Membrane heat and mass exchanger and methods of manufacture

An energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system comprising:

• a housing;
• a heat and mass exchange (HMX) device contained within the housing, the HMX device comprising:
• a plurality of membranes arranged in a stack, wherein:
• adjacent ones of the plurality of membranes are separated by an airflow channel;
• the plurality of membranes comprise at least a first membrane and a second membrane over the first membrane;
• the first membrane comprises an array of support structures integrated on the first membrane;
• and
• the array of support structures each comprises an adhesive material that is bonded to the first membrane and extends to the second membrane;
• and
• an air circulation system coupled to the HMX device such that air is circulated in a first direction through a first subarray of airflow channels, and in a second direction through a second subarray of airflow channels, wherein the first subarray is interleaved with the second subarray.

A method for making a heat and mass exchange device, comprising:

• receiving a heat and mass exchange (HMX) core stack, wherein the HMX core stack comprises a first membrane on the top of the core stack, the first membrane has a first surface over a second surface, the second surface bonded to a first layer of an adhesive material;
• depositing a second layer of the adhesive material in a support structure array pattern on the first surface to form a plurality of support structures on the first surface;
• and
• stacking a second membrane over the first membrane, wherein a third surface of the second membrane is opposite the first surface and is tacked onto the second layer of adhesive material, and the second membrane is at a first z-height over the first membrane.