Air conditioning system, air conditioning method, and air conditioning program

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and an air conditioning program that are less likely to impair the comfort of a target space.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system according to the present disclosure includes an estimation unit configured to calculate an estimated load, which is an estimated value of a heat load in a target space, based on environmental information, a correction unit configured to obtain a corrected load based on the estimated load estimated by the estimation unit, and a setting unit configured to set a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value of an air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that conditions air in the target space, based on the corrected load.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and an air conditioning program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner that provides comfortable air conditioning with appropriate air conditioning capacity even when air conditioning load conditions change suddenly. This air conditioner is equipped with an air conditioning load prediction means that predicts the air conditioning load from environmental information including indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, a control target determination means that determines an air conditioning control target, and a control amount calculation means that calculates a control amount for the air conditioning equipment based on the air conditioning load predicted by the prediction means and the control target determined by the control target determination means. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-264086 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and an air conditioning program that are less likely to impair the comfort of a target space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air conditioning system of the present disclosure comprises an estimation unit that calculates an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of a target space, based on environmental information; a correction unit that calculates a corrected load based on the estimated load estimated by the estimation unit; and a setting unit that sets a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value for the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that air-conditions the target space, based on the corrected load, wherein when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the correction unit calculates the corrected load by increasing or decreasing the estimated load in accordance with the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load.

[0006] The air conditioning method of the present disclosure is an air conditioning method executed by a computer of an air conditioning system, and includes an estimation step of calculating an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of a target space, based on environmental information; a correction step of determining a corrected load based on the estimated load; and a setting step of setting a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value for the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that conditions the target space, based on the corrected load, wherein in the correction step, when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the corrected load is determined by increasing or decreasing the estimated load according to the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load.

[0007] The air conditioning program of the present disclosure is an air conditioning program that causes a computer of an air conditioning system to execute the following steps: an estimation step of calculating an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of a target space, based on environmental information; a correction step of determining a corrected load based on the estimated load; and a setting step of setting a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value for the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that conditions the target space, based on the corrected load; and in the correction step, when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the corrected load is determined by increasing or decreasing the estimated load according to the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The air conditioning system, air conditioning method, and air conditioning program disclosed herein can calculate a corrected load that reduces the error between the actual heat load and the estimated load due to the time lag between acquiring environmental information and calculating the estimated load when the heat load in the target space fluctuates significantly, and set a target air conditioning capacity, thereby making it possible to prevent a loss of comfort in the target space. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an air conditioning setting device and an indoor unit of an air conditioner. [Figure 3]A time-series diagram showing an example of thermal load, estimated load, and corrected load. [Figure 4] A time-series diagram showing an example of thermal load, estimated load, and corrected load. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting operation of a target air conditioning capacity in a setting unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of temporal changes in the space temperature and heat load of a target space, and the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner, when the corrected load is a cooling load and the air conditioner operates in cooling mode. [Figure 7] A flowchart showing the processing steps of an air conditioning method executed by a first processor of an air conditioning setting device and a second processor of an indoor unit. [Figure 8] Flowchart showing the procedure of load calculation processing DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors arrived at the idea of ​​the present disclosure, a technology known as an air conditioning system had been proposed in which various types of information inside and outside a target space, which is the target of air conditioning, were acquired by sensors or the like, and the various types of information were used to estimate the air conditioning load and determine a control target for the air conditioner in order to increase the comfort of the target space. Under these circumstances, the inventors were inspired by the fact that there is a time lag between the acquisition of information by sensors or the like and the estimation of the air conditioning load, and discovered that when the air conditioning load fluctuates greatly, the time lag results in a large error in the estimation of the air conditioning load, which is likely to impair comfort, and they came to constitute the subject matter of the present disclosure in order to solve this problem. The present disclosure provides an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and an air conditioning program that are less likely to impair the comfort of a target space.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) The first embodiment will be described below. [1. Configuration] [1-1. Air conditioning system configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system 1 according to the first embodiment. The air conditioning system 1 is a system that conditions a target space S, which is a space to be air-conditioned provided inside a building H such as a residence or a facility. The target space S is, for example, a room provided inside the building H. Hereinafter, the outside of the building H will be referred to as the outdoors.

[0013] The air conditioning system 1 includes an air conditioning setting device 2, an air conditioner 3 that conditions the target space S in accordance with instructions from the air conditioning setting device 2, a communication relay device 4, a remote controller 5 which is a terminal device operated by a user P, and an indoor sensor 6.

[0014] The communication relay device 4 includes a transceiver and relays communications between devices located within the target space S, as well as between the devices and external devices connected to a communication network NW including the air conditioning setting device 2. The communication network NW may be configured as a public line network, a dedicated line, or other communication circuits. The communication network NW may be, for example, a communication network that constitutes the Internet. The communication relay device 4 may be, for example, a WLAN router that combines the functions of an access point that establishes a wireless LAN through wireless communication with the devices located within the target space S, and the functions of a router that communicatively connects the devices to external devices connected to the communication network NW. Note that communication between the communication relay device 4 and the devices is not limited to wireless LAN, and may be configured to communicate via wired LAN.

[0015] The indoor sensor 6 is a temperature and humidity sensor that measures the humidity in the target space S and the space temperature Tc, which is the temperature in the target space S. The indoor sensor 6 is connected to other devices via the communication relay device 4 so as to be able to communicate with them.

[0016] The air conditioner 3 comprises an indoor unit 3a arranged in the target space S and an outdoor unit 3b arranged outdoors. The indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3 communicates directly with a remote controller 5, and also communicates with other devices via a communication relay device 4. The air conditioner 3 may comprise any number of indoor units 3a and outdoor units 3b, which may be one or more. Furthermore, any number of indoor units 3a, which may be one or more, may be provided in the target space S.

[0017] The outdoor unit 3b includes, for example, a compressor 301 that compresses a refrigerant, and a compressor motor 302 that is a three-phase motor that drives the compressor 301. Note that the air conditioner 3 is not limited to one that includes the compressor 301, and may be one that operates on any principle that can cool and / or heat a target space.

[0018] The indoor unit 3a receives instructions from a remote controller 5 operated by a person P who is a user, and transmits information related to air conditioning operation to the remote controller 5. The indoor unit 3a also controls the operation of the air conditioner 3 in accordance with instructions from the remote controller 5 and instructions received from the air conditioning setting device 2.

[0019] The instructions that the indoor unit 3a receives from the remote controller 5 may include instructions to start and end the air conditioning operation, instructions as to which air conditioning mode to operate in among cooling mode, heating mode, and dehumidification mode, instructions for the target temperature Tt for the target space S, and instructions as to which operating mode to operate in among energy saving mode which prioritizes low power consumption and comfort mode which prioritizes comfort by suppressing temperature fluctuations in the target space S.

[0020] The information transmitted by the indoor unit 3a to the remote controller 5 may include, for example, information on the humidity and space temperature Tc in the target space S acquired by the indoor unit 3a from the indoor sensor 6, information on the current operating mode of the air conditioner 3, and information received by the indoor unit 3a from the air conditioning setting device 2.

[0021] The remote controller 5 is a terminal device that allows a user P to give instructions to the air conditioner 3 and obtain information about the air conditioner 3. The remote controller 5 includes a computer, a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and operation buttons. In accordance with conventional technology, the remote controller 5 obtains settings such as the operating mode and target temperature Tt for the air conditioner 3 set by the user P through a link between the display screen on the display device and operations performed by the user P on the operation buttons, and transmits these settings to the indoor unit 3a. The remote controller 5 also displays information received from the indoor unit 3a on the display device.

[0022] A ventilation device 7 that supplies air to the target space S may be arranged in the target space S. The ventilation device 7 communicates with other devices via the communication relay device 4. The ventilation device 7 may provide information on whether the ventilation operation is on or off and information on the ventilation volume (e.g., the volume of air supplied) to the other devices via the communication relay device 4. The ventilation device 7 may further measure the power consumption of the ventilation device 7 and provide information on the measured power consumption to the other devices via the communication relay device 4.

[0023] An outdoor sensor 8 that detects the humidity and temperature of the outdoor air, i.e., the outdoor temperature To, is disposed on the exterior wall of the building H. The outdoor sensor 8 is connected to other devices via a communication relay device 4 so as to be able to communicate with them.

[0024] The target space S can be illuminated by the lighting device 9 and natural light entering through a window WD provided in the target space S. The lighting device 9 can provide information on whether the lighting is on or off and information on power consumption to other devices via the communication relay device 4.

[0025] A refrigerator 10, a television 11, and a personal computer 12 may be placed in the target space S. The refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12 are configured to provide information on whether the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12 are each operational on / off and power consumption information to other devices via the communication relay device 4. Here, the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12 are examples of electrical devices that may be placed in the target space S. The target space S is not limited to the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12, and any other electrical devices may be placed therein.

[0026] The target space S is equipped with a door DR that serves as an entrance / exit for a person P to enter and exit the target space S. A human presence sensor 13 is provided on the top of the door DR to detect the entry and exit of the person P through the door DR. The human presence sensor 13 detects the entry of the person P into the target space S and the exit of the person P from the target space S, and can provide the detected information to other devices via the communication relay device 4.

[0027] [1-2. Configuration of air conditioning setting device] Next, the configuration of the air conditioning setting device 2 will be described. The air conditioning setting device 2 can be realized, for example, as a server device connected to a communication network NW. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning setting device 2 and the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3. The air conditioning setting device 2 includes a first processor 20, a first memory 21, and a first communication device 22. The first memory 21 is configured by a volatile and / or non-volatile semiconductor memory and / or a hard disk device. The first communication device 22 is a transceiver for the first processor 20 to communicate via the communication network NW. The first processor 20 communicates with each device provided in the building H and the target space S, including the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3, via the communication network NW and the communication relay device 4 using the first communication device 22.

[0028] The first processor 20 is a computer equipped with a processor such as a CPU. The first processor 20 may have a ROM in which programs and data are written, and / or a RAM for temporarily storing data. The first processor 20 has, as functional elements or units, an information acquisition unit 24, an estimation unit 25, a setting unit 26, and a correction unit 27.

[0029] These functional elements of the first processor 20 are realized, for example, by the first processor 20, which is a computer, executing a first program 23 stored in a first memory 21. The first program 23 can be stored in any computer-readable storage medium. Alternatively, all or part of the functional elements of the first processor 20 can be configured by hardware each including one or more electronic circuit components.

[0030] [1-2-1. Information acquisition section] The information acquisition unit 24 acquires various setting information set by a person P, who is a user, by operating the remote controller 5 from the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3. As will be described later, each time the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3 receives some setting information from the remote controller 5, it transmits the received setting information to the air conditioning setting device 2. The setting information may include a target temperature Tt for the space temperature Tc of the target space S, a designated air conditioning mode (cooling mode, heating mode, or dehumidification mode), and a designated operating mode (energy saving mode or comfort mode).

[0031] The information acquisition unit 24 also acquires environmental information from each device and each sensor provided in the building H and the target space S. The environmental information is information that can be used by the estimation unit 25 to calculate the estimated load Q. The environmental information includes information about the state within the target space S and the state around the target space S. In this embodiment, the environmental information is information that can be used to calculate one or more of the outside air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load, which will be described later. The environmental information may also include information that can be used to calculate the through-flow load, which will be described later.

[0032] Specifically, the environmental information may include information on the space temperature Tc of the target space S acquired by the indoor sensor 6. The environmental information may include information on whether the ventilation operation by the ventilation device 7 is on or off, and information on the ventilation volume (e.g., the volume of air supplied) after the ventilation operation is on. The environmental information may include information on the outside air temperature To acquired by the outdoor sensor 8. The environmental information may include information on whether electrical appliances such as the refrigerator 10, television 11, and personal computer 12 installed in the target space S are on or off. The environmental information may include information on the number of people P present in the target space S, or information from which the number of people P present in the target space S can be calculated, such as information on the entry and exit of people P into and from the target space S detected by the human presence sensor 13.

[0033] The information acquisition unit 24 repeatedly acquires environmental information. Specifically, the sampling period Cs, which is the period during which the information acquisition unit 24 acquires environmental information, can be a first sampling period Cs1 or a second sampling period Cs2. The second sampling period Cs2 is a period shorter than the first sampling period Cs1. For example, the first sampling period Cs1 is 5 minutes, and the second sampling period Cs2 is 1 minute. As will be described later, the information acquisition unit 24 switches the sampling period Cs for acquiring environmental information between the first sampling period Cs1 and the second sampling period Cs2 depending on the conditions. Note that the information acquisition unit 24 does not need to acquire all types of information included in the environmental information every time it acquires environmental information.

[0034] [1-2-2. Estimation part] The estimation unit 25 repeatedly calculates an estimated load Q, which is an estimate of the current thermal load Qr of the target space S, based on the environmental information acquired by the information acquisition unit 24. Here, the thermal load Qr of the target space S refers to the amount of heat per hour (in kcal / h or kW / h) that should be provided to or removed from the target space S in order to maintain the space temperature Tc of the target space S at its current value. Furthermore, the thermal load Qr when heat is provided to the target space S is called a heating load, and the thermal load Qr when heat is removed from the target space S is called a cooling load. In this embodiment, for both the cooling load and the heating load, the thermal load Qr, the estimated load Q, and the corrected load Qc (described later) are assumed to be positive numbers. In other words, the heating load, or thermal load Qr, refers to the load that removes heat from the target space S, and the cooling load, or thermal load Qr, refers to the load that inputs heat into the target space S. However, the value of the thermal load Qr is assumed to be a positive number for both the heating load and the cooling load, regardless of the direction of heat inflow and outflow from the target space S. Therefore, when the cooling load is large, the value of the thermal load Qr corresponding to the cooling load is larger than when the cooling load is small. Furthermore, when the heating load is large, the value of the thermal load Qr corresponding to the heating load is larger than when the heating load is small. In other words, in the case of a cooling load, for example, when the outdoor temperature To is high, such as during the daytime in summer, the thermal load Qr is large, and when the outdoor temperature To is low, such as on an autumn night, the thermal load Qr is small. In the case of a heating load, for example, the heat load Qr is large when the outdoor temperature To is low, such as at night in winter, and is small when the outdoor temperature To is high, such as during the day in spring.

[0035] When calculating the estimated load Q, the estimation unit 25 may handle, for example, one or more of the following as factors of the thermal load Qr: outdoor air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load. The outdoor air load is a load generated by heat exchange between the target space S and outdoor air. Outdoor air is introduced into the target space S by the ventilation device 7. The estimation unit 25 may calculate, as the outdoor air load, a thermal load required to eliminate fluctuations in the space temperature Tc that may occur due to the exchange of air in the target space S with outdoor outdoor air, based on information acquired by the information acquisition unit 24, including the current outdoor air humidity, outdoor air temperature To, humidity of the target space S, space temperature Tc, and the current hourly air supply rate of the ventilation device 7. In addition to the outdoor air introduced by the ventilation device 7, the estimation unit 25 may also add, to the outdoor air load, a load due to natural ventilation (such as drafts) that occurs depending on the degree of sealing of the target space S. The hourly ventilation rate of natural ventilation in the target space S may be measured in advance and stored in the first memory 21.

[0036] The lighting load is the amount of heat generated in the target space S by the lighting device 9 installed in the target space S. The estimation unit 25 calculates the lighting load as, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the current power consumption of the lighting device 9 acquired by the information acquisition unit 24 by the heat loss of the lighting device 9 (the amount of heat generated in the target space S per unit of power consumption).

[0037] The appliance load is the amount of heat generated in the target space S by electrical appliances other than the lighting device 9 arranged in the target space S. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the electrical appliances are the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12. For example, the estimation unit 25 calculates the appliance load generated by each of the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12 by multiplying the current power consumption of each of the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12 acquired by the information acquisition unit 24 by the heat loss (amount of heat generated in the target space S per unit of power consumption) of each of the refrigerator 10, the television 11, and the personal computer 12. Then, the sum of these calculated appliance loads is regarded as the appliance load in the target space S.

[0038] The human body load can be calculated as the thermal load for eliminating fluctuations in the space temperature Tc caused by the amount of heat generated or absorbed in the target space S by the bodies of people P present in the target space S. The estimation unit 25 can calculate the human body load, for example, based on the number of people P in the target space S calculated by the estimation unit 25 and the predetermined latent heat amount and sensible heat amount per person.

[0039] The estimation unit 25 calculates the current outdoor air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load, and sets the sum of these loads as the current estimated load Q for the target space S. The period at which the estimation unit 25 calculates the estimated load Q is the estimation period Cp. In detail, the estimation period Cp may be a first estimation period Cp1 or a second estimation period Cp2. The second estimation period Cp2 is a period shorter than the first estimation period Cp1. For example, the first estimation period Cp1 is 5 minutes, and the second estimation period Cp2 is 1 minute. The estimation unit 25 switches the estimation period Cp between the first estimation period Cp1 and the second estimation period Cp2 depending on conditions.

[0040] The outdoor air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load described above are examples of loads that can contribute to the thermal load Qr. When calculating the estimated load Q, the estimation unit 25 may also include loads other than the outdoor air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load in the estimated load Q. For example, the estimation unit 25 may add a through-flow load, which is the amount of heat exchanged between the target space S and the outdoor air through the walls and ceiling separating the target space S, to the estimated load Q as a load other than the outdoor air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load. The through-flow load is calculated, for example, by multiplying the difference between the space temperature Tc and the outdoor air temperature To of the target space S acquired by the information acquisition unit 24 by the area of ​​the walls and ceiling of the target space S and the overall heat transfer coefficient (an index representing the ability of materials and structures to transfer heat) of the walls and ceiling of the target space S. The area of ​​the walls and ceiling of the target space S and the overall heat transfer coefficient of the walls and ceiling are calculated using previously prepared values.

[0041] Furthermore, the estimation unit 25 stores the calculated estimated load Q in the first memory 21 as estimated load data 28. The estimated load data 28 includes the latest estimated load Q calculated by the estimation unit 25 and estimated loads Q calculated by the estimation unit 25 over a predetermined period in the past (for example, one year).

[0042] [1-2-3. Correction section] The correction unit 27 calculates a corrected load Qc based on the estimated load Q. The corrected load Qc is a value obtained by correcting the estimated load Q in consideration of an error between the estimated load Q and the thermal load Qr that occurs due to the time difference between when each device and each sensor acquires environmental information and when the estimation unit 25 estimates the estimated load Q using the environmental information.

[0043] The estimated load Q is a value obtained by estimating the current thermal load Qr based on the environmental information by the estimating unit 25. However, in reality, the environmental information used by the estimating unit 25 for estimation is data from the time when each sensor and device performed measurement. In other words, the estimating unit 25 uses data from the past when calculating the estimated load Q. Therefore, if the time from when each device and sensor acquires environmental information to when the estimating unit 25 makes an estimation is a delay time dt, the estimating unit 25 actually estimates the thermal load Qr from the past by the delay time dt from the present.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a time-series diagram illustrating an example of the thermal load Qr, estimated load Q, and corrected load Qc, showing time-series data when the thermal load Qr is on an increasing trend. The vertical axis of FIG. 3 represents the thermal load Qr, estimated load Q, and corrected load Qc, and the horizontal axis represents time. In FIG. 3, graph G100 represents the time-series data of the thermal load Qr, graph G101 represents the estimated load Q, and graph G102 represents the corrected load Qc. As described above, the estimated load Q corresponds to the thermal load Qr from the past by the delay time dt from the present, so graph G101 in FIG. 3 corresponds to graph G100 shifted later on the time axis by the delay time dt.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3 , when the fluctuations in the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q are small, for example, from time t6 to time t7, the difference ΔQ between the graph G100 corresponding to the thermal load Qr and the graph G101 corresponding to the estimated load Q at the same time is small. However, when the fluctuations in the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q are large, for example, from time t8 to time t9, the difference ΔQ between the graph G100 corresponding to the thermal load Qr and the graph G101 corresponding to the estimated load Q at the same time is large. In the example of FIG. 3 , the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q tend to increase, more specifically, monotonically increase, from time t8 to time t9, so the estimated load Q is smaller than the thermal load Qr at the same time by the difference ΔQ. Therefore, when the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q tend to increase and fluctuate greatly, if the setting unit 26 (described later) sets the target air-conditioning capacity W of the air conditioner 3 to a value corresponding to the estimated load Q, the air-conditioning capacity Wr will remain insufficient, which may impair the comfort of the target space S.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a time-series diagram illustrating an example of the thermal load Qr, estimated load Q, and corrected load Qc, showing time-series data when the thermal load Qr is on a decreasing trend. The vertical axis of FIG. 4 represents the thermal load Qr, estimated load Q, and corrected load Qc, and the horizontal axis represents time. In FIG. 4, graph G103 represents the time-series data of the thermal load Qr, graph G104 represents the estimated load Q, and graph G105 represents the corrected load Qc. As in FIG. 3, graph G104 showing the estimated load Q corresponds to graph G103 showing the thermal load Qr shifted later on the time axis by delay time dt.

[0047] As shown in Figure 4, even when the thermal load Qr is decreasing, as in Figure 3, the difference ΔQ between the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q is small when the fluctuations in the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q are small, and is large when the fluctuations in the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q are large. For example, between time t10 and time t11, the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q are decreasing, more specifically, monotonically decreasing, and fluctuating greatly, so the estimated load Q is larger than the thermal load Qr at the same time by the difference ΔQ. Therefore, when the thermal load Qr is decreasing and the rate of decrease is large, if the setting unit 26 (described later) sets the target air-conditioning capacity W of the air conditioner 3 to a value corresponding to the estimated load Q, an excessive air-conditioning capacity Wr will continue, which may impair the comfort of the target space S or deteriorate the energy-saving performance.

[0048] On the other hand, when it is estimated that the fluctuation in the thermal load Qr is large, that is, when the fluctuation in the estimated load Q is large, the correction unit 27 corrects the value of the estimated load Q to reduce the difference ΔQ between the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q, and calculates the corrected load Qc. Also, when it is estimated that the fluctuation in the thermal load Qr is small, that is, when the fluctuation in the estimated load Q is small, the correction unit 27 sets the value of the corrected load Qc to the same value as the estimated load Q, because the difference ΔQ between the thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q is small.

[0049] In detail, the correction unit 27 calculates a rate of change R indicating the magnitude of the fluctuation of the estimated load Q. Q Based on this, it is determined whether to obtain a corrected load Qc by correcting the estimated load Q, or to use the value of the estimated load Q as the value of the corrected load Qc as is. QThe value of is the latest estimated load Q t , the latest estimated load Q t The estimated load Q is just one step smaller than the estimated load Q. t-1 Then, the estimated period Cp is used to obtain the following equation (1). R Q =(Q t -Q t-1 ) / Cp (1) Rate of change R Q When the estimated load Q is increasing, it becomes a positive number. Q When the estimated load Q is on a decreasing trend, it becomes a negative number.

[0050] The correction unit 27 calculates the rate of change R Q The absolute value of the rate of change R Q The reference value of the standard rate of change R S If the value is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change R, the estimated load Q is corrected to obtain the corrected load Qc. S is set to a value that does not cause the temperature difference ΔT, which will be described later, to fall outside the temperature maintenance range Rm. In this case, for example, when the temperature maintenance range Rm is wide, the reference rate of change R S can be a large value, and when the temperature maintenance range Rm is narrow, the reference rate of change R S is assumed to be a small value. In this specification, the term "equal to or greater than" in a numerical range may be replaced with "greater than," "exceeds," etc., and "greater than," "exceeds," etc. may be replaced with "equal to or greater than." Similarly, the term "equal to or less than" in a numerical range may be replaced with "smaller than," "less than," etc., and "smaller than," "less than," etc. may be replaced with "equal to or less than."

[0051] As described above, when the estimated load Q is increasing, the estimated load Q is smaller than the thermal load Qr. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S When the estimated load Q is on the increase, the corrected load Qc is calculated to be larger than the estimated load Q. Furthermore, the correction unit 27 calculates the change rate R Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R SWhen the estimated load Q is on a decreasing trend, the corrected load Qc is calculated to be smaller than the estimated load Q. That is, the corrector 27 calculates the change rate R of the estimated load Q. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S When this is the case, the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load Q, that is, the rate of change R Q The corrected load Qc is calculated by increasing or decreasing the estimated load Q depending on whether the rate of change R Q When the rate of change R is a positive number, the correction unit 27 increases the estimated load Q to obtain the corrected load Qc. Q If is a negative number, the corrector 27 reduces the estimated load Q to obtain the corrected load Qc.

[0052] In detail, when calculating the corrected load Qc, the correction unit 27 calculates the corrected load Qc by adding a correction value Q0 to the value of the estimated load Q. The correction value Q0 is calculated by multiplying the change rate R Q、 Or the latest estimated load Q t and one past estimated load Q t-1 In detail, the correction value Q0 is calculated based on the difference between the most recent fluctuation amount of the estimated load Q and the rate of change R Q That is, using the coefficient U, the correction value Q0 is expressed by the following equation (2). Q0=U*(Q t -Q t-1 ) (2) The coefficient U is given as an arbitrary positive number. In this embodiment, the coefficient U is 1.

[0053] 3, when the estimated load Q is on the rise, the correction value Q0 is a positive value, and therefore the corrected load Qc is likely to approach a thermal load Qr that is greater than the estimated load Q. When the estimated load Q is on the decline, the correction value Q0 is a negative value, and therefore the corrected load Qc is likely to approach a thermal load Qr that is smaller than the estimated load Q. In this way, by having the correction unit 27 calculate a corrected load Qc that is more likely to be a value closer to the thermal load Qr than the estimated load Q, the setting unit 26 can set the target air conditioning capacity W using the corrected load Qc, making it easier to perform appropriate air conditioning.

[0054] The correction unit 27 of this embodiment determines whether the trend of increase / decrease in the estimated load Q over the past first period is opposite to the trend of increase / decrease in the most recent estimated load Q. If the trend of increase / decrease in the estimated load Q is opposite to the trend of increase / decrease in the most recent estimated load Q, the correction unit 27 calculates the rate of change R Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S Even when the value is equal to or greater than this, the value obtained by adding the correction value Q0 to the estimated load Q is not used as the corrected load Q, but the value of the estimated load Q is calculated as the corrected load Qc. This makes it possible to prevent the corrected load Qc from deviating further from the actual thermal load Qr, for example, when the estimated load Q is momentarily calculated to be too high or too low due to noise contained in the environmental information.

[0055] Specifically, the correction unit 27 refers to the estimated load data 28 in the first memory 21 and determines whether all the estimated loads Q from the oldest estimated load Q in the past first period to the latest estimated load Q calculated by the estimation unit 25 have changed monotonically, that is, whether they have monotonically increased or decreased. If they have not changed monotonically, the estimation unit 25 determines that the trend of increase and decrease in the estimated load Q over the past first period is opposite to the trend of increase and decrease in the most recent estimated load Q. For example, the first period may be two times the estimation period Cp. In this case, the correction unit 27 calculates the latest estimated load Q t and estimated load Q t One of the past estimated loads Q is the estimated load Q t-1 and estimated load Q t-1 One of the past estimated loads Q is the estimated load Q t-2 It is determined whether or not and change monotonically.

[0056] [1-2-4.Settings] The setting unit 26 sets a control target for the air conditioner 3 that conditions the target space S. In particular, in this embodiment, the setting unit 26 sets a target air conditioning capacity W, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity that the air conditioner 3 should achieve in the air conditioning operation of the target space S. Then, the setting unit 26 transmits the set target air conditioning capacity W to the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3, and instructs the indoor unit 3a to achieve the target air conditioning capacity W.

[0057] Specifically, the setting unit 26 acquires the current space temperature Tc of the target space S from the information acquisition unit 24 for each set cycle Cc, and acquires the current corrected load Qc of the target space S from the correction unit 27. Then, based on the acquired current space temperature Tc and corrected load Qc, the setting unit 26 sets the target air conditioning capacity W for each set cycle Cc.

[0058] The set period Cc is a period that determines the time interval of the operation of the setting unit 26. The set period Cc can be either a first set period Cc1 or a second set period Cc2. The second set period Cc2 is a period that is shorter than the first set period Cc1. For example, the first set period Cc1 is 5 minutes, and the second set period Cc2 is 1 minute. The setting unit 26 switches the set period Cc between the first set period Cc1 and the second set period Cc2 depending on the conditions.

[0059] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting operation of the target air conditioning capacity W in the setting unit 26. The setting unit 26 determines the target air conditioning capacity W based on the corrected load Qc in accordance with the value range of the temperature difference ΔT, which is the value obtained by subtracting the target temperature Tt from the space temperature Tc. The value range of the temperature difference ΔT is divided into, for example, a temperature maintenance range Rm, a first adjustment range R1, and a second adjustment range R2.

[0060] The temperature maintenance range Rm is a value range of the temperature difference ΔT that should be targeted in air conditioning operation. In this embodiment, the temperature maintenance range Rm for the temperature difference ΔT is defined as a value range that is equal to or less than a predetermined first threshold value Th1 and equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold value Th2 that is smaller than the first threshold value Th1. That is, in this embodiment, the temperature maintenance range Rm is defined as a range in which the first threshold value Th1 and the second threshold value Th2 are the upper and lower limit values, respectively.

[0061] In this embodiment, for example, the first threshold value Th1 and the second threshold value Th2 are positive and negative numbers, respectively. That is, the temperature maintenance range Rm is a value range of width (Th1 + |Th2|) that includes ΔT = 0 (a state in which the space temperature Tc is the same as the target temperature Tt). As an example, Th1 can be set to 0.5°C, and Th2 can be set to -0.5°C.

[0062] The first adjustment range R1 is a range of values ​​above a first threshold value Th1, which is the upper limit of the temperature maintenance range Rm, and the second adjustment range R2 is a range of values ​​below a second threshold value Th2, which is the lower limit of the temperature maintenance range Rm.

[0063] The setting unit 26 determines the target air conditioning capacity W in accordance with the value range of the temperature difference ΔT as follows. First, when the temperature difference ΔT is within the temperature maintenance range Rm, the setting unit 26 sets the current corrected load Qc calculated by the correction unit 27 as the target air conditioning capacity W (that is, W=Qc).

[0064] As a result, in the air conditioning system 1, when the temperature difference ΔT, which is the value obtained by subtracting the target temperature Tt from the space temperature Tc, is within the temperature maintenance range Rm, the air conditioner 3 can be controlled by the indoor unit 3a described below to maintain the same air conditioning capacity in accordance with the corrected load Qc, which is an estimate of the thermal load Qr of the target space S, so that when maintaining the space temperature Tc of the target space S at the target temperature Tt, it is possible to avoid insufficient or excessive capacity of the air conditioner 3 and reduce the frequency of turning the air conditioning on and off, thereby suppressing an increase in power consumption of the air conditioner 3. Furthermore, because the frequency of turning the air conditioning on and off is reduced, repeated rises and falls in the space temperature Tc that accompany turning the air conditioning on and off are suppressed, and the comfort of the target space S can be improved.

[0065] In addition, when the temperature difference ΔT is not within the temperature maintenance range Rm, i.e., when it is in the first adjustment range R1 or the second adjustment range R2, the setting unit 26 sets the target air conditioning capacity W to a value obtained by adding or subtracting an adjustment amount determined according to the temperature difference ΔT to or from the corrected load Qc so that the temperature difference ΔT changes toward the temperature maintenance range Rm. As a result, when the temperature difference ΔT is not within the temperature maintenance range Rm, the target air conditioning capacity W is adjusted around the corrected load Qc, and the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner 3 can be changed so that the space temperature Tc smoothly approaches the target temperature Tt.

[0066] Specifically, when the temperature difference ΔT is within a first adjustment range R1 that exceeds a first threshold value Th1, which is the upper limit of the temperature maintenance range Rm, the setting unit 26 determines the value obtained by adding the adjustment amount α to the corrected load Qc as the target air conditioning capacity W. That is, W = Qc + α. When the temperature difference ΔT is in the first adjustment range R1, which is higher than the temperature maintenance range Rm, the air conditioner 3 will have insufficient capacity if its operating mode is cooling, and will have excessive capacity if its operating mode is heating. Therefore, when the corrected load Qc is a cooling load and the air conditioner 3 is performing cooling operation, the adjustment amount α is a positive value. On the other hand, when the corrected load Qc is a heating load and the air conditioner 3 is performing heating operation, the adjustment amount α is a negative value.

[0067] When the temperature is within the second adjustment range R2, which is below the second threshold value Th2 that is the lower limit of the temperature maintenance range Rm, the setting unit 26 determines the value obtained by subtracting the adjustment amount β from the corrected load Qc as the target air conditioning capacity W. That is, W=Qc−β. When the temperature difference ΔT is in the second adjustment range R2, which is lower than the temperature maintenance range Rm, the capacity is excessive if the operating mode of the air conditioner 3 is cooling, and insufficient if the operating mode is heating. Therefore, when the corrected load Qc is a cooling load and the air conditioner 3 is performing cooling operation, the adjustment amount β is a positive value. On the other hand, when the corrected load Qc is a heating load and the air conditioner 3 is performing heating operation, the adjustment amount β is a negative value.

[0068] The absolute values ​​of the adjustment amounts α and β may be the same or different when the corrected load Qc is a cooling load and when it is a heating load.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows an example of temporal changes in the space temperature Tc and thermal load Qr of the target space S and the air conditioning capacity Wr of the air conditioner 3 when the corrected load Qc is a cooling load and the air conditioner 3 is operating in cooling mode. The information acquisition unit 24 of the air conditioning setting device 2 samples the space temperature Tc at each sampling period Cs, and the estimation unit 25 calculates an estimated load Q, which is an estimate of the thermal load Qr, at each estimation period Cp. The correction unit 27 calculates the corrected load Qc based on the estimated estimated load Q. The setting unit 26 then sets a target air conditioning capacity W based on the temperature difference ΔT and the corrected load Qc at each setting period Cc and transmits the set target air conditioning capacity W to the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3. The air conditioner 3 operates to achieve the received target air conditioning capacity W, resulting in operation at the air conditioning capacity Wr. In FIG. 6, the corrected load Qc calculated by the correction unit 27 is assumed to be a value that appropriately indicates the actual thermal load Qr.

[0070] In Fig. 6A, the vertical axis represents the space temperature Tc of the target space, and the horizontal axis represents time. Graph G1 in Fig. 6A shows the change in space temperature Tc over time. The target temperature Tt is assumed to remain unchanged within the time range shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, the temperature difference ΔT also changes in the same manner as graph G1. In Fig. 6A, the right side of the figure shows ranges corresponding to the first adjustment range R1, the temperature maintenance range Rm, and the second adjustment range R2 for the temperature difference ΔT.

[0071] In Fig. 6(B), the vertical axis represents the values ​​of the heat load Qr and the air conditioning capacity Wr, and the horizontal axis represents the same time as the horizontal axis in Fig. 6(A). Graphs G2 and G3 shown in Fig. 6(B) represent the time changes of the heat load Qr and the time changes of the air conditioning capacity Wr, respectively.

[0072] In the example shown in FIG. 6A, at time t1, the space temperature Tc is greater than (target temperature Tt + first threshold Th1) and falls within the first adjustment range R1 of the temperature difference ΔT. Therefore, the setting unit 26 sets the target air-conditioning capacity W to a value obtained by adding the adjustment amount α to the corrected load Qc. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the air-conditioning capacity Wr (graph G3) of the air conditioner 3 at time t1 is greater than the thermal load Qr (graph G2) by the adjustment amount α. In other words, (Wr = Qr + α). As a result, the target space S loses a larger amount of heat than the thermal load Qr, and the space temperature Tc decreases over time after time t1 (graph G1).

[0073] The above state (Wr=Qr+α) continues until the space temperature Tc enters the temperature range corresponding to the temperature maintenance range Rm of ΔT at time t2. At time t2, when the space temperature Tc reaches the temperature range equivalent to the temperature maintenance range Rm (FIG. 6(A)), the setting unit 26 sets the target air-conditioning capacity W to the same value as the corrected load Qc. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(B), after a slight delay from time t2, the air-conditioning capacity Wr of the air conditioner 3 becomes the same as the thermal load Qr. In other words, (Wr = Qr). As a result, the target space S is cooled with the air-conditioning capacity Wr that is the same as the thermal load Qr for maintaining the space temperature Tc at its current value, and therefore the space temperature Tc is maintained at a value close to the target temperature Tt within the temperature range equivalent to the temperature maintenance range Rm from time t2 onwards.

[0074] [1-3. Indoor unit configuration] Next, the configuration of the indoor unit 3a will be described. 2, the indoor unit 3a includes an air conditioning control device 30, an indoor blower fan 31, and an indoor expansion valve 32. The indoor blower fan 31 rotates under the control of the air conditioning control device 30, and sends air to a heat exchanger included in the indoor unit 3a. The indoor expansion valve 32 is a valve that adjusts the flow rate of refrigerant to a heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit 3a. The opening degree of the indoor expansion valve 32 is adjusted under the control of the air conditioning control device 30.

[0075] The air conditioning control device 30 operates the air conditioner 3 in one of the air conditioning modes, cooling mode, heating mode, and dehumidification mode, in accordance with instructions from the remote controller 5. The air conditioning control device 30 also operates the air conditioner 3 in one of the operation modes, energy saving mode and comfort mode, in accordance with instructions from the remote controller 5. When the air conditioning control device 30 receives an instruction from the remote controller 5, it also transmits the received instruction to the air conditioning setting device 2.

[0076] In this embodiment, in particular, the air conditioning control device 30 controls the frequency of the three-phase AC current supplied to the compressor motor 302 of the outdoor unit 3b so as to realize the target air conditioning capacity W received from the air conditioning setting device 2, and also controls air conditioning-related mechanisms such as the indoor blower fan 31 and the indoor expansion valve 32.

[0077] The air conditioning control device 30 includes a second processor 33, a second memory 34, and a second communication device 35. The second memory 34 is configured by a volatile and / or non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like. The second communication device 35 includes a transceiver for the second processor 33 to communicate wirelessly with the remote controller 5, and a transceiver for the second processor 33 to communicate with each device provided in the target space S and external devices on the communication network NW.

[0078] The second processor 33 is a computer equipped with a processor such as a CPU. The second processor 33 may have a ROM in which programs and data are written, and / or a RAM for temporarily storing data. The second processor 33 has a communication unit 37 and a control unit 38 as functional elements or units.

[0079] These functional elements of the second processor 33 are realized, for example, by the second processor 33, which is a computer, executing a second program 36 stored in a second memory 34. The second program 36 can be stored in any computer-readable storage medium. Alternatively, all or part of the functional elements of the second processor 33 can be configured by hardware including one or more electronic circuit components.

[0080] The communication unit 37 controls the second communication device 35, receives instructions from the remote controller 5, and transmits them to the control unit 38. The communication unit 37 also receives the target air conditioning capacity W from the air conditioning setting device 2 and transmits them to the control unit 38. Every time the communication unit 37 receives an instruction or setting information from the remote controller 5, it transmits the received instruction and setting information to the air conditioning setting device 2. The communication unit 37 may also forward messages received from the air conditioning setting device 2 to the remote controller 5. The remote controller 5 displays the received message on a display device provided in the remote controller 5, according to conventional technology.

[0081] The control unit 38 starts or ends the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 3 in accordance with instructions from the remote controller 5. The control unit 38 also operates the air conditioner 3 in the air conditioning mode and operation mode instructed by the remote controller 5. The control unit 38 also controls the frequency of the three-phase AC current supplied to the compressor motor of the outdoor unit 3b so as to realize the target air conditioning capacity W received from the air conditioning setting device 2, and controls air conditioning-related mechanisms such as the indoor blower fan 31 and the indoor expansion valve 32.

[0082] The above frequency for realizing the target air conditioning capacity W can be determined in advance and stored in the second memory 34, for example, in correspondence with various combinations of the target air conditioning capacity W and the outdoor air temperature To where the outdoor unit 3b is installed.

[0083] [2. Operation] Next, the procedure of the operation of the air conditioning system 1 will be described. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing steps of the air conditioning method executed by the first processor 20 of the air conditioning setting device 2 and the second processor 33 of the indoor unit 3a, which are computers included in the air conditioning system 1. Here, the first program 23 executed by the first processor 20 of the air conditioning setting device 2 and the second program 36 executed by the second processor 33 of the air conditioning control device 30 of the indoor unit 3a are the air conditioning programs in this disclosure.

[0084] The process shown in Fig. 7 starts when the indoor unit 3a receives an instruction to start air conditioning operation from the remote controller 5, and is executed repeatedly. In the present embodiment, the sampling period Cs, estimation period Cp, and set period Cc are all the same length of time, and the operation shown in Fig. 7 is executed every sampling period Cs, estimation period Cp, and set period Cc. The repeated execution of the process in Fig. 7 ends when the indoor unit 3a receives an instruction to end air conditioning operation from the remote controller 5. The air conditioning setting device 2 receives instructions to start and end air conditioning operation from the remote controller 5 via the indoor unit 3a.

[0085] When processing begins, the information acquisition unit 24 of the air conditioning setting device 2 acquires environmental information necessary for the estimation unit 25 to calculate the estimated load Q (S100). As described above, the environmental information used to calculate the estimated load Q is acquired from the devices and sensors provided in the target space S.

[0086] Next, the first processor 20 executes a load calculation process, which is a process for calculating the corrected load Qc (S102).

[0087] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the load calculation process shown in step S102 of Fig. 7. When the load calculation process starts, first, the estimation unit 25 uses environmental information to calculate the above-mentioned outside air load, lighting load, equipment load, and human body load, and calculates an estimated load Q, which is an estimated value of the thermal load Qr of the target space S (step S200).

[0088] Next, the estimation unit 25 stores the calculated estimated load Q in the first memory 21 as estimated load data 28 (step S202).

[0089] Next, the correction unit 27 determines whether the estimated load Q has changed monotonically over the past first period (step S204). When the estimated load Q has changed monotonically (step S204, YES), the correction unit 27 calculates the change rate R of the estimated load Q. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S Determine whether the rate of change R is greater than or equal to Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If the result is equal to or greater than this (step S206, YES), the corrector 27 calculates a value obtained by adding the correction value Q0 to the estimated load Q as the corrected load Qc (step S208).

[0090] The correction unit 27 then sets the sampling period Cs to a second sampling period Cs2, the estimation period Cp to a second estimation period Cp2, and the set period Cc to a second set period Cc2 (step S210). That is, the correction unit 27 sets the shorter period of the two periods that can be set for the sampling period Cs, the estimation period Cp, and the set period Cc. This makes it easier for the estimated load Q, the corrected load Qc, and the target air-conditioning capacity W to follow the thermal load Qr when the thermal load Qr fluctuates significantly. Furthermore, for example, when the thermal load Qr changes from a large fluctuation state to a small fluctuation state, the short periods Cs and Cp allow the estimated load Q to quickly reflect the smaller fluctuation. This prevents a shortage or excess of the air-conditioning capacity Wr due to an overshoot of the corrected load Qc when the thermal load Qr changes from a large fluctuation state to a small fluctuation state, which occurs due to the correction value Q0. The process of FIG. 8 then ends, and the process returns to the process of FIG. 7. In step S210, the corrector 27 may be configured to set any one or more of the sampling period Cs, the estimated period Cp, and the set period Cc to the shorter of the two periods.

[0091] On the other hand, when the estimated load Q does not change monotonically (step S204, NO), and the change rate R QThe absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If it is less than (YES in step S206), the corrector 27 uses the value of the estimated load Q as the corrected load Qc (step S212).

[0092] Thereafter, the first sampling period Cs1 is set as the sampling period Cs, the first estimated period Cp1 is set as the estimated period Cp, and the first set period Cc1 is set as the set period Cc (step S214). That is, the corrector 27 sets the longer period of the two periods that can be set for each of the sampling period Cs, the estimated period Cp, and the set period Cc. This allows the power consumption and communication volume of each device to be reduced when the thermal load Qr does not fluctuate significantly. Thereafter, the process of FIG. 8 ends, and the process returns to the process of FIG. 7.

[0093] 8, the setting unit 26 calculates the temperature difference ΔT from the space temperature Tc of the target space S acquired from the information acquisition unit 24 and the target temperature Tt for the target space S set by the remote controller 5 (S104). The temperature difference ΔT can be calculated as the value obtained by subtracting the target temperature Tt from the space temperature Tc.

[0094] Next, the setting unit 26 determines whether the temperature difference ΔT is equal to or less than the first threshold value Th1 (S106). If the temperature difference ΔT is equal to or less than the first threshold value Th1 (S106, YES), the setting unit 26 determines whether the temperature difference ΔT is equal to or greater than the second threshold value Th2 (S108). If the temperature difference ΔT is equal to or greater than the second threshold value Th2 (S108, NO), that is, if the temperature difference ΔT is within the temperature maintenance range Rm, the setting unit 26 sets the current corrected load Qc calculated by the correction unit 27 as the target air conditioning capacity W (S110), and transmits the set target air conditioning capacity W to the indoor unit 3a.

[0095] The control unit 38 of the indoor unit 3a, which has received the target air conditioning capacity W, starts controlling the operation of the air conditioner 3 at the target air conditioning capacity W (S116) and ends this process. After this, the air conditioning setting device 2 and the indoor unit 3a repeat this process at the sampling period Cs, the estimation period Cp, or the set period Cc until an instruction to end the air conditioning operation is sent from the remote controller 5.

[0096] On the other hand, when the temperature difference ΔT exceeds the first threshold value Th1 in step S106 (S106, NO), that is, when the temperature difference ΔT is within the first adjustment range R1, the setting unit 26 sets the target air conditioning capacity W to a value obtained by adding a predetermined adjustment amount α to the current corrected load Qc (S112), and transmits the set target air conditioning capacity W to the indoor unit 3a. Thereafter, the indoor unit 3a executes step S116 and ends the process.

[0097] On the other hand, when the temperature difference ΔT is less than the second threshold value Th2 in step S108 (S108, NO), that is, when the temperature difference ΔT is within the second adjustment range R2, the setting unit 26 sets the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined adjustment amount β from the current corrected load Qc as the target air conditioning capacity W (S114), and transmits the set target air conditioning capacity W to the indoor unit 3a. Thereafter, the indoor unit 3a executes step S116.

[0098] 7 and 8, step S200 corresponds to the estimation step in the present disclosure. Steps S204, S206, S208, and S212 correspond to the correction step in the present disclosure. Furthermore, the processes of steps S106, S108, S110, S112, and S114 correspond to the setting step in the present disclosure.

[0099] [3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the air conditioning system 1 includes an estimation unit 25 that calculates the estimated load Q, which is an estimated value of the heat load Qr of the target space S, based on environmental information, a correction unit 27 that determines a corrected load Qc based on the estimated load Q estimated by the estimation unit 25, and a setting unit 26 that sets a target air conditioning capacity W, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner 3 that air-conditions the target space S, based on the corrected load Qc. The correction unit 27 calculates the rate of change R of the estimated load Q. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If the above condition is met, the estimated load Q is increased or decreased according to the most recent tendency of increase or decrease in the estimated load Q, thereby obtaining the corrected load Qc. As a result, when the thermal load Qr in the target space fluctuates greatly, the target air conditioning capacity W can be set by calculating a corrected load Qc that reduces the error between the actual thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q due to the time difference between obtaining environmental information and calculating the estimated load Q. This makes it possible to prevent a loss of comfort in the target space S.

[0100] As in the present embodiment, the correction unit 27 calculates the estimated load Q based on the estimated load Q being on an increasing trend and the rate of change R Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If the above condition is met, a corrected load Qc that is greater than the estimated load Q may be calculated. As a result, even if the heat load Qr of the target space S suddenly increases, the target air conditioning capacity W can be quickly increased in accordance with the heat load Qr. This makes it possible to reduce the shortage of the air conditioning capacity Wr and make it less likely that the comfort of the target space S will be impaired.

[0101] As in the present embodiment, the correction unit 27 calculates the estimated load Q based on the estimated load Q being on a decreasing trend and the rate of change R Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If the above condition is met, a corrected load Qc that is smaller than the estimated load Q may be calculated. As a result, even if the heat load Qr of the target space S suddenly decreases, the target air conditioning capacity W can be quickly reduced to match the heat load Qr. This makes it possible to reduce excess air conditioning capacity Wr and prevent the comfort and energy-saving performance of the target space S from being impaired.

[0102] As in this embodiment, the correction unit 27 calculates the rate of change R of the estimated load Q. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If this is the case, the estimated load Q is calculated by adding the most recent fluctuation amount of the estimated load Q, i.e., the latest estimated load Q t One past estimated load Q t-1 The corrected load Qc may be calculated by adding a correction value Q0 based on the value obtained by subtracting This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the correction value Q0 in accordance with the magnitude of the amount of fluctuation in the heat load Qr of the target space S. As a result, the comfort of the target space S can be less likely to be impaired.

[0103] As in the present embodiment, the information acquisition unit 24 for acquiring environmental information is provided, and at least one of the sampling period Cs, which is a period in which the information acquisition unit 24 acquires environmental information, the estimation period Cp, which is a period in which the estimation unit 25 calculates the estimated load Q, and the setting period Cc, which is a period in which the setting unit 26 sets the target air conditioning capacity W, is determined by the rate of change R of the estimated load Q. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S When the above condition is met, the rate of change of the estimated load Q is R Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S Alternatively, the second sampling period Cs2, the second estimated period Cp2, and the second set period Cc2 may be set to periods shorter than when the period is less than the predetermined period. As a result, when there is a large fluctuation in the heat load Qr of the target space S, the estimated load Q or the target air conditioning capacity W becomes more likely to follow the heat load Qr of the target space S. As a result, the comfort of the target space S is less likely to be impaired. In particular, in this embodiment, the lengths of the periods Cs, Cp, and Cc are the same, and the rate of change R Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R SWhen the above is true, all of the periods Cs, Cp, and Cc are set to the short second sampling period Cs2, second estimation period Cp2, and second set period Cc2. Therefore, when fluctuations in the thermal load Qr of the target space S are large, the estimated load Q or target air-conditioning capacity W is more likely to track the thermal load Qr of the target space S. In addition, it is possible to prevent a shortage or excess of the air-conditioning capacity Wr caused by overshooting of the corrected load Qc when the thermal load Qr returns from a state where fluctuations were large to a state where fluctuations were small, which occurs due to the correction value Q0.

[0104] As in this embodiment, the correction unit 27 calculates the rate of change R of the estimated load Q. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S Even if the above is not the case, if the most recent increase / decrease trend of the estimated load Q is opposite to the increase / decrease trend of the estimated load Q during the first period in the past, the estimated load Q estimated by the estimation unit 25 may be directly used as the corrected load Qc. As a result, when the estimated load Q is overestimated or underestimated due to the influence of noise or the like contained in the environmental information, the corrected load Qc can be prevented from further deviating from the actual thermal load Qr due to the correction by the correction unit 27. Therefore, the comfort of the target space S can be less likely to be impaired.

[0105] In this embodiment, the air conditioning method is an air conditioning method executed by the first processor 20 of the air conditioning system 1, and includes an estimation step (step S200) of calculating an estimated load Q, which is an estimated value of the heat load Qr of the target space S, based on environmental information, a correction step (steps S204, S206, S208, S212) of obtaining a corrected load Qc based on the estimated estimated load Q, and a setting step (steps S106, S108, S110, S112, S114) of setting a target air conditioning capacity W, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity Wr of the air conditioner 3 that air-conditions the target space S, based on the corrected load Qc. In the correction step, a rate of change R of the estimated load Q is calculated. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If the above condition is met, the estimated load Q is increased or decreased according to the most recent tendency of increase or decrease in the estimated load Q, thereby obtaining the corrected load Qc. As a result, when the thermal load Qr in the target space fluctuates greatly, the target air conditioning capacity W can be set by calculating a corrected load Qc that reduces the error between the actual thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q due to the time difference between obtaining environmental information and calculating the estimated load Q. This makes it possible to prevent a loss of comfort in the target space S.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first program 23 is an air conditioning program that causes the first processor 20 of the air conditioning system 1 to execute an estimation step (step S200) of calculating an estimated load Q, which is an estimated value of the heat load Qr of the target space S, based on environmental information, a correction step (steps S204, S206, S208, S212) of calculating a corrected load Qc based on the estimated estimated load Q, and a setting step (steps S106, S108, S110, S112, S114) of setting a target air conditioning capacity W, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity Wr of the air conditioner 3 that air-conditions the target space S, based on the corrected load Qc. In the correction step, the rate of change R of the estimated load Q is calculated. Q The absolute value of the standard rate of change R S If the above condition is met, the estimated load Q is increased or decreased according to the most recent tendency of increase or decrease in the estimated load Q, thereby obtaining the corrected load Qc. As a result, when the thermal load Qr in the target space fluctuates greatly, the target air conditioning capacity W can be set by calculating a corrected load Qc that reduces the error between the actual thermal load Qr and the estimated load Q due to the time difference between obtaining environmental information and calculating the estimated load Q. This makes it possible to prevent a loss of comfort in the target space S.

[0107] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment above to create new embodiments. Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0108] The air conditioning setting device 2 is not limited to being a server device connected to the communication network NW, but can be realized as any type of device. For example, the air conditioning setting device 2 can be realized as a device built into the communication relay device 4. Also, for example, the air conditioning setting device 2 can be realized as part of the air conditioning control device 30 provided in the indoor unit 3a of the air conditioner 3.

[0109] The first processor 20 and the second processor 33 may be configured by a single processor or by multiple processors. These processors may be hardware programmed to realize the corresponding functional units. That is, these processors may be configured by, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0110] The step units of the operations shown in Figures 7 and 8 are divided according to the main processing content to make the operations easier to understand, and the operation is not limited by the way the processing units are divided or the names of the processing units. The operations may be divided into more step units depending on the processing content. Furthermore, one step unit may be divided so that it includes more processing. Furthermore, the order of the steps may be changed as appropriate within the scope that does not interfere with the purpose of this disclosure.

[0111] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology of the present disclosure, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. may be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0112] (Addendum) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques. (Technology 1) An air conditioning system comprising: an estimation unit that calculates an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of a target space, based on environmental information; a correction unit that calculates a corrected load based on the estimated load estimated by the estimation unit; and a setting unit that sets a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value for the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that air-conditions the target space, based on the corrected load, wherein when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the correction unit calculates the corrected load by increasing or decreasing the estimated load in accordance with the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load. This allows the target air conditioning capacity to be set by calculating a corrected load that reduces the error between the actual heat load and the estimated load due to the time lag between obtaining environmental information and calculating the estimated load when there are large fluctuations in the heat load in the target space, making it less likely that the comfort of the target space will be impaired.

[0113] (Technology 2) The air conditioning system described in Technology 1, wherein the correction unit determines the corrected load to be greater than the estimated load when the estimated load is on an increasing trend and the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change. This allows the target air conditioning capacity to be quickly increased to match the heat load, even if the heat load in the target space suddenly increases, thereby reducing the shortage of air conditioning capacity and preventing a loss of comfort in the target space.

[0114] (Technology 3) An air conditioning system according to Technology 1 or 2, wherein the correction unit determines the corrected load to be smaller than the estimated load when the estimated load is on a decreasing trend and the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change. This allows the target air conditioning capacity to be quickly reduced to match the heat load, even if the heat load in the target space suddenly decreases. This reduces excess air conditioning capacity and makes it less likely that the comfort and energy-saving performance of the target space will be impaired.

[0115] (Technology 4) An air conditioning system according to any one of Techniques 1 to 3, wherein when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change, the correction unit adds a correction value based on the most recent amount of fluctuation of the estimated load to the estimated load to calculate the corrected load. This allows the correction value to be appropriately adjusted according to the magnitude of fluctuations in the heat load of the target space, making it less likely that the comfort of the target space will be impaired.

[0116] (Technology 5) An air conditioning system described in any of Technologies 1 to 4, which includes an information acquisition unit that acquires the environmental information, and at least one of the sampling period, which is the period in which the information acquisition unit acquires the environmental information, the estimation period, which is the period in which the estimation unit calculates the estimated load, and the setting period, which is the period in which the setting unit sets the target air conditioning capacity, is set to a shorter period when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the standard rate of change than when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is less than the standard rate of change. This makes it easier for the estimated load or target air conditioning capacity to follow the heat load of the target space when there is a large fluctuation in the heat load of the target space, thereby making it less likely that the comfort of the target space will be impaired.

[0117] (Technology 6) An air conditioning system described in any one of Technologies 1 to 5, wherein the correction unit uses the estimated load estimated by the estimation unit as the corrected load as is when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change, but the most recent trend of increase / decrease of the estimated load is opposite to the trend of increase / decrease of the estimated load within a first period in the past. This prevents the corrected load from deviating further from the actual heat load when the estimated load is overestimated or underestimated due to noise or other factors contained in the environmental information, thereby preventing the comfort of the target space from being impaired.

[0118] (Technology 7) An air conditioning method executed by a computer of an air conditioning system, the air conditioning method comprising: an estimation step of calculating an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of a target space, based on environmental information; a correction step of determining a corrected load based on the estimated load; and a setting step of setting a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value for the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that conditions the target space, based on the corrected load, wherein in the correction step, when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the corrected load is determined by increasing or decreasing the estimated load in accordance with the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load. This allows the target air conditioning capacity to be set by calculating a corrected load that reduces the error between the actual heat load and the estimated load due to the time lag between obtaining environmental information and calculating the estimated load when there are large fluctuations in the heat load in the target space, making it less likely that the comfort of the target space will be impaired.

[0119] (Technology 8) An air conditioning program that causes a computer of an air conditioning system to execute the following steps: an estimation step of calculating an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of a target space, based on environmental information; a correction step of determining a corrected load based on the estimated load; and a setting step of setting a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value for the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that conditions the target space, based on the corrected load; wherein in the correction step, when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the corrected load is determined by increasing or decreasing the estimated load in accordance with the most recent trend of increase or decrease in the estimated load. This allows the target air conditioning capacity to be set by calculating a corrected load that reduces the error between the actual heat load and the estimated load due to the time lag between obtaining environmental information and calculating the estimated load when there are large fluctuations in the heat load in the target space, making it less likely that the comfort of the target space will be impaired. [Industrial Applicability]

[0120] The present disclosure is applicable to air conditioning systems, air conditioning methods, and air conditioning programs. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to air conditioning systems, air conditioning methods, and air conditioning programs for residential air conditioners installed in private homes, etc., or commercial air conditioners installed in facilities such as office buildings and commercial buildings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0121] 1. Air conditioning system 2. Air conditioning setting device 3 Air conditioner 3a Indoor unit 3b Outdoor unit 4. Communication relay equipment 5 Remote Controller 6 Indoor sensors 7. Ventilation system 8 Outdoor Sensors 9. Lighting equipment 10. Refrigerator 11. Television 12. Computer 13 Human Sensor 20 First Processor (Computer) 21 First Memory 22 First communication device 23 Program 1 24 Information Acquisition Department 25 Estimation part 26 Setting section 27 Correction section 28 Estimated Load Data 30 Air conditioning control device 31 Indoor ventilation fan 32 Indoor expansion valve 33 Second Processor (Computer) 34 Second Memory 35 Second communication device 36 Second Program 37 Communications Department 38 Control Unit 301 Compressor 302 Compressor motor DR Door H Building NW communication network S target space WD window

Claims

1. an estimation unit that calculates an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of the target space, based on the environmental information; a correcting unit that calculates a corrected load based on the estimated load estimated by the estimating unit; a setting unit that sets a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that air-conditions the target space, based on the corrected load; Equipped with when an absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the correction unit increases or decreases the estimated load according to a recent trend of increase or decrease of the estimated load, thereby obtaining the corrected load. Air conditioning system.

2. the correction unit calculates the corrected load that is greater than the estimated load when the estimated load is on an increasing trend and the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. the correction unit determines the corrected load to be smaller than the estimated load when the estimated load is on a decreasing trend and the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

4. when an absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change, the correction unit adds a correction value based on a most recent amount of fluctuation of the estimated load to the estimated load to obtain the corrected load.

4. An air conditioning system according to claim 1.

5. an information acquisition unit that acquires the environmental information, At least one of the sampling period, which is a period in which the information acquisition unit acquires the environmental information, the estimation period, which is a period in which the estimation unit calculates the estimated load, and the setting period, which is a period in which the setting unit sets the target air-conditioning capacity, is set to a period that is shorter when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change than when the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is less than the reference rate of change.

4. An air conditioning system according to claim 1.

6. the correction unit sets the estimated load estimated by the estimation unit as the corrected load as is when the most recent increase / decrease trend of the estimated load is opposite to the increase / decrease trend of the estimated load within a past first period even if the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than the reference rate of change; 4. An air conditioning system according to claim 1.

7. An air conditioning method executed by a computer in an air conditioning system, comprising: an estimation step of calculating an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of the target space, based on the environmental information; a correcting step of determining a corrected load based on the estimated load; a setting step of setting a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that air-conditions the target space, based on the corrected load; and In the correction step, When the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the estimated load is increased or decreased in accordance with the most recent trend of increase or decrease of the estimated load, thereby obtaining the corrected load. Air conditioning method.

8. The air conditioning system computer an estimation step of calculating an estimated load, which is an estimated value of the heat load of the target space, based on the environmental information; a correcting step of determining a corrected load based on the estimated load; a setting step of setting a target air conditioning capacity, which is a target value of the air conditioning capacity of an air conditioner that air-conditions the target space, based on the corrected load; An air conditioning program that executes In the correction step, When the absolute value of the rate of change of the estimated load is equal to or greater than a reference rate of change, the estimated load is increased or decreased in accordance with the most recent trend of increase or decrease of the estimated load, thereby obtaining the corrected load. Air conditioning program.

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