Abstract: An apparatus for desalinating sea water, comprising a distillation unit which includes a porous hydrophobic membrane which is pervious to steam but impervious to water, and a condensation surface arranged at a distance from the membrane, the distillation arrangement also including a first unit for heating and conducting the water to be distilled on one side of the membrane, and a second unit arranged to conduct a liquid which is colder than the water, on the side of the condensation surface remote from the membrane, distilled water being collected and drawn-off between the membrane and the condensation surface.

Abstract: A system for diaphragm distillation of a liquid, for example for desalination of salt water, comprising a diaphragm, through which vapor, but not liquid can pass, and a condensation surface for condensing vapor having passed through the diaphragm, and necessary passageways. According to the invention, the system comprises one or several units, each of which comprises a plurality of pipes located one within the other, viz. a first (1) inner pipe, a second (2) pipe located outside thereof and consisting of a diaphragm of the aforesaid kind, and a third (3) pipe located outside the second (2) pipe, which first (1) and third (3) pipes are of a gas-tight material, that said unit is surrounded by a fourth (4) gas-tight pipe, where a first (5) passageway is formed by the first (1) pipe and a second (6), a third (7) and a fourth (8) passageway are formed between said pipes (1,2;2,3;3,4) in successive order in the direction from the inside outward.