Air conditioning management system and air conditioning management method

Abstract

This provides information on energy-saving control functions that can be introduced into air conditioners, and highly accurate information on the effects of introducing such control functions into air conditioners. [Solution] The server 20 acquires model information of the air conditioner 15 and periodically collects operating data of the air conditioner 15 and stores it in a storage device along with time information. The operating data includes setting information set in the indoor unit of the air conditioner 15, operating information indicating the operating status of the air conditioner 15, and external environmental data of the facility 10 in which the air conditioner 15 is installed. Based on the model information of the air conditioner 15, the server 20 determines an energy-saving control function that can be introduced to the air conditioner 15. Based on the operating data of the air conditioner 15 stored in the storage device, the server 20 predicts the effect of reducing power consumption and the impact on comfort within the facility 10 when the control function is introduced to the air conditioner 15.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning management system and an air conditioning management method. 【Background Art】 【0002】 In recent years, with the increasing interest in energy conservation, methods for predicting the power consumption of air conditioners have been studied. International Publication No. 2017 / 098552 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for collecting operation information indicating the operation states of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit constituting an air conditioner, setting information which is information set in the indoor unit, and environmental data outside a building, and predicting the power consumption of the air conditioner based on the collected data. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0003】 【Patent Document 1】 International Publication No. 2017 / 098552 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0004】 Some air conditioners have a control function for energy conservation. The presence or absence of a control function in an air conditioner and the type of control function provided in the air conditioner usually vary depending on the model such as the manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner. In an air conditioner equipped with a certain control function, even if this control function is a standard function, the control function will not operate unless the setting for enabling the control function is made. 【0005】 Furthermore, while introducing energy-saving control functions can reduce the energy consumption of air conditioners, there are concerns that it may decrease the comfort level of people staying in the facility. The extent of energy reduction and the impact on comfort when introducing such energy-saving controls can depend on the structure and usage of the facility where the air conditioner is installed, as well as the external environment of the facility. Therefore, even air conditioners of the same manufacturer and model may not necessarily have the same effect when introducing control functions. For air conditioner users, there is a concern that they may not utilize control functions because they lack information about the control functions that can be introduced, and they have little information to judge the actual effect of introducing control functions. 【0006】 This disclosure was made to solve the aforementioned problem, and its purpose is to provide information on energy-saving control functions that can be introduced into air conditioners, and highly accurate information on the effects of introducing such control functions into air conditioners. [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 An air conditioning management system according to one aspect of this disclosure comprises an air conditioner and a server that manages the air conditioner. The server acquires model information of the air conditioner and periodically collects operating data of the air conditioner and stores it in a storage device along with time information. The operating data includes setting information, which is information set on the indoor unit of the air conditioner, operating information, which indicates the operating status of the air conditioner, and environmental data from outside the facility in which the air conditioner is installed. Based on the model information of the air conditioner, the server determines an energy-saving control function that can be introduced to the air conditioner. Based on the operating data of the air conditioner stored in the storage device, the server predicts the effect of reducing power consumption and the impact on comfort within the facility when the control function is introduced to the air conditioner. 【0008】 An air conditioning management method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an air conditioning management method for managing an air conditioner, comprising the steps of: acquiring model information of the air conditioner; and periodically collecting operating data of the air conditioner and storing it in a storage device along with time information. The operating data includes setting information, which is information set in the indoor unit of the air conditioner; operating information, which indicates the operating status of the air conditioner; and external environmental data of the facility in which the air conditioner is installed. The air management method comprises the steps of: determining an energy-saving control function that can be introduced into the air conditioner based on the model information of the air conditioner; and predicting the effect of reducing power consumption and the impact on comfort within the facility when the control function is introduced into the air conditioner, based on the operating data of the air conditioner stored in the storage device. [Effects of the Invention] 【0009】 This disclosure provides information on energy-saving control functions that can be introduced into air conditioners, and highly accurate information on the effects of introducing such control functions into air conditioners. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0010】 [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of an air conditioning management system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a server configuration. [Figure 3] This block shows the functional configuration of the server. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of operating data for an air conditioner. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing an example of a map. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the effects of introducing indirect operation control. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of predictive data. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows the processes that the server will execute. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0011】 The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated. 【0012】 <Example of an HVAC management system configuration> Figure 1 shows an example configuration of an air conditioning management system according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning management system 100 according to this embodiment is a system for managing multiple air conditioners 15. The air conditioning management system 100 comprises multiple air conditioners 15 and a server 20 that manages the multiple air conditioners 15. The multiple air conditioners 15 and the server 20 are connected to a communication network 40. The air conditioning management system 100 allows the operator who owns the server 20 to provide various services via the communication network 40 to the owners of facilities 10 (office buildings, commercial buildings, hospitals, homes, etc.) where the air conditioners 15 are installed, or to the managers of the air conditioners 15. 【0013】 Each air conditioner 15 installed in each facility 10 consists of an outdoor unit 11, multiple indoor units 12, a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as "remote control") 14, and a controller 13. The air conditioners 15 installed in each facility 10 are not necessarily the same; they may be from different manufacturers and / or have different model names. The remote control 14 receives input commands for setting the air conditioner 15 from the air conditioner's administrator or the owner of the facility 10, and transmits the received input to the corresponding indoor unit 12 via wireless or wired communication. In other words, the administrator can operate the air conditioner 15 using the remote control 14. 【0014】 The controller 13 exchanges various signals and data with external devices, including the server 20. The controller 13 periodically (for example, once every hour) transmits operating information, such as the operating status of each component of the air conditioner 15, to the server 20 via the communication network 40. In addition, if an abnormality occurs in the air conditioner 15, the controller 13 transmits necessary information to the server 20. 【0015】 Furthermore, the controller 13 executes air conditioning control in accordance with commands from the administrator of the air conditioner 15 or the like, and provides data regarding the state of the air conditioner 15 to the administrator of the air conditioner 15 or the like. 【0016】 In the example of FIG. 1, each air conditioner 15 has one outdoor unit 11 and three indoor units 12. However, the number of outdoor units 11 and indoor units 12 possessed by the air conditioner 15 is not limited to this, and each may be one or more. Also, although illustration is omitted, various sensors such as a blower fan and a temperature sensor may be connected to the controller 13 as auxiliary equipment. 【0017】 The server 20 collects various information such as operation information from a plurality of air conditioners 15. Based on the collected information, the server 20 performs failure monitoring, failure prediction, improvement proposals by data analysis, and creation of various reports for each air conditioner 15. 【0018】 Also, the server 20 generates information regarding the introduction of a control function for energy saving based on the information collected from each air conditioner 15 and provides it to the administrator of each air conditioner 15. In this specification, the control function for energy saving is a control function of the air conditioner 15 for the purpose of energy saving. Such control functions include, for example, evaporation temperature control, high sensible heat control, intermittent operation control, and air blowing rotation control. 【0019】 Evaporation temperature control is control that changes the refrigerant temperature of the air conditioner according to the indoor load. For example, during cooling operation, raising the evaporation temperature (evaporation pressure) improves energy efficiency, and conversely, lowering the evaporation temperature decreases energy efficiency. 【0020】 High sensible heat control is control that suppresses the latent heat effect and prioritizes sensible heat treatment compared to normal operation. Since the operation of the air conditioner requires a large amount of energy for latent heat treatment, high-efficiency operation becomes possible by prioritizing sensible heat treatment. 【0021】 Intermittent operation control is a control method that alternates between heating / cooling operation and fan operation (thermostat OFF) at regular intervals for a single indoor unit. Fan rotation control is a control method that sequentially switches between fan operation (thermostat OFF) when operating multiple indoor units. In both intermittent operation control and fan rotation control, the fan operation time can be selected from multiple time options, such as 3 minutes, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes. 【0022】 The server 20 provides the administrator of each air conditioner 15 with information regarding the feasibility of implementing these control functions. The server 20 also provides the administrator of each air conditioner 15 with information regarding the effects of implementing the control functions if they are implemented. 【0023】 <Hardware configuration of Server 20> Figure 2 shows an example configuration of the server 20 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the server 20 comprises a processor 21, an input unit 22, a memory 23, a display unit 24, and a communication unit 25, which are connected via a communication bus 26. 【0024】 The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executes an air conditioning management program according to this embodiment. The input unit 22 consists of, for example, a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc., and accepts various types of information from the user (such as the administrator of the server 20). 【0025】 Memory 23 includes memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), as well as storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Memory 23 stores programs that the processor 21 should execute, various data obtained during the processing, and so on. Memory 23 is also used as a temporary storage area for programs. 【0026】 The display unit 24 consists of an LCD (liquid crystal display panel) or the like, and presents various information to the user. The communication unit 25 performs communication processing between the server 20 and external devices. 【0027】 In the air conditioning management system 100 shown in Figure 1, an air conditioning management program is installed in the memory 23 from, for example, a storage medium (not shown). When the air conditioning management program is executed, the program is read from the memory 23, and the processor 21 executes the air conditioning management process according to this embodiment in accordance with the air conditioning management program. 【0028】 <Functional configuration of Server 20> Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of server 20. As shown in Figure 3, server 20 is composed of a data acquisition unit 202, a storage device 204, a determination unit 206, a map 208, and a prediction unit 210. Each of these functions is realized, for example, by the processor 21 executing an air conditioning management program stored in memory 23. Some or all of these functions may be configured to be implemented in hardware. 【0029】 The communication unit 25 periodically receives data (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioner data") from each air conditioner 15 via the communication network 40 (for example, every few minutes). The air conditioner data includes operating information indicating the operating status of the air conditioner 15, setting information which is information set in the indoor unit 12, and model information of the air conditioner 15. The model information of the air conditioner 15 includes information indicating the manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner 15. 【0030】 Furthermore, the communication unit 25 periodically receives external environmental data for each facility 10 from a weather information server 30 (see Figure 1) provided by an external public institution or service provider via the communication network 40. The environmental data includes information indicating the outside temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and weather for each facility 10. This environmental data may be obtained from the weather information server 30, or it may be obtained from measurement data by sensors installed in each facility 10 via each air conditioner 15. 【0031】 The data collection unit 202 generates operating data for each air conditioner 15 at regular intervals (for example, every few minutes) from the air conditioner data and environmental data received by the communication unit 25 from each air conditioner 15. The data collection unit 202 stores the generated operating data in the storage device 204 along with time information. The time information may be the acquisition time of the air conditioner data assigned by the air conditioner 15 that is the source of the air conditioner data, or it may be the time when the data collection unit 202 acquired the air conditioner data from the air conditioner 15. 【0032】 Figure 4 shows an example of operating data for the air conditioner 15. As shown in Figure 4, the operating data for the air conditioner 15 includes setting information, environmental data, operating information for the indoor unit 12, operating information for the outdoor unit 11, air conditioning load, and power consumption of the air conditioner 15. 【0033】 The setting information is information set by the administrator of the air conditioner 15 or the owner of the facility 10 using a remote control 14 or the like, and includes information indicating operation ON / OFF, mode, and set temperature. Operation ON / OFF indicates whether the air conditioner 15 is in operation (i.e., ON state) or stopped (i.e., OFF state). Mode refers to the mode of the indoor unit 12, such as cooling, heating, or dehumidification. 【0034】 The environmental data is external environmental data of the facility 10 where the air conditioner 15 is installed, and includes information indicating the outside temperature, outside humidity, and solar radiation. 【0035】 The operating information for the indoor unit 12 indicates the operating status of the indoor unit 12 and includes information indicating the thermostat ON / OFF status of the indoor unit 12, the intake air temperature, and the opening degree of the expansion valve. Thermostat ON / OFF indicates whether the contacts of the thermostat of the indoor unit 12 are ON or OFF. Thermostat ON indicates the normal operating state, while thermostat OFF indicates that the unit has stopped operating when the intake temperature (≒room temperature) has approached the set temperature sufficiently. 【0036】 The operating information for the outdoor unit 11 includes information indicating the compressor rotation frequency, evaporation temperature, condensation temperature, discharge refrigerant temperature, intake refrigerant temperature, high pressure pressure, and low pressure pressure. 【0037】 The air conditioning load can be calculated from the operating information for each indoor unit 12. For example, the data acquisition unit 202 calculates the air conditioning load using the following procedure. 【0038】 (1) Determine the refrigerant flow rate from the opening degree of the expansion valve, the high pressure, and the low pressure. (2) Determine the enthalpy on the low-pressure side from the intake refrigerant temperature, low-pressure pressure, and evaporation temperature of the outdoor unit 11. 【0039】 (3) Determine the enthalpy on the high-pressure side from the discharge refrigerant temperature, high-pressure pressure, and condensation temperature of the outdoor unit 11. 【0040】 (4) The product of the difference between the enthalpy on the high-pressure side and the enthalpy on the low-pressure side, and the refrigerant flow rate, is defined as the air conditioning load. Note that the method for calculating the air conditioning load is not limited to this example, and any commonly used calculation method may be used. 【0041】 The power consumption of the air conditioner 15 can be obtained by acquiring the actual measured value of power consumption measured by a power meter installed on the outdoor unit 11. In this case, the air conditioner data transmitted from each air conditioner 15 includes the measured value from the corresponding power meter. If the outdoor unit 11 is not equipped with a power meter and the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 cannot be measured, the data acquisition unit 202 can estimate the power consumption by performing an approximate calculation based on the operating information of the outdoor unit 11 (compressor rotation frequency, refrigerant evaporation temperature, and condensation temperature). 【0042】 Returning to Figure 3, the storage device 204 stores the operating data of each air conditioner 15 input from the data acquisition unit 202 as time-series data. The operating data stored in the storage device 204 is used for the diagnosis and operational analysis of each air conditioner 15, and, as will be described later, is used to provide information on the effects of introducing control functions for energy saving. It is desirable that the storage device 204 stores at least one year's worth of operating data from the previous year. 【0043】 The determination unit 206 obtains model information for each air conditioner 15 from the data collection unit 202. Based on the model information for each air conditioner 15, the determination unit 206 determines whether or not energy-saving control functions can be introduced for each air conditioner 15. Specifically, the determination unit 206 refers to a map 208 stored in memory 23 in advance and determines whether or not each control function can be introduced based on the manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner 15 included in the model information for the air conditioner 15. 【0044】 Figure 5 shows an example of Map 208. As shown in Figure 5, Map 208 shows the control functions that can be installed in each air conditioner, categorized by manufacturer and model. In the figure, a circle (○) indicates that the corresponding control function can be installed, and an "X" (×) indicates that the corresponding control function cannot be installed. 【0045】 As shown in Figure 5, depending on the manufacturer and / or model number of the air conditioner, there are control functions that can and cannot be installed in the air conditioner. For example, regarding the first row of Map 208, an air conditioner with manufacturer "M1" and model number "X1" can have control functions A and B installed, but cannot have control function C installed. 【0046】 Returning to Figure 3, the determination unit 206 determines, for each air conditioner 15, the control functions that can be installed in the air conditioner 15 based on the manufacturer and model name included in the model information. As a result of the determination, the determination unit 206 outputs information indicating the control functions that can be installed in the air conditioner 15 to the prediction unit 210. 【0047】 When the prediction unit 210 receives a determination result from the determination unit 206, it predicts the effect of introducing a control function that can be introduced into the air conditioner 15. 【0048】 If an energy-saving control function is introduced to the air conditioner 15, it is expected that the energy consumption of the air conditioner 15 can be reduced. On the other hand, there is a concern that the introduction of the control function may increase the temperature difference between the temperature inside the facility 10 and the set temperature during heating and cooling operation, potentially reducing the comfort of people staying in the facility 10. 【0049】 Furthermore, the extent to which energy consumption is reduced and the impact on comfort when energy-saving control functions are introduced may depend on the structure and usage of the facility 10 in which the air conditioner 15 is installed, as well as the external environment of the facility 10. Therefore, even if the air conditioner 15 is from the same manufacturer and model, the effect of introducing the control functions may not necessarily be the same. 【0050】 Therefore, the prediction unit 210 uses the past operating data of the air conditioner 15 stored in the memory device 204 to predict the effects of introducing an energy-saving control function to the air conditioner 15 (the effect of reducing energy consumption and the impact on comfort). 【0051】 Below, as an example of prediction processing in the prediction unit 210, we will describe a method for predicting the effects of introducing intermittent operation control, which is one of the control functions for energy saving. 【0052】 Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the effects of introducing indirect operation control. Intermittent operation control is a control method in which a single indoor unit 12 repeatedly switches between cooling / heating operation and fan operation (thermo OFF) at regular intervals. Figure 6 shows an example of the temporal change in power consumption of the air conditioner 15 when the air conditioner 15 is in cooling mode, and the temporal change in temperature inside the facility 10. 【0053】 In Figure 6, the solid line in the power consumption waveform shows the temporal change in power consumption when intermittent operation control is introduced, while the dashed line shows the temporal change in power consumption when intermittent operation control is not introduced. Similarly, in the temperature waveform inside facility 10, the solid line shows the temporal change in temperature inside facility 10 when intermittent operation control is introduced, while the dashed line shows the temporal change in temperature inside facility 10 when intermittent operation control is not introduced. 【0054】 As shown in Figure 6, during the period when the air conditioner 15 is operating in fan mode, the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 decreases compared to when it is operating in cooling mode. On the other hand, the temperature inside the facility 10 is maintained near the set temperature by the cooling mode, but as the system switches from cooling mode to fan mode, the temperature inside the facility 10 gradually rises, and the temperature difference from the set temperature gradually widens. Then, when the cooling mode is resumed, the temperature inside the facility 10 gradually decreases. 【0055】 In intermittent operation control, increasing the duration of fan operation allows for greater reductions in power consumption. However, as the temperature difference between the facility 10 and the set temperature widens, it may take a long time for the temperature inside the facility 10 to return to the set temperature after restarting cooling operation following fan operation. In such cases, there is a concern that the comfort level inside the facility 10 may be compromised. 【0056】 The prediction unit 210 uses past operating data of the air conditioner 15 to predict the amount of power consumed by the air conditioner 15 when intermittent operation control is introduced. Specifically, the prediction unit 210 determines a calculation formula for calculating the air conditioning load for each indoor unit 12 based on past operating data for a certain period (for example, one year). For example, the prediction unit 210 assumes the following formula (1) as the formula for calculating the air conditioning load Q for each indoor unit 12. Q=w1×a1+w2×a2+···+wk×ak+C1 (1) k is the number of air conditioning load factors included in the operating data of the air conditioner 15. Air conditioning load factors are data correlated with the air conditioning load and consist of setting information, environmental data, and data included in the operating information of the indoor unit 12. ai is the data value of the i-th air conditioning load factor. wi is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the i-th air conditioning load factor. C1 is a constant. 【0057】 The prediction unit 210 calculates weighting coefficients w1 to wk for each indoor unit 12 using the least squares method or the like. The prediction unit 210 then determines a formula for calculating the air conditioning load for each indoor unit 12 and stores the determined formula in a database (not shown). 【0058】 Next, the prediction unit 210 calculates the predicted air conditioning load for each indoor unit 12 when intermittent operation control is introduced to the air conditioner 15. Specifically, the prediction unit 210 uses data values ​​from a certain period in the past (for example, one year) for setting information and environmental data, while using data values ​​for the indoor unit 12 when intermittent operation control is performed. For example, predetermined values ​​are used for the data values ​​of the operation information when intermittent operation control is performed. 【0059】 The prediction unit 210 calculates a predicted value of the air conditioning load of the indoor unit 12 for a certain period when intermittent operation control is introduced by substituting the data values ​​of the setting information, environmental data, and operating information of the indoor unit 12 into the formula for calculating the air conditioning load of the indoor unit 12 (formula (1)). 【0060】 Next, the prediction unit 210 predicts the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 from the air conditioning load of each indoor unit 12. Specifically, the prediction unit 210 determines the output of the outdoor unit 11 by summing the air conditioning loads of the indoor units 12 included in the air conditioner 15. Then, based on the output of the outdoor unit 11, the prediction unit 210 calculates the compressor frequency, refrigerant flow rate, target evaporation temperature, etc., according to the performance of the model, and predicts the power consumption of the compressor. For example, the prediction unit 210 predicts the power consumption of the compressor using the following procedure. 【0061】 (1) Data on power consumption per frequency should be stored in advance for each compressor model. (2) Predict the amount of power consumption from the compressor frequency and the above data. 【0062】 The prediction unit 210 calculates a predicted value for the total power consumption of the air conditioner 15 by adding the power consumption of each indoor unit 12 and the fan motor of the outdoor unit to the power consumption of the compressor. The power consumption of each indoor unit 12 and the fan motor of the outdoor unit is, for example, a predetermined value. 【0063】 Furthermore, the prediction unit 210 predicts the temperature inside the facility 10 based on the predicted value of the air conditioning load for each indoor unit 12. Specifically, for each indoor unit 12, the prediction unit 210 creates a formula or map showing the relationship between the air conditioning load and the intake air temperature of the indoor unit 12 (corresponding to the temperature inside the facility 10) based on past operating data for a certain period. Then, using this formula or map, the prediction unit 210 predicts the intake air temperature of the indoor unit 12 (the temperature inside the facility 10) from the predicted value of the air conditioning load of the indoor unit 12 when intermittent operation control is introduced. 【0064】 Furthermore, the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 and the temperature inside the facility 10 when intermittent operation control is introduced can be predicted for each length of fan operation time. 【0065】 Furthermore, the prediction unit 210 may use a prediction model to predict the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 and the temperature inside the facility 10 when intermittent operation control is introduced. The prediction model is a classifier (trained model) that outputs the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 and the temperature inside the facility 10 for the input parameters. The parameters input to the prediction model are the operating data of the air conditioner 15 (see Figure 4), and include setting information, environmental data, operating information of the indoor unit 12, operating information of the outdoor unit 11, air conditioning load, and power consumption of the air conditioner 15. 【0066】 The prediction unit 210 generates prediction data showing the effect of introducing intermittent operation control to the air conditioner 15, based on the predicted power consumption of the air conditioner 15 and the predicted temperature inside the facility 10, and outputs the generated prediction data to the display unit 24. The display unit 24 displays the prediction data according to the user's input. The prediction unit 210 further transmits the prediction data to the air conditioner 15 manager or the owner of the facility 10 via the communication network 40. 【0067】 Figure 7 shows an example of prediction data. As shown in Figure 7, the prediction data shows the predicted effect of introducing each control function that can be introduced into the air conditioner 15. 【0068】 The predicted value of the introduction effect includes the reduction rate of the power consumption of the air conditioner 15 per certain period (for example, one year). The prediction unit 210 predicts the annual power consumption of the air conditioner 15 by summing up the predicted annual power consumption values ​​of the air conditioner 15 as described above. Then, the prediction unit 210 calculates the reduction rate of the annual power consumption of the air conditioner 15 based on the power consumption of the past year and the predicted annual power consumption. 【0069】 The predicted value of the introduction effect further includes the temperature difference between the temperature inside the facility 10 where the air conditioner 15 is installed and the set temperature. The prediction unit 210 calculates the temperature difference from the set temperature based on the predicted temperature inside the facility 10 as described above. Specifically, the prediction unit 210 calculates the temperature difference between the maximum predicted temperature inside the facility 10 when the air conditioner 15 is in cooling mode and the set temperature for cooling mode. The prediction unit 210 also calculates the temperature difference between the minimum predicted temperature inside the facility 10 when the air conditioner 15 is in heating mode and the set temperature for heating mode. 【0070】 The manager of facility 10 or the manager of air conditioner 15 can determine what control functions can be introduced to air conditioner 15 from the predictive data shown in Figure 7. Furthermore, if there are multiple control functions that can be introduced, they can determine which control function will lead to the greatest energy savings, which control function will best maintain comfort within facility 10, and so on. As a result, it becomes possible to select and introduce a control function from among the multiple control functions that can achieve both energy savings and comfort. 【0071】 Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the processes performed by the server 20. As shown in Figure 8, in step S10, the server 20 periodically (for example, every few minutes) collects air conditioner data and environmental data from each air conditioner 15 via the communication network 40. The air conditioner data includes operating information indicating the operating status of the corresponding air conditioner 15, setting information which is information set on the indoor unit 12, and model information of the corresponding air conditioner 15. The model information of the air conditioner 15 includes information indicating the manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner 15. The environmental data includes information indicating the outside temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and weather for each facility 10. 【0072】 In step S20, the server 20 generates operating data for each air conditioner 15 from the air conditioner data and environmental data collected in S10 at regular intervals (for example, every few minutes), and stores the generated operating data in the storage device 204 along with time information. 【0073】 In step S30, the server 20 determines whether or not an energy-saving control function can be introduced for each air conditioner 15, based on the model information of each air conditioner 15 (manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner 15). In S30, the server 20 determines the control function that can be introduced to the air conditioner 15. 【0074】 In step S40, the server 20 predicts the effects of introducing a control function that can be introduced into the air conditioner 15. In S40, the server 20 uses past operating data of the air conditioner 15 stored in the storage device 204 to predict the effects of introducing an energy-saving control function into the air conditioner 15 (energy consumption reduction effect, impact on comfort). 【0075】 In step S50, the server 20 outputs predictive data showing the effect of introducing intermittent operation control to the air conditioners 15. In S50, the display unit 24 displays the predictive data according to user operation. The server 20 provides the predictive data to the administrator of each air conditioner 15. 【0076】 As described above, according to this embodiment, by obtaining model information of the air conditioner 15 from the air conditioner 15 managed by the server 20, it is possible to determine from the obtained model information that an energy-saving control function can be introduced to the corresponding air conditioner 15. Conventionally, the feasibility of introducing such a control function was determined after confirming the model of the air conditioner 15 from the site where the air conditioner 15 is installed or from the design drawings of the facility 10, which resulted in a time-consuming determination process. In this embodiment, such confirmation work is not required, and it is possible to efficiently determine the feasibility of introducing the control function remotely. 【0077】 Furthermore, in this embodiment, the effects of introducing an energy-saving control function to the air conditioner 15 (energy consumption reduction effect, impact on comfort) are predicted based on past operating data of the air conditioner 15. Therefore, it is possible to reflect the actual operating conditions of the air conditioner 15 and predict the effects of the introduction with high accuracy. 【0078】 Furthermore, by providing the owner of the facility 10 where the air conditioner 15 is installed and the manager of the air conditioner 15 with information from the server 20 indicating the control functions that can be introduced into the air conditioner 15 and the effects of introducing those control functions, the owner of the facility 10 and the manager of the air conditioner 15 can weigh the energy consumption reduction effect against the impact on comfort and decide whether or not to enable the control functions in the air conditioner 15. This increases the added value of the services that the air conditioning management system provides to the owner of the facility 10 and the manager of the air conditioner 15. 【0079】 In the above-described embodiment, when predicting the one-year effect of introducing a control function to the air conditioner 15, it is desirable to use at least one year's worth of operating data for the air conditioner 15. However, when the air conditioner 15 has only recently been installed in the facility 10, the operating data for the air conditioner 15 stored in the storage device 204 of the server 20 may not amount to one year's worth. In such cases, the operating data of an air conditioner 15 of the same manufacturer and model may be used as a substitute to predict the effect of the introduction. 【0080】 Furthermore, the operating data of the air conditioner 15 for one year is greatly influenced by the climate of that year, such as cool summers / hot summers and warm winters / cold winters. Also, the operating state of the air conditioner 15 may change in response to changes in social conditions due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore the data may also change. For this reason, if the storage device 204 has accumulated operating data for the air conditioner 15 for multiple years, the effect of introducing the system for one year may be predicted based on the operating data for the air conditioner 15 for multiple years. Alternatively, the effect of introducing the system for one year may be predicted using the operating data for a specified period excluded from the operating data for the air conditioner 15 for multiple years. 【0081】 The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0082】 10 Facility, 11 Outdoor unit, 12 Indoor unit, 13 Controller, 14 Remote control, 15 Air conditioner, 20 Server, 21 Processor, 22 Input unit, 23 Memory, 24 Display unit, 25 Communication unit, 30 Weather information server, 40 Communication network, 100 Air conditioning management system, 202 Data collection unit, 204 Storage device, 206 Judgment unit, 208 Map, 210 Prediction unit.

Claims

[Claim 1] Air conditioner and, The system includes a server that manages the aforementioned air conditioner, The server is configured to acquire the model information of the air conditioner and to periodically collect the operating data of the air conditioner and store it in a storage device along with time information. The aforementioned operating data includes setting information, which is information set in the indoor unit of the air conditioner; operating information, which indicates the operating status of the air conditioner; and environmental data from outside the facility where the air conditioner is installed. The aforementioned server, Based on the model information of the air conditioner, an energy-saving control function that can be introduced into the air conditioner is determined. An air conditioning management system that predicts the effect of reducing power consumption and the impact on comfort within the facility when the control function is introduced to the air conditioner, based on the operating data of the air conditioner stored in the memory device. [Claim 2] The aforementioned model information includes information on the manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner. The air conditioning management system according to claim 1, wherein the server has a map showing the control functions that can be installed in each air conditioner, for each manufacturer and model name of the air conditioner, and by referring to the map, the server determines the control functions that can be installed in the air conditioner from the model information. [Claim 3] The aforementioned server, From the past operating data of the air conditioner over a certain period, a predicted value of the air conditioning load of the indoor unit when the control function is introduced is calculated. An air conditioning management system according to claim 1 or 2, which predicts the amount of power consumed by the air conditioner and the temperature inside the facility during a certain period when the control function is introduced, based on the calculated predicted value of the air conditioning load. [Claim 4] The aforementioned server, The air conditioning management system according to claim 3, which outputs information indicating the reduction rate of the power consumption of the air conditioner during the aforementioned period when the control function is introduced, relative to the power consumption of the air conditioner during the aforementioned period in the past, and the temperature difference between the temperature inside the facility and the set temperature during the aforementioned period when the control function is introduced. [Claim 5] A method for managing air conditioners, The steps include: obtaining the model information of the aforementioned air conditioner from a computer; The system includes the step of periodically collecting operating data of the air conditioner and storing it in a storage device by the computer along with time information, wherein the operating data includes setting information which is information set in the indoor unit of the air conditioner, operating information which indicates the operating status of the air conditioner, and external environmental data of the facility in which the air conditioner is installed. The steps include: determining, using the computer, an energy-saving control function that can be introduced into the air conditioner based on the model information of the air conditioner; An air conditioning management method comprising the step of using a computer to predict, based on the operating data of the air conditioner stored in the memory device, the effect of reducing power consumption and the impact on comfort within the facility when the control function is introduced to the air conditioner.

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