Membrane block

A membrane block for a humidifier, comprising:

• a plurality of membrane elements stacked one above another in a height direction and oriented transversely to the height direction;
• each membrane element of the plurality of membrane elements including a membrane and a rectangular frame enclosing the membrane, the frame extending along an outer perimeter of the membrane;
• the frame including i) a plurality of first regions disposed opposite one another and ii) a plurality of second regions disposed opposite one another, the plurality of first regions oriented in a first direction extending transversely to the height direction, the plurality of second regions oriented in a second direction extending transversely to the height direction and to the first direction;
• a plurality of flow channels each defined by and between a respective pair of adjacent membrane elements of the plurality of membrane elements, the plurality of flow channels including a plurality of first flow channels and a plurality of second flow channels arranged in an alternating manner in the height direction;
• wherein the plurality of first flow channels are closed in the first direction and conduct a through flow in the second direction;
• wherein the plurality of second flow channels are closed in the second direction and conduct a through flow in the first direction;
• and
• wherein each pair of adjacent membrane elements includes a first membrane element and a second membrane element that are displaced relative to one another in the first direction and/or in the second direction such that i) the plurality of first frame regions of the frame of the first membrane element abut the plurality of first frame regions of the frame of the second membrane element and ii) the plurality of second frame regions of the frame of the first membrane element do not abut the plurality of second frame regions of the frame of the second membrane element to form a respective flow channel of the plurality of flow channels between the first membrane element and the second membrane element.