Abstract: An air mixing device mitigates temperature stratification between two incoming air streams by creation of turbulent airflow through an arrangement of channels in the device. The device also provides selective passage of air for incoming airstreams to achieve functionality for damper control typically associated with separate inlet dampers. A slotted cover plate is mounted to a downstream face of the device. The slots are disposed over the channels to determine areas through which airstreams may pass, such as return air and outdoor air introduced into an air handling unit. A method provides for selectively controlled airflow through the device so effective mixing occurs along with an economizer function to control separate airstreams such as outside air and return air. The slotted cover plate is actuated to control airflow in which flow of one airstream through the device increases as the flow of the other airstream is proportionately decreased.

Abstract: An air mixing device mitigates temperature stratification between two incoming air streams by creation of turbulent airflow through an arrangement of channels in the device. The device also provides selective passage of air for incoming airstreams to achieve functionality for damper control typically associated with separate inlet dampers. A method provides for selectively controlled airflow through the device so effective mixing occurs along with an economizer function to control separate airstreams such as outside air and return air. Existing dampers may be integrated with the air mixing device to control airflow in which flow of one airstream through the device increases as the flow of the other airstream is proportionately decreased. A minimum outside air duct can be incorporated in the mixing device to efficiently satisfy building code requirements regarding monitoring and recording of outside air input to air handling units.

Abstract: An air mixing device mitigates temperature stratification between two incoming air streams by creation of turbulent airflow through an arrangement of channels in the device. The device also provides selective passage of air for incoming airstreams to achieve functionality for damper control typically associated with separate inlet dampers. Static mixing plates may be employed to affect desired mixing through the device. A method provides for selectively controlled airflow through the device so effective mixing occurs along with an economizer function to control separate airstreams such as outside air and return air. Existing dampers may be integrated with the air mixing device to control airflow in which flow of one airstream through the device increases as the flow of the other airstream is proportionately decreased.

Abstract: An air mixing device mitigates temperature stratification between two incoming air streams by creation of turbulent airflow through an arrangement of channels in the device. The device also provides selective passage of air for incoming airstreams to achieve functionality for damper control typically associated with separate inlet dampers. Static mixing plates may be employed to affect desired mixing through the device. A method provides for selectively controlled airflow through the device so effective mixing occurs along with an economizer function to control separate airstreams such as outside air and return air. Existing dampers may be integrated with the air mixing device to control airflow in which flow of one airstream through the device increases as the flow of the other airstream is proportionately decreased.

Abstract: A spark suppression device includes a plurality of blades or vanes that are mounted transversely in a duct of an air handling/dust collection system communicating with a spark source. A controlled flow of air carries sparks from the spark source through the spark suppression device. Sparks are suppressed by turbulence created in the airstream from the blades that have a downstream curvature. The turbulence strips away a hot air bubble surrounding a spark ember, thereby effectively cooling the spark and significantly reducing combustion at the spark ember. Other attributes of the invention contributing to spark suppression include an overlapping arrangement of the blades that results in high-velocity impact of the sparks against the blades, thereby breaking up the spark embers into smaller embers, and creation of rapid increased pressure within the spark suppression device that also helps to strip away the spark ember from the surrounding hot air bubble.

Abstract: A spark suppression device includes a plurality of blades or vanes that are mounted transversely in a duct of an air handling/dust collection system communicating with a spark source. A controlled flow of air carries sparks from the spark source through the spark suppression device. Sparks are suppressed by turbulence created in the airstream from the blades that have a downstream curvature. The turbulence strips away a hot air bubble surrounding a spark ember, thereby effectively cooling the spark and significantly reducing combustion at the spark ember. Other attributes of the invention contributing to spark suppression include an overlapping arrangement of the blades that results in high-velocity impact of the sparks against the blades, thereby breaking up the spark embers into smaller embers, and creation of rapid increased pressure within the spark suppression device that also helps to strip away the spark ember from the surrounding hot air bubble.

Abstract: A fixed blade air mixing apparatus includes a plurality of radially extending vanes which extend away from a common center and terminate at their outer ends within a polygonal shaped enclosure. The plurality of vanes may include an inner section which is curved or pitched in one direction, and an outer section which is curved or pitched in a second direction away from the inner section, the inner and outer sections sharing a common leading edge. In another embodiment, the vanes extend straight without a curvature. The apparatus is intended for use in eliminating stratification of airstreams of different temperatures flowing through a common passage, for example, in heating, air conditioning, or other ventilating ducts. The vanes are designed to establish downstream turbulence of the airstreams passing therethrough which produces optimum mixing effectiveness and a uniform velocity profile of the air downstream of the mixing apparatus with a minimum pressure drop as the air flows through the apparatus.

Abstract: A fixed blade air mixing apparatus includes a plurality of radially extending vanes which extend away from a common center and terminate at their outer ends within a polygonal shaped enclosure. The plurality of vanes include an inner section which is curved or pitched in one direction, and an outer section which is curved or pitched in a second direction away from the inner section, the inner and outer sections sharing a common leading edge. The apparatus is intended for use in eliminating stratification of airstreams of different temperatures flowing through a common passage, for example, in heating, air conditioning, or other ventilating ducts. The vanes are designed to establish downstream turbulence of the airstreams passing therethrough which produces optimum mixing effectiveness and a uniform velocity profile of the air downstream of the mixing apparatus with a minimum pressure drop as the air flows through the apparatus.

Abstract: A static air mixing apparatus for mixing of air passing through a space of duct. The apparatus includes an inner enclosure at least partially traversing the duct, an outer enclosure surrounding the inner enclosure, a first plurality of radial vanes extending outwardly from a center of the inner enclosure to adjacent the inner enclosure, a second plurality of radial vanes extending from between the inner and outer enclosures, and a transition member forming a divergent retention region downstream of the enclosures for prolonging mixing of different temperature airstreams as they pass through the air mixing apparatus. Further, the apparatus is derived from an optimized depth ratio defined by the ratio of the depth of the enclosures to the minimum diameter of the outer enclosure which is between about 0.25 to 0.40, and a core ratio defined by the ratio of the area of the inner enclosure to the area of the outer enclosure including the area of the inner enclosure which is between about 0.55 to 0.65.

Abstract: A static air mixing apparatus for mixing of air passing through a space or duct. The apparatus includes an inner enclosure at least partially traversing the duct, an outer enclosure surrounding the inner enclosure, a first plurality of radial vanes extending outwardly from a center of the inner enclosure to adjacent the inner enclosure, a second plurality of radial vanes extending from between the inner and outer enclosures, and a transition member forming a divergent retention region downstream of the enclosures for prolonging mixing of different temperature airstreams as they pass through the air mixing apparatus. Further, the apparatus are derived from an optimized depth ratio between the depth of the enclosures to the minimum diameter of the outer enclosure of between 0.37 and 0.40 and core ratio between the core area defined by the inner enclosure to the outer enclosure area including the core area of between about 0.60 to about 0.65.