System for desalinating water with multiple desalination processes

Abstract

A system for water desalination includes a membrane module and an ejector module. The membrane module includes a feed tank for salt water, a heater, a humidifier receiving heated salt water and a carrier gas to form a wet gas, and a membrane distillation unit. The membrane distillation unit includes a feed chamber, a membrane, and a permeate chamber with a sweeping gas inlet. The membrane allows water vapor to pass from the feed chamber to the permeate chamber. The ejector module includes an ejector and a bubble column dehumidifier. The ejector has first and second inlets for primary and secondary fluid streams, respectively, creating a mixed stream. The bubble column dehumidifier receives the mixed stream to produce fresh water. The second inlet of the ejector receives both wet gas from the humidifier and sweeping gas from the permeate chamber as the secondary fluid stream.