Air conditioning system

Abstract

To obtain a configuration that can use power more efficiently than when an air conditioner in each area is individually controlled according to the number of people present in each area, in an air conditioning system that comprises air conditioners in a plurality of consecutive areas.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system comprises: a plurality of air conditioners each provided in a plurality of consecutive areas, and each having an outside air introduction fan; a plurality of detection units that detects the number of people present in each of the plurality of areas; and a control unit that stops one of the outside air introduction fans and makes the air conditioner into outside air cut operation when a required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of people in the plurality of consecutive areas detected by the detection unit is smaller than a total amount of outside air at the minimum output of the plurality of outside air introduction fans.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning systems. [Background technology]

[0002] In the large space air conditioning method described in Patent Document 1, an image that changes depending on the number of people on the floor is captured from the ceiling side of a large indoor space, and based on the captured image information, outside air or oxygen is supplied to the large indoor space in an amount that depends on the number of people on the floor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-099461 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art There is an air conditioning system that includes air conditioners each having an outside air intake fan in a plurality of consecutive areas.

[0005] Conventionally, the air conditioner for each area has been controlled according to the number of people in that area. Specifically, when the number of people in that area is small, the output of the outside air intake fan of the air conditioner for that area is controlled to reduce the amount of outside air introduced, and when the number of people in that area is large, the output of the outside air intake fan of the air conditioner for that area is controlled to increase the amount of outside air introduced.

[0006] However, the output of the outdoor air intake fan cannot be linearly controlled between 0% and 100%. It has a lower limit, for example, it is controlled between 40% and 100%. Therefore, even if 2% output of the outdoor air intake fan is sufficient when there is only one person in a certain area, the outdoor air intake fan must be operated at 40% output. In such cases, power cannot be used efficiently.

[0007] The objective of the present disclosure is to use electricity more efficiently in an air conditioning system that has air conditioning units in multiple consecutive areas, compared to a system in which the air conditioning units in each area are controlled individually according to the number of people present in each area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The air conditioning system according to the first aspect is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of air conditioning devices each provided in a plurality of consecutive areas and each having an outside air intake fan; a plurality of detection units that detect the number of people occupying each of the plurality of consecutive areas; and a control unit that stops one of the outside air intake fans and puts the air conditioning device into outside air cut operation when the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of people occupying the plurality of consecutive areas detected by the detection units is less than the total amount of outside air at minimum output of the plurality of outside air intake fans.

[0009] According to the configuration of the first aspect, if the required amount of outdoor air derived based on the total number of occupants in multiple consecutive areas detected by the detection unit is less than the total amount of outdoor air at minimum output from the multiple outdoor air intake fans, the control unit stops one of the outdoor air intake fans and puts the air conditioning device into outdoor air cut operation.

[0010] For example, if four areas each have an air conditioner, the amount of outside air required based on the total number of people in each area may be ensured by operating three of the outside air intake fans provided in each of the four air conditioners. In such a case, the outside air intake fan of one air conditioner is stopped to perform outside air cut operation.

[0011] This allows for more efficient use of power than in an air conditioning system that has air conditioners in multiple consecutive areas, where the air conditioners in each area are controlled individually according to the number of people present in each area.

[0012] The air conditioning system of the second aspect is characterized in that, in the air conditioning system described in the first aspect, the minimum number of outside air intake fans necessary to ensure the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of occupants in multiple consecutive areas detected by the detection unit are operated, and the other outside air intake fans are stopped.

[0013] According to the configuration of the second aspect, the minimum number of outside air introduction fans that can ensure the necessary amount of outside air across a plurality of continuous areas are operated, and the other outside air introduction fans are stopped.

[0014] Therefore, for example, to ensure the required amount of outside air, instead of operating three outside air intake fans at 40% output, two outside air intake fans are operated at 60% output each. By doing this, the number of outside air intake fans that need to be operated can be reduced.

[0015] This allows for more efficient use of power than when the required amount of outside air is ensured by operating multiple outside air intake fans at minimum output.

[0016] The air conditioning system of the third aspect is the air conditioning system described in the first or second aspect, characterized in that, at predetermined time intervals, the control unit controls the air conditioning device based on information about the number of people present in the room detected by the detection unit.

[0017] According to the third aspect, the control unit controls the air conditioner at predetermined time intervals based on the occupancy count information detected by the detection unit, thereby enabling efficient use of power even when the occupancy count in each area changes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present disclosure, in an air conditioning system having air conditioners in multiple consecutive areas, power can be used more efficiently than in a case where the air conditioners in each area are controlled individually according to the number of people present in each area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a plurality of areas in which an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is used; [Figure 2] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an air conditioning device provided with an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of a control unit provided in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a control flow of a control unit provided in the air conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a control flow of a control unit provided in an air conditioning system according to a comparative example to the embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An example of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Note that arrow W shown in the figures indicates the width direction of the indoor configuration within a structure in which the air conditioning system is installed, and arrow L shown in the figures indicates the depth direction of the indoor configuration.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, a structure 100 equipped with an air conditioning system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a corridor 102 extending in the depth direction and a plurality of continuous areas 106.

[0022] Specifically, four areas 106 are provided, lined up in the depth direction. In the following description, the areas will be referred to as area 106a, area 106b, area 106c, and area 106d from the back side in the depth direction (top side in the drawing) to the front side (bottom side in the drawing). When there is no need to distinguish between the individual areas 106, the alphabet at the end of the name may be omitted.

[0023] Each area 106 faces the corridor 102 and is provided with a door (not shown) that allows access to the area 106 from the corridor 102 .

[0024] Furthermore, each area 106 is continuous and not partitioned, and adjacent areas 106 are connected to each other. In other words, the flow of air from one area 106 to another adjacent area 106 is not obstructed.

[0025] (Air Conditioning System 10) The air conditioning system 10 includes a detection unit 52 that detects the number of people present in each area 106, an air conditioner 20 that adjusts the air in each area 106, and a control unit 40 (see Figure 3) that controls each air conditioner 20.

[0026] [Detection unit 52] The detection unit 52 is a known human presence sensor that is provided in each area 106 and detects the number of people present in each area 106.

[0027] [Air conditioner 20] The air conditioners 20 are so-called AHUs (Air Handling Units), and as shown in FIG. 1, are provided for the respective areas 106.

[0028] For ease of explanation, the air conditioner 20 installed in area 106a will be referred to as air conditioner 20a, the air conditioner 20 installed in area 106b will be referred to as air conditioner 20b, and the air conditioner 20 installed in area 106c will be referred to as air conditioner 20c. Furthermore, the air conditioner 20 installed in area 106d will be referred to as air conditioner 20d. Note that when there is no need to distinguish between the individual air conditioners 20, the final alphabet may be omitted.

[0029] 2, air conditioning unit 20 includes air adjustment unit 12, which includes, from upstream to downstream in the air flow direction, filter 12a for removing foreign matter from the air, chilled water coil 12b to which chilled water whose flow rate is controlled by chilled water control valve 13b is supplied, heating coil 12c to which hot water whose flow rate is controlled by hot water control valve 13c is supplied, and supply fan 12d. Also, supply duct 14 is provided to connect air adjustment unit 12 and area 106.

[0030] In this configuration, in the air conditioning unit 12, air that has been conditioned by passing through the filter 12a, the chilled water coil 12b, and the heating coil 12c is supplied to the area 106 through the supply duct 14 by the operating supply fan 12d.

[0031] The air conditioner 20 also includes an outside air introduction duct 18 for supplying outside air to the area 106, and an outside air introduction fan 22 for generating an air flow in the outside air introduction duct 18. One end of the outside air introduction duct 18 is connected to the air adjustment unit 12, and the other end of the outside air introduction duct 18 is connected to an outside air intake port 44 (see FIG. 1). The air conditioner 20 also includes a damper 24 that is disposed in the outside air introduction duct 18 between the outside air introduction fan 22 and the air adjustment unit 12 and controls the flow rate of air flowing through the outside air introduction duct 18.

[0032] In this configuration, by operating the outside air introduction fan 22 while the outside air introduction duct 18 is open by the damper 24, outside air flows from the outside air intake port 44 through the outside air introduction duct 18, passes through the air adjustment unit 12 and is supplied to the area 106.

[0033] The air conditioner 20 also includes an exhaust duct 28 for exhausting the indoor air (hereinafter referred to as "indoor air") from the area 106, and a ventilation fan 30 for generating an air flow in the exhaust duct 28. One end of the exhaust duct 28 is connected to the area 106, and the other end of the exhaust duct 28 is connected to an outside air exhaust port 42 (see FIG. 1). The air conditioner 20 also includes a damper 32 that is disposed in the exhaust duct 28 downstream of the ventilation fan 30 in the air flow direction and that controls the flow rate of air flowing through the exhaust duct 28.

[0034] In this configuration, by operating the ventilation fan 30 while the exhaust duct 28 is open by the damper 32, the inside air flows from the area 106 through the exhaust duct 28 and is exhausted from the outside air exhaust port 42 (see Figure 1).

[0035] The air conditioner 20 also includes a return air duct 34 having one end connected to the exhaust duct 28 between the ventilation fan 30 and the damper 32 and the other end connected to the air adjustment unit 12 .

[0036] In this configuration, with the exhaust duct 28 closed by the damper 32 and the outside air introduction duct 18 closed by the damper 24, the ventilation fan 30 and the supply fan 12d are operated. Furthermore, the outside air introduction fan 22 is stopped (deactivated). This results in outside air cut operation, and the inside air that has flowed from the area 106 to the exhaust duct 28 flows through the return air duct 34 and into the air adjustment unit 12. Then, the air adjusted by the air adjustment unit 12 flows through the supply duct 14 and is supplied to the area 106 again.

[0037] In this way, the outside air cut operation is an operation in which the air conditioner 20 adjusts the air supplied to the area 106 while the outside air intake fan 22 is stopped.

[0038] [Control unit 40] 3, the control unit 40 controls each unit based on information from the detection unit 52. The control of each unit by the control unit 40 will be explained together with the operation described later.

[0039] (action) Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 10 will be described using the flow diagram of Fig. 4. The operation of the air conditioning system 10 will be described in comparison with the operation of an air conditioning system 210 according to a comparative embodiment. First, the operation of the air conditioning system 210 according to the comparative embodiment will be described using the flow diagram of Fig. 5. Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0040] [Operation of the air conditioning system 210 according to the comparative example] In step S2100 shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 240 of the air conditioning system 210 in operation acquires information on the number of people present in each area 106 from the detection unit 52 of each area 106.

[0041] Next, in step S2200, control unit 240 derives the amount of outside air required for each area 106 based on the information on the number of people present in the room obtained from detection unit 52. For example, if the number of people present in area 106a is one, control unit 240 derives the output of outside air introduction fan 22 of air conditioner 20a provided in area 106a to be 2%.

[0042] Next, in step S2300, control unit 240 derives the output of outside air introduction fan 22 for each area based on the amount of outside air required for each area 106, and operates each outside air introduction fan 22.

[0043] For example, the output of the outside air introduction fan 22 in area 106a is derived to be 2%, but the output of the outside air introduction fan 22 cannot be controlled linearly between 0% and 100%; there is a lower limit, and it is controlled between 40% and 100%. For this reason, although the indoor environment can be maintained by operating the outside air introduction fan 22 at an output of 2%, the control unit 240 operates the outside air introduction fan 22 in area 106a at an output of 40%. In this way, power is not used efficiently in the air conditioning system 210.

[0044] Then, when the outside air intake fans 22 are operated at their respective outputs, the series of operations is completed. Furthermore, after the series of operations is completed, the above-described process is performed again at predetermined time intervals. In other words, if there is a change in the number of people occupying each area 106, the control unit 240 controls the air conditioner 20 based on the changed number of people.

[0045] [Operation of the air conditioning system 10 according to this embodiment] In step S1100 shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 40 of the air conditioning system 10 in operation acquires information on the number of people present in each area 106 from the detection unit 52 of each area 106.

[0046] Next, in step S1200, the control unit 40 derives the amount of outside air required for the entire area 106 and the amount of outside air required for each area 106, based on the occupancy information acquired from the detection unit 52. That is, the control unit 40 derives the amount of outside air required for the entire area 106a, area 106b, area 106c, and area 106d. Furthermore, the control unit 40 derives the amount of outside air required for each area 106.

[0047] For example, if the total number of people in area 106 is 20, control unit 40 derives the amount of outside air required for 20 people. Furthermore, control unit 40 derives the amount of outside air required for area 106a, area 106b, area 106c, and area 106d.

[0048] Next, in step S1300, the control unit 40 determines whether the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of occupants in the multiple areas 106 detected by the detection unit 52 is less than the total amount of outside air at minimum output of the multiple outside air intake fans 22.

[0049] For example, if the required amount of outside air calculated based on the total number of people in the room is 100, the control unit 40 determines whether the amount of outside air introduced into the area 106 when all the outside air intake fans 22 are operated at minimum output (e.g., 40% output) is less than 100.

[0050] If the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of people in area 106 is less than the total amount of outside air at minimum output from multiple outside air introduction fans 22, proceed to step S1400, and if the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of people in area 106 is equal to or greater than the total amount of outside air at minimum output from multiple outside air introduction fans 22, proceed to step S1410.

[0051] Next, in step S1400, the control unit 40 stops the outside air introduction fans 22 of the air conditioners 20 in the area 106 with the fewest occupants, causing the air conditioners 20 to enter outside air cut operation. Furthermore, based on the amount of outside air required for the entire area 106, the control unit 40 calculates the output of the outside air introduction fans 22 of the air conditioners 20 other than those in outside air cut operation, and operates the outside air introduction fans 22.

[0052] Specifically, the control unit 40 operates the minimum number of outside air introduction fans 22 necessary to ensure the required amount of outside air in the entire area 106, and stops the other outside air introduction fans 22. For example, to ensure the required amount of outside air, instead of operating three outside air introduction fans 22 at 40% output, two outside air introduction fans 22 are operated at 60% output each. In other words, the number of outside air introduction fans that are operated is reduced. In this way, power is used efficiently in the air conditioning system 10.

[0053] Then, when the outside air intake fans 22 are operated at their respective outputs, the series of operations is completed. Furthermore, after the series of operations is completed, the above-mentioned process is carried out again at predetermined time intervals. In other words, if there is a change in the number of people occupying each area 106, the control unit 40 controls the air conditioner 20 based on the changed number of people.

[0054] On the other hand, if the required amount of outside air calculated based on the total number of people in area 106 in step S1300 is equal to or greater than the total amount of outside air at minimum output of multiple outside air introduction fans 22, the process proceeds to step S1410.

[0055] In step S1410, based on the amount of outside air required for the entire area 106, the control unit 40 calculates the output of each of the outside air introduction fans 22 of the air conditioner 20, and operates each of the outside air introduction fans 22.

[0056] Then, when the outside air intake fans 22 are operated at their respective outputs, the series of operations is completed. Furthermore, after the series of operations is completed, the above-mentioned process is carried out again at predetermined time intervals. In other words, if there is a change in the number of people occupying each area 106, the control unit 40 controls the air conditioner 20 based on the changed number of people.

[0057] (summary) As described above, in air conditioning system 10, if the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of occupants in multiple consecutive areas 106 detected by detection unit 52 is less than the total amount of outside air at minimum output from multiple outside air introduction fans 22, one of the outside air introduction fans 22 is stopped and air conditioner 20 is put into outside air cut operation. Therefore, power can be used more efficiently than in air conditioning system 210, which controls air conditioner 20 for each area 106 individually according to the number of occupants in each area 106.

[0058] Furthermore, in the air conditioning system 10, the control unit 40 operates the minimum number of outside air introduction fans 22 necessary to ensure the required amount of outside air in the entire area 106, and stops the other outside air introduction fans 22. This allows for more efficient use of power than when the required amount of outside air is ensured by operating multiple outside air introduction fans 22 at minimum output.

[0059] Furthermore, in the air conditioning system 10, the control unit 40 controls the air conditioner 20 at predetermined time intervals based on the occupancy information detected by the detection unit 52. Therefore, even if the number of occupants in each area 106 changes, power can be used efficiently.

[0060] While the present disclosure has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments and that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. In the above embodiment, in the air conditioning system 10, the control unit 40 controls the air conditioner 20 at predetermined time intervals based on the occupancy count information detected by the detection unit 52. However, if a change occurs in the occupancy count detected by any of the detection units 52, the control unit may again control the air conditioner 20 based on the occupancy count information detected by the detection unit 52.

[0061] Furthermore, although not specifically described in the above embodiment, the air conditioning system 100 may be provided with a switching unit that switches between a control mode by the control unit 240 of the air conditioning system 210 according to the comparative embodiment and a control mode by the control unit 40 of the air conditioning system 10. In other words, the air conditioning system 100 may be provided with a switching unit that switches between an energy-saving mode in which, when the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of occupants in a plurality of consecutive areas 106 detected by the detection unit 52 is smaller than the total amount of outside air at minimum output of the plurality of outside air introduction fans 22, the air conditioning system 100 stops any of the outside air introduction fans 22 and performs outside air cut operation, and a normal mode in which the outside air introduction fan of the air conditioner in each area is controlled according to the number of occupants in each area. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10. Air Conditioning System 20 Air conditioner 22 Outdoor air intake fan 40 Control Unit 52 Detection unit 106 Area

Claims

1. a plurality of air conditioners each provided in a plurality of consecutive areas and each having an outside air intake fan; a plurality of detection units that detect the number of people present in each of the plurality of areas; a control unit that stops any one of the outside air introduction fans and puts the air conditioner into outside air cut operation when the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of occupants in the plurality of consecutive areas detected by the detection unit is smaller than the total amount of outside air at minimum output of the plurality of outside air introduction fans; An air conditioning system equipped with:

2. operating the minimum number of outside air introduction fans necessary to ensure the required amount of outside air derived based on the total number of occupants in the plurality of consecutive areas detected by the detection unit, and stopping the other outside air introduction fans; The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. The control unit controls the air conditioner at predetermined time intervals based on information about the number of people present in the room detected by the detection unit.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2.

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