Whole building air ventilation and pressure equalization system air mixer with dampers

Abstract

A whole building ventilation system mixing box that mixes exterior air with air from within the building, having one or more exterior air inputs, on or more interior air inputs with one or more mixed air outputs that re-circulates the mixed air to a whole building HVAC system having one or more ventilation fans. The whole building ventilation system mixing box being open to circulation and mixes the return air from the interior air input with the exterior air whether or not the exhaust fan is on so as to equalize pressure between the interior and exterior of the building. In addition a method of sizing a whole building ventilation system mixer box for mixing exterior air from outside the building with interior air from within a building is provided and includes the steps of determining a value one or more variables related to a building or the air around the building then constructing a whole building mixer box with an at least one damper therein that allows operation without the concomitant operation of an intake fan so as to equalize air pressure within the building to ambient outside pressure, then coupling, adjusting, operating the HVAC device to move air and drawing in cooled or heated air and equalizing the air pressure in the building with the addition of exterior air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A whole building ventilation system mixing box mixing exterior air with air from within the building, comprising:
 an at least one exterior air input;   an at least one interior air input;   an at least one mixed air output that re-circulates the mixed air to a whole building HVAC system having an at least one ventilation fan, wherein the whole building ventilation system mixing box is open to circulation and mixes the return air from the at least one interior air input with the exterior air whether or not the exhaust fan is on so as to equalize pressure between the interior and exterior of the building.   
     
     
         2 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an at least one damper, wherein the amount of air admitted by the exterior air input is adjusted based on an at least on variable within the building. 
     
     
         3 . The whole house ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one variable is based on at least one of square footage, number of occupants, exhaust flow from non-HVAC sources, and special environmental needs for the building. 
     
     
         4 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one damper is set to be at least partially opened during normal operation at all times. 
     
     
         5 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one damper is set to be substantially open during normal operation. 
     
     
         6 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an at least one deflector to promote mixing of the air from the at least one interior input with the air from the at least one exterior input before moving the air through the outlet to the HVAC system. 
     
     
         7 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one exterior input is a single exterior input and the at least one interior input is single interior input. 
     
     
         8 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one exterior air input, the at least one interior air input and the at least one air output have a diameters of between about 2 inches and about 12 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one exterior air input, has a diameter of between about  6  inches and about 7 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one interior air input has a diameter of between about  4  inches and about 5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The whole building ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air output have a diameter of between 7 inches and 8 inches. 
     
     
         12 . A method of sizing a whole building ventilation system mixer box for mixing exterior air from outside the building with interior air from within a building, comprising:
 determining a value for an at least one variable related to a building or the air around the building;   constructing a whole building mixer box comprising at least one outside air input, at least one inside air input, and an outlet returning air to the building with an at least one damper therein that allows operation without the concomitant operation of an intake fan so as to equalize air pressure within the building to ambient outside pressure;   coupling said mixer box to an HVAC device that is further coupled to an air vent system for the whole building;   adjusting an inlet of the mixer box with a damper to vary the volume admitted through to the mixer box;   operating the HVAC device to move air; and   drawing in cooled or heated air and equalizing the air pressure in the building with the addition of exterior air.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of determining a value for an at least one variable further comprises determining a value based on at least one square footage, number of occupants, exhaust flow from non-HVAC sources, and special needs such as electronics within the building. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of constructing a whole building mixer box further comprises constructing a box having the at least one outside air input, the at least one inside air input, the outlet returning air to the building having diameters of between about 2 inches and about 12 inches based on the determined value for the at least one variable related to the building. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one exterior air input has a diameter of between about 6 inches and about 7 inches and the at least one interior air input has a diameter of between about 4 inches and about 5 inches and the at least one air output has a diameter of between 7 inches and 8 inches.