Membrane　distillation　(MD)　is　an　attractive　desalination　technology　for　treating　high　salt　concentration　water/wastewater.　Nonetheless,　developing　membrane　modules　with　high　flux　and　fouling　resistance　but　low　energy　consumption　for　industrial　application　remains　a　critical　challenge.　In　this　work,　a　novel　vacuum　membrane　distillation　(VMD)　module　with　a　central　perforated　tube　was　developed.　The　variation　of　vapor　pressure　on　the　shell　side　was　monitored　to　analyze　the　relationship　between　the　mass　transfer　driving　force　and　the　permeate　flux.　The　energy　consumption　of　each　piece　of　equipment　in　the　VMD　device　was　evaluated.　The　heater,　chiller,　and　vacuum　pump　consumed　about　1/3　of　the　total　energy　for　the　VMD　system.　The　central　perforated　tube　suction　decreased　the　mean　vapor　pressure　better　than　the　shell　suction.　Double　suction　enabled　more　uniform　pressure　distribution　on　the　shell　side.　The　permeate　flux　under　double　suction　was　50–70　%　higher　than　that　under　single　suction.　Consequently,　the　optimal　length,　packing　fraction,　and　suction　mode　were　proposed　based　on　energy　saving.　Our　results　that　include　the　first　report　on　the　generation　of　superheated　vapor　in　VMD　can　guide　engineers　in　designing　the　relevant　modules　and　system　scale-up　and　process　optimization　for　industrial　applications.　©　2022