Air handler devices with u-bend design

Abstract

Architectures and techniques are presented that can facilitate improved design and function of certain air handler devices. Architectures directed to an improved air handler device can be designed to improve temperature control demands such as, e.g., concurrently heat and cool air and reducing device dimensions (e.g., size, weight) that can reduce costs and mitigate shipping and installation difficulties. Architectures directed to U-bend structures can further reduce footprint on leasable space and provide improved acoustics, service access, and reduced energy consumption and infrastructure costs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air handler device, comprising:
 a first plenum configured to receive an intake flow;   a second plenum configured to discharge a supply flow;   a fluid moving device configured to move fluid between the first plenum and the second plenum; and   a fluid flow path defined by a U-shaped structure that connects the first plenum and the second plenum, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises:
 a first channel that extends from the first plenum in a first direction; and 
 a second channel that extends to the second plenum in a second direction different from the first direction, 
 wherein the U-shaped structure is configured to mix the intake flow during transit from the first plenum to the second plenum. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air handler device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plenum and the second plenum intersect a plenum plane comprising at least one of a ceiling plane or a floor plane, and the first direction or the second direction of the U-shaped structure is substantially perpendicular to the plenum plane. 
     
     
         3 . The air handler device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plenum comprises multiple intake devices configured to receive respective portions of the intake flow from respective different directions. 
     
     
         4 . The air handler device of  claim 1 , wherein the second plenum comprises multiple discharge devices configured to discharge respective portions of the supply flow in respective different directions. 
     
     
         5 . The air handler device of  claim 4 , wherein the multiple discharge devices comprise respective thermal transfer units comprising a first thermal transfer unit configured to control a first temperature of a first supply flow and a second thermal transfer unit configured to control a second temperature of a second supply flow. 
     
     
         6 . The air handler device of  claim 5 , wherein the first thermal transfer unit and the second thermal transfer unit are independently controllable such that the first temperature concurrently differs from the second temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The air handler device of  claim 5 , wherein the respective thermal transfer units are independently controllable to perform one of a group of thermal transfer operations, comprising a heating operation that heats an associated supply flow, a cooling operation that cools the associated supply flow, or a neutral operation that does not affect the temperature of the associated supply flow. 
     
     
         8 . The air handler device of  claim 7 , wherein the first thermal transfer unit performs a first one of the group of thermal transfer operations concurrently with the second thermal transfer unit performing a second one, different than the first one, of the group of thermal transfer units. 
     
     
         9 . An air handler device, comprising:
 a first plenum configured to receive an intake flow;   a second plenum configured to discharge a supply flow;   a fan device configured to move air between the first plenum and the second plenum; and   an air flow path defined by a U-shaped structure that connects the first plenum and the second plenum, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises:
 a first channel that extends from the first plenum in a first direction; and 
 a second channel that extends to the second plenum in a second direction different from the first direction, 
 wherein the U-shaped structure is configured to mix the intake flow during transit from the first plenum to the second plenum. 
   
     
     
         10 . The air handler device of  claim 9 , wherein the first plenum and the second plenum intersect a plenum plane comprising at least one of a ceiling plane or a floor plane, and the first direction or the second direction of the U-shaped structure is substantially perpendicular to the plenum plane. 
     
     
         11 . The air handler device of  claim 9 , wherein the second plenum comprises multiple discharge devices configured to discharge respective portions of the supply flow in respective different directions. 
     
     
         12 . The air handler device of  claim 11 , wherein the multiple discharge devices comprise respective thermal transfer units comprising a first thermal transfer unit configured to control a first temperature of a first supply flow and a second thermal transfer unit configured to control a second temperature of a second supply flow. 
     
     
         13 . The air handler device of  claim 12 , wherein the first thermal transfer unit and the second thermal transfer unit are independently controllable such that the first temperature concurrently differs from the second temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The air handler device of  claim 12 , wherein the respective thermal transfer units are independently controllable to perform one of a group of thermal transfer operations, comprising a heating operation that heats an associated supply flow, a cooling operation that cools the associated supply flow, or a neutral operation that does not affect the temperature of the associated supply flow. 
     
     
         15 . The air handler device of  claim 14 , wherein the first thermal transfer unit performs a first one of the group of thermal transfer operations concurrently with the second thermal transfer unit performing a second one, different than the first one, of the group of thermal transfer units. 
     
     
         16 . An air handler device, comprising:
 a first plenum configured to receive an intake flow;   a second plenum, adjacent to the first plenum, configured to discharge a supply flow comprising the intake flow that was mixed in transit from the intake plenum to the discharge plenum, wherein the discharge device comprises a thermal transfer unit that is configured to control a temperature of the supply air;   a fluid moving device configured to move fluid between the first plenum and the second plenum; and   a fluid flow path defined by a U-shaped structure that connects the first plenum and the second plenum, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises:
 a first channel that extends from the first plenum in a first direction; and 
 a second channel that extends to the second plenum in a second direction different from the first direction. 
   
     
     
         17 . The air handler device of  claim 16 , wherein the first plenum and the second plenum intersect a plenum plane comprising at least one of a ceiling plane or a floor plane, and the first direction or the second direction of the U-shaped structure is substantially perpendicular to the plenum plane. 
     
     
         18 . The air handler device of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of an acoustical lining that lines at least one element of the air handler device or a thermal lining that lines at least one element of the air handler device. 
     
     
         19 . The air handler device of  claim 16 , wherein the first plenum comprises at least one of: an economizer device comprising at least one of a damper, a valve, or a fan; a filter device; an energy recovery device; a thermal transfer; a humidifier device; or a dehumidifier device. 
     
     
         20 . The air handler device of  claim 16 , wherein the second plenum comprises multiple discharge devices configured to discharge respective portions of the supply air in respective different directions, comprising a first supply flow that is discharged in a first supply flow direction and a second supply flow that is discharged in a second supply flow direction.