# US 2022/0034546 A1 · Rotary Air Homogenizer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034546 A1 - Document ID: US20220034546A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/389,035 - Filed: 2021-07-29 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-29 - Assignees: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC - Applicants: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC - Inventors: James Eric Bogart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034546A1 ## CPC - F24F 3/044: Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems - F24F 12/006: {using an air-to-air heat exchanger (F24F12/002 takes precedence)} - F24F 7/08: with separate ducts for supplied and exhausted air {with provisions for reversal of the input and output systems} - F24F 13/04: Air-mixing units (F24F13/06 takes precedence) - F24F 2012/007: {using a by-pass for bypassing the heat-exchanger} - F24F 2203/1032: Desiccant wheel - F24F 2203/104: Heat exchanger wheel - Y02B 30/56: Heat recovery units - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An air mixing system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a conduit configured to receive a first airflow and a second airflow and to discharge the first airflow and the second airflow as a mixed airflow via an outlet of the conduit. The air mixing system also includes a thermal wheel disposed within the conduit. The thermal wheel is configured to direct the first airflow and the second airflow thereacross, rotate within the conduit, and transfer heat between the first airflow and the second airflow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air mixing system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a conduit configured to receive a first airflow and a second airflow and to discharge the first airflow and the second airflow as a mixed airflow via an outlet of the conduit; a thermal wheel disposed within the conduit, wherein the thermal wheel is configured to direct the first airflow and the second airflow thereacross, rotate within the conduit, and transfer heat between the first airflow and the second airflow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air mixing system of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises: a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the thermal wheel relative to a direction of the first airflow and the second airflow through the conduit; a first inlet configured to receive the first airflow and direct the first airflow into the mixing chamber; and a second inlet configured to receive the second airflow and direct the second airflow into the mixing chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air mixing system of claim 2, comprising: a component chamber disposed downstream of the thermal wheel relative to the direction of the first airflow and the second airflow through the conduit; and at least one component disposed within the component chamber, wherein the at least one component is configured to modify a parameter of the mixed airflow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The air mixing system of claim 3, wherein the at least component comprises a heating coil, a cooling coil, a humidifier, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The air mixing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one component comprises a fan configured to draw the first airflow and the second airflow through the conduit and across the thermal wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The air mixing system of claim 2, wherein the first inlet is configured to receive an outside airflow from an ambient environment, and the second inlet is fluidly coupled to a return air duct and is configured to receive a return airflow from a space conditioned by the HVAC system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air mixing system of claim 1, comprising a motor coupled to the thermal wheel, wherein the motor is configured to transfer a rotational force to the thermal wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air mixing system of claim 1, wherein the thermal wheel comprises: a first face; a second face; and a plurality of channels extending between the first face and the second face, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is configured to receive the first airflow, the second airflow, or both. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The air mixing system of claim 8, wherein the thermal wheel comprises a matrix material extending between the first face and the second face, and the matrix material comprises the plurality of channels formed therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The air mixing assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal wheel comprises a desiccant material configured to transfer moisture between the first airflow and the second airflow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The air mixing assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal wheel is coupled to a first support panel positioned upstream of the thermal wheel relative to a direction of the first airflow and the second airflow through the conduit, and a second support panel positioned downstream of the thermal wheel relative to the direction of the first airflow and the second airflow through the conduit, wherein the first support panel and the second support panel cooperatively support the thermal wheel within the conduit. ### Claim 12 An air mixing unit for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a conduit comprising a first inlet configured to receive a first airflow and a second inlet configured to receive a second airflow, wherein the conduit is configured to direct the first airflow and the second airflow therethrough in a flow direction; an enthalpy wheel disposed within the conduit, wherein the enthalpy wheel is configured to rotate within the conduit and transmit the first airflow and the second airflow therethrough; a motor coupled to the enthalpy wheel, wherein the motor is configured to induce rotation of the enthalpy wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The air mixing unit of claim 12, wherein the first inlet is fluidly coupled to a return air duct configured to direct a return airflow through the first inlet as the first airflow, and wherein the second inlet is fluidly coupled to an ambient environment and is configured to receive an outdoor airflow as the second airflow. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The air mixing unit of claim 12, comprising one or more sensors disposed within the conduit, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to provide feedback indicative of a temperature of the first airflow, the second airflow, or both. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The air mixing unit of claim 14, wherein a first sensor of the one or more sensors is disposed upstream of the enthalpy wheel relative to the flow direction, and a second sensor of the one or more sensors is disposed downstream of the enthalpy wheel relative to the flow direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The air mixing unit of claim 15, comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the motor and the one or more sensors, wherein the controller is configured to regulate operation of the motor based on the feedback. ### Claim 17 A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a conduit comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the conduit is configured to direct a first airflow and a second airflow through the conduit in a flow direction from the first end to the second end; a rotary air homogenizer disposed within the conduit between the first end and the second end, wherein the rotary air homogenizer is configured to receive the first airflow and the second airflow, transfer heat between the first airflow and the second airflow, and rotate to impart a lateral velocity to the first airflow and the second airflow and discharge the first airflow and the second airflow as a mixed airflow; one or more sensors disposed within the conduit, wherein the one or more sensors is configured to provide feedback indicative of a temperature of the first airflow, the second airflow, the mixed airflow, or any combination thereof; and a controller communicatively coupled to the rotary air homogenizer and the one or more sensors, wherein the controller is configured to regulate operation of the rotary air homogenizer based on the feedback. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The HVAC system of claim 17, wherein the rotary air homogenizer comprise a thermal wheel and a motor configured to rotate the thermal wheel within the conduit, wherein the controller is configured to control a speed of the motor based on the feedback. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The rotary air homogenizer of claim 17, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a first sensor disposed upstream of the rotary air homogenizer relative to the flow direction and a second sensor disposed downstream of the rotary air homogenizer relative to the flow direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The HVAC system of claim 17, comprising a filter disposed within the conduit upstream of the rotary air homogenizer relative to the flow direction.