.

4. The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is configured to receive a feed solution from a feed solution loop and the outlet opening is configured to output a distilled feed solution to the feed solution loop.

5. The membrane module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third chamber disposed adjacent to the first chamber, the third chamber being in fluid communication with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; and

a fourth chamber disposed adjacent to the second chamber, the fourth chamber also being in fluid communication with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes.

6. The membrane module of claim 1 , further comprising at least one baffle disposed in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

7. The membrane module of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of baffles disposed in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

8. The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber has a length ranging from about 13 centimeters to about 76 centimeters, and a diameter ranging from about 3 centimeters to about 41 centimeters.

9. A membrane module comprising:

a housing;

a first chamber disposed within the housing, and having a feed solution inlet;

a second chamber disposed within the housing, and having an outlet for the feed solution;

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 to a distillate outlet, 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 prevent transmission of distillate fluid vapor therethrough while allowing transmission of thermal energy therethrough.

10. The membrane module of claim 9 , wherein the first segments and the second segments of at least one of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprise a microporous membrane wall, and wherein the second segment further comprises a polymeric coating disposed on the microporous membrane wall to block transmission of gas and vapor.

11. The membrane module of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of baffles disposed in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber, the plurality of baffles being configured to at least partially direct the flow paths of the feed solution.

12. The membrane module of claim 11 , wherein at least a first of the plurality of baffles has an axially-centric opening, and wherein at least a second of the plurality of baffles has a non-axially centric opening.

13. The membrane module of claim 9 , further comprising at least one seal separating the first chamber from the second chamber.

14. 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.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the feed loop comprises a heat exchanger configured to heat the feed solution to a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to less than 100° C.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the distillate loop comprises a heat exchanger configured to cool the distillate fluid to a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 50° C.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first segment and the second segment comprise a microporous membrane wall, and wherein the second segment further comprises a polymeric coating disposed on the microporous membrane wall to block transmission of gas and vapor.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the microporous membrane wall is formed from at least one polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyetheretherketones, polyimides, polyphenylene sulfides, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polyvinylidene difluorides, and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the membrane module further comprises at least one baffle disposed in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber has a length ranging from about 13 centimeters to about 76 centimeters, and a diameter ranging from about 3 centimeters to about 41 centimeters.