Air handling units are responsible for creating conditioned air in a building’s duct system, combining fresh outside air with already-conditioned returned air for a healthy, comfortable indoor environment. But when the temperature of air outside varies greatly from air inside the system, the air stratifies—resulting in airflow with an uneven temperature profile.
Air mixers solve this issue by swirling hot and cold air together, equalizing the temperature to improve the efficiency of the air conditioning process.
What is Air Stratification?
Air stratification is the tendency for lighter, hot air to rise and heavier, cold air to sink. Hot air will naturally collect at the top of the ducts, and cold air at the bottom.
During warm months, the temperature of fresh air brought in from outside will be warmer than the cool conditioned air already in the building. In cold months, the inverse is true. These hot and cold air streams are stratified as they pass over the conditioning coils in the air handling unit, leading to the following issues:
Uneven Conditioning: Stratified air comes out of the air handling unit unevenly conditioned, leading to less comfortable building interiors and less accurate temperature sensor readings.
Risk of Damaging Coils: Exposure to extreme temperatures puts conditioning coils at risk of freezing or rupturing.
Energy Inefficiency: It takes more energy to equalize the temperature of stratified air—piling on costs in the process.
What Are Air Mixers and How Do They Eliminate Air Stratification?
An air mixer is a device installed downstream of where return air and outside air meet and upstream of the conditioning coils. It is specially designed to mix hot and cool air into an even temperature—maximizing air conditioning efficiency.
Airfoil-Shaped Vanes: The vanes of an air mixer are shaped like an airfoil—wider at the leading edge and thinner at the trailing edge—to capture and throw air.
Multiple Directional Patterns: Air mixer vanes throw air in multiple directions—top to bottom, bottom to top, and side to side—to unify the temperature.
Negative Pressure Zone: The cone at the center of an air mixer induces a negative pressure zone to facilitate mixing.
No Moving Parts: Air mixers have no fixed parts and require no energy to operate—creating energy savings upon savings.
How to Specify an Air Mixer
Materials:
Aluminum: A lightweight, rust-resistant material.
Stainless Steel: A heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant material ideal for harsh airstreams and/or facilities with corrosive chemicals or compounds.
Standalone Air Mixer Mounting Options:
Channel Frame: A U-shaped frame commonly inserted into ductwork.
Flanged Frame on Air Entering/Leaving Side: An extra flange that fits nicely up against internal angles or outer edges of modular-constructed air handlers.
Plenum Air Mixer Housing Options:
Plenum Sections with Air Mixers: A custom-built plenum box that comes pre-installed with air mixers.
Mixing Section with Air Mixers and Dampers: Adjustable dampers are added ahead of the air mixers to give extra control over airflow.
Viewports and Duct Access Doors: Viewports to inspect dampers as well as duct access doors are available for plenum units.
Why KEES
KEES has solved the air stratification issue common to all HVAC systems with our proprietary air mixers, designed to maximize the efficiency of the air conditioning process and reduce overhead. Thanks to our flexibility, we can manufacture air mixers to fit any air handler—ensuring air is mixed at the optimal velocity. Whether retrofitting existing air handling units or installing brand-new plenums, KEES air mixers reduce the costs of conditioning air—and pass the savings onto you.
