Air handling unit mixing method and system

Abstract

A mixing chamber for an air handling unit having a first inlet, second inlet and an outlet. The first inlet receives a first air stream. The second inlet to receives a second air stream. The outlet discharges a mixed airflow. The first inlet includes a first damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the first air stream and the second inlet includes a second damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the second air stream. The mixing chamber also includes a control arrangement to control operation of the first and second damper. The control arrangement is configured to independently open and close each of the first and second dampers to regulate airflow into the mixing chamber.

1 . A mixing chamber for an air handling unit, the mixing chamber comprising: 
 a first inlet to receive a first air stream;    a second inlet to receive a second air stream;    an outlet to discharge a mixed airflow;    the first inlet comprising a first damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the first air stream;    the second inlet comprising a second damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the second air stream; and    a control arrangement to control operation of the first and second damper, the control arrangement being configured to independently open and close each of the first and second damper to regulate airflow into the mixing chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The mixing chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the first air stream comprises outdoor air.  
   
   
       3 . The mixing chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the second air stream comprises indoor air.  
   
   
       4 . The mixing chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the mixed airflow has a substantially uniform temperature.  
   
   
       5 . The mixing chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the control arrangement further includes a sensor to sense a condition selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, pollution concentration and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The mixing chamber of  claim 5 , wherein the condition is sensed in one or both the first air stream and the second air stream and the control arrangement is configured to open or close one or both of the first and second dampers in response to the sensed condition.  
   
   
       7 . The mixing chamber of  claim 6 , wherein the control device is configured to position the first damper and the second damper to obtain a predetermined mix of airflow condition.  
   
   
       8 . An air handling unit comprising: 
 a mixing chamber comprising 
 a first inlet to receive a first air stream;  
 a second inlet to receive a second air stream;  
 an outlet to discharge a mixed airflow;  
 the first inlet comprising a first damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the first air stream;  
 the second inlet comprising a second damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the second air stream;  
   an air moving device; and    a control device configured to independently operate each of the first and second damper to open and close each of the first and second damper to regulate airflow into the mixing chamber.    
   
   
       9 . The air handling unit of  claim 8 , wherein the first air stream comprises outdoor air.  
   
   
       10 . The air handling unit of  claim 8 , wherein the second air stream comprises indoor air.  
   
   
       11 . The air handling unit of  claim 8 , wherein the mixed airflow has a substantially uniform temperature.  
   
   
       12 . The air handling unit of  claim 8 , wherein the control device further includes a sensor to sense a condition selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, pollution concentration and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The air handling unit of  claim 12 , wherein the condition is sensed in one or both the first air stream and the second air stream and the control device is configured to open or close one or both of the first and second dampers in response to the sensed condition.  
   
   
       14 . The air handling unit of  claim 13 , wherein the control device is configured to position the first damper and the second damper to obtain a predetermined mix of airflow condition.  
   
   
       15 . A method for mixing air in an air handling unit comprising: 
 providing a mixing chamber comprising 
 a first inlet to receive a first air stream;  
 a second inlet to receive a second air stream;  
 an outlet to discharge a mixed airflow;  
 the first inlet comprising a first damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the first air stream;  
 the second inlet comprising a second damper having an opposed blade configuration for controlling the flow of the second air stream;  
   sensing an air stream condition; and    operating each of the first damper and second damper between an open position and a closed position to regulate airflow into the mixing space to provide a predetermined mix of airflow condition in response to the sensed condition.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first air stream comprises outdoor air.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second air stream comprises indoor air.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mixed airflow has a substantially uniform temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the air stream condition sensed is a condition selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, particulate concentration, pollution concentration and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the condition is a condition of one or both the first air stream and the second air stream.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first damper in positioned into a closed position and the second damper is positioned into an open position in response to an undesirable condition sensed in the first air stream.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first damper is positioned into a closed position and the second damper is positioned into an open position in response to an desirable condition sensed in the first air stream.