High-performance housings for backward-curved blowers

A method of assembling a blower, the method comprising:

• providing a housing and a blower wheel, the blower wheel comprising backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane;
• and
• positioning the blower wheel in the housing such that the housing forms a hexagonal cross-section around at least a portion of the rotational plane and such that there exists:
• a first distance measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the hexagonal cross-section;
• and
• a second distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the hexagonal cross-section, wherein the second distance forms a first angle with the first distance, the first angle being an acute angle, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, comprising:

• an evaporator coil;
• a blower coupled to the evaporator coil, the blower comprising:
• a blower wheel comprising backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane;
• a housing forming a hexagonal cross-section around at least a portion of the rotational plane, wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists:
• a first distance measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the hexagonal cross-section;
• and
• a second distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the hexagonal cross-section, wherein the second distance forms a first angle with the first distance, the first angle being an acute angle, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel.