Control device and method of control

Abstract

To provide a control device that suppresses power consumption more than before and is facilitated in maintaining indoor comfort of building.SOLUTION: A control device detects the number of people present in first areas F1, F2 ... Fn, second areas FF1, ... FFn in the facility F, determines air conditioning capacities of air conditioners K1, K2 ... Kn corresponding to the first areas F1, F2 ... Fn and ventilatory capacities of ventilation devices L1 ... Ln corresponding to the second areas FF1, ... FFn in accordance with the number of detected people, and controls the air conditioners K1, K2 ... Kn and the ventilation devices L1 ... Ln on the basis of the determination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a control device for controlling a plurality of air conditioners installed in a facility.

Background Art

[0002] Various facilities such as commercial facilities and office buildings are air-conditioned by a plurality of air conditioners. Devices have been devised to control these plurality of air conditioners so as to suppress wasteful power consumption and at the same time not impair the comfort within the facility (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The invention described in Patent Document 1 is a control system that increases the capacity of the air conditioner in the corresponding area when the number of people in a predetermined area within a building exceeds a predetermined number.

[0005] Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is a system that divides the air conditioners in a building into groups for each floor or building and performs control to stop them in order within each group.

[0006] In the method such as Patent Document 1, it is unclear how to determine the predetermined number and how much to increase the capacity of the air conditioner when the predetermined number is exceeded. Further, in Patent Document 1, it is unclear how to control the capacity of the air conditioner in the corresponding area when the number of people in the predetermined area is less than the predetermined number.

[0007] In addition, in the method such as that disclosed in Patent Document 2, the air conditioner (compressor) is stopped, which results in a load for restarting and thus the power consumption cannot be sufficiently suppressed. Further, even if it is for a short period of time, if the air conditioner (compressor) is completely stopped, the comfort inside the building may be impaired in the sweltering heat.

[0008] Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can further suppress power consumption and easily maintain the comfort inside the building.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The object of the present invention described above is achieved by the following means. The references in parentheses are the reference numerals in the embodiments described later, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0010] The control device (for example, the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1) according to claim 1 includes a plurality of air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) installed in a facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1), and a first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) within the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) that is air-conditioned by the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1), and air-conditioning area information storage means (for example, the air-conditioning area information storage unit 301a shown in FIG. 2) that stores them in association with each other; for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), number-of-people detection means (for example, the number-of-people detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3) that detects the number of people existing in the first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1); air-conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3) that determines the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) corresponding to the first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) according to the number of people detected by the number-of-people detection means (for example, the number-of-people detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3); Based on the determination of the air-conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3), there is provided control means (for example, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2, step S10 shown in FIG. 3) for controlling the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1). The air-conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3) compares the appropriate number of people preset for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) with the number of people detected for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) by the number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3), and based on the comparison result, determines to what extent the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) should be reduced from the normal air-conditioning capacity.

[0011] The control device (for example, the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1) according to claim 2 further includes ventilation area information storage means (for example, the ventilation area information storage unit 301b shown in FIG. 2) for associating and storing a plurality of ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) installed in the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) with the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn in the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) ventilated by the ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1). Ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3) for determining the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) corresponding to the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1) according to the number of people detected by the number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3). further comprises The first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) consist of a plurality of first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1). The second area (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1) is composed of a plurality of areas including at least two of the plurality of first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1). The number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3) detects the number of people existing in each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), and also detects the number of people existing in each of the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1). The ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3) determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation equipment (for example, the ventilation equipment L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) for each of the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1) based on the number of people for each of the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1) detected by the number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3). The control means (for example, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2, step S10 shown in FIG. 3) controls the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3), and controls the ventilation capacity of the ventilation equipment (for example, the ventilation equipment L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3).

[0012] The control device (for example, the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1) according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1 to K9 shown in FIG. 4) include a first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1 and K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)) and a second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)). The control means (for example, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2, step S10 shown in FIG. 3) Based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determining means (for example, the air conditioning capacity determining unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3), control the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)) to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity of the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)). After a predetermined time has elapsed, while returning the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)) to the normal air conditioning capacity operation, Based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determining means (for example, the air conditioning capacity determining unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3), control the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3, K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity of the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3, K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)). However, The plurality of ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1, L2, L3 shown in FIG. 4) are characterized in that they are always controlled to operate with a ventilation capacity based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determining means (for example, the ventilation capacity determining unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3).

[0013] The control device (for example, the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1) according to claim 4 is The first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K7 shown in FIG. 4) and the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3, K9 shown in FIG. 4) are air conditioners arranged in the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F7, F3, F9 shown in FIG. 4) that are not adjacent to each other.

[0014] The control device (for example, the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1) according to claim 5 is When there are a plurality of the first air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K7 shown in FIG. 4), these plurality of first air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K7 shown in FIG. 4) are air conditioners in the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F7 shown in FIG. 4) that are not adjacent to each other. And When there are a plurality of the second air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4), these plurality of second air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4) are air conditioners in the first areas (for example, the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4) that are not adjacent to each other.

[0015] The control method according to claim 6 is as follows: A step in which an air-conditioning area information storage means (for example, the air-conditioning area information storage unit 301a shown in FIG. 2) stores, in association with each other, a plurality of air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2,..., Kn shown in FIG. 1) installed in a facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) and a first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2,..., Fn shown in FIG. 1) in the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) that is air-conditioned by the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2,..., Kn shown in FIG. 1); A step in which a number-of-people detection means (for example, the number-of-people detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3) detects the number of people present in each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2,..., Fn shown in FIG. 1); A step in which an air-conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3) determines the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2,..., Kn shown in FIG. 1) corresponding to the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2,..., Fn shown in FIG. 1) according to the number of people detected by the number-of-people detection means (for example, the number-of-people detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3); A step in which a control means (for example, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2, step S10 shown in FIG. 3) controls the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2,..., Kn shown in FIG. 1) based on the determination by the air-conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3). The air-conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3) compares the appropriate number of people set in advance for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) with the number of people detected for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) by the number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3), and based on the comparison result, determines to what extent to reduce the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) for each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) from the normal air-conditioning capacity.

[0016] The control method according to claim 7 A step in which ventilation area information storage means (for example, the ventilation area information storage unit 301b shown in FIG. 2) associates and stores a plurality of ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) installed in the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) with a second area (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1) in the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) ventilated by the ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1); A step in which ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3) determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities (for example, the ventilation facilities L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) corresponding to the second area (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1) according to the number of people detected by the number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3); further comprises The first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) consists of a plurality of first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), The second area (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1) consists of a plurality of areas including at least two of the plurality of first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) among the plurality of first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), The number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3) detects the number of people existing in each of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), and for each of the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1), detects the number of people existing in the second area (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1). The ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3) determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation equipment (for example, the ventilation equipment L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) for each of the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1) based on the number of people for each of the second areas (for example, the second areas FF1, FFn shown in FIG. 1) detected by the number detection means (for example, the number detection unit 302 shown in FIG. 2, step S3 shown in FIG. 3). The control means (for example, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2, step S10 shown in FIG. 3) controls the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means (for example, the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2, step S8 shown in FIG. 3), and controls the ventilation capacity of the ventilation equipment (for example, the ventilation equipment L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2, step S9 shown in FIG. 3).

Effects of the Invention

[0017] Next, the effects of the present invention will be described with reference numerals in the drawings. Note that the reference numerals in parentheses are those of the embodiments described later, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0018] According to the inventions according to claims 1 and 6, the appropriate number of people preset for each first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) is compared with the number of people in each detected first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), and based on the comparison result, the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) for each first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1) is determined. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption by air-conditioning with a uniform air-conditioning capacity regardless of the number of people in each first area (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1).

[0019] Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 1, by controlling the air-conditioning capacity to suppress wasteful power consumption even without the occurrence of an alarm (for example, the occurrence of a warning alarm W1, a caution alarm W2, a cut-off alarm W3, and a limit alarm W4 shown in FIG. 5(b)), the possibility of the occurrence of an alarm can be reduced. That is, when an alarm occurs, it is necessary to quickly suppress the air-conditioning capacity of many air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) for peak cutting and suppress the power consumption. As a result, there is a possibility that the air-conditioning in the facility (for example, the facility F shown in FIG. 1) will not be sufficient. However, according to the invention according to claim 1, since the air-conditioning capacity can be controlled and the power consumption can be suppressed even without the occurrence of an alarm, the possibility of the occurrence of an alarm can be reduced. For this reason, the necessity for rapid peak cutting is also reduced, and comfort is maintained.

[0020] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control device that can maintain the comfort in a building while suppressing power consumption.

[0021] According to the inventions according to claims 2 and 7, since each second area (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1) includes at least two first areas (for example, the first areas F1, F2... Fn shown in FIG. 1), the power consumption of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) corresponding to those first areas can be further reduced. That is, the ventilation equipment (ventilation equipment L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) in the second area (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1) does not ventilate with a uniform ventilation volume regardless of the number of people, but the ventilation capacity is determined according to the detected number of people. For this reason, the outflow of the air at a comfortable temperature air-conditioned by the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) in the first areas included in the second area (for example, the second areas FF1 and FFn shown in FIG. 1) to the outside, and the inflow of the outside air at an uncomfortable temperature that is not air-conditioned into the first areas are suppressed to the minimum necessary. Therefore, the air-conditioning load of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) is reduced. As a result, if the ventilation equipment (ventilation equipment L1... Ln shown in FIG. 1) is also controlled according to the number of people, the power consumption of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn shown in FIG. 1) can be further reduced.

[0022] Note that the normal air-conditioning capacity or ventilation capacity refers to the rated capacity (the capacity that the equipment can stably output when the equipment is continuously operated under the conditions based on the JIS standard).

[0023] According to the invention according to claim 3, since the first areas air-conditioned with an air-conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air-conditioning capacity are rotated, comfort is maintained. That is, the first areas (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(a), the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) air-conditioned with an air-conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air-conditioning capacity have a temperature that temporarily rises (or falls) above the comfortable temperature, but returns to the normal air-conditioning capacity after a predetermined time, so it can return to a comfortable temperature again and comfort is maintained.

[0024] Also, since the air conditioning capacities of all air conditioners are not decreased all at once, comfortable-temperature air that is air-conditioned at the normal air conditioning capacity flows into the first areas (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in Fig. 4(a)) that are air-conditioned at the air conditioning capacity decreased from the normal air conditioning capacity from the adjacent first areas (for example, the first areas F2, F4, and F5 that are adjacent to the first area F1 shown in Fig. 4(a), and the first areas F4, F5, and F8 that are adjacent to the first area F7 shown in Fig. 4(a)). For this reason, the temperature of the first areas (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in Fig. 4(a)) that are air-conditioned at the air conditioning capacity decreased from the normal air conditioning capacity does not extremely increase (or decrease), and comfort is maintained.

[0025] On the other hand, the ventilation equipment (ventilation equipment L1 ··· Ln shown in Fig. 1) does not rotate, but always operates at the ventilation capacity based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determination means (for example, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in Fig. 2, step S9 shown in Fig. 3) for all the ventilation equipment (ventilation equipment L1 ··· Ln shown in Fig. 1). Thereby, while performing ventilation with the necessary ventilation volume, the power consumption of the ventilation equipment (ventilation equipment L1 ··· Ln shown in Fig. 1) can be suppressed, and furthermore, the power consumption of the air conditioners (for example, air conditioners K1, K2 ··· Kn shown in Fig. 1) can be suppressed.

[0026] Note that the "air conditioning capacity decreased from the normal air conditioning capacity" may be referred to as "low air conditioning capacity" in this specification.

[0027] According to the invention according to claim 4, the comfort of the first area (for example, the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) is better maintained. That is, when starting to operate the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) with a reduced air conditioning capacity from the normal air conditioning capacity, the first area (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1 and K7 shown in FIG. 4(b)) may not have returned to a comfortable temperature. However, since the first area (for example, the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) is not adjacent to the first area (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1 and K7 shown in FIG. 4(b)), air that has not returned to a comfortable temperature does not flow into the first area (for example, the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)). Thereby, the comfort of the first area (for example, the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the second air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) is better maintained.

[0028] According to the invention according to claim 5, the comfort of the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1 and K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)) and the second air conditioner (the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) in the first area (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(a), and the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding thereto is better maintained. That is, when the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1 and K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)) and the second air conditioner (the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) are operating with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity, the temperature in the first area (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(a), and the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to these air conditioners temporarily rises (or falls) above (or below) the comfortable temperature. However, at the same time, since the first areas (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(a), and the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) of the air conditioners operating with a low air conditioning capacity are not adjacent to each other, only the air at a comfortable temperature that has been air-conditioned with the normal air conditioning capacity flows in from the adjacent first areas (for example, the first areas F2, F4, F5 which are adjacent to the first area F1 shown in FIG. 4(a), the first areas F4, F5, F8 which are adjacent to the first area F7 shown in FIG. 4(a), the first areas F2, F5, F6 which are adjacent to the first area F3 shown in FIG. 4(b), and the first areas F5, F6, F8 which are adjacent to the first area F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)). Therefore, the comfort of the first area (for example, the first areas F1 and F7 shown in FIG. 4(a), and the first areas F3 and F9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the first air conditioner (for example, the air conditioners K1 and K7 shown in FIG. 4(a)) and the second air conditioner (the air conditioners K3 and K9 shown in FIG. 4(b)) is better maintained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the control device according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, when indicating the up, down, left, and right directions, it refers to the up, down, left, and right when viewed from the front shown in the drawing.

[0031] <Overview Explanation of the Control Device> As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 1 according to the present embodiment is installed in the facility F, and controls the air conditioners K1, K2, ··· Kn and the ventilation facilities L1, ··· Ln by transmitting control instructions to the outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna and the inverters L1a, ··· Lna.

[0032] Here, the operation of the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described more specifically. First, the control device 1 receives images of the first areas F1, F2, ··· Fn shown in FIG. 1 from the cameras C1, C2, ··· Cn shown in FIG. 1. Next, the received images are analyzed to detect the number of people present in each first area, and the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners K1, K2, ··· Kn (see FIG. 1) corresponding to each first area is determined according to the detected number of people. Then, the determined air conditioning capacity is transmitted as a control instruction to the outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna to control the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn.

[0033] Further, the control device 1 detects the number of people present in the second areas FF1, ···, FFn shown in FIG. 1, and determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see FIG. 1) corresponding to each second area according to the detected number of people. Then, by transmitting the determined ventilation capacity as a control instruction to the inverters L1a, ···, Lna, the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln are controlled.

[0034] Hereinafter, each part of FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

[0035] <Facility, First Area, Second Area> The facility F shown in FIG. 1 is a building in which a plurality of air conditioners are installed, such as a commercial facility or an office building. In the facility F, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn are installed. The first areas in the facility F that these air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn are air - conditioning are shown as the first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn in FIG. 1.

[0036] Also, in the facility F, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln are installed. The second areas in the facility F that these ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln are ventilating are shown as the second areas FF1, ···, FFn in FIG. 1. These second areas FF1, ···, FFn include a plurality (three in FIG. 1) of the first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn as shown in FIG. 1.

[0037] <Control Device> The control device 1 is a control panel (not shown) with a rectangular front view. As shown in Fig. 1, it houses a main board 2 and a relay output board 3 inside. As shown in Fig. 1, the main board 2 is mainly composed of an input / output module 2a, a CPU 2b, a RAM 2c, and a ROM 2d. The input / output module 2a transmits and receives data with external devices via networks N2 and N3. Also, the CPU 2b executes and controls each function of the control device 1, and the RAM 2c temporarily stores data supplied from external devices and the like. On the other hand, the ROM 2d stores programs and various parameters that do not require modification.

[0038] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 1, the relay output board 3 is mainly composed of an output module 3a. The output module 3a transmits control instructions from the main board 2 to the outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna and the inverters L1a, ··· Lna via the network N1.

[0039] <Camera> As shown in Fig. 1, cameras C1, C2, ··· Cn are installed in the facility F so as to be able to image the first areas F1, F2, ··· Fn, and image the first areas F1, F2, ··· Fn. The cameras C1, C2, ··· Cn transmit the captured image data to the control device 1 via the network N2. Such cameras can use security cameras or the like installed in the facility F.

[0040] <Air conditioner, outdoor unit> As shown in Fig. 1, air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn condition the first areas F1, F2, ··· Fn and are each connected to the outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna via refrigerant pipes (not shown).

[0041] The outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna are installed outdoors within the facility F and exchange heat with the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn via refrigerant pipes (not shown). When the outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna receive a control instruction from the relay output board 3 of the control device 1 via the network N1, they decrease or increase the rotational speed of the compressors of the outdoor units K1a, K2a, ··· Kna according to the control instruction. As a result, the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn will operate with the desired air conditioning capacity.

[0042] <Ventilation device, inverter> As shown in FIG. 1, the ventilation facilities L1, ··· Ln ventilate the second areas FF1, ··· FFn and are respectively connected to the inverters L1a, ··· Lna.

[0043] The inverters L1a, ··· Lna are installed outdoors within the facility F and control the ventilation facilities L1, ··· Ln. When the inverters L1a, ··· Lna receive a control instruction from the relay output board 3 of the control device 1 via the network N1, they decrease or increase the rotational speed of the supply and exhaust fans (not shown) of the ventilation facilities L1, ··· Ln according to the control instruction. As a result, the ventilation facilities L1, ··· Ln will operate with the desired ventilation capacity.

[0044] <EMS dedicated terminal> The EMS dedicated terminal T is a touch panel installed on the wall surface of the management room within the facility F shown in FIG. 1 and is used to perform the initial settings of the control device 1. More specifically, when the administrator of the facility F etc. inputs a set value using the touch panel T1 (see FIG. 1) of the EMS dedicated terminal T, the EMS dedicated terminal T transmits the set value to the input / output module 2a of the control device 1 via the network N3 shown in FIG. 1 by means of the communication module T2 (see FIG. 1). The set value will be described later.

[0045] In addition, the EMS dedicated terminal T displays, on the touch panel T1, the information received by the communication module T2 from the control device 1 (for example, the power consumption of the facility F, a warning that the power consumption of the facility F exceeds a predetermined value, etc.).

[0046] <Power company trading meter> The power company trading meter M is a general power consumption meter for measuring the power consumption of the facility F shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a pulse sensor M1 is attached to the power company trading meter M, and the power company trading meter M outputs a pulse corresponding to the power consumption to the pulse sensor M1. When the pulse sensor M1 detects a pulse, it calculates the power consumption used within the demand time limit based on the pulse and transmits it to the control device 1 at a predetermined interval (for example, every minute).

[0047] <Explanation of the functional configuration of the control device> Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the functional configuration of the control device 1 (see FIG. 1) according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the functional configuration of the control device 1 (see FIG. 1) includes a determination unit 300, a storage unit 301, a number detection unit 302, a power demand measurement unit 303, an air conditioning capacity determination unit 304, a ventilation capacity determination unit 305, and a control unit 306. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described.

[0048] <Determination unit> The determination unit 300 distributes the information received from the external device to each functional block based on the state held by the determination unit 300 or the state held by each functional block, and transmits the information and control instructions received from each functional block to the external device.

[0049] <Storage unit> The storage unit 301 includes an air conditioning area information storage unit 301a, a ventilation area information storage unit 301b, and a power information storage unit 301c, and holds the set values input by the administrator of the facility F or the like using the EMS dedicated terminal T.

[0050] More specifically, the air-conditioned area information storage unit 301a stores, in an associated manner, a plurality of air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see FIG. 1) installed in the facility F (see FIG. 1) and first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn (see FIG. 1) within the facility F that are air-conditioned by the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see FIG. 1). Further, the air-conditioned area information storage unit 301a also stores the appropriate number of people for each of the first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn (see FIG. 1). This appropriate number of people may be, for example, the number of people such that when that number of people is present in the first area, the corresponding air conditioner can maintain the comfort of the first area when operating with its normal air-conditioning capacity. Alternatively, the number of people that the first area can accommodate may be used as the appropriate number of people.

[0051] Therefore, the air-conditioned area information storage unit 301a stores information such as, for example, "Air conditioner K1: First area F1: 5 people".

[0052] Also, the ventilation area information storage unit 301b stores, in an associated manner, a plurality of ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see FIG. 1) installed in the facility F (see FIG. 1) and second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see FIG. 1) within the facility F that are ventilated by the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see FIG. 1). Further, the ventilation area information storage unit 301b also stores each of the first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn (see FIG. 1) included in each of the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see FIG. 1). Furthermore, the appropriate number of people for each of the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see FIG. 1) is also stored. This appropriate number of people may be, for example, the number of people obtained by dividing the ventilation volume per hour (e.g., 600 cubic meters) when each of the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see FIG. 1) ventilates with its normal ventilation capacity by the ventilation volume per hour required per person (e.g., 30 cubic meters) (e.g., 20 people).

[0053] Therefore, the ventilation area information storage unit 301b stores information such as, for example, "Ventilation facility L1: Second area FF1: First areas F1, F2, F3: 20 people".

[0054] In addition, the power information storage unit 301c stores the target power Ga (see Fig. 5(a)) and the limit power Gb (see Fig. 5(a)) set by the facility F (see Fig. 1). The control device 1 monitors whether the predicted power Gc (see Fig. 5(a)) predicted from the current power Ge (see Fig. 5(a)) exceeds the target power Ga. Also, when the current power Ge (see Fig. 5(a)) actually exceeds the limit power Gb (see Fig. 5(a)), the control device 1 generates a warning.

[0055] <Number detection unit> The number detection unit 302 analyzes the images acquired from the cameras C1, C2, ··· Cn (see Fig. 1) via the determination unit 300, and detects the number of people present in each of the first areas F1, F2, ··· Fn (see Fig. 1).

[0056] In addition, the number detection unit 302 also detects the number of people present in the second areas FF1, ··· FFn (see Fig. 1). To explain more specifically using the example of detecting the number of people present in the second area FF1 (see Fig. 1), first, the number detection unit 302 reads out the first areas "F1, F2, F3" included in the second area FF1 (see Fig. 1) from the ventilation area information storage unit 301b (see Fig. 2). Next, the number detection unit 302 analyzes the images acquired from the cameras C1, C2, C3 (see Fig. 1) via the determination unit 300 for the first areas F1, F2, F3 (see Fig. 1), and detects the number of people present in the first areas F1, F2, F3 (see Fig. 1). Then, the number detection unit 302 sets the total number of people detected in the first areas F1, F2, F3 (see Fig. 1) as the number of people present in the second area FF1 (see Fig. 1).

[0057] Note that the above method for detecting the number of people is just an example, and another method may also be used. For example, cameras capable of imaging the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see Fig. 1) may be installed in the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see Fig. 1), and the captured images may be analyzed by the number-of-people detection unit. However, calculating the number of people present in the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see Fig. 1) by summing up the number of people present in the first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn (see Fig. 1) can reduce the number of cameras to be installed.

[0058] Note that when detecting the number of people, for example, the number of people may be detected by detecting the people in the image through face recognition, skeleton recognition, etc. using AI. Since such technology for detecting the number of people from images is a common technology, detailed description is omitted.

[0059] <Power demand measurement unit> The power demand measurement unit 303 measures the power expected to be used within the demand time limit, that is, the expected demand value (the expected power Gc shown in Fig. 5(a)). This measurement is performed as follows by a known method using the amount of power consumed received from the pulse sensor M1 of the power company trading meter M (see Fig. 1).

[0060] First, the power demand measurement unit 303 calculates "the amount of power consumed received from the pulse sensor M1 within the demand time limit / the elapsed time within the demand time limit (18 minutes in the example of Fig. 5(a))" in order to obtain the current power Ge shown in Fig. 5(a). Next, the power demand measurement unit 303 calculates "the current power Ge + the amount of change in power at the current time point × the remaining time (12 minutes in the example of Fig. 5(a))" in order to obtain the expected power Gc (the expected demand value) shown in Fig. 4(a).

[0061] The power demand measurement unit 303 can measure the expected power Gc shown in Fig. 5(a) as described above.

[0062] Furthermore, the power demand measurement unit 303 uses the predicted power Gc obtained as described above to check whether the power consumption of the facility F exceeds a predetermined value. More specifically, the power demand measurement unit 303 reads the target power Ga and the limit power Gb from the power information storage unit 301c (see FIG. 2). Then, the target current power Gd is calculated by calculating "target power Ga / demand time limit (30 minutes in the example of FIG. 5(a)) × elapsed time (18 minutes in the example of FIG. 5(a))". Then, the target power Ga, the limit power Gb, the predicted power Gc, the target current power Gd, and the current power Ge are compared to determine whether the power consumption of the facility F exceeds a predetermined value. If it exceeds, the power demand measurement unit 303 determines the warning type to be generated (see FIG. 5(b)).

[0063] Regarding the warning type to be generated, referring to FIG. 5(b), the power demand measurement unit 303 determines to generate a warning alarm W1 when the current power Ge is less than the target current power Gd but the predicted power Gc is equal to or greater than the target power Ga. Also, the power demand measurement unit 303 determines to generate a caution alarm W2 when the current power Ge is equal to or greater than the target current power Gd but the predicted power Gc is less than the target power Ga. Also, the power demand measurement unit 303 determines to generate a cutoff alarm W3 when the current power Ge is equal to or greater than the target current power Gd and the predicted power Gc is also equal to or greater than the target power Ga. Furthermore, the power demand measurement unit 303 determines to generate a limit alarm W4 when the current power Ge exceeds the limit power Gb.

[0064] <Air conditioning capacity determination unit> The air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 determines the air-conditioning capacities of the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the first areas F1, F2, ···, Fn (see FIG. 1) according to the number of people detected by the number-of-people detection unit 302. More specifically described using the example of determining the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioner K1 (see FIG. 1), the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304 first reads out the appropriate number of people, "5 people", in the first area F1 (see FIG. 1) from the air-conditioning area information storage unit 301a (see FIG. 2). Next, it acquires the number of people existing in the first area F1 (see FIG. 1) detected by the number-of-people detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2). Then, it calculates what percentage of the appropriate number of people exists in the first area F1 (see FIG. 1). For example, if the number-of-people detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2) detects "2 people" in the first area F1 (see FIG. 1), then 40% of the appropriate number of people exists in the first area F1 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the air-conditioning capacity of the air conditioner K1 (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the first area F1 (see FIG. 1) is determined to be 40%.

[0065] Note that the above method for determining the air-conditioning capacity is just an example, and another method may also be used. For example, if the detected number of people is 50% or more of the appropriate number of people, the air-conditioning capacity may be set to 70%, and if it is less than 50%, the air-conditioning capacity may be set to 40%.

[0066] <Ventilation capacity determination unit> The ventilation capacity determination unit 305 determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see FIG. 1) according to the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2). More specifically described using an example of determining the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L1 (see FIG. 1), the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 first reads out the appropriate number of people, "20 people", in the second area FF1 (see FIG. 1) from the ventilation area information storage unit 301b (see FIG. 2). Next, the number of people present in the second area FF1 (see FIG. 1) detected by the number of people detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2) is acquired. Then, it is calculated what percentage of the appropriate number of people is present in the second area FF1 (see FIG. 1). For example, if the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2) in the second area FF1 (see FIG. 1) is "10 people", then 50% of the appropriate number of people is present in the second area FF1 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L1 corresponding to the second area FF2 (see FIG. 1) is determined to be 50%.

[0067] Note that the above method for determining the ventilation capacity is just an example, and another method may also be used. For example, instead of storing the appropriate number of people in each of the second areas FF1, ···, FFn (see FIG. 1) in the ventilation area information storage unit 301b (see FIG. 2) in advance, the ventilation volume when ventilating with the normal ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln may be stored. Then, the required ventilation volume is calculated from the number of people present in each of the second areas FF1, ···, FFn, and it is calculated what percentage of the ventilation volume when ventilating with the normal ventilation capacity the required ventilation volume is, and this may be determined as the ventilation capacity.

[0068] <Control Unit> The control unit 306 controls the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see FIG. 1) based on the air conditioning capacity determined by the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 (see FIG. 2). For example, when the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 determines the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner K1 (see FIG. 1) to be 40%, the control unit 306 transmits a control signal to the outdoor unit K1a (see FIG. 1) via the output module 3a (see FIG. 1) of the relay output board 3. As a result, the air conditioner K1 (see FIG. 1) will operate with an air conditioning capacity of 40%.

[0069] Note that the control unit 306 can transmit control signals to each of the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see FIG. 1) all at once. Even in this case, since the control signal is based on the air conditioning capacity determined by the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 (see FIG. 2) for each of the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see FIG. 1), it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption by performing air conditioning with a uniform air conditioning capacity. Also, since the air conditioning capacity can be controlled and power consumption can be suppressed without an alarm occurring, the possibility of an alarm occurring can be reduced, the necessity of making an immediate peak cut can be reduced, and comfort can be maintained.

[0070] On the other hand, if the control unit 306 rotates the control targets instead of transmitting control signals all at once, the comfort of the facility F can be better maintained.

[0071] A method of rotating the control targets will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 4(a) and (b). First, based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 (see FIG. 2), the control unit 306 controls the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity. Note that FIG. 4(a) shows that the air conditioners K1 and K7 are operating with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity, and the air conditioners K2 to K6, K8, and K9 are operating with the normal air conditioning capacity.

[0072] After a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed, the control unit 306 controls the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) to return to operating with the normal air conditioning capacity. On the other hand, based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304, the control unit 306 controls another air conditioner different from the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)), for example, the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see FIG. 4(b)), to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity. Note that FIG. 4(b) shows that the air conditioners K3 and K9 are operating with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity, and the air conditioners K1, K2, K4 to K8 are operating with the normal air conditioning capacity.

[0073] Furthermore, after a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) has elapsed, the control unit 306 returns the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see Fig. 4(a)) to operation at their normal air conditioning capacities, and controls another air conditioner to operate at an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304.

[0074] In this way, if the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see Fig. 1) to be controlled are rotated every predetermined time, the temperature in the first area that is operating at an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity temporarily rises (or falls) above the comfortable temperature, but can return to the comfortable temperature again by returning to the normal air conditioning capacity after the predetermined time, thus maintaining comfort.

[0075] Also, since the air conditioning capacities of all the air conditioners are not reduced simultaneously, comfort is maintained. That is, for example, as shown in Fig. 4(a), even when the air conditioners K1 and K7 are operating with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity, in the first area F1, air at a comfortable temperature that is being air-conditioned by the normal air conditioning capacities of the air conditioners K2, K4, and K5 flows in from the first areas F2, F4, and F5 adjacent to the first area F1. Similarly, in the first area F7, air at a comfortable temperature flows in from the adjacent first areas F4, F5, and F8. For this reason, the temperatures in the first areas F1 and F7 do not rise (fall) extremely, and comfort is maintained.

[0076] Also, at this time, it is preferable that the first areas F1 and F7 (F3 and F9) (see Fig. 4) where the air conditioners K1 and K7 (K3 and K9) (see Fig. 4) operating at a low air conditioning capacity are arranged are non-adjacent first areas. As a result, air that has temporarily risen (or fallen) above the comfortable temperature due to operating at a low air conditioning capacity does not flow into the first areas F1 and F7 (F3 and F9) (see Fig. 4), and only air at a comfortable temperature flows in, thus maintaining comfort even more.

[0077] Furthermore, at this time, it is preferable that the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see Fig. 4(a)) that initially operate with low air-conditioning capacity and then the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see Fig. 4(b)) that operate with low air-conditioning capacity are in non-adjacent first areas. Thereby, when the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see Fig. 4(b)) are operating with low air-conditioning capacity, the air in the first areas F1 and F7 (see Fig. 4(b)) that had been operating with low air-conditioning capacity until just now and whose temperature has temporarily risen (or fallen) above (or below) the comfortable temperature and has not yet returned to the comfortable temperature does not flow into the first areas F3 and F9 (see Fig. 4(b)), and thus, comfort is better maintained.

[0078] On the other hand, the control unit 306 also controls the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see Fig. 1) based on the ventilation capacity determined by the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 (see Fig. 2). For example, when the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 (see Fig. 2) determines that the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L1 (see Fig. 1) is 50%, the control unit 306 transmits a control signal to the inverter L1a (see Fig. 1) via the output module 3a of the relay output board 3 (see Fig. 1). Thereby, the ventilation facility L1 operates with a ventilation capacity of 50%.

[0079] Note that the control unit 306 rotates the control targets of the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see Fig. 1) at predetermined time intervals so as to better maintain the comfort of the facility F, but does not perform such rotation for the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see Fig. 1). That is, the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see Fig. 1) always operate based on the ventilation capacity determined by the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 (see Fig. 2). Thereby, while performing ventilation with the required ventilation volume, the power consumption of the ventilation facilities L1, ···, Ln (see Fig. 1) can be suppressed, and furthermore, the power consumption of the air conditioners (for example, the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn shown in Fig. 1) can be suppressed.

[0080] <Description of the processing content of the control device> Next, referring also to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the processing content of the control device 1 shown in this embodiment will be described by dividing it into the first processing after the power-on of the control device, the processing after the second and subsequent power-ons of the control device, and the processing when an alarm occurs. In the following description, it is assumed that the control device 1 controls the air conditioners K1 to K9 and the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 of the facility F shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0081] <First processing after the power-on of the control device> When the control device 1 is powered on by a power source (not shown), it reads a program from the ROM 2d (see FIG. 1) and starts the processing shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3.

[0082] First, the determination unit 300 shown in FIG. 2 stores set values in the air-conditioning area information storage unit 301a, the ventilation area information storage unit 301b, and the power information storage unit 301c shown in FIG. 2 (step S1). More specifically, an administrator or the like of the facility F operates the touch panel T1 of the EMS dedicated terminal T (see FIG. 1) to set the association between the air conditioners K1 to K9 (see FIG. 4(a)) and the first areas F1 to F9 (see FIG. 4(a)), and information regarding the appropriate number of people in the first areas F1 to F9. For example, "Air conditioner K1: First area F1: 5 people" is set. The communication module T2 (see FIG. 1) transmits these set information to the control device 1 (see FIG. 1). The determination unit 300 receives these through the input / output module 2a (see FIG. 1) and stores them in the air-conditioning area information storage unit 301a (see FIG. 2).

[0083] Similarly, the administrator of the facility F etc. operates the touch panel T1 of the EMS dedicated terminal T (see Fig. 1), and associates the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see Fig. 4(a)) with the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see Fig. 4(a)), and sets information regarding the appropriate number of people in the first areas F1 to F9 (see Fig. 4(a)) and the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see Fig. 4(a)) included in the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see Fig. 4(a)). For example, "Ventilation facility L1: Second area FF1: First areas F1, F2, F3: 20 people" is set. Thereby, the communication module T2 (see Fig. 1) transmits the set information to the control device 1 (see Fig. 1). The determination unit 300 receives these through the input / output module 2a (see Fig. 1) and stores them in the ventilation area information storage unit 301b (see Fig. 2).

[0084] Furthermore, the determination unit 300 stores the target power Ga (see Fig. 5(a)) of the facility F and the limit power Gb (see Fig. 5(a)) of the facility F received from the EMS dedicated terminal T in the power information storage unit 301c (see Fig. 2).

[0085] Next, the determination unit 300 shown in Fig. 2 stores the power consumption of the facility F (step S2). More specifically, the power consumption received at a predetermined interval (for example, every minute) from the pulse sensor M1 of the power company trading meter M (see Fig. 1) is stored in the RAM2c (see Fig. 1).

[0086] Next, the number of people detection unit 302 shown in Fig. 2 detects the number of people present in each of the first areas F1 to F9 (see Fig. 4(a)) and the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see Fig. 4(a)) within the facility F (step S3). The number of people detection unit 302 stores the number of people detected in the first areas F1 to F9 (see Fig. 4(a)) in the RAM2c (see Fig. 1) in association with the first areas F1 to F9 (see Fig. 4(a)) such as "First area F1: 2 people" "First area F2: 8 people". Similarly, the number of people detected in the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see Fig. 4(a)) within the facility F is stored in the RAM2c (see Fig. 1) in association with the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see Fig. 4(a)) such as "Second area FF1: 10 people" "Second area FF2: 15 people" "Second area FF3: 5 people".

[0087] Next, the determination unit 300 shown in FIG. 2 checks whether the air conditioner and ventilation equipment have been continuously controlled for a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes), or whether it is the first process since the power of the control device 1 was turned on (step S4). Since this is the first process since the power of the control device 1 was turned on, the determination unit 300 proceeds to the next step (step S4: Y).

[0088] Next, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2 sends a control instruction to the air conditioners K1 to K9 (see FIG. 4(a)) operating with low air conditioning capacity to return to normal operation (step S5). However, since this is the first process since the power of the control device 1 was turned on, the control unit 306 does not perform this process and proceeds to the next step.

[0089] Next, the power demand measurement unit 303 shown in FIG. 2 measures the power expected to be used within the demand time limit, that is, the expected demand value (the expected power Gc shown in FIG. 5(a)). Further, the power demand measurement unit 303 checks whether the power consumption of the facility F exceeds a predetermined value, and determines whether to generate the warning alarms W1, caution alarms W2, cutoff alarms W3, and limit alarms W4 shown in FIG. 5(b) (step S6).

[0090] Here, it is assumed that it is determined not to generate a warning.

[0091] Next, the determination unit 300 shown in FIG. 2 determines the air conditioners to be operated with low air conditioning capacity (step S7). Since this is the first process since the power of the control device 1 was turned on, any method can be used for the determination. For example, it may be determined that the air conditioner in the first area with the smallest number of people detected by the number detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2) is to be operated with low air conditioning capacity. Here, it is assumed that it is determined that the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) are to be operated with low air conditioning capacity.

[0092] Next, the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2 determines the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner operating at a low air conditioning capacity from the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 302 in the first areas F1 to F9 (see FIG. 4(a)) (step S8). More specifically, the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 compares the appropriate number of people in the first areas F1 and F7 (the first areas (see FIG. 4(a)) corresponding to the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) determined by the determination unit 300 to operate at a low air conditioning capacity) stored in the air conditioning area information storage unit 301a with the number of people in the first areas F1 and F7 (see FIG. 4(a)) stored in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) by the number of people detection unit 302, determines the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)), and stores it in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1). Here, it is assumed that the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner K1 (see FIG. 4(a)) is determined to be "40%" and the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) is determined to be "70%".

[0093] Next, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2 determines the ventilation capacity of each ventilation facility L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(a)) from the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 302 in the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see FIG. 4(a)) (step S9). More specifically, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 compares the appropriate number of people in the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see FIG. 4(a)) stored in the ventilation area information storage unit 301b with the number of people in the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see FIG. 4(a)) stored in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) by the number of people detection unit 302, determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(a)), and stores it in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1). Here, it is assumed that the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L1 (see FIG. 4(a)) is determined to be "50%", the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L2 (see FIG. 4(a)) is determined to be "70%", and the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L3 (see FIG. 4(a)) is determined to be "40%".

[0094] Next, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2 transmits a control instruction to the air conditioner (see FIG. 4(a)) and the ventilation facility (see FIG. 4(a)) based on the determinations of the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 (see FIG. 2) and the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 (see FIG. 2) (step S10).

[0095] More specifically, the control unit 306 reads out the air-conditioning capacities of "40%" and "70%" of the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) stored in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) by the air-conditioning capacity determination unit 304, generates a control signal based on this, and transmits it to the outdoor units K1a and K7a (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the air conditioners K1 and K7 via the output module 3a (see FIG. 1) of the relay output board 3 (see FIG. 1). The outdoor units K1a and K7a (see FIG. 1) reduce the rotational speed of the compressors in the outdoor units K1a and K7a (see FIG. 1) according to this control signal. As a result, the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see FIG. 4(a)) operate with air-conditioning capacities of 40% and 70% respectively. Note that the control unit 306 stores the air conditioners K1 and K7 in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) as air conditioners operating at low air-conditioning capacities.

[0096] Also, the control unit 306 reads out the ventilation capacities of "50%", "70%", and "40%" of the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(a)) stored in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) by the ventilation capacity determination unit 305, generates a control signal based on this, and transmits it to the inverters L1a to L3a (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 via the output module 3a (see FIG. 1) of the relay output board 3 (see FIG. 1). The inverters L1a to L3a (see FIG. 1) reduce the rotational speed of the supply and exhaust fans (not shown) according to this control signal. As a result, the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(a)) operate with ventilation capacities of 50%, 70%, and 40% respectively.

[0097] Next, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2 starts measuring the control time (step S11). More specifically, the control unit 306 starts a timer and measures the control time of the air conditioners K1 and K7 and the ventilation facilities L1 to L3.

[0098] The above is the first-time process after the power is turned on for the control device 1.

[0099] <Processes after the second time and later after the power is turned on for the control device> Next, when the control device 1 is powered on and the first-time process ends up to step S11, it returns to step S2, and the power consumption of the facility F is stored (step S2), and the number of people in the first area (see Fig. 4(a)) and the second area (see Fig. 4(a)) is detected and stored (step S3) are performed again.

[0100] Next, the determination unit 300 shown in Fig. 2 checks whether the air conditioner and ventilation equipment have been continuously controlled for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes), or whether it is the first-time process since the control device 1 was powered on (step S4). More specifically, since the determination unit 300 is not the first-time process since the power was turned on, it checks the timer started in step S11 to check whether a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S4: N), steps S2 and 3 are repeated. Here, it is assumed that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S4: Y).

[0101] Next, the control unit 306 shown in Fig. 2 sends a control instruction to the air conditioners K1 and K7 (see Fig. 4(a)) operating at low air conditioning capacity to return to normal operation (step S5). More specifically, the control unit 306 reads from the RAM 2c (see Fig. 1) the air conditioners (air conditioners K1 and K7) operating at low air conditioning capacity saved in step S10. Then, a control signal for setting the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners K1 and K7 to "100%" is generated and transmitted to the outdoor units K1a and K7a corresponding to the air conditioners K1 and K7 via the output module 3a (see Fig. 1) of the relay output board 3 (see Fig. 1). The outdoor units K1a and K7a receive this control signal and return the rotational speed of the compressors in the outdoor units K1a and K7a to the normal speed so that the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners K1 and K7 returns to 100% (returns to the normal air conditioning capacity).

[0102] Next, the power demand measurement unit 303 shown in Fig. 2 measures the power demand and further determines whether to issue a warning (step S6). Here, it is assumed that it is determined not to issue a warning.

[0103] Next, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2 determines an air conditioner that operates with a low air conditioning capacity (step S7). More specifically, the control unit 306 reads out from the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) the air conditioners (air conditioners K1 and K7) that were stored in step S10 and are operating with a low air conditioning capacity. Then, the control unit 306 searches for air conditioners other than the air conditioners K1 and K7, and determines the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see FIG. 4(b)) in the first areas F3 and F9 that are not adjacent to the first areas F1 and F7 as the next air conditioners to operate with a low air conditioning capacity.

[0104] Next, the air conditioning capacity determination unit 304 shown in FIG. 2 determines the air conditioning capacities of the air conditioners K3 and K9 that will next operate with a low air conditioning capacity from the number of people detected by the number detection unit 302 in the first areas F3 and F9 (see FIG. 4(b)) (step S8). Here, it is assumed that the air conditioning capacities are determined to be "70%" and "60%".

[0105] Next, the ventilation capacity determination unit 305 shown in FIG. 2 determines the ventilation capacities of the respective ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(a)) from the number of people detected in the second areas FF1 to FF3 (see FIG. 4(b)) (step S9). Here, it is assumed that the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L1 (see FIG. 4(b)) is determined to be "60%", the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L2 (see FIG. 4(b)) is determined to be "60%", and the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility L3 (see FIG. 4(b)) is determined to be "50%".

[0106] Next, the control unit 306 generates a control signal so that the air conditioning capacities of the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see FIG. 4(b)) become 70% and 60%, and transmits it to the outdoor units (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see FIG. 4(b)). Also, a control signal is generated so that the ventilation capacities of the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(b)) become 60%, 60%, and 50%, and is transmitted to the inverters (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the ventilation facilities L1 to L3 (see FIG. 4(b)). Further, the air conditioners K3 and K9 (see FIG. 4(b)) are stored in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) as the air conditioners operating with a low air conditioning capacity (step S10). Then, the timer is reset, and newly, the measurement of the control time is started (step S11).

[0107] The above is the process after the control device 1 is powered on for the second time and subsequent times.

[0108] <Processing when an alarm occurs> Next, the processing when it is determined to generate an alarm will be described. Note that the processing of steps S1 to S5 is the same as the processing already described, so the description will be omitted.

[0109] In step S6, the power demand measurement unit 303 measures the power demand and further determines whether to generate a warning. Here, it is assumed that it is determined to generate a warning alarm W1. The power demand measurement unit 303 stores the warning alarm W1 as an ongoing alarm in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1). Also, the power demand measurement unit 303 notifies the warning alarm W1 to the EMS dedicated terminal T (see FIG. 1) via the network N3 by the input / output module 2a. As a result, the EMS dedicated terminal T (see FIG. 1) causes the touch panel T1 (see FIG. 1) to display that the warning alarm W1 has been received and sounds an alarm (not shown).

[0110] Next, the control unit 306 shown in FIG. 2 determines an air conditioner that operates with low air conditioning capacity (step S7). At this time, since the warning alarm W1 is stored in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1) as an ongoing warning, for peak cutting, the number of air conditioners to be controlled to operate with low air conditioning capacity is increased. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, it is increased to three units (air conditioners K1, K7, and K9).

[0111] The processing from steps S8 to S11 is the same as the processing already described, so the description will be omitted. However, due to steps S8 to S11, the air conditioners K1, K7, and K9 will operate with the air conditioning capacity determined according to the number of people detected by the number detection unit 302. Also, in the RAM 2c (see FIG. 1), the air conditioners K1, K7, and K9 are stored as air conditioners operating with low air conditioning capacity.

[0112] After that, the power demand measurement unit 303 measures the power demand every predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) (see step S4 in FIG. 3), and determines whether to continue the warning or generate another warning (step S6). Then, while the warning continues or another warning is generated, for peak cutting, while increasing or further increasing the number of air conditioners operating with low air conditioning capacity, the air conditioners operating with ultra-low air conditioning capacity are rotated.

[0113] The above is the processing when an alarm occurs.

[0114] According to the present embodiment described above, the appropriate number of people preset for each of the first areas F1, F2... Fn is compared with the number of people detected in each of the first areas F1, F2... Fn, and based on the comparison result, the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn for each of the first areas F1, F2... Fn is determined. Therefore, regardless of the number of people in each of the first areas F1, F2... Fn, it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption by air conditioning with a uniform air conditioning capacity. As a result, it is possible to obtain a control device that further suppresses power consumption and easily maintains the comfort inside the building.

[0115] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the air conditioning capacity of the corresponding air conditioners K1, K2... Kn (see FIG. 1) and the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facilities L1... Ln (see FIG. 1) are determined according to the number of people detected by the number detection unit 302 (see FIG. 2) in each of the first areas F1, F2... Fn (see FIG. 1) and in each of the second areas FF1... FFn (see FIG. 1). Therefore, regardless of the number of people in each of the first areas F1, F2... Fn (see FIG. 1) and the second areas FF1... FFn (see FIG. 1), it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption by air conditioning and ventilation with a uniform air conditioning capacity and ventilation capacity.

[0116] Furthermore, since the ventilation facilities L1 to Ln (see Fig. 1) perform ventilation with a ventilation capacity corresponding to the detected number of people, the outflow of the comfortably cooled air conditioned by the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see Fig. 1) to the outside and the inflow of the uncomfortably heated outside air that is not air conditioned are minimized. As a result, the air conditioning load is reduced. Therefore, by determining the ventilation capacity according to the number of people, not only the power consumption of the ventilation facilities L1 to Ln (see Fig. 1) but also the power consumption of the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see Fig. 1) can be further reduced.

[0117] In addition, by controlling the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner to suppress unnecessary power consumption from when no alarm (warning alarm W1, caution alarm W2, cutoff alarm W3, limit alarm W4 shown in Fig. 5(b)) is occurring, the possibility of an alarm occurring can be reduced.

[0118] From the above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a control device that further suppresses power consumption and easily maintains the comfort inside the building.

[0119] <Description of Modification Example> Note that the control device shown in this embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. For example, in this embodiment, the control device 1 may further have a business hours information storage unit that stores the business hours of the facility F (e.g., "Sat, Sun, and holidays: 10:00 to 20:00", "Weekdays: 10:00 to 19:00") in the storage unit 301. Then, when the facility F is outside business hours, the control unit 306 may control the air conditioners K1, K2, ···, Kn (see Fig. 1) to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity. In this way, there is no worry about unexpected increase in power consumption outside business hours.

[0120] Further, before the facility F reaches its business hours, when starting the operation of the plurality of air conditioners K1, K2... Kn, instead of starting the operation all at once, the control unit 306 may control to start the operation of the air conditioners K1, K2... Kn with a time shift, such as starting the operation of the air conditioners K1, K2 first and then starting the operation of the air conditioner Kn. By doing so, it is possible to avoid a sharp increase in demand due to rapid power consumption before the start of business.

[0121] Also, in the present embodiment, the control device 1 rotates two air conditioners operating at low air-conditioning capacity at a time, but it may be one by one or three or more at a time. Further, instead of rotating the control targets, control signals may be transmitted to all the air conditioners at once. (In that case, in step S7, it may be determined that all the air conditioners operate at low air-conditioning capacity.)

[0122] Also, in the present embodiment, the control device 1 makes a determination of the air-conditioning capacity (step S8), a determination of the ventilation capacity (step S9), and control based on those determinations (step S10) at the same interval (every 3 minutes, step S4). However, they may be performed at different intervals. For example, the determination of the air-conditioning capacity (step S8) and the control based on that determination (step S10) may be performed every 3 minutes, and the determination of the ventilation capacity (step S9) and the control based on that determination (step S10) may be performed every 5 minutes.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0123] 1 Control device 301a Air-conditioning area information storage unit (air-conditioning area information storage means) 301b Ventilation area information storage unit (ventilation area information storage means) 301c Power information storage unit (power information storage means) 302 Number detection unit (number detection means) 303 Power demand measurement unit (power demand measurement means) 304 Air-conditioning capacity determination unit (air-conditioning capacity determination means) 305 Ventilation capacity determination unit (ventilation capacity determination means) 306 Control Unit (Control Means) Facility F First Areas F1 to Fm Second Areas FF1 to FFn Air Conditioners K1 to m Ventilation Facilities L1 to Ln

Claims

1. Air conditioning area information storage means for associating and storing a plurality of air conditioners installed in a facility with a first area in the facility that is air conditioned by the air conditioners, For each of the first areas, number of people detection means for detecting the number of people present in the first area, Air conditioning capacity determination means for determining the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner corresponding to the first area according to the number of people detected by the number of people detection means, Control means for controlling the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means, comprising: The air conditioning capacity determination means compares the appropriate number of people preset for each of the first areas with the number of people in each of the first areas detected by the number of people detection means, and based on the comparison result, determines to what extent to reduce the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner for each of the first areas from the normal air conditioning capacity, a control device.

2. Ventilation area information storage means for associating and storing a plurality of ventilation facilities installed in the facility with a second area in the facility that is ventilated by the ventilation facilities, Ventilation capacity determination means for determining the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility corresponding to the second area according to the number of people detected by the number of people detection means, Further comprising: The first area consists of a plurality of first areas, The second area consists of a plurality of areas including at least two of the plurality of first areas, The number of people detection means detects the number of people present in each of the first areas for each of the first areas, and also detects the number of people present in each of the second areas for each of the second areas, The ventilation capacity determination means determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility for each of the second areas based on the number of people in each of the second areas detected by the number of people detection means, The control means controls the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means, and controls the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determination means, The control device according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of air conditioners include a first air conditioner and a second air conditioner, The control means, Controls the first air conditioner to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity of the first air conditioner based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means, After a predetermined time has elapsed, while returning the first air conditioner to the normal air conditioning capacity operation, Control the second air conditioner to operate with an air conditioning capacity reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity of the second air conditioner based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means. The plurality of ventilation facilities are always controlled to operate with a ventilation capacity based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determination means. The control device according to claim 1.

4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the first air conditioner and the second air conditioner are air conditioners arranged in the first area that are not adjacent to each other.

5. When there are a plurality of the first air conditioners, these plurality of first air conditioners are air conditioners in the first area that are not adjacent to each other. The control device according to claim 3, wherein when there are a plurality of the second air conditioners, these plurality of second air conditioners are air conditioners in the first area that are not adjacent to each other.

6. A step of storing, by the air conditioning area information storage means, a correspondence between a plurality of air conditioners installed in the facility and a first area in the facility that the air conditioner air conditions. A step of detecting, by the number of people detection means, the number of people present in the first area for each first area. A step of determining, by the air conditioning capacity determination means, the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner corresponding to the first area according to the number of people detected by the number of people detection means. A control method comprising a step of controlling, by the control means, the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means. The air conditioning capacity determination means compares the appropriate number of people preset for each first area with the number of people in each first area, and based on the comparison result, determines to what extent the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner for each first area should be reduced from the normal air conditioning capacity.

7. A step of storing, by the ventilation area information storage means, a correspondence between a plurality of ventilation facilities installed in the facility and a second area in the facility that the ventilation facility ventilates. A step of determining, by the ventilation capacity determination means, the ventilation capacity of the ventilation facility corresponding to the second area according to the number of people detected by the number of people detection means. Further comprising The first area consists of a plurality of first areas. The second area consists of a plurality of areas including at least two of the plurality of first areas. The number of people detection means detects the number of people present in the first area for each first area and also detects the number of people present in the second area for each second area. The ventilation capacity determination means determines the ventilation capacity of the ventilation equipment for each of the second areas based on the number of people in each of the second areas detected by the number of people detection means. The control means controls the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner based on the determination of the air conditioning capacity determination means, and controls the ventilation capacity of the ventilation equipment based on the determination of the ventilation capacity determination means. The control method according to claim 6.

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