Static air mixer

Abstract

A static air mixing device is provided. The mixing device includes a rectangular array of louver systems. Each louver system includes a plurality of vanes defining through flow passages therebetween. The vanes are oriented to deflect incoming air in a direction toward an immediately adjacent louver system. The combination of louver systems effects vortex flow of air downstream of the static mixing device.

1 . An air mixing system comprising;
 at least one air pump;   at least one duct associated with the air pump, said air pump being operable to cause air to flow in the duct;   an enclosure associated with the at least one duct for receiving air therefrom;   a mixing system associated with the at least one duct and operable to mix air flowing through the at least one duct, said mixing system including at least one mixing device having a plurality of generally rectangular louver systems with each louver system having at least two vanes defining louvers, each vane having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a respective deflection surface therebetween, at least two of the louver systems directing air flowing to an exit side of the mixing system toward a laterally immediately adjacent louver system to induce vortex airflow on the exit side about a central axis of the louver system.   
     
     
         2 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 1  including;
 a support structure; and wherein;   the vanes are mounted to the support structure in a manner forming a generally rectangular array of louver systems wherein the vanes in each of the louver systems having their longitudinal axes generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the vanes in immediately adjacent louver systems and generally parallel to longitudinal axes of vanes in a diagonally positioned louver system.   
     
     
         3 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 2  including at least four louver systems arranged in rows and columns. 
     
     
         4 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the vanes in each louver system define generally rectangular louvers therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the support structure including cross brace members separating the support structure into a plurality of separate flow paths. 
     
     
         6 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 5  including a fresh air feed and a return air feed operably associated with an inlet side of the mixing system. 
     
     
         7 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the enclosure includes at least one room of a building. 
     
     
         8 . An air mixing system comprising;
 a plurality of separate air feeds;   a discharge;   an air pump for effecting movement of air through at least one of the air feeds and the discharge; and   a static mixing device associated with and positioned flow wise between the discharge and at least one of the air feeds said mixing device including a generally rectangular array of a plurality of louver systems, said louver systems being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each said louver system having a plurality of vanes, each vane having a leading edge and a trailing edge with a respective deflection surface therebetween, adjacent vanes in each louver system defining a through louver therebetween, the longitudinal axes of the vanes in one louver system being generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the vanes in laterally immediate adjacent louver system to induce vortex airflow in the discharge.   
     
     
         9 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the vanes having an angle of inclination of at least about 20°. 
     
     
         10 . The air mixing system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein at least some of the vanes having a concave air deflection surface.