HVAC dual inlet design for partial recirculation operation

A method of operating an air handling system of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing, a first air distribution door, a second air distribution door, a first baffle door, and a second baffle door, the housing defining an inlet section, wherein the inlet section includes a first inlet portion and a second inlet portion, wherein the first inlet portion includes a first recirculation inlet configured to receive recirculated air originating from a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a first ambient air inlet configured to receive ambient air originating from an ambient environment, wherein the second inlet portion includes a second recirculation inlet configured to receive recirculated air originating from the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a second ambient air inlet configured to receive the ambient air originating from the ambient environment, wherein the first air distribution door is disposed in the inlet section and configured to selectively control a distribution of the recirculated air and the ambient air entering the first inlet portion through the first recirculation inlet and the first ambient air inlet, wherein the second air distribution door is disposed in the inlet section and configured to selectively control a distribution of the recirculated air and the ambient air entering the second inlet portion through the second recirculation inlet and the second ambient air inlet, wherein the first baffle door is disposed in the inlet section and configured to selectively control a flow of the recirculated air and the ambient air entering the first inlet portion through the first recirculation inlet and the first ambient air inlet, and wherein the second baffle door is disposed in the inlet section and configured to selectively control a flow of the recirculated air and the ambient air entering the second inlet portion through the second recirculation inlet and second ambient air inlet, wherein the housing further defines a first blower flow path disposed downstream of the first air distribution door and the first baffle door with respect to the flow of the recirculated air and the flow of the ambient air, wherein the first blower flow path leads to a blower assembly of the air handling system, wherein the housing further defines a second blower flow path disposed downstream of the second air distribution door and the second baffle door with respect to the flow of the recirculated air and the flow of the ambient air, wherein the second blower flow path leads to the blower assembly of the air handling system, and wherein the housing includes one or more openings formed therein to fluidly connect the first blower flow path and the second blower flow path to permit the flow of air from the first inlet portion to mix with the air from the second inlet portion prior to flowing into the blower assembly;
• and
• selectively positioning of at least one of the first air distribution door, the second air distribution door, the first baffle door, and the second baffle door to selectively control a flow of the recirculated air and the ambient air through the inlet section.