Air conditioning system

Abstract

To suppress air conditioning control which becomes too cold and too hot.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system 100 according to a first aspect is an air conditioning system 100 that performs air conditioning of an air-conditioned space 200, and includes a subject information acquisition unit 162 that acquires subject information that is information on a subject 201 including presence or absence of the subject 201 in the air-conditioned space 200, an environment information acquisition unit 161 that acquires environment information of the air-conditioned space 200, a heat generation amount derivation unit 163 that derives a heat generation amount of the subject 201 using the subject information, and an operation control unit 165 that controls an air-conditioning operation to lower a thermal sensation index when the heat generation amount in the air-conditioned space 200 increases by a first heat amount or more within a first time, and controls the air-conditioning operation to raise the thermal sensation index when the heat generation amount in the air-conditioned space 200 decreases by a second heat amount or more within a second time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system that controls air conditioning operation in response to fluctuations in heat generation over a relatively short period of time. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioner that can dynamically improve the comfort of a subject by adjusting the direction of the wind to follow the subject's movements or by changing the direction of the wind to avoid the subject, depending on the subject's position detected by radar. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-96034 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if conditioned air is sent at a discharge temperature that is not adjusted according to the subject's condition, that is, if the conditioned air is cooled or heated taking into account the temperature of the entire space, the subject may feel that it is too cold or too hot.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an air conditioning system that can change air conditioning operations in consideration of short-term changes in the heat generation of subjects in the conditioned space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An air conditioning system that is one aspect of the present disclosure is an air conditioning system that conditions air in a conditioned space, and includes a subject information acquisition unit that acquires subject information, which is information about a subject including the presence or absence of a subject in the conditioned space; an environmental information acquisition unit that acquires environmental information about the conditioned space; a heat generation amount derivation unit that derives the heat generation amount of the subject using the subject information; and an operation control unit that controls air conditioning operation to lower a thermal sensation index if the heat generation amount in the conditioned space increases by a first heat amount or more within a first time period, and controls air conditioning operation to raise a thermal sensation index if the heat generation amount in the conditioned space decreases by a second heat amount or more within a second time period. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, even if the amount of heat generated changes significantly in a short period of time, such as when a subject enters or exits the air-conditioned space or when the subject begins exercising within the air-conditioned space, conditioned air can be discharged at a temperature that falls within the range that the subject finds comfortable, thereby improving the comfort felt by the subject. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of an installation state of an air conditioning system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing one mode of installation of the air conditioning system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the air conditioning system. [Figure 4] 4 is a graph showing an example of a control mode of an operation control unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which multiple subjects are present in the air-conditioned space. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the installation state of an air conditioning system of another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example for explaining the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in a method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiment are examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not indicate mathematical precision and include substantially acceptable errors, deviations, etc. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0010] The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions has been appropriately made to explain the present disclosure, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in the drawings represent Cartesian coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of illustrating the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily located within a horizontal plane.

[0011] In addition, multiple inventions may be collectively described below as one embodiment, and some of the content described below may be described as optional components related to the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the installation state of the air conditioning system 100. FIG. 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of the installation state of the air conditioning system 100. The air conditioning system 100 is a system that adjusts at least the temperature of an air-conditioned space 200 in which a subject 201 is present by discharging conditioned air generated by cooling or heating air from a discharge unit 101. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the air conditioning system 100. The air conditioning system 100 includes a measurement device 110 and a control device 160.

[0013] The measuring device 110 is a device that acquires subject information. The subject information is information related to the subject 201, and includes, for example, at least one of biometric information of the subject 201 and status information of the subject 201. The biometric information is physiological information of the subject 201, such as the skin temperature, deep temperature, heart rate, and breathing of the subject 201. The status information is information that indicates the status of the subject 201. For example, the status information also includes whether the subject 201 is present in the air-conditioned space 200 or not. The status information also includes information that indicates whether the subject 201 is in a resting state or an active state, or in a moving state or a stationary state.

[0014] The type of measuring device 110 is not limited, and examples include sensors that can detect subject information in a non-contact manner, such as a radar sensor, a stereo camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a TOF (Time of Flight) sensor, and a thermal camera, and wearable sensors that acquire subject information in a contact manner, such as a ring-type, wristwatch-type, or necklace-type. In the present embodiment, a radar sensor is adopted as measuring device 110. The radar sensor acquires reflected waves that are emitted as electromagnetic waves (millimeter waves) and reflected by subject 201, thereby making it possible to measure the distance from the radar sensor to subject 201, movement information of subject 201, and biological information of subject 201 in a non-contact manner.

[0015] Note that the measuring device 110 may be equipped with multiple types of sensors, each of which may acquire different information.

[0016] The control device 160 is a device that controls the operation of the air conditioning system 100 based on the acquired subject information, and is equipped with a processor. The control device 160 realizes an environmental information acquisition unit 161, a subject information acquisition unit 162, a heat generation amount derivation unit 163, and an operation control unit 165 by having the processor execute a control program. The functions of each processing unit will be explained below, but the order of explanation does not correspond to the order of processing.

[0017] The subject information acquisition unit 162 acquires subject information from the measuring device 110. In the present embodiment, the subject information acquisition unit 162 acquires biological information of the subject 201 and status information of the subject 201 as subject information. Because the measuring device 110 is a radar, the subject information acquisition unit 162 acquires information such as the distance from the measuring device 110 to the subject 201, the position of the subject 201 relative to the measuring device 110, whether the subject 201 is stationary or moving, and movement information indicating how the subject 201 is moving. In addition, the subject information acquisition unit 162 acquires at least one of the respiratory rate and the heart rate of the subject 201 as biological information from the phase difference between the transmission signal and the reception signal of the measuring device 110.

[0018] The environmental information acquisition unit 161 acquires environmental information of the air-conditioned space 200. For example, the environmental information acquisition unit 161 acquires a space temperature t2 indicating the temperature of the space as the environmental information. The source from which the space temperature t2 is acquired is not limited, and for example, the space temperature t2 may be acquired from a thermometer installed in the air-conditioned space 200. In the present embodiment, the environmental information acquisition unit 161 acquires the space temperature t2 from an environmental sensor 121 (see FIG. 3 ), such as a thermistor, installed in the suction unit 102 through which the air conditioning system 100 draws air. Note that the environmental information acquisition unit 161 may acquire a control value used by the operation control unit 165 to control the blower device 120, and acquire the wind strength in the air-conditioned space 200 as the environmental information.

[0019] The heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the heat generation amount (sometimes expressed as heat production amount) of the subject 201 using the subject information. The method for deriving the heat generation amount is not limited. In the case of this embodiment, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the heat generation amount of the subject 201 using at least one of the movement information and biometric information of the subject 201 acquired by the subject information acquisition unit 162, and the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit 161.

[0020] In this embodiment, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the heat generation amount of the subject 201 using at least one of the movement information and the biological information acquired by the subject information acquisition unit 162. The method by which the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the heat generation amount is not limited. In this embodiment, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the heat generation amount based on the following formula 1.

[0021] Heat output = metabolic rate M - work output W … Equation 1 (- is the symbol for subtraction.)

[0022] There are no limitations on the method of deriving the workload W of the subject 201 and the method of deriving the metabolic rate M of the subject 201. In the present embodiment, the method of deriving the metabolic rate M of the subject 201 is changed depending on whether the subject 201 is moving or stationary.

[0023] If the device is in operation, the heat generation amount deriving unit 163 derives the metabolic rate M based on the following formula 2.

[0024] Metabolic rate M=Basal metabolic rate*METs...Formula 2 (* is the symbol for multiplication.)

[0025] The basal metabolic rate is not limited. A preset constant value (for example, 58.15 W / m^2) (^ is a symbol indicating exponentiation) may be used as the basal metabolic rate. Alternatively, the calorific value derivation unit 163 may acquire the basal metabolic rate based on the age, height, and weight of the subject 201.

[0026] METs is an abbreviation for metabolic equivalents, and is a unit that indicates the intensity of physical activity. Generally, a state of rest in which one sits and rests is 1 MET, and the metabolic equivalent is expressed as how many times that amount corresponds to the resting state. In this embodiment, METs has a positive correlation with the movement information acquired by the subject information acquisition unit 162. Specifically, METs is derived based on the following formula 3.

[0027] METs = coefficient * movement information + constant ... Equation 3 (+ is the symbol for addition.)

[0028] The coefficient is not limited, but in this embodiment, 0.4 is adopted. The movement information is, for example, a moving average of the movement speed of the subject 201. The constant is not limited, but in this embodiment, 1 is adopted.

[0029] When the subject is stationary, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the metabolic rate M based on the biological information acquired by the subject information acquisition unit 162. The method for deriving the metabolic rate M is not limited. In the present embodiment, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the metabolic rate M based on the following formula 4.

[0030] Metabolic rate M = Basal metabolic rate + Activity energy …Equation 4

[0031] The derivation of the basal metabolic rate may be the same as or different from that during activity. The method for deriving the activity energy is not limited. In this embodiment, the heat value derivation unit 163 derives the activity energy based on the biological information acquired by the subject information acquisition unit 162. The heat value derivation unit 163 derives the activity energy based on the biological information at rest and the biological information during activity. Specifically, the heat value derivation unit 163 derives the calories burned based on the difference between the heart rate acquired by the subject information acquisition unit 162 and the heart rate acquired and stored when the subject 201 is at rest, the age of the subject 201, the weight of the subject 201, and the activity time. Furthermore, the heat value derivation unit 163 derives the activity energy based on the derived calories burned, the weight of the subject 201, the height of the subject 201, and the activity time. An example of a specific derivation method is the Karvonen method.

[0032] The heat generation amount derivation unit 163 may derive the workload W according to the magnitude of the metabolic rate M. In the present embodiment, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the workload W according to whether the subject 201 is in a resting state or an active state. The resting state is a state in which the subject 201 is stationary and satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the respiratory rate of the subject 201 is below the respiratory threshold and the heart rate of the subject 201 is below the heart rate threshold. The active state includes an exercising state, and is also included in the active state even when the subject 201 is stationary if the respiratory rate of the subject 201 is equal to or greater than the respiratory threshold and the heart rate of the subject 201 is equal to or greater than the heart rate threshold.

[0033] For example, when the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 determines that the subject 201 is in an active state, if the derived metabolic rate M is less than the metabolic threshold, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the workload W as a predetermined first value. The predetermined first value is, for example, 0. On the other hand, if the derived metabolic rate M is equal to or greater than the metabolic threshold, the workload W is derived as a predetermined proportion of the derived metabolic rate that is less than 1. The predetermined proportion is, for example, 0.2.

[0034] When the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 determines that the subject 201 is in a resting state, the heat generation amount derivation unit 163 derives the work amount W as a predetermined second value regardless of the derived metabolic rate M. The predetermined second value is, for example, 0, which is the same as the first value.

[0035] The operation control unit 165 controls the air conditioning operation to lower the thermal sensation index felt by the subject 201 when the heat generation amount in the air-conditioned space 200 increases by more than a first heat amount within a first time period, and controls the air conditioning operation to raise the thermal sensation index felt by the subject 201 when the heat generation amount in the air-conditioned space 200 decreases by more than a second heat amount within a second time period.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the control mode of the operation control unit 165. Until time T1, the subject 201 is not present in the air-conditioned space 200. In this case, the operation control unit 165 controls the air conditioning system 100 so that the target temperature of the air-conditioned space 200 becomes CTT1. The heat generation amount deriving unit 163 derives the heat generation amount, for example, at a predetermined time interval. The operation control unit 165 records the heat generation amount derived by the heat generation amount deriving unit 163 over time. When the subject 201 enters the air-conditioned space 200 at time T1, the operation control unit 165 observes that a state of ΔT1<first time and ΔH1> first heat generation has occurred based on the most recent heat generation amount derived by the heat generation amount deriving unit 163 and the recorded heat generation amount. The first time is not limited, but may be selected, for example, from a range of at least the time interval at which the heat generation amount deriving unit 163 can derive the heat generation amount and up to one minute. The first heat quantity is not limited, but can be, for example, about 100 W. This is the difference in the amount of heat expected when subject 201 enters and walks around air-conditioned space 200 in which subject 201 is not present.

[0037] When the operation control unit 165 observes that the heat generation amount has increased by more than the first heat generation amount within the first time period, it immediately updates the target temperature of the air-conditioned space 200 to CTT2, which is lower than CTT1, and controls the air conditioning operation to lower the thermal sensation index felt by the subject 201. This makes it possible to suppress the temperature rise in the air-conditioned space 200 as much as possible and to suppress changes in the thermal sensation felt by the subject 201.

[0038] Next, the subject 201 maintains the moving state until time T2, but after time T2, the subject 201 enters a resting state. The operation control unit 165 observes that a state of ΔT2 <second time and ΔH2> second heat quantity has occurred. The second time is not limited and may be the same as or different from the first time. The second heat quantity is not limited and may be the same as or different from the first heat quantity. For example, the second heat quantity can be approximately 25 W. This is the expected difference in heat quantity when the subject 201 changes from a walking state to a resting state.

[0039] When the operation control unit 165 observes that the heat generation amount has decreased by more than the second heat generation amount within the second time period, it immediately updates the target temperature of the air-conditioned space 200 to CTT3 and controls the air conditioning operation to increase the thermal sensation index felt by the subject 201. In this way, by controlling the air conditioning operation before the thermal sensation felt by the subject 201 stabilizes, it is possible to suppress a drop in the temperature of the air-conditioned space 200 as much as possible and suppress changes in the thermal sensation felt by the subject 201.

[0040] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present disclosure may be embodied in another embodiment realized by any combination of the components described in this specification or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present disclosure also includes modifications obtained by applying various modifications to the above-described embodiments that would occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, i.e., the meaning of the wording of the claims.

[0041] For example, implementing a program corresponding to each process executed by the control device 160 also falls under the scope of the present disclosure. Of course, implementing a recording medium on which the program is recorded also falls under the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, when there are multiple subjects 201 in the air-conditioned space 200 and the heat generation amount of each of the multiple subjects 201 changes, the operation control unit 165 may determine the total heat generation amount change as the maximum value of the change in heat generation amount multiplied by the number of subjects 201, and may control the ambient air thermal sensation index to be lowered when the total heat generation amount change increases, and to be higher when the total heat generation amount change decreases.

[0043] Furthermore, when there are multiple subjects 201 in the air-conditioned space 200 and the heat generation amount of each of the multiple subjects 201 changes, the operation control unit 165 may determine the total heat generation amount change as the minimum value of the change in heat generation amount multiplied by the number of subjects 201, and may control the ambient air thermal sensation index to be lowered when the total heat generation amount change increases, and to be higher when the total heat generation amount change decreases.

[0044] Furthermore, when there are multiple subjects 201 in the air-conditioned space 200 and the heat generation amounts of the multiple subjects 201 change individually, the operation control unit 165 may control the total heat generation amount change to be the sum of the changes in the heat generation amounts of the individual subjects 201, and may control the environmental air thermal sensation index to be lowered when the total heat generation amount change increases, and to be higher when the total heat generation amount change decreases.

[0045] In addition, the example described above is a case where the operation control unit 165 controls to change the discharge temperature t1 according to the rate of change in the amount of heat generated. However, since the sensation of warmth or cold changes depending on at least one of the temperature, humidity, strength of the conditioned air being discharged, and direction of the conditioned air being discharged, the operation control unit 165 may change at least one of the temperature, humidity, strength of the conditioned air being discharged, and direction of the conditioned air being discharged according to the rate of change in the amount of heat generated.

[0046] 6, the measuring device 110 may be separate from the air conditioning system main body 103. The measuring device 110 may have a processor different from the processor of the control device 160, and may communicate with the control device 160 to send and receive information.

[0047] (summary) The air conditioning system 100 of the first embodiment is an air conditioning system 100 that conditions the air of the conditioned space 200, and includes a subject information acquisition unit 162 that acquires subject information, which is information about the subject 201 including the presence or absence of the subject 201 in the conditioned space 200, an environmental information acquisition unit 161 that acquires environmental information about the conditioned space 200, a heat generation amount derivation unit 163 that derives the heat generation amount of the subject 201 using the subject information, and an operation control unit 165 that controls the air conditioning operation to lower the thermal sensation index if the heat generation amount in the conditioned space 200 increases by more than a first heat generation amount within a first time period, and controls the air conditioning operation to raise the thermal sensation index if the heat generation amount in the conditioned space 200 decreases by more than a second heat generation amount within a second time period.

[0048] The air conditioning system 100 of the second aspect includes the air conditioning system 100 of the first aspect, and the subject information acquisition section 162 acquires at least one of biological information of the subject 201 and condition information of the subject 201 as the subject information.

[0049] The third aspect of the air conditioning system 100 includes the first aspect, in which the subject information acquisition unit 162 acquires biometric information of the subject 201 and status information of the subject 201 as subject information, and the heat generation amount derivation unit 163, when it determines based on the status information that the subject 201 is stationary, derives the heat generation amount using the biometric information without using the status information, and when it determines based on the status information that the subject 201 is not stationary, derives the heat generation amount using at least one of the status information and the biometric information.

[0050] The air conditioning system 100 of the fourth aspect includes any of the first to third aspects, and is provided with a measurement device 110 that detects subject information of the subject 201 in a non-contact state with the subject 201.

[0051] According to any of the first to fourth aspects, by changing the air conditioning operation based on a large change in the amount of heat generated in a short period of time, it is possible to prevent the subject 201 from feeling too cold or too hot. Furthermore, since a state in which the subject 201 feels comfortable is created in advance, it is possible to prevent the air-conditioned space 200 from being overcooled or overheated, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0052] The fifth aspect of the air conditioning system 100 includes any of the first to fourth aspects, and when the heat generation amount changes when there are multiple subjects 201 present, the operation control unit 165 controls the system so that, when the heat generation amount of one subject 201 changes, the heat generation amount change corresponding to the maximum number of subjects is taken as the total heat generation amount change, and the thermal sensation index of the ambient air is lowered when the heat generation amount of the subjects 201 increases, and is raised when the heat generation amount of the subjects 201 decreases.

[0053] The sixth aspect of the air conditioning system 100 includes any of the first to fourth aspects, and when the heat generation amount changes when there are multiple subjects 201 present, the operation control unit 165 controls the system so that the total heat generation amount change is the smallest heat generation amount change for each subject 201, and the thermal sensation index of the ambient air is lowered when the heat generation amount of the subjects 201 increases, and is raised when the heat generation amount of the subjects 201 decreases.

[0054] The seventh aspect of the air conditioning system 100 includes any of the first to fourth aspects, and when the heat generation amount changes when there are multiple subjects 201 present, the operation control unit 165 controls the total heat generation amount to change, and controls the thermal sensation index of the ambient air to be lowered when the heat generation amount of the subjects 201 increases, and to be higher when the heat generation amount of the subjects 201 decreases.

[0055] According to any of the fifth to seventh aspects, by changing the air conditioning operation based on a large change in the total heat generation amount in a short period of time, it is possible to prevent a state in which multiple subjects 201 feel too cold or too hot. Furthermore, since a state in which subjects 201 feel comfortable is created in advance, it is possible to prevent the air-conditioned space 200 from being overcooled or overheated, thereby reducing energy consumption. [Industrial Applicability]

[0056] The present disclosure is applicable to air conditioning systems that take in air in a conditioned space, cool or heat it, and then discharge conditioned air to improve the comfort of the subject. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100 Air Conditioning System 101 Discharge part 102 Suction part 103 Air conditioning system main body 110 Measuring equipment 120 Blower 121 Environmental Sensor 160 Control device 161 Environmental Information Acquisition Department 162 Subject Information Acquisition Department 163 Heat generation amount derivation part 165 Operation control unit 200 Conditioned space 201 Target

Claims

1. An air conditioning system that conditions air in a space to be air-conditioned, a subject information acquisition unit that acquires subject information, which is information about a subject, including whether or not the subject is in the air-conditioned space; an environmental information acquisition unit that acquires environmental information of the air-conditioned space; a heat generation amount deriving unit that derives a heat generation amount of the subject using the subject information; an operation control unit that controls the air conditioning operation to lower a thermal sensation index when the heat generation amount in the conditioned space increases by a first heat amount or more within a first time period, and controls the air conditioning operation to raise a thermal sensation index when the heat generation amount in the conditioned space decreases by a second heat amount or more within a second time period; An air conditioning system comprising:

2. The subject information acquisition unit At least one of biological information of the subject and status information of the subject is acquired as subject information. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. The subject information acquisition unit Acquire biological information of the subject and condition information of the subject as subject information; The heat generation amount derivation unit When it is determined based on the state information that the subject is stationary, the heat generation amount is derived using the biological information without using the state information, and when it is determined based on the state information that the subject is not stationary, the heat generation amount is derived using at least one of the state information and the biological information. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

4. a measuring device for detecting subject information of the subject in a non-contact state with the subject; 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. When the heat generation amount changes in a state where there are multiple subjects, the operation control unit determines the heat generation amount change corresponding to the maximum number of subjects among the heat generation amount changes of one subject as a total heat generation amount change, The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermal sensation index of the environmental air is controlled to be lowered when the heat generation rate of the subject increases, and to be raised when the heat generation rate of the subject decreases.

6. When the heat generation amount changes in a state where there are multiple subjects, the operation control unit determines the heat generation amount change for the minimum number of subjects among the heat generation amount changes for one subject as the total heat generation amount change, When the subject's heat output increases, the thermal sensation index of the ambient air decreases. When the subject's heat output decreases, the thermal sensation index of the ambient air is controlled to increase. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. When the heat generation amount changes in a state where a plurality of subjects are present, the operation control unit determines the change as a total heat generation amount change, When the subject's heat output increases, the thermal sensation index of the ambient air decreases. When the subject's heat output decreases, the thermal sensation index of the ambient air is controlled to increase. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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