The most common application for an air-mixing plenum is the mixing of return air with fresh air to provide a supply air mixture for onward distribution to the building or area which the ventilation system is serving. The air transferred from the return air stream to the supply air stream is termed recirculated air. All air not mixed is rejected to the atmosphere as exhaust air. Air streams are mixed to save energy and improve energy efficiency.
Operation
The mixing plenum normally combines two air streams, and includes for three sets of dampers: one for the fresh air, one for the exhaust air, and a mixing damper between the two air streams. The mix of fresh air and recirculated air can thus be adjusted to suit the needs of the building's occupants. Most systems will use motorized dampers to control the air mixing, and controlled by the building management system, or controls system. Typically as the fresh air and exhaust air dampers are driven from 0% open to 100% open, the mixing damper will in turn be driven from 100% open to 0% open, so as to always ensure a constant volume of supply and extract air.
Energy efficiency
Air supply to a building is generally performed by an air handling unit. The process may include for filtering, heating, cooling, humidification, or dehumidification, all of which processes consume energy. Since the fresh air demand for the building occupants may be less than that is required for air conditioning purposes, it would be wasteful if 100% fresh air were used, with wholesome treated air rejected to the atmosphere in its place. Therefore, mixing is used to balance the needs between the occupants requirements for fresh air and the air conditioning process for the building. Enhanced controls systems may monitor the return air quality or carbon dioxide concentration in order to automatically modulate the air mix for optimum energy efficiency whilst maintaining desired fresh air requirements. Such systems work very well in buildings where the occupancy rate can vary greatly throughout the day, or seasonally. Additionally, when outside air conditions are such, typically mid-season weather conditions, it may be that ambient temperatures are suitable for free cooling purposes. In such conditions the mixing damper will be set to close and the system use full fresh air for optimum energy efficiency. Where fresh air is not required, such as early morning pre-heat or pre-conditioning periods, the mixing damper can be automatically set to full recirculation, again for optimum energy efficiency.
