Air conditioning control system

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning control device capable of accurately predicting a change in temperature of an own room when electric power reduction for reducing electric energy consumption of an air conditioner is performed.SOLUTION: The air conditioning control device controls the operation of an own room air conditioner for adjusting the temperature of the own room. The air conditioning control device predicts a change in the temperature of the own room when power reduction for reducing the amount of power used by the own room air conditioner is performed on the basis of information on an adjacent room adjacent to the own room across a wall, a ceiling or a floor, and controls the operation of the own room air conditioner on the basis of the predicted change. The information on the next room is the temperature of the next room.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning control device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known an air conditioning control device that controls the operation of an air conditioner for adjusting the temperature of a room, and is configured to reduce the amount of power used by the air conditioner (so-called demand response) in response to a request for reducing the power consumption from an electric power company (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This conventional air conditioning control device is configured to reduce the amount of power used by the air conditioner for a predetermined time from a predetermined time based on a contract with the electric power company.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] By the way, when reducing the amount of power used by the air conditioner, the temperature of the room changes, but it is preferable that the change is within the allowable range of the user of the air conditioner. Therefore, when the change when reducing the amount of power used by the air conditioner exceeds the allowable range of the user, it is preferable not to reduce the amount of power used by the air conditioner. And for that purpose, it is desired to accurately predict the change in the temperature of the room when reducing the amount of power used by the air conditioner.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning control device that can accurately predict the change in the temperature of a room when reducing the amount of power used by the air conditioner.

[0006] The air conditioning control device according to the present invention includes a control device that controls the operation of an air conditioning device for adjusting the temperature of the room. The control device is configured to predict the change in the temperature of the room when power reduction is performed to reduce the amount of power used by the air conditioning device, based on information of an adjacent room separated from the room by a wall, ceiling, or floor, and to control the operation of the air conditioning device based on the predicted change. In the air conditioning control device according to the present invention, the information of the adjacent room is the temperature of the adjacent room.

[0007] Furthermore, in the air conditioning control device according to the present invention, the "own room" and the "adjacent room" are, for example, rooms located within the same building.

[0008] Furthermore, in the air conditioning control device according to the present invention, the building is, for example, a single apartment building.

[0009] Furthermore, in the air conditioning control device according to the present invention, the information of the adjacent room may be the temperature of the adjacent room, the set temperature which is set as the target value of the temperature of the adjacent room adjusted by the adjacent room air conditioning device for adjusting the temperature of the adjacent room, or the output of the adjacent room air conditioning device.

[0010] Furthermore, in the air conditioning control device according to the present invention, when a power reduction over a predetermined period of time is requested, the control device predicts the temperature of the room to be reached when the power reduction is performed for the predetermined period of time, based on the information of the adjacent room. If the absolute value of the difference between the set temperature, which is set as the target value for the temperature of the room adjusted by the air conditioning device in the room, and the predicted temperature of the room, the power reduction is performed for the predetermined period of time if the absolute value of the difference is greater than the predetermined value, the power reduction is not performed.

[0011] According to the air conditioning control device of the present invention, the change in temperature of the room when the power consumption of the room's air conditioning system is reduced can be predicted. Therefore, the change in temperature of the room when the power consumption of the room's air conditioning system is reduced can be accurately predicted.

[0012] The components of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings. Other objects, features, and incidental advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an air conditioning control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the routine executed by the air conditioning control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for predicting the room temperature using an air conditioning control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by an air conditioning control device according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for predicting the rate of change of room temperature using an air conditioning control device according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, an air conditioning control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an air conditioning control device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, 100 is a building, 110 is the user's own room, 115 is an air conditioning device for adjusting the temperature of the user's own room 110, 120 is an adjacent room, 125 is an air conditioning device for adjusting the temperature of the adjacent room 120, and 200 is a communication network such as the Internet. In the following description, the air conditioning device 115 for adjusting the temperature of the user's own room 110 will be referred to as the "user's own room air conditioning device 115," and the air conditioning device 125 for adjusting the temperature of the adjacent room 120 will be referred to as the "adjacent room air conditioning device 125."

[0015] Building 100 can be any building with multiple rooms, such as an apartment building or a detached house. Furthermore, the building 100 shown in Figure 1 has two adjacent rooms 120. Each of these adjacent rooms 120 is adjacent to the own room 110, separated by a wall 130. Note that the adjacent rooms 120 shown in Figure 1 are on the same floor as the own room 110, but they may also be on a floor above the own room 110 (i.e., adjacent to the own room 110, separated by a ceiling), or on a floor below the own room 110 (i.e., adjacent to the own room 110, separated by a floor).

[0016] The air conditioning control device 10 is applied to the room air conditioning unit 115. The air conditioning control device 10 can adjust the room temperature To by controlling the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115. The room temperature To is the temperature of the room 110. The air conditioning control device 10 can acquire the room temperature To using a temperature sensor (not shown). In addition, the air conditioning control device 10 can acquire the outside temperature Ta using an outside temperature sensor (not shown). The outside temperature Ta is the temperature of the air outside the room 110.

[0017] Although not shown in the diagram, each adjacent room air conditioning unit 125 is equipped with an air conditioning control device. In the following description, the air conditioning control device of the adjacent room air conditioning unit 125 will be referred to as the "adjacent room air conditioning control device".

[0018] The air conditioning control device 10 includes an electronic control unit (ECU) 90. The ECU 90 is connected to the communication network 200. Also, the ECUs of the adjacent room air conditioning control devices are connected to the communication network 200. Each of the adjacent room air conditioning control devices is configured to provide the adjacent room information In to the air conditioning control device 10 via the communication network 200. Therefore, the air conditioning control device 10 can acquire the adjacent room information In via the communication network 200. In this example, the adjacent room information In is information on the adjacent room temperature Tn, the adjacent room set temperature Tn_set, and the output of the adjacent room air conditioner 125. The adjacent room temperature Tn is the temperature of the adjacent room 120. The adjacent room set temperature Tn_set is the temperature set by the user of the adjacent room air conditioner 125 and is the target value of the temperature of the adjacent room 120 to be adjusted by the adjacent room air conditioner 125.

[0019] Next, the operation of the air conditioning control device 10 will be described. During the operation of the self-room air conditioner 115, the air conditioning control device 10 executes the routine shown in FIG. 2 at a predetermined time interval, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, power reduction is performed. Here, power reduction means reducing the power consumption of the self-room air conditioner 115 by a predetermined amount ΔPreq. Note that power reduction includes stopping the operation of the self-room air conditioner 115.

[0020] At a predetermined timing, the air conditioning control device 10 starts processing from step S200 of the routine shown in FIG. 2, advances the processing to step S205, and acquires the self-room set temperature To_set. The self-room set temperature To_set is the temperature set by the user of the self-room air conditioner 115 and is the target value of the temperature of the self-room 110 to be adjusted by the self-room air conditioner 115.

[0021] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 advances the processing to step S210 and determines whether or not the reduction condition C1 is satisfied. The reduction condition C1 is a condition that the time for performing power reduction has arrived based on the contract with the power company.

[0022] When the air-conditioning control device 10 determines "Yes" in step S210, the process proceeds to step S215 to calculate the allowable temperature Tp. The allowable temperature Tp is the temperature of the self-room 110 that the user of the self-room air-conditioning device 115 can tolerate. The allowable temperature Tp is calculated based on the self-room set temperature To_set. For example, when the self-room set temperature To_set is less than or equal to the outside air temperature Ta, the allowable temperature Tp is a temperature that is higher than the self-room set temperature To_set by a predetermined temperature ΔTp. When the self-room set temperature To_set is higher than the outside air temperature Ta, the allowable temperature Tp is a temperature that is lower than the self-room set temperature To_set by a predetermined temperature ΔTp. Generally, the self-room set temperature To_set is set to a temperature lower than the outside air temperature Ta during relatively hot periods such as summer, and is set to a temperature higher than the outside air temperature Ta during relatively cold periods such as winter.

[0023] Next, the air-conditioning control device 10 proceeds with the process to step S220 to acquire the self-room information Io, the outside world information Ie, and the adjacent room information In. The self-room information Io is information on the self-room temperature To, the self-room set temperature To_set, and the output of the self-room air-conditioning device 115 during power reduction. The outside world information Ie is information on the outside air temperature Ta and the date and time DT. As described above, the outside air temperature Ta is the temperature of the atmosphere outside the self-room 110. The date and time DT is the date of that day and the time at that point. Also, as described above, the adjacent room information In is information on the adjacent room temperature Tn, the adjacent room set temperature Tn_set, and the output of the adjacent room air-conditioning device 125.

[0024] Next, the air-conditioning control device 10 proceeds with the process to step S225 to acquire the predicted value of the self-room temperature To as the predicted self-room temperature Te. The predicted self-room temperature Te is the temperature predicted to be reached by the self-room 110 at the point when a predetermined time Treq has elapsed from the start time of power reduction when power reduction starts at the current time.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the air conditioning control device 10 stores a learning model 300 that takes its own room information Io (own room temperature To, own room set temperature To_set, and output of the own room air conditioning device 115 during power reduction), external information Ie (outside temperature Ta and date / time DT), and adjacent room information In (adjacent room temperature Tn, adjacent room set temperature Tn_set, and output of the adjacent room air conditioning device 125) as input values ​​and outputs a predicted own room temperature Te. In step S225, the air conditioning control device 10 inputs its own room information Io, external information Ie, and adjacent room information In into the learning model 300 to obtain the predicted own room temperature Te.

[0026] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S230 and determines whether permission condition C2 is met. Permission condition C2 is the condition that, when the allowable temperature Tp is higher than the room setting temperature To_set, the predicted room temperature Te is less than or equal to the allowable temperature Tp, or when the allowable temperature Tp is lower than the room setting temperature To_set, the predicted room temperature Te is greater than or equal to the allowable temperature Tp. In other words, permission condition C2 is the condition that the absolute value of the difference between the room setting temperature To_set and the predicted room temperature Te is less than or equal to a predetermined value. Therefore, permission condition C2 is met when, as a result of power reduction, the temperature of the room 110 is within the user's acceptable range after a predetermined time Treq has elapsed.

[0027] For example, if power reduction is performed when the room 110 is being cooled by the room air conditioning unit 115 during a relatively hot period such as summer, the room temperature To will rise above the room set temperature To_set. Therefore, in this case, the predicted room temperature Te will be higher than the room set temperature To_set. On the other hand, if power reduction is performed when the room 110 is being heated by the room air conditioning unit 115 during a relatively cold period such as winter, the room temperature To will fall below the room set temperature To_set. Therefore, in this case, the predicted room temperature Te will be lower than the room set temperature To_set. However, as in this example, by setting permission condition C2 to the condition that the absolute value of the difference between the room temperature To_set and the predicted room temperature Te is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is possible to accurately determine whether the temperature of the room 110 when power reduction is performed is within the user's acceptable range, both when the predicted room temperature Te is higher than the room temperature To_set and when the predicted room temperature Te is lower than the room temperature To_set.

[0028] If the air conditioning control device 10 determines "Yes" in step S230, it proceeds to step S235 to calculate the target output value Ptgt. The target output value Ptgt calculated here is the target output value of the room air conditioning unit 115, and is the output value of the room air conditioning unit 115 that can reduce the amount of power consumed by the room air conditioning unit 115 by a predetermined amount ΔPreq.

[0029] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S240 and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 according to the target output value Ptgt calculated in step S235. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 so that its output becomes the target output value Ptgt. Therefore, the air conditioning control device 10 is configured to reduce power for a predetermined time (Treq) when the absolute value of the difference between the room set temperature To_set and the predicted room temperature Te is less than or equal to a predetermined value. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 predicts the change in temperature of the room 110 when power reduction is performed based on the adjacent room information In, and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 based on the predicted change.

[0030] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S295 and terminates the processing of this routine.

[0031] On the other hand, if the air conditioning control device 10 determines "No" in step S210 or step S230, it proceeds to step S245 to calculate the target output value Ptgt. The target output value Ptgt calculated here is the target output value of the room air conditioning unit 115, and is the output value of the room air conditioning unit 115 that can maintain the room temperature To at the room set temperature To_set.

[0032] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S250 and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 according to the target output value Ptgt calculated in step S245. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 so that its output becomes the target output value Ptgt. Therefore, the air conditioning control device 10 does not perform power reduction when the absolute value of the difference between the room set temperature To_set and the predicted room temperature Te is greater than a predetermined value. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 predicts the temperature change of the room 110 when power reduction is performed based on the adjacent room information In, and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 based on the predicted change.

[0033] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S295 and terminates the processing of this routine.

[0034] The above describes the operation of the air conditioning control device 10. According to this, not only the room temperature To and the outside temperature Ta, but also information about adjacent rooms In is taken into consideration when obtaining the predicted room temperature Te. In other words, the thermal energy stored in the building 100 (heat accumulated in the structure of the building 100) is taken into consideration when obtaining the predicted room temperature Te. For this reason, it is possible to accurately predict the room temperature To after a predetermined time Treq when power reduction is performed over a predetermined time Treq. That is, it is possible to accurately predict the change in the room temperature To when power reduction is performed.

[0035] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention.

[0036] For example, the air conditioning control device 10 may be configured to execute the routine shown in Figure 4 at predetermined time intervals. In this case, when the predetermined timing arrives, the air conditioning control device 10 starts processing from step S400 of the routine shown in Figure 4, proceeds to step S405, and obtains the room set temperature To_set.

[0037] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S410 and determines whether the reduction condition C1 is met. Here, the reduction condition C1 is the condition that the user of the room air conditioning unit 115 has selected the power saving mode. The power saving mode is a mode in which the room air conditioning unit 115 is operated in such a way that the amount of power consumed by the room air conditioning unit 115 is kept to a minimum.

[0038] If the air conditioning control device 10 determines "Yes" in step S410, it proceeds to step S415 to calculate the allowable temperature Tp. Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S420 to acquire the in-room information Io, the outside environment information Ie, and the adjacent room information In.

[0039] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S425 and obtains a predicted value of the rate of change of the room temperature To as the predicted rate of change of the room temperature Re. The predicted rate of change of the room temperature Re is the predicted value of the amount of change (absolute value) of the room temperature To per unit time if power reduction is started at this time.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, the air conditioning control device 10 stores a learning model 305 that takes its own room information Io (own room temperature To, own room set temperature To_set, and output of the own room air conditioning device 115 during power reduction), external information Ie (outside temperature Ta and date / time DT), and adjacent room information In (adjacent room temperature Tn, adjacent room set temperature Tn_set, and output of the adjacent room air conditioning device 125) as input values ​​and outputs the predicted rate of change of the own room temperature Re. In step S425, the air conditioning control device 10 inputs its own room information Io, external information Ie, and adjacent room information In into the learning model 305 to obtain the predicted rate of change of the own room temperature Re.

[0041] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S430 and determines whether the permission condition C2 is met. The permission condition C2 here is the condition that, when the allowable temperature Tp is equal to or greater than the room set temperature To_set, the room temperature To is less than or equal to the allowable temperature Tp and the predicted rate of change of the room temperature Re is less than or equal to the allowable rate of change Rp, or when the allowable temperature Tp is lower than the room set temperature To_set, the room temperature To is equal to or greater than the allowable temperature Tp and the predicted rate of change of the room temperature Re is less than or equal to the allowable rate of change Rp.

[0042] If the air conditioning control device 10 determines "Yes" in step S430, it proceeds to step S435 to calculate the target output value Ptgt. The target output value Ptgt calculated here is the target output value of the room air conditioning unit 115, and is the output value of the room air conditioning unit 115 that can reduce the amount of power consumed by the room air conditioning unit 115 by a predetermined amount ΔPreq.

[0043] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S440 and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 according to the target output value Ptgt calculated in step S435. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 so that its output becomes the target output value Ptgt. Accordingly, the air conditioning control device 10 predicts the temperature change in the room 110 when power is reduced based on the adjacent room information In, and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 based on the predicted change.

[0044] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S495 and terminates the processing of this routine.

[0045] On the other hand, if the air conditioning control device 10 determines "No" in step S410 or step S430, it proceeds to step S445 to calculate the target output value Ptgt. The target output value Ptgt calculated here is the target output value of the room air conditioning unit 115, and is the output value of the room air conditioning unit 115 that can maintain the room temperature To at the room set temperature To_set.

[0046] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S450 and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 according to the target output value Ptgt calculated in step S445. That is, the air conditioning control device 10 controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 so that its output becomes the target output value Ptgt. Accordingly, the air conditioning control device 10 predicts the temperature change in the room 110 when power is reduced based on the adjacent room information In, and controls the operation of the room air conditioning unit 115 based on the predicted change.

[0047] Next, the air conditioning control device 10 proceeds to step S495 and terminates the processing of this routine.

[0048] According to this, not only the room temperature To and the outside temperature Ta, but also information from the adjacent room In is taken into consideration when obtaining the predicted room temperature change rate Re. In other words, the thermal energy stored in the building 100 (heat accumulated in the structure of building 100) is taken into consideration when obtaining the predicted room temperature change rate Re. For this reason, the rate of change in the room temperature To when power consumption is reduced can be accurately predicted. That is, the change in the room temperature To when power consumption is reduced can be accurately predicted. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 10...Air conditioning control unit, 90...ECU, 100...Building, 110...Own room, 115...Own room air conditioning unit, 120...Adjacent room, 125...Adjacent room air conditioning unit, 200...Communication network, 300...Learning model, 305...Learning model

Claims

1. In an air conditioning control device equipped with a control device that controls the operation of a room air conditioning device for adjusting the temperature of the room, The control device is Based on information from the adjacent room separated from the aforementioned room by a wall, ceiling, or floor, the power consumption of the air conditioning system in the aforementioned room is reduced, and the temperature change in the aforementioned room is predicted. Based on the predicted changes, the operation of the room's air conditioning system is controlled. It is configured in such a way, The information about the adjacent room is the temperature of the adjacent room. Air conditioning control device.

2. In the air conditioning control device according to claim 1, The aforementioned room and the aforementioned adjacent room are rooms located within the same building. Air conditioning control device.

3. In the air conditioning control device according to claim 2, The aforementioned building is a single apartment building. Air conditioning control device.

4. In the air conditioning control device according to claim 1, The information of the adjacent room is the temperature of the adjacent room, the set temperature which is set as the target value for the temperature of the adjacent room adjusted by the adjacent room air conditioning unit for adjusting the temperature of the adjacent room, or the output of the adjacent room air conditioning unit. Air conditioning control device.

5. In the air conditioning control device according to claim 1, The control device is If a power reduction over a predetermined period of time is requested, the temperature of the room in question, when the power reduction is performed for the predetermined period of time, is predicted based on the information of the adjacent room. When the absolute difference between the set temperature, which is set as the target temperature of the room adjusted by the air conditioning system in the room, and the predicted temperature of the room is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the power reduction is performed for the predetermined time. If the absolute value of the difference is greater than the predetermined value, the power reduction will not be performed. It is structured in such a way. Air conditioning control device.

Images