An intelligent device and method for flexible regulation of air conditioners

Abstract

The application discloses an intelligent device and method for flexible regulation of air conditioners. The device comprises super capacitor circuit, clock circuit, exchange circuit, 485 circuit, CAN circuit, Bluetooth circuit and other modules, supports multiple communication protocols, can adapt to different air conditioner equipment, can collect operation parameters with high precision, and realizes safe storage of data when power failure. The method comprises the steps of deployment initialization, communication establishment, state monitoring, instruction processing, regulation execution and exception handling, takes user instruction as the highest priority, adopts a ladder regulation strategy, and considers the demand of peak load shifting of power grid and user comfort. The method realizes flexible regulation of air conditioners on the basis of the device. The application can convert air conditioner load into flexible regulation resource of power grid, helps to build a new type of power system, realizes win-win of stable operation of power grid and improvement of user benefit, and is suitable for flexible regulation of various air conditioner scenes. The application discloses an intelligent device for flexible regulation of air conditioners.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of power load regulation and communication technology, specifically to an intelligent device for flexible control of air conditioning. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of the social economy and the constant improvement of residents' living standards, air conditioners have become an indispensable electrical appliance in industrial production, commercial operation, and household life. Their proportion in the total load of the power grid has been increasing year by year, and in some cities, the proportion of air conditioner load during peak hours has exceeded 40%. This trend poses a severe challenge to the operation of the power grid: during peak electricity consumption periods, the concentrated operation of a large number of air conditioners can easily lead to power grid overload, which will not only cause power quality problems such as voltage fluctuations and frequency deviations, but also exacerbate the imbalance between power supply and demand and increase the pressure on the power grid to ensure supply.

[0003] Current air conditioning control technologies still have some problems and are difficult to adapt to the development needs of smart grids and new power systems. The main problems are:

[0004] (1) The linkage mechanism is lacking. The existing control measures are mainly based on manual operation by users or autonomous control of a single air conditioner. There is a lack of effective coordination and linkage with the power grid master station system. It is impossible to dynamically adjust the air conditioner operation status according to changes in power grid load and renewable energy consumption demand, making it difficult to achieve flexible load adjustment and resource optimization.

[0005] (2) Insufficient compatibility and universality: different brands and models of air conditioning equipment have different communication interface specifications and lack a unified standard for communication protocols, which makes it difficult for equipment to interconnect during centralized control, and makes it impossible to form a large-scale and unified control network, thus limiting the efficiency of air conditioning load aggregation and utilization.

[0006] (3) The monitoring accuracy and data reliability are poor. The existing control device's operating parameter acquisition module has low accuracy and large measurement errors for key parameters such as active power, reactive power, and temperature, making it difficult to accurately reflect the air conditioner's operating status. At the same time, the data storage and abnormal recording capabilities are weak, and data loss is likely to occur after power failure, which will disrupt the continuity and accuracy of the control strategy and affect subsequent data analysis and optimization.

[0007] (4) Insufficient user experience guarantee. Traditional control methods often ignore the actual needs of users. There is no clear priority definition between remote control commands and local user operations. It is easy for control actions to conflict with user needs, resulting in a decrease in user comfort and thus affecting the user's acceptance of flexible control technology.

[0008] (5) The new power system has weak adaptability. When the power grid needs to respond flexibly to scenarios such as renewable energy consumption and power demand response, the existing devices are unable to provide accurate and efficient load regulation capabilities, and cannot fully tap the flexible regulation potential of air conditioning load, which restricts the improvement of the flexibility of the smart grid and the construction process of the new power system.

[0009] Therefore, the development of an intelligent device and corresponding method for flexible air conditioning control with a unified communication interface, high-precision monitoring, reliable data storage, user-priority control logic, and efficient linkage with the power grid has become a current need in the power industry and the field of air conditioning control. Summary of the Invention

[0010] To address the problems of insufficient linkage, poor compatibility, low monitoring accuracy, weak user experience guarantee, and lack of adaptability to new power systems in existing air conditioning control technologies, this invention improves performance from multiple dimensions, including power grid operation, user experience, technical reliability, and industry development, through the design of hardware modules and optimization of control methods. The primary objective of this invention is to propose an intelligent device for flexible air conditioning control, comprising a main control module and, electrically connected to the main control module, a supercapacitor circuit, a clock circuit, an AC acquisition circuit, a storage circuit, a 485 circuit, a CAN circuit, a DC output circuit, a Bluetooth circuit, an indicator light circuit, and a power failure detection circuit. The main control module and all circuits are integrated on the same PCB board. The 485 and CAN circuits are used to establish communication connections with the air conditioning equipment, and the interface circuit establishes data connections with the main station system and metering automation terminal through a carrier module.

[0011] Preferably, the supercapacitor circuit includes a double-layer supercapacitor, a charging management chip, a discharge protection resistor, and an equalization resistor. The charging management chip supports constant current and constant voltage charging mode with adaptive adjustment of the charging current. The discharge protection resistor automatically conducts when the discharge current exceeds a threshold. The supercapacitor circuit is linked with a power failure detection circuit, switching power supply when power is lost. The power failure detection circuit includes a high-speed voltage comparator, a voltage divider resistor, and a reference voltage source. When the external power supply voltage is lower than the threshold, the output level of the voltage comparator flips, triggering an interrupt response from the main control module and controlling the supercapacitor circuit to switch to power supply.

[0012] Preferably, the PCB board includes a power supply area, an analog area, and a digital area. The power supply area is located at the edge of the PCB board and uses an independent power plane. The analog area and the digital area are separated by an isolation strip and a grounding isolation groove. The analog signal traces adopt a differential design and are shielded. The digital signal traces are kept away from the analog area. The main control module integrates an ADC analog-to-digital conversion module, a dual-channel CAN controller, multiple UART serial ports, an I2C interface, an SPI interface, and a GPIO general interface.

[0013] Preferably, the sampling circuit consists of a sampling resistor, a low-noise operational amplifier, a high-speed analog switch, and an isolation chip. The sampling resistor is connected in series in the air conditioner power supply circuit. The collected voltage and current signals are amplified and isolated before being input to the ADC interface of the main control module. The 485 circuit supports Modbus RTU and DL / T 645 protocols, supports 32 nodes on the bus, and is equipped with ESD electrostatic protection devices. The CAN circuit is equipped with overcurrent protection devices and terminating resistors.

[0014] A second objective of this invention is to provide a method for flexible control of air conditioning, implemented based on the aforementioned intelligent device, comprising the following steps:

[0015] S1 device deployment and initialization: fix the device and connect it to the power supply, connect to the air conditioner communication interface, configure the communication protocol parameters, load the preset basic parameters in the main control module, and the device enters standby mode;

[0016] S2 establishes local and remote communication links, hands with the air conditioning equipment through 485 or CAN circuits, establishes a connection with the main station system through the carrier module, and periodically sends heartbeat signals to maintain the link.

[0017] The S3 acquisition circuit collects air conditioner operating parameters in real time, processes them after the main control module, and stores them in the storage circuit. When the parameters exceed the normal range, an abnormal indication is triggered.

[0018] S4 receives control commands, determines the priority of user local operation commands and remote control commands according to preset rules, and judges the execution conditions in combination with the air conditioner operation mode;

[0019] The S5 main control module generates control signals to perform load reduction or load takeover regulation operations, and dynamically adjusts the control signals to ensure the regulation effect.

[0020] S6 stores and reports relevant control data to the main station system, completing the control loop.

[0021] S7 executes corresponding safeguards for abnormal situations; the abnormal situations include power failure, communication interruption, and parameter anomalies.

[0022] Preferably, S1 includes:

[0023] S11 Complete the pre-inspection of the device's appearance and functions, determine the installation location, and ensure that the straight-line distance from the air conditioner communication interface does not exceed 3 meters;

[0024] S12 Fix the device in the preset position, connect the power supply, and observe the power indicator light status to confirm that the power supply is normal.

[0025] S13 connects to either the 485 or CAN interface according to the air conditioner's communication type, using a shielded cable connection with single-end grounding;

[0026] S14 connects to a local handheld device via Bluetooth, configures the communication protocol, baud rate, temperature adjustable range, and upper limit of load adjustment parameters. After the main control module loads the parameters, it completes a self-test and enters standby mode.

[0027] S2 includes:

[0028] The S21 device sends a handshake command to the air conditioner. If a response is received, the local link is successfully established. If no response is received, the device will retry. After the link is successfully established, a status query command is sent at fixed intervals.

[0029] The S22 device sends a registration request to the metering automation terminal through the carrier module. After identity verification, a connection is established. Then, the terminal completes authentication with the power master station system and establishes a remote communication link.

[0030] If the local link fails to receive a response multiple times, it is determined to be interrupted and the abnormal indicator light is illuminated. If the remote link fails to receive a heartbeat response multiple times, it switches to local cache mode.

[0031] Preferably, S3 includes:

[0032] The S31 sampling circuit collects power parameters and internal parameters at a preset frequency. The power parameters include phase voltage, phase current, active power, power factor and frequency. The internal parameters include air conditioning operation mode and set temperature.

[0033] S32 uses a multi-point moving average filtering algorithm to process the collected data and calibrates it according to the standard. If the collected values ​​exceed the rated range multiple times in a row, they are judged as invalid data and replaced.

[0034] S33 compares the preprocessed data with the preset threshold. If the power parameters are within the normal range and the operating mode matches the set temperature, it is considered normal. Otherwise, it triggers an abnormal warning and records relevant information.

[0035] Preferably, S4 includes:

[0036] S41 distinguishes between remote control commands and user local operation commands based on the command source identifier, parses the command frame and verifies the checksum and parameter safety range; invalid commands return a rejection response.

[0037] S42 sets the priority of user local commands to be higher than remote control commands, with power on / off commands having the highest priority, and commands of the same priority are executed in the order of receipt time.

[0038] S43 checks whether the air conditioner's operating status and power grid parameters are normal. If the remote control command includes an execution time period, it will be executed after the start time is reached; otherwise, it will be executed immediately.

[0039] Preferably, S5 includes:

[0040] When the load is reduced, the S51 adopts a temperature step adjustment strategy, adjusting by 1℃ each time with a certain interval. When the load is taken over, the temperature is finely adjusted and the fan speed is optimized, and the control range is dynamically adjusted according to the rated power of the air conditioner.

[0041] The S52 main control module generates control signals and sends them to the air conditioner. It collects parameters at intervals to judge the adjustment effect. If there is no response after multiple retries, the control is determined to be ineffective.

[0042] When the deviation between the actual parameters and the target parameters exceeds the standard, the control signal is adjusted, and the control rhythm is dynamically optimized in combination with the ambient temperature. If the compressor current exceeds the limit, the control is suspended.

[0043] Preferably, S6 includes:

[0044] S61 classifies and stores instruction data, execution data, and exception data into the storage circuit, adopts a circular storage mechanism, and stores data involving user privacy after encryption.

[0045] After the S62 control is completed, it sends a complete feedback message to the main station, reports the summary data to the metering automation terminal at fixed intervals, and provides feedback on the status to the local station via indicator lights and Bluetooth.

[0046] If no confirmation is received after sending feedback, S63 will retry. If the remote link is interrupted, the feedback data will be temporarily stored and retransmitted in chronological order after the link is restored.

[0047] S7 includes:

[0048] When the external power supply voltage of S71 is lower than the threshold, it triggers the supercapacitor to supply power, completes the switching within a specified time, prioritizes the storage of critical data, and automatically restarts and resumes operation after the power is restored.

[0049] When local communication is interrupted, the S72 suspends relevant control commands and reports them; when remote communication is interrupted, it switches to local autonomous operation mode.

[0050] When S73 control fails, the air conditioner communication interface is restarted for retry. If a fault is detected in the air conditioner or the device itself, control is paused, fault information is reported, and a notification is sent. The specific beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0051] (1) This invention, through deep integration of intelligent devices with the main station system and metering automation terminals, can aggregate dispersed air conditioning loads into controllable virtual power resources, effectively alleviating the problem of overload during peak grid periods. Relying on the high-precision measurement capabilities of the cross-collection circuit, the device can capture the air conditioning operating status in real time. In conjunction with load reduction and takeover strategies, it can reduce redundant loads during peak grid periods by step-by-step temperature regulation, and enhance load absorption capacity during off-peak periods or periods of high renewable energy generation by extending compressor operation and fine-tuning temperature.

[0052] (2) In the control logic, this invention clearly defines the highest priority of the user's local commands, placing user operations such as power on / off and temperature adjustment above remote control commands, thus avoiding conflicts between remote control and user needs and ensuring that user comfort is not affected. During the control execution process, a step-by-step parameter adjustment strategy is adopted to avoid physical discomfort caused by sudden temperature rises and falls, thereby enhancing the user's acceptance and participation in flexible control technology.

[0053] (3) At the hardware design level, the device integrates 485 circuit, CAN circuit and Bluetooth circuit, supports multiple communication protocols such as Modbus RTU, DL / T 645 and CANopen, and can be adapted to air conditioning equipment of different brands and different interface types, solving the problem of incompatibility of traditional device interfaces and inability to control on a large scale.

[0054] (4) This invention transforms air conditioning load from passive electrical equipment into an active response resource, meeting the needs of new power systems for flexible adjustment resources. The virtual power plant aggregation mode supported by the device can incorporate massive air conditioning loads into the power grid dispatch system, providing the power grid with low-cost, large-scale adjustment capabilities. The modular PCB design and standardized installation method of the device are suitable for various scenarios such as computer rooms, building ceilings, and air conditioning control cabinets.

[0055] This invention can help build new power systems and is suitable for flexible control in various air conditioning scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0056] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the method steps of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 2 This is a functional structure diagram of the intelligent device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the external frame structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 4 This is a main control circuit diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 5 This is a circuit diagram of a supercapacitor charging and discharging circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 6 This is a clock circuit diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 7 This is a circuit diagram of the cross-sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 8 This is a storage circuit diagram for an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 9 This is a circuit diagram of embodiment 485 of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 10 This is a CAN circuit diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 11 This is a DC output circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 12 This is a Bluetooth circuit diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 13 This is a circuit diagram of an indicator light according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 14 This is a circuit diagram of a watchdog power failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0070] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0071] Example 1

[0072] This embodiment presents an intelligent device for flexible air conditioning control, employing a modular design with its main functional units integrated onto a single PCB board. The PCB board is divided into power supply, analog, and digital areas. The power supply area is located at the edge of the PCB board and uses an independent power plane. The analog and digital areas are separated by a 2mm wide isolation strip and a grounding isolation groove. Analog signal traces utilize a differential design and are shielded, while digital signal traces are routed away from the analog area to avoid crosstalk. The device is packaged in a cuboid structure with standardized dimensions of 120mm × 80mm × 30mm. It has four pre-drilled M3 standard mounting holes, supporting both DIN rail and wall-mounted installation methods, adapting to various installation requirements such as computer rooms, building ceilings, and air conditioning control cabinets.

[0073] The composition and structure of the intelligent device in this embodiment are as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the circuit diagram is as follows: Figures 4-14 As shown, it mainly includes the following parts:

[0074] (1) Main control module. It can adopt an ARM core microcontroller, integrating a 12-bit ADC analog-to-digital converter module, a dual-channel CAN controller, 4-channel UART serial ports, 2-channel I2C interfaces, 1-channel SPI interface, and 16-channel GPIO general-purpose interfaces. The ADC module sampling rate can reach 1MSps, supporting multi-channel synchronous sampling to meet the real-time acquisition requirements of multiple parameters; it has a built-in hardware floating-point arithmetic unit, which can quickly process complex control algorithms, and is responsible for receiving data collected by each circuit, parsing control instructions, executing control logic, and coordinating the collaborative work of each module.

[0075] (2) Supercapacitor Circuit. This circuit consists of a 5F double-layer supercapacitor, a charging management chip with integrated charging balancing function, a discharge protection resistor, and a balancing resistor. The charging management chip's input is connected to a 12V external power supply, and its output is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the supercapacitor. It supports constant current and constant voltage charging modes, and the charging current can be adaptively adjusted within the range of 0.5A-2A. The discharge protection resistor is connected in parallel with the supercapacitor and automatically conducts protection when the discharge current exceeds 5A. The balancing resistor's resistance deviation does not exceed 1%, and it is used to balance the voltage difference between individual supercapacitor cells within 50mV. The circuit is connected to the main control module through a power interface and is also linked to the power failure detection circuit through an enable signal terminal to ensure power switching within 0.1 seconds in the event of a power failure.

[0076] (3) Clock circuit. It includes a low-power real-time clock chip, a 3V lithium manganese button battery, and a high-precision oscillating crystal. The clock chip communicates with the main control module via an I2C interface. The clock battery has a capacity of 220mAh, which can maintain the clock chip's continuous operation for more than 5 years after power failure. The oscillating crystal adopts a surface-mount package with a low temperature drift coefficient. The clock circuit output can also be connected to a storage circuit to provide a precise timestamp for each data record.

[0077] (4) Sampling Circuit. This circuit consists of a sampling resistor, a low-noise operational amplifier, a high-speed analog switch, and a 2.5kV isolation chip. The sampling resistor is connected in series in the air conditioner power supply circuit. A resistance value of 5mΩ-50mΩ is selected based on the rated current of the air conditioner. The collected voltage and current signals are amplified by the operational amplifier, switched through the analog switch, and then isolated from electromagnetic interference by the isolation chip before finally being input to the ADC analog-to-digital converter interface of the main control module. The circuit supports a rated voltage deviation range of ±15% and can operate stably at 50Hz / 60Hz power frequency, with measurement errors controlled within ±0.2%.

[0078] (5) Storage Circuit. This includes an 8MB SPI interface FLASH memory chip and an ESAM security chip supporting national cryptographic algorithms. The FLASH chip has a write / erase cycle of at least 100,000 times and a data retention period exceeding 20 years. Internally, it is divided into an event log area, a power quality data area, and an air conditioning equipment parameter area, employing a circular storage mechanism that automatically overwrites the oldest data when the storage is full. The ESAM chip supports SM4 encryption and SHA-256 hash algorithms, responsible for data transmission encryption and device authentication. Its bidirectional communication rate with the main control module can reach 1Mbps, ensuring that data is not tampered with or stolen during communication.

[0079] (6) 485 Circuit. It consists of a half-duplex 485 transceiver chip, a 120Ω terminating resistor, and ±15kV ESD protection devices. The 485 transceiver chip has a communication rate range of 1200bps-1Mbps, supports 32 nodes on the bus, and the DI and RO pins are connected to the UART serial port of the main control module. The A and B pins are led out to the external Phoenix terminal interface of the device via the terminating resistor. The ESD protection devices are connected in parallel between the A and B pins and ground. The circuit supports multiple industrial communication protocols such as Modbus RTU and DL / T 645, and can be adapted to the communication needs of different air conditioning equipment through software configuration.

[0080] (7) CAN Circuit. Includes a high-speed CAN transceiver chip, overcurrent protection devices, and a 120Ω terminating resistor. The CAN transceiver chip has a bus speed of up to 1Mbps. The TX and RX pins are connected to the CAN controller interface of the main control module, while the CAN_H and CAN_L pins are led out to the standard CAN bus interface via the bus protection device and the terminating resistor. The overcurrent threshold of the bus protection device is set to 1A, which can quickly cut off the circuit protection chip in case of a short circuit. The terminating resistor adopts a pluggable design, allowing for flexible selection of whether to install it based on the bus length, thus achieving stable and reliable bus communication with the air conditioning equipment.

[0081] (8) DC Output Circuit. This circuit consists of a DC-DC converter chip, an electrolytic filter capacitor, a power inductor, and a Zener diode. The DC-DC converter chip's input terminal connects to a wide-range DC power supply of 12V-24V. After conversion, it can output two stable DC voltages: 5V and 12V, with output currents reaching 2A and 1A respectively. The input and output terminals are connected in parallel with a filter capacitor and a Zener diode, respectively. The output terminal is led out to the external terminal interface of the device to power external sensors, communication modules, and other equipment. Simultaneously, the output voltage signal is fed back to the main control module via a feedback pin, enabling real-time monitoring of the output voltage. An alarm is triggered when the voltage deviation exceeds ±5%.

[0082] (9) Bluetooth Circuit. It consists of a Bluetooth BLE low-power module, an onboard PCB antenna, and a 50Ω impedance matching circuit. The Bluetooth module communicates with the main control module via a UART serial port, supporting point-to-point communication mode with a communication distance of up to 10 meters in open environments. The matching circuit uses an inductor and capacitor to form a π-type network, achieving impedance matching between the antenna and the module and reducing signal reflection loss. When the module operates in low-power mode, the current consumption does not exceed 10μA. It supports switching between broadcast, connected, and sleep modes, and is used for on-site parameter configuration, debugging, maintenance, and measurement error calibration.

[0083] (10) Indicator Circuit. This circuit includes four LEDs of different colors: red power indicator, green communication indicator, yellow running indicator, and orange fault indicator. Each indicator is connected to the GPIO interface of the main control module via a series current-limiting resistor. The power indicator can be set to remain constantly lit to indicate normal power supply, and flashing to indicate unstable power supply; the communication indicator flashes once per second to indicate a normal communication link, flashes rapidly to indicate data transmission in progress, and remains off to indicate a communication interruption. The running indicator can be set to flash to indicate that the control operation is in progress, and remain constantly lit to indicate that the control is complete; the fault indicator remains constantly lit to indicate a device malfunction, and flashes to indicate abnormal parameters. The external display of the device's indicator circuit is as follows: Figure 3 As shown.

[0084] (11) Power-down detection circuit. It consists of a high-speed voltage comparator, voltage divider resistors, and a reference voltage source. The voltage divider resistors divide the 12V external power supply voltage by 1:4 and input it to the non-inverting input of the voltage comparator. The reference voltage source provides a stable 3V reference voltage. When the external power supply voltage is lower than 10.5V, the output level of the voltage comparator flips. The output is connected to the external interrupt interface of the main control module to trigger an interrupt response; on the other hand, it outputs a control signal to the enable terminal of the supercapacitor circuit to control the supercapacitor to supply power and ensure that data is not lost when power is lost.

[0085] In this embodiment, each functional circuit is directly connected to the corresponding interface of the main control module via dedicated traces on the PCB board. The power supply area adopts a multi-power plane design, with the 3.3V digital power supply, 5V analog power supply, and 12V power supply arranged on independent planes to reduce power supply noise coupling. The supercapacitor circuit, DC output circuit, and power-down detection circuit share a 12V power bus, with a bus trace width of 2mm to meet the maximum current transmission requirements. The analog signal traces of the acquisition circuit have a trace width of 0.3mm and a spacing of 0.5mm, and are kept at least 3mm away from the digital signal traces. The SPI interface traces between the storage circuit and the main control module are made of equal length, with a length deviation not exceeding 5mm, to ensure high-speed communication stability.

[0086] The various circuits in this embodiment work together to form an intelligent device with a unified communication interface, high-precision monitoring, and reliable data storage.

[0087] Example 2

[0088] The method for flexible air conditioning control described in this embodiment is based on the intelligent device of Embodiment 1. Through steps such as deployment preparation, communication establishment, status monitoring, command processing, control execution, data closed-loop management, and anomaly handling, it achieves precise and flexible linkage between air conditioning load and grid demand, balancing control efficiency and user experience. Figure 1 As shown, each step is explained in detail below:

[0089] S1 device deployment and initialization.

[0090] S11 Deployment Preparation. Complete pre-inspection of the smart device's appearance and functions, confirming no damage to the casing and no deformation of the interfaces. Test with temporary power supply to ensure all indicator lights are initially functioning correctly, and that the supercapacitor shows no leakage or bulging. Determine the device's installation location based on the air conditioning equipment installation scenario, ensuring the straight-line distance to the air conditioner's communication interface does not exceed 3 meters to avoid obstructing the Bluetooth signal. Prepare deployment tools and accessories, including a torque wrench, insulated wires, crimping terminals, insulating tape, and a level.

[0091] S12 Physical Installation and Power Connection. Secure the device to the preset position through the pre-drilled mounting holes. Connect the external power supply. If it is DC power, connect the positive terminal of the 12V to 24V DC power supply to the positive terminal of the device's power interface and the negative terminal to the negative terminal. If it is AC power, it needs to be converted to 12V DC using an external AC-DC converter before connection. After connecting the power, observe the power indicator light. A solid light indicates normal power supply; a flashing light indicates the power supply voltage is within the rated range; and an off light indicates reversed wiring or poor contact.

[0092] S13 Air Conditioner Interface Connection. When the air conditioner supports RS485 communication, connect the A and B terminals of the device's RS485 interface to the corresponding terminals of the air conditioner's RS485 interface. When the air conditioner supports CAN communication, connect the CAN_H and CAN_L terminals of the device to the corresponding terminals of the air conditioner's CAN bus. A 120Ω terminating resistor must be installed at the end of the bus. For interface interference prevention, use shielded wires as communication conductors. The shielding layer is grounded at one end and kept at least 10 cm away from the air conditioner's power cord to avoid electromagnetic interference.

[0093] S14 Parameter Configuration and System Initialization. Enable the Bluetooth function on the local handheld device, search for and connect to the device's Bluetooth module. Upon successful pairing, the handheld device will display a "Pairing Successful" message. Configure basic parameters via the handheld device. Select Modbus RTU or CANopen as the communication protocol; the default baud rate is 9600bps; set the rated voltage deviation range; the adjustable temperature range for cooling mode is 16℃ to 30℃; the adjustable temperature range for heating mode is 18℃ to 32℃; and the maximum load adjustment range is ±10% of the rated power per cycle.

[0094] An initialization command is sent to the device's main control module, which automatically loads the configuration parameters. The supercapacitor begins charging, with an initial charging current of 2A. After the voltage reaches 2.7V, it drops to a constant voltage charging current of 0.5A. The clock circuit synchronizes with the current time. After initialization, the device performs a self-test, with each circuit responding sequentially. The communication indicator, operation indicator, and fault indicator light illuminate for 2 seconds and then turn off. Finally, only the power indicator light remains constantly lit, and the device enters standby mode.

[0095] S2 communication link established.

[0096] S21 Local Communication Link Verification. The device sends a handshake command to the air conditioner through the configured communication interface. The command frame contains the device address code, function code, register address, and checksum. Waiting for a response from the air conditioner, if a device information frame is received within 1 second, the local communication link is successfully established, and the communication indicator light flashes rapidly. If no response is received, the device automatically retryes 3 times, with a 1-second interval between retryes. After the link is established, the device sends a status query command to the air conditioner every 5 seconds to obtain the air conditioner's real-time operating parameters, ensuring continuous link connectivity.

[0097] S22 Remote Communication Link Establishment. The device interface circuit and carrier module work together. The carrier module sends a registration request to the regional metering automation terminal via the power line. The request frame contains the device's unique identifier, hardware version number, and communication protocol type. After receiving the registration request, the metering automation terminal verifies the validity of the device ID. If the verification is successful, it sends a registration confirmation command to the device and simultaneously assigns a communication address.

[0098] After the device establishes a connection with the metering automation terminal, it establishes communication with the power grid master station system through the terminal forwarding signals. The master station sends an identity authentication command to the device, the device generates an encrypted authentication code and returns it. After the master station decrypts and verifies the code, the remote communication link is officially established. The device sends a heartbeat signal to the master station every 10 seconds.

[0099] S23 Link Maintenance and Anomaly Warning. During local link maintenance, if no air conditioner status response is received three consecutive times, the device determines that the local link is interrupted and immediately illuminates the anomaly indicator light; if the link is restored within 1 minute, the anomaly indicator light turns off, and the communication indicator light resumes rapid flashing. During remote link maintenance, if no heartbeat response is received from the master station three consecutive times, the device switches to local cache mode, temporarily stores the data to be reported, and attempts to reconnect to the master station every 30 seconds.

[0100] S3 Air Conditioner Operation Status Real-time Monitoring.

[0101] S31 Multi-parameter Acquisition. The cross-collection circuit acquires parameters at preset frequencies: phase voltage and phase current are acquired every 50 milliseconds, total and phase active power and reactive power are acquired every 100 milliseconds, and power factor and frequency are acquired every 200 milliseconds. The acquired data is transmitted to the main control module in real time. The device synchronously acquires internal air conditioner parameters via a communication link, including: current operating mode, set temperature, actual outlet air temperature, fan speed, and compressor operating status. The acquisition interval is consistent with the power acquisition interval of the cross-collection circuit.

[0102] S32 Data Preprocessing.

[0103] The collected voltage and current data are filtered using a 5-point moving average algorithm to eliminate transient pulse interference. Active and reactive power data are calibrated according to national metrological standards, with calibration coefficients loaded by the main control module based on preset standard parameters. Data validity is determined by following these rules: if a parameter's value exceeds the rated range three consecutive times, it is considered invalid data, and the main control module automatically replaces it with the previous valid data.

[0104] S33 Status Assessment and Anomaly Warning. During normal status assessment, the main control module compares the pre-processed data with preset thresholds: if the voltage is between 187V and 253V, the power factor is between 0.8 and 1.0, the frequency is between 49.5Hz and 50.5Hz, and the air conditioner's operating mode matches the set temperature, then the air conditioner is considered to be operating normally, and the operation indicator light will remain on.

[0105] Abnormal status warnings include: a voltage below 187V for 10 seconds is considered an "undervoltage anomaly"; a power factor below 0.8 for 10 seconds is considered a "power factor anomaly"; and a deviation of more than 5°C between the actual air outlet temperature and the set temperature is considered a "temperature control anomaly". Upon triggering an anomaly, the anomaly indicator light illuminates, the main control module records the anomaly type, occurrence time, and corresponding parameter values, stores them in the storage circuit, and simultaneously sends an anomaly warning to the main station via a remote link, awaiting further instructions.

[0106] S4 Control Command Reception and Processing.

[0107] S41 Command Reception and Parsing. Command Source Identification: The main control module distinguishes between remote control commands and user local operation commands based on the "command source identifier" in the command frame. Remote control commands are received from the autonomous station via the remote link, while user local operation commands are received via the local communication interface, such as temperature adjustment commands sent by a user through an air conditioner remote control.

[0108] Regarding command frame parsing, the remote control command frame includes: a 1-byte start bit, a 2-byte device address, a 1-byte command type, a load reduction command identifier of 01, a load take-up command identifier of 02, control parameters including target temperature or power, execution duration, and a 2-byte checksum. The user local command frame includes: an operation type on / off identifier of 01, a temperature adjustment identifier of 02, a fan speed adjustment identifier of 03, target parameters, and a checksum.

[0109] During the command validity verification, the main control module verifies whether the check code is correct. If it is incorrect, the command is discarded. If it is correct, it checks whether the control parameters are within the preset safety range, such as whether the target temperature is within the adjustable range of the corresponding mode. If it exceeds the range, it marks "invalid command parameters" and returns a rejection response to the command sender.

[0110] S42 Command Priority Determination. The priority rule is set as follows: local user commands have higher priority than remote control commands. Among them, user power on / off commands have the highest priority, followed by user temperature adjustment commands and user wind speed adjustment commands. Among remote control commands, emergency load reduction commands used for grid peak-hour emergencies have higher priority than regular load adjustment commands.

[0111] The conflict handling principle is as follows: when the device receives two types of instructions simultaneously, the main control module executes the higher-priority instruction first. For example, if a remote load reduction instruction requests the cooling temperature to be adjusted from 26°C to 28°C, and the user simultaneously sends a temperature adjustment instruction to 25°C, the device will prioritize the user's instruction, suspend the remote instruction, and send a feedback message to the main station stating "Instruction conflict, local operation has been prioritized."

[0112] When multiple instructions of the same priority exist, the device executes them in the order of receipt time. After the previous instruction is completed, the next instruction is executed, thus avoiding frequent adjustments that may affect the stability of the air conditioner operation.

[0113] S43 Execution Condition Confirmation. During equipment status confirmation, the main control module checks the current operating status of the air conditioner: when the air conditioner is off, it rejects all control commands except for user power on / off commands and returns a response of "equipment not powered on, cannot execute"; when the air conditioner is in a fault state, such as a compressor fault, it suspends all control commands and prioritizes reporting fault information.

[0114] Before executing a remote control command, it is necessary to confirm whether the current power grid frequency and voltage are within the normal range: frequency is 49.5Hz to 50.5Hz, and voltage is 187V to 253V. If the power grid parameters are abnormal, it is determined that "the power grid does not meet the control conditions", the remote command is suspended, and it is re-executed after the power grid returns to normal.

[0115] When a remote control command includes an execution period, such as 14:00 to 16:00, the main control module compares the time with the clock circuit and begins execution after the start time of the period is reached; if no period is included, it executes immediately.

[0116] S5 Flexible Control Execution.

[0117] S51 control strategy generation. The load reduction control strategy responds to remote load reduction commands. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, it adopts a step-up temperature adjustment strategy, increasing the temperature by 1°C each time with a 30-second interval, until the target temperature is reached, to avoid sudden temperature rises affecting the user experience. When in heating mode, it adopts a step-down temperature adjustment strategy, decreasing the temperature by 1°C each time with a 30-second interval.

[0118] The load takeover control strategy is designed for remote load takeover commands during off-peak hours or periods of high renewable energy generation. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the temperature is lowered by 1°C to 2°C from the current value to extend the compressor's running time and increase the load. When it is in heating mode, the temperature is raised by 1°C to 2°C, and the fan speed is appropriately increased to increase the load.

[0119] Personalized adjustments are made based on the rated power of the air conditioner, dynamically adjusting the control range. For example, a 2-horsepower air conditioner can be controlled between 150W and 200W to ensure stable operation of the air conditioner without frequent start-stop.

[0120] S52 control signal transmission and execution. The main control module generates control signals according to the regulation strategy. For example, the control signal for increasing the cooling temperature by 1°C is address 01, function code 06, register address 0001, and data 27, which is sent to the air conditioner via the 485 or CAN circuit.

[0121] After the control signal is sent, the device collects the actual temperature and power parameters of the air conditioner every 200 milliseconds to determine whether it is approaching the target value: if the temperature does not change, the control signal is resent. If there is still no response after 3 retries, the device is determined to be "control execution failure" and an anomaly is reported; if the temperature gradually changes, the device continues to monitor until it stabilizes.

[0122] During the control process, the operation indicator light flashes rapidly twice per second to indicate the execution status; at the same time, it reports the progress to the instruction sender every 5 seconds, for example: current temperature 26℃, target temperature 28℃, 50% completed.

[0123] S53 Dynamic optimization of the control process. In terms of deviation correction, when the actual parameters of the collected air conditioner deviate from the target parameters by more than 0.5℃ or the power exceeds 5%, the main control module adjusts the control signal. For example, if the target temperature is 28℃ and the actual temperature only rises to 27℃ and remains stable for 1 minute, the "adjust 1℃" signal needs to be sent again until the actual temperature reaches 28℃±0.3℃.

[0124] Environmental adaptation indirectly monitors ambient temperature through cross-sampling circuits and can estimate based on the temperature of the air conditioner return air vent. When the ambient temperature rises suddenly, such as during a summer afternoon when the sun is shining directly, the cooling temperature is adjusted up at a rate of 1°C at a time, with an interval of 20 seconds, to ensure the load reduction effect.

[0125] In terms of equipment protection, if the air conditioner compressor current exceeds 110% of the rated value during the control process, the control will be immediately suspended and a "current over-limit, stop adjustment" signal will be sent. The control will continue only after the current returns to normal to avoid damage to the compressor.

[0126] S6 Data Closed Loop and Feedback.

[0127] S61 Control Data Storage. In the data classification storage, the main control module stores control-related data into the storage circuit according to type, including: instruction data including instruction source, type, parameters, and reception time; execution data including execution start and end times, parameter comparison before and after adjustment, and actual load change; and abnormal data including the type of abnormality that occurred during the control process and the handling method.

[0128] The storage format specification is as follows: each data record includes a 16-bit timestamp, a 32-bit data identifier, a 64-bit data content, and an 8-bit checksum, using a circular storage mechanism; when the FLASH storage is full, the oldest 10% of the data is automatically overwritten to ensure continuous storage availability. Data encryption protection is provided for user privacy data, such as user settings, which are encrypted before storage; encryption keys are uniformly distributed by the main site, and only authorized devices can decrypt and read the data to prevent data leakage.

[0129] S62 Multi-Node Data Feedback. During feedback to the master station, after the control operation is completed, if the target parameter is reached and stabilized for 30 seconds, the device sends a complete feedback message to the master station via a remote link, including: command ID, execution result (success or failure), power change before and after adjustment, actual execution time, and a statement indicating no abnormalities. If the control operation fails, the reason for failure, such as command conflict or equipment malfunction, is added.

[0130] In the feedback to the metering automation terminal, the device reports summary data to the terminal once an hour, including: the number of instructions received in that hour, the number of successful executions, the total load adjustment, and the number of anomalies; after the terminal performs statistics on the data, it synchronizes it to the main station energy management platform.

[0131] Local feedback is provided to on-site maintenance personnel via indicator lights. After successful adjustment, the operation indicator light returns to a constant state; if adjustment fails, the abnormal indicator light flashes and failure details are pushed to a handheld device via Bluetooth for easy on-site troubleshooting.

[0132] S63 Feedback Confirmation and Retry. After sending feedback, the device waits for a confirmation signal from the receiver. If no confirmation signal is received within 10 seconds, it automatically retryes sending. If no confirmation is received after two retries, the device is marked as "Feedback Not Confirmed" and this status is recorded in the abnormal data area.

[0133] When a remote link is interrupted and feedback cannot be sent, the device will temporarily store the feedback data in the buffer area. After the link is restored, the buffered data will be retransmitted first, and the retransmission order will be from the earliest to the latest data generation time to ensure that the master station obtains complete control records.

[0134] S7 Exception Handling and Protection.

[0135] S71 Power Failure Handling. During power failure detection and response, the power failure detection circuit monitors the external power supply voltage in real time. When the voltage drops below 10.5V, it immediately sends an interrupt signal to the main control module. Within 100 milliseconds, the main control module triggers the supercapacitor circuit to start working and switches to backup power supply.

[0136] During emergency data storage, the supercapacitor can provide power for up to 10 minutes. The main control module prioritizes storing the current control status, incomplete instructions, and abnormal records. After storage, it sends a "discharge pause" signal to the supercapacitor, maintaining power only to the clock circuit and extending the backup time.

[0137] After the external power is restored, the device automatically restarts, and the main control module reads the stored control status. If there are incomplete instructions, it determines whether they are still within the execution period. If they are, the execution continues; otherwise, the instructions are discarded, and the air conditioner is restored to its operating state before the power failure.

[0138] S72 Communication Interruption Handling. In the event of a local communication interruption, such as a broken 485 cable, the device immediately illuminates the fault indicator light and attempts to resend the handshake command every 30 seconds. Simultaneously, all control commands relying on local communication are suspended, and a report "Local communication interrupted, control suspended" is sent to the master station. Once the link is restored, the connection is automatically re-established, and control functions are resumed.

[0139] When remote communication is interrupted, the device switches to local autonomous operation mode and operates according to preset local strategies, such as automatically reducing power by 10% during peak hours from 14:00 to 16:00; at the same time, it attempts to reconnect to the master station every 30 seconds. After a successful connection, it prioritizes uploading the control data stored during the interruption and then receives new instructions.

[0140] S73 Control Failure and Equipment Malfunction Handling. In handling control failure, if three consecutive control signals are sent without any change in the air conditioning parameters, a "control failure" is determined. The main control module first attempts to restart the air conditioning communication interface by sending an "interface reset" command, and then attempts to control again after restarting. If the failure persists, a "control failure, suspected air conditioning communication module malfunction" report is submitted, and on-site troubleshooting is recommended.

[0141] During air conditioner malfunction handling, when a fault is detected, such as compressor shutdown or fan failure, all control commands are immediately suspended, and fault information, including the fault code and occurrence time, is sent to the main station. Simultaneously, a fault notification is pushed to the handheld device via Bluetooth. For minor abnormalities such as filter clogging, a "filter cleaning reminder" can be sent to the user terminal without suspending basic operations.

[0142] During the device's own fault handling, when a fault is detected in its own circuit, such as no data output from the cross-collection circuit, the abnormal indicator light is immediately lit, new instructions are stopped being received, and only the necessary communication functions for reporting faults are maintained; at the same time, the supercapacitor is triggered to ensure that the fault information is completely stored and reported.

[0143] This embodiment provides a method for flexible control of air conditioning, which achieves flexible linkage between air conditioning and power grid demand through the above steps.

[0144] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for flexible control of air conditioning, characterized in that, Based on smart devices, the following steps are included: S1 device deployment and initialization: fix the device and connect it to the power supply, connect to the air conditioner communication interface, configure the communication protocol parameters, load the preset basic parameters in the main control module, and the device enters standby mode; S2 establishes local and remote communication links, hands with the air conditioning equipment through 485 or CAN circuits, establishes a connection with the main station system through the carrier module, and periodically sends heartbeat signals to maintain the link. The S3 acquisition circuit collects air conditioner operating parameters in real time, processes them after the main control module, and stores them in the storage circuit. When the parameters exceed the normal range, an abnormal indication is triggered. S4 receives control commands, determines the priority of user local operation commands and remote control commands according to preset rules, and judges the execution conditions in combination with the air conditioner operation mode; The S5 main control module generates control signals to perform load reduction or load takeover regulation operations, and dynamically adjusts the control signals to ensure the regulation effect. S6 stores and reports relevant control data to the main station system, completing the control loop. S7 executes corresponding safeguards for abnormal situations; the abnormal situations include power failure, communication interruption, and parameter anomalies. S4 includes: S41 distinguishes between remote control commands and user local operation commands based on the command source identifier, parses the command frame and verifies the checksum and parameter safety range; invalid commands return a rejection response. S42 sets the priority of user local commands to be higher than remote control commands, with power on / off commands having the highest priority, and commands of the same priority are executed in the order of receipt time. S43 checks whether the air conditioner's operating status and power grid parameters are normal. If the remote control command includes an execution time period, it will be executed after the start time is reached; otherwise, it will be executed immediately. The intelligent device includes a main control module, and a supercapacitor circuit, clock circuit, AC acquisition circuit, storage circuit, 485 circuit, CAN circuit, DC output circuit, Bluetooth circuit, indicator light circuit, and power failure detection circuit electrically connected to the main control module; the main control module and all circuits are integrated on the same PCB board; the 485 circuit and CAN circuit are used to establish communication connections with air conditioning equipment, and the interface circuit establishes data connections with the main station system and metering automation terminal through a carrier module; The PCB board includes a power supply area, an analog area, and a digital area. The power supply area is located at the edge of the PCB board and uses an independent power plane. The analog area and the digital area are separated by an isolation strip and a grounding isolation groove. The analog signal traces adopt a differential design and are shielded. The digital signal traces are kept away from the analog area. The main control module integrates an ADC analog-to-digital conversion module, a dual-channel CAN controller, multiple UART serial ports, an I2C interface, an SPI interface, and a GPIO general interface.

2. The method for flexible control of air conditioning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The supercapacitor circuit includes a double-layer supercapacitor, a charging management chip, a discharge protection resistor, and an equalization resistor. The charging management chip supports constant current and constant voltage charging mode with adaptive adjustment of the charging current. The discharge protection resistor automatically conducts when the discharge current exceeds a threshold. The supercapacitor circuit is linked with a power failure detection circuit, switching power supply when power is lost. The power failure detection circuit includes a high-speed voltage comparator, a voltage divider resistor, and a reference voltage source. When the external power supply voltage is lower than the threshold, the voltage comparator output level flips, triggering an interrupt response from the main control module and controlling the supercapacitor circuit to switch to power supply.

3. The method for flexible control of air conditioning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sampling circuit consists of a sampling resistor, a low-noise operational amplifier, a high-speed analog switch, and an isolation chip. The sampling resistor is connected in series in the air conditioner power supply circuit. The collected voltage and current signals are amplified and isolated before being input to the ADC interface of the main control module. The 485 circuit supports Modbus RTU and DL / T 645 protocols, supports 32 nodes on the bus, and is equipped with ESD electrostatic protection devices. The CAN circuit is equipped with overcurrent protection devices and terminating resistors.

4. The method for flexible control of air conditioning according to claim 1, characterized in that, S1 includes: S11 Complete the pre-inspection of the device's appearance and functions, determine the installation location, and ensure that the straight-line distance from the air conditioner communication interface does not exceed 3 meters; S12 Fix the device in the preset position, connect the power supply, and observe the power indicator light status to confirm that the power supply is normal. S13 connects to either the 485 or CAN interface according to the air conditioner's communication type, using a shielded cable connection with single-end grounding; S14 connects to a local handheld device via Bluetooth, configures the communication protocol, baud rate, temperature adjustable range, and upper limit of load adjustment parameters. After the main control module loads the parameters, it completes a self-test and enters standby mode. S2 includes: The S21 device sends a handshake command to the air conditioner. If a response is received, the local link is successfully established. If no response is received, the device will retry. After the link is successfully established, a status query command is sent at fixed intervals. The S22 device sends a registration request to the metering automation terminal through the carrier module. After identity verification, a connection is established. Then, the terminal completes authentication with the power master station system and establishes a remote communication link. If the local link fails to receive a response multiple times, it is determined to be interrupted and the abnormal indicator light is illuminated. If the remote link fails to receive a heartbeat response multiple times, it switches to local cache mode.

5. The method for flexible control of air conditioning according to claim 1, characterized in that, S3 includes: The S31 sampling circuit collects power parameters and internal parameters at a preset frequency. The power parameters include phase voltage, phase current, active power, power factor and frequency. The internal parameters include air conditioning operation mode and set temperature. S32 uses a multi-point moving average filtering algorithm to process the collected data and calibrates it according to the standard. If the collected values ​​exceed the rated range multiple times in a row, they are judged as invalid data and replaced. S33 compares the preprocessed data with the preset threshold. If the power parameters are within the normal range and the operating mode matches the set temperature, it is considered normal. Otherwise, it triggers an abnormal warning and records relevant information.

6. The method for flexible control of air conditioning according to claim 1, characterized in that, S5 includes: When the load is reduced, the S51 adopts a temperature step adjustment strategy, adjusting by 1℃ each time with a certain interval. When the load is taken over, the temperature is finely adjusted and the fan speed is optimized, and the control range is dynamically adjusted according to the rated power of the air conditioner. The S52 main control module generates control signals and sends them to the air conditioner. It collects parameters at intervals to judge the adjustment effect. If there is no response after multiple retries, the control is determined to be ineffective. When the deviation between the actual parameters and the target parameters exceeds the standard, the control signal is adjusted, and the control rhythm is dynamically optimized in combination with the ambient temperature. If the compressor current exceeds the limit, the control is suspended.

7. The method for flexible control of air conditioning according to claim 1, characterized in that, S6 includes: S61 classifies and stores instruction data, execution data, and exception data into the storage circuit, adopts a circular storage mechanism, and stores data involving user privacy after encryption. After the S62 control is completed, it sends a complete feedback message to the main station, reports the summary data to the metering automation terminal at fixed intervals, and provides feedback on the status to the local station via indicator lights and Bluetooth. If no confirmation is received after sending feedback, S63 will retry. If the remote link is interrupted, the feedback data will be temporarily stored and retransmitted in chronological order after the link is restored. S7 includes: When the external power supply voltage of S71 is lower than the threshold, it triggers the supercapacitor to supply power, completes the switching within a specified time, prioritizes the storage of critical data, and automatically restarts and resumes operation after the power is restored. When local communication is interrupted, the S72 suspends relevant control commands and reports them; when remote communication is interrupted, it switches to local autonomous operation mode. When S73 control fails, restart the air conditioning communication interface to retry. If a fault is detected in the air conditioner or the device itself, pause control, report the fault information and push a notification.

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