Air conditioning system

Abstract

To provide a comfortable environment to a worker and to reduce carrying power.SOLUTION: A floor radiation type air conditioning system 11 includes floor cooling and heating equipment 5 provided above and below a double floor 2 so as to be capable of radiating heat, and a floor blow-off type air conditioning system 12 includes a plurality of floor air control ports 6 having fans 7 capable of rotating forward and backward and controlling the number of revolutions. The air in the task area is sent to the lower part of the double floor 2 by reversely rotating the fan 7 of the floor air control port 6, and the air in the lower part of the double floor 2 is blown off into the task area by normally rotating the fan 7 of another floor air control port 6, so that the quantity of heat discharged to the lower part of the double floor 2 from the floor radiation type air conditioning system 11 can be used for indoor heat load processing in the task area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system that uses a floor outlet system to air-condition a task area of ​​a target space having a double floor on a floor slab, and uses a floor radiant system to air-condition an ambient area other than the task area. [Background technology]

[0002] A task-ambient air conditioning system, which controls the environment of a space where people work (task area) and a space other than that (ambient area), is known as an air conditioning system aimed at saving energy.

[0003] As an example of this type of air conditioning system, an air conditioning system has been proposed in which the environment in the task area is controlled by a convection air conditioning system using floor-air outlets, and the environment in the ambient area is controlled by a radiant air conditioning system using floor and ceiling panels (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-64129 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, convection air conditioning systems using floor-discharge methods provide a cool feeling due to the airflow and are highly responsive to changes in air temperature, but they are prone to causing uneven indoor temperatures and airflow, and are inferior to water-transport systems in terms of heat transfer efficiency. On the other hand, radiant air conditioning systems have the advantages of less draft, being quieter, and having less uneven indoor temperatures, but they also have problems such as poor response to changes in the target temperature, and in the case of radiant air conditioning systems using floor panels, there is also the problem of unintentional heat radiating under the floor, which is not related to the indoor heat load treatment. .

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the various problems mentioned above, and aims to provide an air conditioning system that provides a comfortable environment for workers while reducing the amount of power required for transportation by combining the features of the above-mentioned floor-discharge convection air conditioning system and floor panel radiant air conditioning system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an air conditioning system in an air-conditioned space having a double floor on a floor slab, in which the ambient area is conditioned by a floor radiant air conditioning system and the task area is conditioned by a floor outlet air conditioning system, wherein the floor radiant air conditioning system is equipped with floor heating and cooling equipment that is capable of dissipating heat above and below the double floor, and the floor outlet air conditioning system is equipped with multiple floor air vents having fans that can rotate forward and backward and whose rotation speed can be controlled, and the fans of the floor air vents are rotated in the reverse direction to send air in the task area below the double floor, and the fans of another floor air vent are rotated in the forward direction to blow air below the double floor into the task area, thereby making it possible to use the heat released below the double floor from the floor radiant air conditioning system to treat the indoor heat load of the task area.

[0008] In the air conditioning system of the present invention, it is preferable that the state of the floor air vent, including the forward / reverse rotation direction and rotation speed of the fan, be controlled based on the target temperature of the task area set using the PMV value, position information of people in the task area detected by a human presence sensor, and reported information from people in the task area regarding their thermal sensation and airflow.

[0009] In the air conditioning system of the present invention, it is preferable that the fan in an area where the presence of a person is confirmed by the human presence sensor is controlled to rotate forward, and the fan in an area where the absence of a person is confirmed by the human presence sensor is controlled to rotate reversely or stop.

[0010] In the air conditioning system of the present invention, it is preferable that the value of activity, which is one element of the PMV value, is varied depending on the accumulated time spent seated, and the value of activity immediately after sitting is varied depending on the accumulated time spent away from the seat, thereby changing the target temperature of the task area.

[0011] In the air conditioning system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the value of the amount of activity is increased or decreased based on reported information on thermal sensation from the person in the task area.

[0012] In the air conditioning system of the present invention, it is preferable that the value of the amount of clothing, which is one element of the PMV value, is set to a minimum in summer, a maximum in winter, and is set to a value smaller than in summer and larger than in winter in intermediate seasons, and that the target temperature of the task area is changed.

[0013] Preferably, the target temperature of the task area is corrected based on the concept of an adaptive model.

[0014] In the air conditioning system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the rotational speed of the fan is increased or decreased based on information reported by people in the task area regarding the feeling of airflow. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, a floor air vent equipped with a fan that can rotate forward and backward and whose rotation speed can be controlled is used to draw indoor air into the space under the floor and then blow it out into the room from another floor air vent, and by using the cooled or heated air under the floor to locally handle the heat load in the task area where people are present, various excellent effects can be obtained, such as realizing a comfortable environment while saving energy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing combinations of the rotation directions of the fans of two floor air vents in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a combination in which the fan of one floor air vent rotates forward and the fan of the other floor air vent rotates reversely, (b) shows a combination in which the fans of both floor air vents rotate forward, and (c) shows a combination in which the fans of both floor air vents rotate reversely. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example in which 40 floor air vents are distributed across seven air conditioning control zones in a task area in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change over time in the amount of activity in the air conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing seasonal changes in clothing amount in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram (source: ANSI / ASHRAE Standard 55-2010) showing how a comfortable temperature of an adaptive model is calculated from the monthly average outdoor air temperature in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature difference between the indoor temperature and a target temperature and the fan rotation speed ratio in the air conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a method for determining and controlling the rotation direction of a fan when infrared array sensors corresponding to two of the six floor air vents detect the presence of a person in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the declared value regarding the airflow feeling and an increase / decrease correction value by which the rotation speed of the fan is multiplied in the air conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing a comparison of the amount of heat generated by chilled or hot water when the fan of the floor air vent is stopped and when it is operating in the air conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a combination of the rotation directions of two floor air vents in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 40 floor air vents are distributed across seven air conditioning control zones in a task area.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, an air conditioning system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an air conditioning system in an air-conditioned space S having a double floor 2 on a floor slab 1, in which air conditioning of an ambient area AA is performed by a floor radiant air conditioning system 11 and air conditioning of a task area TA is performed by a floor blow-out air conditioning system 12.

[0019] The floor radiant air conditioning system 11 that conditions the ambient area AA is equipped with a floor heating and cooling equipment 5 in which hot and cold water piping 4 is installed on the underside of the floor panel 3 of the double floor 2. The floor heating and cooling equipment 5 is installed above and below the double floor 2 so that it can radiate heat, and is controlled by a temperature sensor (not shown) or the like installed in the ambient area AA.

[0020] The underfloor air conditioning system 12 that conditions the task area TA is equipped with multiple floor air vents 6 installed on the floor panels 3 of the double floor 2. Each floor air vent 6 is equipped with a fan 7 that can rotate forward and backward and an openable and closable shutter 8. Each floor air vent 6 is individually controlled to turn the fan 7 on and off, the direction and speed of rotation, and the opening and closing of the shutter 8 according to the desired environment of the task area TA, based on information such as the position of people detected by a human detection device such as an infrared array sensor 9 within the task area TA, the room temperature detected by a temperature sensor, and information reported by the worker regarding their sense of warmth and cold and the sense of airflow.

[0021] For example, as shown in Figure 2, when two floor air vents 6a and 6b are installed, three combinations are possible: a combination in which the fan 7a of one floor air vent 6a rotates forward and the fan 7b of the other floor air vent 6b rotates backward, as shown in Figure 2(a); a combination in which both fans 7a and 7b of both floor air vents 6a and 6b rotate forward, as shown in Figure 2(b); and a combination in which both fans 7a and 7b of both floor air vents 6a and 6b rotate backward, as shown in Figure 2(c). Furthermore, by including the stopped state and rotation speed of the fan 7, a variety of environments can be realized even with just two floor air vents 6a and 6b, and if more floor air vents 6 (three or more) are installed, an even greater number of combinations for operating the fan 7 can be set.

[0022] Figure 3 shows an example in which 40 floor air vents 6 (indicated by ● in Figure 3) are distributed in the task area TA. In this case, the task area TA is divided into seven air conditioning control zones Z (indicated by dashed lines in Figure 3), each with four or six floor air vents 6. The air conditioning control in the task area TA uses the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) value, which is an index of thermal sensation, and this PMV value is evaluated based on six items in the task area TA: physical elements such as temperature, relative humidity, average wind speed, and average radiant temperature, and human elements such as the amount of activity and amount of clothing.

[0023] Next, a specific control method for the air conditioning system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows the time variation of activity levels in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the seasonal variation of clothing levels in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows the calculation of a comfort temperature for an adaptive model from the monthly average outdoor air temperature in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention (Source: ANSI / ASHRAE Standard 55-2010). FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the temperature difference between the indoor temperature and the target temperature and the fan rotation speed ratio in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a method for determining and controlling the fan rotation direction when infrared array sensors corresponding to two of the six floor air vents detect the presence of a person in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the reported value regarding airflow sensation and the increase / decrease correction value multiplied by the fan rotation speed in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a comparison of the heat energy of chilled and hot water when the floor air vent fans are stopped and when they are running in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] In the air conditioning system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the amount of activity, which is one of the factors that affect the PMV value, is calculated using the cumulative time a person is present and the cumulative time a person is absent. The cumulative time a person is present is calculated by inputting the presence / absence information of people for each area covered by each floor air vent 6, detected by the infrared array sensor 9, into a calculation program and combining it with the timestamp of the input. Similarly, the cumulative time a person is absent is calculated by accumulating the time a person is absent before an area changes from an absent state to a present state.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a calculation example of the time change in activity level (MET) in the air-conditioning system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the MET value immediately after sitting is set to 2.0, and the MET value while sitting quietly is set to 1.0. If a person leaves their seat for an extended period of time, such as to go out, the MET value is reduced from immediately after sitting to the MET value while sitting quietly over a period of 10 minutes based on the accumulated time spent there calculated by the calculation program (see the solid line in FIG. 4). However, if a person leaves their seat for a short period of time, it is considered that the increase in activity level is not as great as when the person leaves their seat for a long period of time. Therefore, if the accumulated time away from the seat calculated by the calculation program is determined to be short (for example, if the time elapsed from the presence state to the absence state to the presence state again is 5 minutes or less), the MET value immediately after sitting is set to 1.4, not 2.0, by reducing the increase from the MET value of 1.0 while sitting quietly by 60%. The met value of 2.0 or 1.0, the elapsed time of 10 minutes or 5 minutes, and the reduction rate of 60% can be changed as appropriate by a predetermined operation.

[0026] The activity amount value can be increased or decreased based on the input of thermal sensation-related information from a PC, smartphone, or the like by the person in the task area TA. This information can be set to five levels: two or more instances of "warm," one instance of "warm," no instance of "cool," one instance of "cool," and two or more instances of "cool." For example, if "warm" is input two or more times, the activity amount is adjusted to -0.25 x 2; if "warm" is input once, the activity amount is adjusted to -0.25; if no instance of "warm" is input, the activity amount is adjusted to ±0; if "cool" is input once, the activity amount is adjusted to +0.25; if "cool" is input two or more times, the activity amount is adjusted to +0.25 x 2. The activity amount can be increased or decreased based on the level of the inputted information. The increase or decrease correction based on the input of thermal sensation-related information may be canceled after a predetermined time (e.g., five minutes) has elapsed since the person left their seat.

[0027] Next, Fig. 5 shows an example of calculation based on seasonal changes in clothing amount (clo) in the air conditioning system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the clothing amount is changed based on date information so that the clo value is small in summer and large in winter. Note that the clo value can also be changed daily, but in the example of Fig. 5, the clothing amount (clo) is set taking into consideration that people's clothing does not change much in summer (June to September) and winter (December to March).

[0028] Of the other six items used to calculate the PMV value, the average radiant temperature is calculated using the floor surface temperature obtained by the infrared array sensor 9, and the average wind speed (airflow) and relative humidity are calculated at constant values.The PMV value is then calculated from this information, and the indoor temperature is calculated so that the PMV value = 0.

[0029] Next, the indoor target temperature is corrected based on the concept of an "adaptive model," which is a comfort index. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the optimal temperature of the adaptive model is calculated from the monthly average outdoor air temperature, and the indoor target temperature is corrected by allocating this optimal temperature of the adaptive model and the indoor temperature at which the PMV value is 0 at a predetermined ratio. Note that the allocation ratio can be set arbitrarily; for example, if the ratio is 1:1, the indoor target temperature is the average value of the optimal temperature of the adaptive model and the indoor temperature calculated to achieve a PMV value of 0. If the ratio is 0:1, the indoor target temperature is not corrected by the adaptive model and remains at the temperature calculated to achieve a PMV value of 0.

[0030] Next, the rotation speed of the fan 7 is determined based on the target temperature calculated as described above. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotation speed ratio of the fan 7 is controlled based on the temperature difference between the calculated target temperature and the indoor temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The dashed line in FIG. 7 indicates a calculated value, and the rotation speed of the fan 7 is actually controlled according to the solid line in FIG. 7. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 7, the maximum rotation speed ratio of the fan 7 is set to 70%, and when the temperature difference is 2.1 K or more, the fan 7 is controlled to 70% of the maximum rotation speed ratio. In addition, the minimum rotation speed ratio of the fan 7 is set to 20%, and when the temperature difference is 0.6 K, the fan 7 is controlled to 20% of the minimum rotation speed ratio. When the temperature difference is less than 0.6 K, the fan 7 is stopped. When the rotation speed ratio of the fan 7 is less than 10%, the shutter 8 is closed.

[0031] The rotation direction (forward or reverse) of the fan 7 is determined and controlled for each air conditioning control zone Z based on the number of people detected by the infrared array sensor 9 and their location information. For example, in an air conditioning control zone Z where six floor air vents 6 are located, if the infrared array sensor 9 corresponding to one floor air vent 6 detects the presence of a person during cooling mode, the fan 7 of the one floor air vent 6 installed where the presence of a person was detected will rotate forward, and the fan 7 of another floor air vent 6 installed adjacent to it on its short side will rotate reverse, and the fans 7 of the remaining four floor air vents 6 will be stopped. Also, if the presence of a person is detected during cooling mode by the infrared array sensors 9 corresponding to two floor air vents 6, as shown in FIG. 8, the fans 7 of the two floor air vents 6 installed where the presence of a person was detected will rotate forward, and the fans 7 of the other two floor air vents 6 installed adjacent to them will rotate reverse, and the fans 7 of the remaining two floor air vents 6 will be stopped.

[0032] Similarly, when the infrared array sensors 9 corresponding to three floor air vents 6 detect the presence of a person in the cooling mode, the fans 7 of the three floor air vents 6 installed at the locations where the presence of a person was detected rotate forward, and the fans 7 of the other three floor air vents 6 rotate reverse. Furthermore, when the infrared array sensors 9 corresponding to four floor air vents 6 detect the presence of a person in the cooling mode, the fans 7 of the four floor air vents 6 installed at the locations where the presence of a person was detected rotate forward, and the fans 7 of the other two floor air vents 6 rotate reverse. Furthermore, when the infrared array sensors 9 corresponding to five floor air vents 6 detect the presence of a person in the cooling mode, the fans 7 of the five floor air vents 6 installed at the locations where the presence of a person was detected rotate forward, and the fan 7 of the other one floor air vent 6 rotates reverse. Furthermore, when the infrared array sensors 9 corresponding to all six floor air vents 6 detect the presence of a person, the fans 7 of all six floor air vents 6 rotate forward.

[0033] The above-described method for determining and controlling the rotation direction (forward or reverse) of the fan 7 is a method used in the cooling mode, and in the heating mode, the forward or reverse rotation direction of the fan 7 is reversed from that in the cooling mode, and the rotation direction of the fan 7 is determined and controlled accordingly.

[0034] The rotation speed ratio of the fan 7 can be increased or decreased based on the input of information about the airflow sensation by a person in the task area TA via a PC, smartphone, or the like. For example, if the airflow sensation information is an airflow sensation report value (0 to 100, with 50 being neutral) as shown in FIG. 9, the rotation speed ratio of the fan 7 may be increased or decreased based on the diagram shown in FIG. 9 (0.01 × reported value + 0.5). For example, if the reported value is 0, the rotation speed ratio may be 0% and the shutter 8 may be closed, or if the reported value is 100, the rotation speed ratio may be adjusted based on the larger of the corrected rotation speed ratio or 50%. The increase or decrease adjustment based on the input of the airflow sensation report information may be canceled after a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) has elapsed since the person left their seat.

[0035] In this way, the underfloor air conditioning system 12 that conditions the task area TA takes into account seasonal changes, worker reports, personal preferences and choices, and time changes such as length of stay, and determines and controls the ON / OFF of the fan 7, the direction of rotation (forward or reverse), the number of rotations, and the opening and closing of the shutter 8 for each floor air outlet 6. This makes it possible to provide a comfortable environment for the workers in the task area TA.

[0036] Furthermore, the floor-radiant air-conditioning system 11 radiates heat not only to the air-conditioned space S above the double floor 2 where the heat load needs to be treated, but also below the double floor 2. In particular, if carpet or other floor finishing materials are used to reduce noise in the air-conditioned space S, such as an office, the insulating effect is enhanced, reducing the amount of heat radiated above the double floor 2. Therefore, by rotating the fan 7 of the floor air vent 6 in the reverse direction to send indoor air from the task area TA below the double floor 2 and rotating the fan 7 of another floor air vent 6 in the forward direction to blow air below the double floor 2 into the task area TA above the double floor 2, the heat radiated below the double floor 2 can be used to treat the heat load within the task area TA. Furthermore, because this use of underfloor heat radiation using the floor air vent 6 locally circulates air to the sensible heat coil, it reduces the air transport power required compared to conventional methods of transporting air temperature-controlled by an air conditioner through a duct to the underfloor space and then back to the air conditioner through a duct.

[0037] In order to verify the effectiveness of underfloor heat radiation, which is one of the features of the air conditioning system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, using four floor air vents 6, the flow rate and return temperature of the chilled water pipes 4 installed on the underside of the floor panel 3 were measured and the amount of chilled water heat was calculated and compared when all the fans 7 of the four floor air vents 6 were stopped and when all the fans 7 of the four floor air vents 6 were rotated forward (floor blowing). As a result, as shown in Figure 10, operating the fans 7 promoted the use of heat radiation to the underfloor, making it possible to approximately double the amount of chilled heat.

[0038] Furthermore, with the air conditioning system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a person inputs their own thermal sensation by expressing it as hot or cold using an information terminal such as a personal PC or smartphone, the ON / OFF, rotation direction (forward or reverse), rotation speed, etc. of the fan 7 of the floor air vent 6 are changed in response to the person's input, thereby changing the thermal environment in the room and realizing an environment that suits the person's preferences.

[0039] The above description of the embodiments of the present invention describes preferred embodiments of the air conditioning system 10 according to the present invention, and therefore may include various technically preferable limitations. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects unless there is a specific description that limits the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 2 double floor 5. Floor heating and cooling equipment 6 Floor air outlet 7 Fan 9. Infrared array sensor (motion sensor) 10. Air Conditioning System 11 Floor radiant air conditioning system 12 Floor-discharge air conditioning system

Claims

1. In an air-conditioning target space having a double floor on a floor slab, an air conditioning system is provided in which air conditioning of an ambient area is performed by a floor radiant air conditioning system and air conditioning of a task area is performed by a floor blowout air conditioning system, The floor radiant air conditioning system is equipped with floor heating and cooling equipment that can dissipate heat above and below the double floor, and the floor blow-out air conditioning system is equipped with multiple floor air vents with fans that can rotate forward and backward and whose rotation speed can be controlled, and the fans of the floor air vents are rotated in reverse to send air in the task area below the double floor, and the fans of another floor air vent are rotated in forward to blow air below the double floor into the task area, thereby making it possible to use the heat released below the double floor from the floor radiant air conditioning system to treat the indoor heat load in the task area.

2. 2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the state of the floor air vent, including the forward / reverse rotation direction and rotation speed of the fan, is controlled based on the target temperature of the task area, which is set using the PMV value, position information of people in the task area detected by a human presence sensor, and reported information from the people in the task area regarding their thermal sensation and airflow.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the fan in an area where the presence of a person is confirmed by the human presence sensor is controlled to rotate in a forward direction, and the fan in an area where the absence of a person is confirmed by the human presence sensor is controlled to rotate in a reverse direction.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 2, wherein the target temperature of the task area is changed by varying the activity amount value, which is one element of the PMV value, based on the accumulated time spent sitting, and by varying the activity amount value immediately after sitting based on the accumulated time spent away from the seat.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 4 , wherein the value of the activity amount is increased or decreased based on reported information on thermal sensation from the person in the task area.

6. 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the value of the amount of clothing worn, which is one element of the PMV value, is set to a minimum in summer, a maximum in winter, and is set to a value smaller than that in summer and larger than that in winter in intermediate seasons, and the target temperature of the task area is changed.

7. 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the target temperature of the task area is corrected based on the concept of an adaptive model.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 2 , wherein the rotational speed of the fan is increased or decreased based on information reported by people in the task area regarding the feeling of airflow.

Images