▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Membrane distillation apparatus (100) comprises a housing (101) comprising a hot medium compartment (110) comprising a hot medium inlet and a hot medium outlet, the hot medium inlet configured to receive a hot medium stream comprising water, a cold medium compartment (150) comprising a cold medium inlet and a cold medium outlet, the cold medium inlet configured to receive a cold medium stream, a permeate gap compartment (130) comprising a permeate outlet, the permeate gap compartment intermediate of the hot medium compartment, and the cold medium compartment, a membrane arranged between the hot medium compartment and the permeate gap compartment, the membrane defining multiple pores sized to allow water vapor originating from the hot medium stream to pass from the hot medium compartment through the membrane to the permeate gap compartment, and a thermally conductive plate arranged between the permeate gap compartment and the cold medium compartment. USE - Membrane distillation apparatus (all claimed), for use in water treatment, food, and medical treatment. ADVANTAGE - The apparatus has implemented, can be implemented implementations, can produce suction on the permeate side of the membrane and promote vapor permeation through the membrane and enhance permeate flux and energy efficiency, can induce turbulent dissipation in the distillation zone, and promote mass and heat transfer within the distillate zone. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Membrane distillation apparatus comprises a housing comprising a hot medium compartment comprising a hot medium inlet and a hot medium outlet, the hot medium inlet configured to receive a hot medium stream comprising water, a cold medium compartment comprising a cold medium inlet and a cold medium outlet, the cold medium inlet configured to receive a cold medium stream, a permeated gap compartment comprising a permeated outlet, to permeate gap compartment intermediate of the hot medium compartment, and the cold medium compartment, a membrane arranged between the hot medium compartment and to permeate gap compartment, the membrane defining multiple pores sized to allow water vapor originating from the hot medium stream to pass from the hot medium compartment through the membrane to to permeate gap compartment, and a thermally conductive plate arranged between the permeated gap compartment and the cold medium compartment, the thermally conductive plate and the cold medium stream within the cold medium compartment are cooperatively configured to condense the water vapor from the hot medium compartment that passed through the membrane, where to permeate outlet is configured to discharge the condensed water vapor from the permeated gap compartment, and an impeller arranged within the permeated gap compartment and connected to a rotatable shaft configured to couple to and be rotated by a motor, and the impeller is configured to mix fluid within the permeated gap compartment in response to the rotatable shaft being rotated by the motor. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for: 1. a method, which involves: a. receiving a feed stream comprising water in a hot medium compartment of a membrane distillation apparatus; b. receiving a cold medium stream in a cold medium compartment of the membrane distillation apparatus; c. allowing, by a membrane arranged within the membrane distillation apparatus between the hot medium compartment and to permeate gap compartment, water vapor originating from the feed stream to pass from the hot medium compartment through the membrane to the permeated gap compartment while preventing liquid from passing through the membrane; d. rotating an impeller arrenged within to permeate gap compartment, thereby resulting in mixing fluid within the permeated gap compartment, decreasing pressure on a side of the membrane facing the permeated gap compartment, and promoting heat and mass transfer within the permeated gap compartment; e. condensing, by a thermally conductive plate disposed within the membrane distillation apparatus between the cold medium compartment and the permeate gap compartment, the water vapor from the hot medium compartment that passed through the membrane to form a permeate stream having a water purity level greater than the feed stream; and f. discharging, by a permeate outlet of the permeate gap compartment, the permeate stream from the membrane distillation apparatus, where the membrane distillation apparatus comprises a permeate gap compartment intermediate between the hot medium compartment and the cold medium compartment; and 2. a membrane distillation system, which comprises an apparatus comprising, a housing comprising, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a hot medium compartment spanning from the first end to the second end, the hot medium compartment comprising a hot medium inlet and a hot medium outlet, the hot medium inlet arranged at the first end and configured to receive a hot medium stream comprising water, a cold medium compartment spanning from the first end to the second end, the cold medium compartment comprising a cold medium inlet and a cold medium outlet, the cold medium inlet arranged at the second end and configured to receive a cold medium stream, a permeated gap compartment spanning from the first end to the second end, the permeated gap compartment intermediate between the hot medium compartment and the cold medium compartment, the permeated gap compartment comprising a permeated outlet, a membrane-spanning from the first end to the second end and arranged between the hot medium compartment and the permeated gap compartment, the membrane defining a plurality of pores sized to allow water vapor originating from the hot medium stream to pass from the hot medium compartment through the membrane to the permeated gap compartment, and a thermally conductive plate spanning from the first end to the second end and arranged between the permeated gap compartment and the cold medium compartment, the thermally conductive plate and the cold medium stream within the cold medium compartment cooperatively configured to condense the water vapor from the hot medium compartment that passed through the membrane, where to permeate outlet is configured to discharge the condensed water vapor from to permeate gap compartment, and an impeller arranged within to permeate gap compartment and connected to a rotatable shaft, where the impeller is configured to mix fluid within to permeate gap compartment in response to the rotatable shaft being rotated, and a motor coupled to the rotatable shaft, the motor configured to rotate the rotatable shaft in response to receiving power. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view of the membrane distillation apparatus. Apparatus (100) Housing (101) Hot medium compartment (110) Permeate gap compartment (130) Cold medium compartment (150)