Air conditioning system

Abstract

An air conditioning system (1) comprises an air conditioner (2) that has a first refrigerant circuit (23) and that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from an indoor space by exchanging heat with a refrigerant and supplies the air to the indoor space, a ventilation device (3) that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from the outside and supplies the air to the indoor space, and a control unit (4) that controls the air conditioner (2) and the ventilation device (3) in accordance with the thermal load of the indoor space requiring temperature adjustment, wherein, if the thermal load of an indoor space to be temperature-adjusted by a first indoor unit (22A) of the air conditioner (2) is in a high-load state and the thermal load of an indoor space to be temperature-adjusted by a second indoor unit (22B) is in a low-load state, the control unit (4) stops the temperature adjustment operation of the second indoor unit (22B) and executes a temperature adjustment operation of the ventilation device (3).

Description

Air conditioning system

[0001] This disclosure relates to an air conditioning system.

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an air conditioning system comprising an air conditioner, a ventilation device, and a control unit that controls them. The air conditioner adjusts the temperature of air taken in from the indoor space and supplies it to the indoor space, while the ventilation device adjusts the temperature of air taken in from the outdoors and supplies it to the indoor space. The control unit of this air conditioning system improves energy consumption efficiency by appropriately distributing the heat load of the indoor space, calculated based on the temperature of the indoor space, between the air conditioner and the ventilation device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-90692

[0004] In indoor spaces, the magnitude of the heat load requiring temperature control by an air conditioning system varies depending on factors such as the location and number of people using the room, the type and number of electrical appliances in the room, and whether or not sunlight enters the room. Furthermore, such heat loads may differ between multiple rooms, or even within different areas of a single room.

[0005] The air conditioning system described in Patent Document 1 does not take into account control when the heat load differs from room to room or area to area.

[0006] This disclosure aims to provide an air conditioning system that can optimize power consumption when the heat load differs for each room or area.

[0007] (1) The air conditioning system of the present disclosure comprises: an air conditioner having a first refrigerant circuit that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from an indoor space by heat exchange with a refrigerant and supplies it to the indoor space; a ventilation device that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from outside and supplies it to the indoor space; and a control unit that controls the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the heat load of the indoor space that requires temperature adjustment, wherein the air conditioner has a first indoor unit and a second indoor unit, and when the heat load of the indoor space whose temperature is adjusted by the first indoor unit is in a high load state and the heat load of the indoor space whose temperature is adjusted by the second indoor unit is in a low load state, the control unit stops the temperature adjustment operation of the second indoor unit and performs temperature adjustment operation of the ventilation device.

[0008] According to the above configuration, for example, if the heat load differs in different areas of the indoor space, and the heat load in the area temperature-controlled by the first indoor unit is high, while the heat load in the area temperature-controlled by the second indoor unit is low, the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit is stopped, and the temperature control operation of the ventilation system is performed. This prevents the second indoor unit from repeatedly starting and stopping in low-load conditions, and allows the ventilation system to perform temperature control. Since the ventilation system is primarily for ventilation and can operate at a lower output than the second indoor unit, it can operate with reduced power consumption even in low-load conditions, thereby optimizing power consumption.

[0009] (2) In the air conditioning system described in (1) above, the ventilation device has a second refrigerant circuit and supplies the air taken in from outside to the indoor space after adjusting its temperature through heat exchange with the refrigerant.

[0010] (3) In the air conditioning system described in (2) above, the ventilation device has a first air inlet and a second air inlet for supplying temperature-controlled air to the indoor space, the indoor space has a first zone whose temperature is controlled by the air supplied from the first indoor unit and the first air inlet, and a second zone whose temperature is controlled by the air supplied from the second indoor unit and the second air inlet, and the control unit stops the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit and performs the temperature control operation of the ventilation device for the second zone when the first zone is in a high load state and the second zone is in a low load state.

[0011] With this configuration, when the heat load in the first zone is high and the heat load in the second zone is low, the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit is stopped, and the temperature control operation of the ventilation system is performed. This prevents the second indoor unit from repeatedly starting and stopping when under low load, and allows the ventilation system to control the temperature of the second zone.

[0012] (4) The air conditioning system described in (3) further comprises a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the first zone and a second temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the second zone, wherein the control unit identifies the heat load in the first zone based on the value detected by the first temperature sensor and identifies the heat load in the second zone based on the value detected by the second temperature sensor.

[0013] With this configuration, the control unit can control the first indoor unit, the second indoor unit, and the ventilation system according to the heat load of the first and second zones, which are determined based on the detected values ​​of the first and second temperature sensors.

[0014] (5) In the air conditioning system described in (3) or (4) above, the control unit operates the ventilation device to adjust the temperature so that the system power consumption of the air conditioner and the ventilation device is minimized when the second zone is in a low-load state.

[0015] This configuration can reduce the system's power consumption.

[0016] (6) In the air conditioning system described in (5) above, the control unit determines the specific enthalpy difference between the air taken in from outside by the ventilation device and the air supplied to the room, such that the system power consumption is minimized, and controls the temperature of the air supplied by the ventilation device from the second air inlet based on this specific enthalpy difference.

[0017] This configuration optimizes the heat exchange capacity of the ventilation system and reduces the system's power consumption.

[0018] (7) In the air conditioning system described in (6) above, the control unit controls the airflow rate of the ventilation device supplied from the second air inlet based on the specific enthalpy difference and the heat load of the second zone.

[0019] With this configuration, the ventilation system controls the airflow rate supplied from the second air inlet based on the specific enthalpy difference that minimizes system power consumption and the heat load of the second zone, thereby efficiently adjusting the temperature of the second zone with low power consumption.

[0020] (8) In the air conditioning system described in (7) above, the specific enthalpy difference is determined based on the heat load in the first zone.

[0021] With this configuration, by determining the specific enthalpy difference of the ventilation system that minimizes system power consumption based on the heat load in the first zone under high load conditions, the ventilation system controls the temperature of the air blown out from the first air inlet using this specific enthalpy difference, and the temperature of the first zone can also be efficiently adjusted with low power consumption.

[0022] (9) In any one of the air conditioning systems described in (3) to (6) above, the ventilation device has a first exhaust port for discharging air from the first zone and a second exhaust port for discharging air from the second zone, and the control unit controls the airflow rate of the air discharged from the second exhaust port by the ventilation device.

[0023] According to this configuration, by controlling the air volume of the air discharged from the second exhaust port by the control unit using the ventilation device, the air volume of the air supplied from the second air supply port to the indoor space can be varied, and the temperature of the indoor space can be adjusted.

[0024] (10) In any one of the air conditioning systems (3) to (8) above, the ventilation device has an air supply unit that adjusts the temperature of the air taken in from the outside and supplies it to the indoor space. The air supply unit includes a first air volume adjustment mechanism that adjusts the air volume of the air supplied from the first air supply port to the indoor space, and a second air volume adjustment mechanism that adjusts the air volume of the air supplied from the second air supply port to the indoor space.

[0025] According to this configuration, air can be supplied at an appropriate air volume in each of the first zone and the second zone. As the first and second air volume adjustment mechanisms, a fan capable of adjusting the air volume, a damper that expands and contracts the cross-sectional area of the air flow path etc. can be adopted.

[0026] (11) In any one of the air conditioning systems (3) to (9) above, the ventilation device includes a first air supply unit that adjusts the temperature of the air taken in from the outside and supplies it to the indoor space from the first air supply port, and a second air supply unit that adjusts the temperature of the air taken in from the outside and supplies it to the indoor space from the second air supply port.

[0027] According to this configuration, air adjusted in temperature can be supplied to each of the first zone and the second zone.

[0028] (12) In any one of the air conditioning systems (3) to (8) above, the ventilation device includes a heat exchange unit having a heat exchanger that adjusts the temperature of the air taken in from the outside, a first air supply duct and a second air supply duct connected to the heat exchange unit, a first air volume adjustment unit that adjusts the air volume of the air reaching the first air supply port from the first air supply duct, and a second air volume adjustment unit that adjusts the air volume of the air reaching the second air supply port from the second air supply duct.

[0029] (13) In any one of the air conditioning systems according to (3) to (12) above, the first zone and the second zone are spaces that communicate with each other.

[0030] (14) In any one of the air conditioning systems according to (3) to (12) above, the first zone and the second zone are spaces that communicate with each other.

[0031] (15) In any one of the air conditioning systems according to (1) to (14) above, when the second indoor unit has the authority to give instructions to other indoor units, the control unit transfers the authority from the second indoor unit to the first indoor unit when the temperature adjustment operation of the second indoor unit is stopped.

[0032] It is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air conditioning system according to the first embodiment. It is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of a ventilation device and an air conditioner. It is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the air conditioning load when the intermediate mode is selected. It is a graph showing the relationship between the specific enthalpy difference and the system power consumption in the high load zone. It is a graph showing the relationship between the system power consumption in the high load zone and the air volume of the ventilation device. It is a graph showing the relationship between the system power consumption in the high load zone and the air volume of the ventilation device. It is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for selecting the operation mode by the upper control device. It is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the upper control device in the intermediate mode. It is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of a ventilation device and an air conditioner of an air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. It is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of a ventilation device and an air conditioner of an air conditioning system according to the third embodiment. It is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of a ventilation device and an air conditioner of an air conditioning system according to the fourth embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an air volume adjustment unit on the supply air side. It is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an air volume adjustment unit on the exhaust air side.

[0033] Hereinafter, the air conditioning system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are essentially preferred examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, its applications, or its uses.

[0034] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an air conditioning system according to the first embodiment. The air conditioning system 1 comprises an air conditioner 2, a ventilation device 3, and a higher-level control device 4. The air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3 provide air conditioning for the indoor space. The higher-level control device 4 controls the ventilation device 3 and the air conditioner 2 in coordination. In this embodiment, an example is described in which the indoor space has two living spaces R1 and R2 partitioned by a wall W or the like. The living spaces R1 and R2 are, for example, living rooms inside an office or a house. Above the living spaces R1 and R2, an adjacent ceiling space C1 is provided.

[0035] The air conditioner 2 operates using a vapor compression refrigeration cycle to cool and heat the living spaces R1 and R2. The air conditioner 2 includes an outdoor unit 21 and two indoor units 22A and 22B. The outdoor unit 21 is located, for example, outdoors (outside the building). The indoor units 22A and 22B are located, for example, in the space above the ceiling C1 indoors. One indoor unit 22A controls the temperature of one living space R1, and the other indoor unit 22B controls the temperature of the other living space R2. In the following description, one indoor unit 22A and living space R1 may be referred to as "first indoor unit 22A" and "first living space R1," respectively, and the other indoor unit 22B and living space R2 may be referred to as "second indoor unit 22B" and "second living space R2," respectively.

[0036] The air conditioner 2 is not limited to having one outdoor unit 21, but may have multiple outdoor units, and is not limited to having two indoor units 22A and 22B, but may have three or more outdoor units. The air conditioner 2 may perform only cooling or heating.

[0037] The outdoor unit 21 and the two indoor units 22A and 22B are connected by connecting piping. The connecting piping includes liquid refrigerant connecting piping and gaseous refrigerant connecting piping. The outdoor unit 21, the two indoor units 22A and 22B, and the connecting piping form a single refrigerant circuit (first refrigerant circuit) 23 that circulates the refrigerant. The air conditioner 2 circulates the refrigerant within the refrigerant circuit 23 by performing a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle operation.

[0038] The outdoor unit 21 comprises a heat exchanger 24 that constitutes the refrigerant circuit 23 and a control unit 25. The outdoor unit 21 exchanges heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 24. The control unit 25 controls the entire air conditioner 2. The control unit 25 sends and receives information to and from the higher-level control unit 4. The control unit 25 performs various controls in response to control signals from the higher-level control unit 4.

[0039] The indoor units 22A and 22B are equipped with a heat exchanger 26 that constitutes the refrigerant circuit 23. The indoor units 22A and 22B take in air from the living spaces R1 and R2, exchange heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 26, and blow out temperature-adjusted air into the living spaces R1 and R2. The indoor units 22A and 22B in this embodiment are so-called ceiling-mounted type, and blow out temperature-adjusted air from an air supply outlet provided in the ceiling C. The indoor units 22A and 22B are not limited to ceiling-mounted type, but may also be ceiling-suspended type, wall-mounted type, floor-standing type, etc.

[0040] The indoor units 22A and 22B are equipped with temperature sensors 27A and 27B for detecting the temperature in the living spaces R1 and R2. The temperature sensors 27A and 27B include a first temperature sensor 27A for detecting the temperature in the first living space R1 and a second temperature sensor 27B for detecting the temperature in the second living space R2. The detected values ​​from the temperature sensors 27A and 27B are transmitted to the control unit 25 of the outdoor unit 21. A remote control 28 is connected to the indoor units 22A and 22B. The set temperatures for the living spaces R1 and R2 can be input using this remote control 28. The set temperatures input from the remote control 28 are transmitted to the control unit 25 of the outdoor unit 21.

[0041] Figure 2 shows a specific example of the arrangement of the ventilation system and air conditioner. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ventilation system 3 comprises an air supply unit 31, an exhaust unit 32, and a compressor unit 33. The ventilation system 3 supplies air taken in from outside to the living spaces R1 and R2, and discharges air taken in from the living spaces R1 and R2 to the outside. In this way, the ventilation system 3 enables the exchange of air between the living spaces R1 and R2 and the outside air. By adjusting the temperature of the air supplied to the living spaces R1 and R2, the ventilation system 3 can supply cool air (cooling operation) and warm air (heating operation) to the living spaces R1 and R2. The output of the ventilation system 3 is smaller than the output of the air conditioner 2, and the cooling and heating capacities of the ventilation system 3 are smaller than the cooling and heating capacities of the air conditioner 2.

[0042] The air supply unit 31 and the exhaust unit 32 are arranged, for example, in the space above the ceiling C1. The air supply unit 31 includes an air supply heat exchanger 34, an air supply fan 35, a detection unit 36, and a control unit 37. These are housed in a common casing 39.

[0043] The air supply unit 31 is installed between an outside air inlet provided in the exterior wall of the building and air supply openings 38A and 38B provided in the ceiling C of the living spaces R1 and R2. The outside air inlet and air supply openings 38A and 38B are also components of the ventilation device 3. The air supply openings 38A and 38B are air supply outlets that blow air into the living spaces R1 and R2. Air supply openings 38A and 38B are provided in each of the living spaces R1 and R2. Hereinafter, the air supply opening 38A provided in the first living space R1 may be referred to as the first air supply opening, and the air supply opening 38B provided in the second living space R2 may be referred to as the second air supply opening. The air supply openings 38A and 38B can be formed not only in the ceiling of the living spaces R1 and R2, but also in the walls and floors.

[0044] The air supply fan 35 draws in outdoor air into the air supply unit 31 and generates an airflow that is supplied to the living spaces R1 and R2. As shown in Figure 2, the air supply fan 35 includes a first air supply fan 35A corresponding to the air supply port 38A of the first living space R1 and a second air supply fan 35B corresponding to the air supply port 38B of the second living space R2. The air supply fan 35 is a fan whose airflow can be adjusted, for example, by inverter control.

[0045] The exhaust unit 32 includes an exhaust heat exchanger 41, an exhaust fan 42, a detection unit 43, and a control unit 44. These are housed in a common casing 46. The exhaust unit 32 is installed between exhaust ports 45A and 45B provided in the ceiling C of the living spaces R1 and R2, and an outside air outlet provided in the exterior wall of the building. The exhaust ports 45A and 45B and the outside air outlet are also components of the ventilation device 3.

[0046] Exhaust ports 45A and 45B are exhaust intake ports for drawing air from the living spaces R1 and R2. Exhaust ports 45A and 45B are provided in each living space R1 and R2. Hereinafter, exhaust port 45A provided in the first living space R1 may be referred to as the first exhaust port, and exhaust port 45B provided in the second living space R2 may be referred to as the second exhaust port. Exhaust ports 45A and 45B can be formed not only in the ceiling C of the living spaces R1 and R2, but also in the walls and floors.

[0047] The exhaust fan 42 draws air from the living spaces R1 and R2 into the exhaust unit 32 and generates an airflow that is discharged outdoors. As shown in Figure 2, the exhaust fan 42 includes a first exhaust fan 42A corresponding to the exhaust port 45A of the first living space R1 and a second exhaust fan 42B corresponding to the exhaust port 45B of the second living space R2. The exhaust fan 42 is a fan whose airflow can be adjusted, for example, by inverter control.

[0048] As shown in Figure 1, the ventilation system 3 further includes an air supply duct 48 and a return air duct (exhaust duct) 49. The air supply duct 48 connects the air supply unit 31 to the air supply ports 38A and 38B of each living space R1 and R2, forming a flow path for supplying (SA) air (outside air) OA taken in from outside through the air supply unit 31 to the living spaces R1 and R2 through the air supply ports 38A and 38B. The return air duct 49 connects the exhaust ports 45 of each living space R1 and R2 to the exhaust unit 32, forming a flow path for exhausting (EA) air (return air) RA discharged from the exhaust ports 45 to the outside after passing through the exhaust unit 32.

[0049] As shown in Figure 1, the compressor unit 33 includes a compressor 51, a four-way valve 52, an expansion valve 53, and a control unit 54. The compressor 51, four-way valve 52, and expansion valve 53 of the compressor unit 33, the supply air heat exchanger 34 of the supply air unit 31, and the exhaust heat exchanger 41 of the exhaust unit 32 are connected by refrigerant piping to form a single refrigerant circuit (second refrigerant circuit) 55.

[0050] The compressor 51 draws in low-pressure gaseous refrigerant and discharges high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The compressor 51 is a variable-capacity type (variable-capacity type) whose capacity can be changed by, for example, inverter control of an electric motor. The compressor 51 may also be a constant-capacity type. Two or more compressors 51 may be connected in parallel.

[0051] The four-way valve 52 is a valve that reverses the direction of refrigerant flow in the refrigerant circuit. The four-way valve 52 switches the flow of refrigerant discharged by the compressor 51 to either the supply air heat exchanger 34 or the exhaust heat exchanger 41. The expansion valve 53 is an electrically operated valve for adjusting the flow rate and pressure of refrigerant in the refrigerant piping, for example. The refrigerant pressure to the supply air heat exchanger 34 or the exhaust heat exchanger 41 is adjusted by controlling the opening degree of the expansion valve 53.

[0052] The ventilation system 3 can switch between "cold air supply (cooling operation)," which cools the outside air OA and supplies it indoors, and "warm air supply (heating operation)," which heats the outside air OA and supplies it indoors, by switching the four-way valve 52. Specifically, in the case of cold air supply, where the cooled outside air OA is used as the supply air SA, the four-way valve 52 is held in the state shown by the solid line in Figure 1. In this case, the supply air heat exchanger 34 of the supply air unit 31 functions as an evaporator, and the supply air fan 35 cools the outside air OA taken in from outdoors. The exhaust heat exchanger 41 of the exhaust unit 32 functions as a condenser, and the exhaust fan 42 heats the return air RA taken in from the living spaces R1 and R2.

[0053] Conversely, in the case of supplying warm air, where the warm air obtained by heating the outside air OA is used as the supply air SA, the four-way valve 52 is held in the state shown by the dashed line in Figure 1. In this case, the supply air heat exchanger 34 of the supply air unit 31 functions as a condenser, heating the outside air OA taken in from outside. The exhaust heat exchanger 41 of the exhaust unit 32 functions as an evaporator, cooling the return air RA taken in from the living spaces R1 and R2.

[0054] The control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33, the control unit 37 of the air supply unit 31, and the control unit 44 of the exhaust unit 32 are connected by a signal line S1, which is shown as a dotted line in Figure 1. This enables the transmission and reception of information between the control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33, the control unit 37 of the air supply unit 31, and the control unit 44 of the exhaust unit 32.

[0055] The control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33 outputs commands to the compressor 51, four-way valve 52, expansion valve 53, and other components within the compressor unit 33, and controls their operation. The control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33 transmits the status of the ventilation system 3, received from the control unit 37 of the supply air unit 31 and the control unit 44 of the exhaust unit 32, to the higher-level control device 4. This allows the higher-level control device 4 to perform control according to the status of the ventilation system 3.

[0056] The detection unit 36 ​​of the air supply unit 31 includes a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor detects at least one of the following: the surface temperature of the air supply heat exchanger 34, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the air supply heat exchanger 34, and the temperature of the air before and after passing through the air supply heat exchanger 34 (for example, the outdoor temperature and the temperature of the living space). The detection unit 36 ​​may also include a humidity sensor that detects the humidity of the outside air, the humidity of the living space, etc. The detection unit 36 ​​may also include a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the refrigerant.

[0057] The control unit 37 of the air supply unit 31 controls the internal configuration of the air supply unit 31. The control unit 37 performs various controls according to the detection results from the detection unit 36. For example, the control unit 37 adjusts the function of the air supply heat exchanger 34 as a condenser or evaporator according to the detection results from the detection unit 36.

[0058] The control unit 37 transmits the detection result from the detection unit 36 ​​in the air supply unit 31 to the control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33. The control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33 may transmit the detection result to the higher-level control device 4, or it may transmit the current status recognized based on the detection result to the higher-level control device 4.

[0059] The detection unit 43 of the exhaust unit 32 includes a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor detects at least one of the following: the surface temperature of the exhaust heat exchanger 41, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the exhaust heat exchanger 41, and the temperature of the air before and after passing through the exhaust heat exchanger 41 (for example, the temperature inside the living space and the temperature outside). The detection unit 43 may also include a humidity sensor that detects the humidity of the outside air, the humidity of the living space, etc. The detection unit 43 may also include a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the refrigerant.

[0060] The control unit 44 of the exhaust unit 32 controls the internal configuration of the exhaust unit 32. The control unit 44 performs various controls according to the detection results from the detection unit 43. For example, the control unit 44 adjusts the function of the exhaust heat exchanger 41 as a condenser or evaporator according to the detection results from the detection unit 43. The control unit 44 transmits the detection results from the detection unit 43, etc., inside the exhaust unit 32 to the control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33. The control unit 54 of the compressor unit 33 may transmit the detection results to the higher-level control device 4, or it may transmit the current status recognized based on the detection results to the higher-level control device 4.

[0061] The higher-level control device 4 comprises a control unit 58 and a storage unit 59. The higher-level control device 4 performs various controls to coordinate the operation of the ventilation device 3 and the operation of the air conditioner 2. The control unit 58 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). However, the processor may be an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a programmable logic device such as a gate array or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The ASIC or programmable logic device is configured to execute processing similar to that of the control program. The storage unit 59 includes volatile memory such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and non-volatile memory such as flash memory, hard disk, or ROM (Read Only Memory). Control programs and control data, which are computer programs, are stored in the non-volatile memory. The control unit 58 performs various functions by having the processor execute the control program. Furthermore, the control unit 54 of the air conditioner 2 and the control units 37 and 44 of the ventilation device 3 have the same configuration as the control unit 58 of the higher-level control device 4.

[0062] The control of the air conditioner 2 and ventilation system 3 by the higher-level control device 4 will be described below. The higher-level control device 4 controls the air conditioner 2 and ventilation system 3 in coordination using three types of operating modes. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for selecting the operating mode by the higher-level control device.

[0063] In step S11 of Figure 4, the higher-level control device 4 acquires the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2. These air conditioning loads H1 and H2 are the heat loads that require temperature control in the first and second living spaces R1 and R2. The air conditioning loads H1 and H2 include the outside air load, which is the air taken into the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 from the outside air, and the indoor load, which is the air inside the first and second living spaces R1 and R2.

[0064] The higher-level control device 4 determines the air conditioning loads (heat loads) H1 and H2 that require temperature adjustment in the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 from the air temperature (room temperature) in the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 detected by the first and second temperature sensors 27A and 27B of the first and second indoor units 22A and 22B, and the set temperatures (target temperatures) of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 set by the air conditioner 2.

[0065] The storage unit 59 of the higher-level control device 4 stores a predetermined threshold H for determining whether the air conditioning load in the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 is in a "high load" state or a "low load" state. ｔｈ (See Figure 3A) is stored. Specifically, this threshold H ｔｈ This value allows the ventilation device 3 to independently adjust the temperature of each living space R1 and R2.

[0066] In step S12 of Figure 4, the higher-level control device 4 sets the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2, respectively, to a predetermined threshold H ｔｈ This is compared. As a result of this comparison, the higher-level control device 4 selects an operating mode corresponding to the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2, and controls the air conditioner 2 and ventilation device 3 according to the operating mode (steps S13 to S17). This operating mode includes a high-load mode, an intermediate mode, and a low-load mode. In this embodiment, the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 are compared to a threshold H. ｔｈ Living spaces R1 and R2 with higher loads than the threshold H are called the "high load zone," and the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 are at the threshold H. ｔｈ The following living spaces R1 and R2 are sometimes referred to as the "low-load zone."

[0067] In step S13, the higher-level control device 4 determines that the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 are both at threshold H ｔｈ It determines whether the value is higher than the specified value. If the determination in step S13 is positive ("YES"), the higher-level control device 4 selects "high-load mode" as the operating mode (step S14).

[0068] This high-load mode is an operating mode in which the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 in the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 are shared and processed by both the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3. In high-load mode, the higher-level control device 4 adjusts the temperature of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 using the air supplied to the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 from the first and second indoor units 22A and 22B and the air supplied to the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 from the air inlets 38A and 38B of the ventilation device 3.

[0069] If the judgment in step S13 is negative ("NO"), the higher-level control device 4 will, in step S15, determine that the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 are both at threshold H. ｔｈ The system determines whether the following is true. If the determination in step S15 is positive ("YES"), the higher-level control device 4 selects "low-load mode" as the operating mode (step S16).

[0070] This low-load mode is an operating mode in which the ventilation device 3 alone provides air conditioning for each living space R1 and R2. In low-load mode, the higher-level control device 4 stops the air conditioning (temperature control operation) of the air conditioner 2 and adjusts the temperature of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 with the air supplied from the supply air unit 31 of the ventilation device 3. Here, "air conditioning (temperature control operation)" refers to an operation in which refrigerant is flowed through the refrigerant circuit and heat exchange is performed between the heat exchanger and the air to adjust the temperature of the living spaces R1 and R2, and does not include an operation in which only the fan is operated without such heat exchange. "Temperature control operation" also refers to an operation in which the indoor units 22A and 22B themselves or the ventilation device 3 itself have the function of adjusting the temperature within the living spaces R1 and R2. "Stopping the temperature control operation" of the air conditioner 2 refers to an operation in which the indoor units 22A and 22B are turned off by the thermostat. This "thermo-off" function is an operation in which the expansion valves of the indoor units 22A and 22B that make up the refrigerant circuit 23 are fully closed or slightly open, and no actual temperature adjustment is performed in the living spaces R1 and R2.

[0071] If the judgment in step S15 is negative ("NO"), the higher-level control device 4 determines that the air conditioning load in one of the first and second living spaces R1 and R2 is below threshold H.ｔｈ is higher, and when it is determined that the other air conditioning load is equal to or lower than the threshold value H ｔｈ "Intermediate mode" is selected as the operation mode (step S17). The intermediate mode is an operation mode in which the living room space in the high load zone is air-conditioned by both the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3, and the living room space in the low load zone is air-conditioned only by the ventilation device 3.

[0072] Fig. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the air conditioning load when the intermediate mode is selected. In the present embodiment, as an example, the case where the first living room space R1 is a high load zone and the second living room space R2 is a low load zone will be described. In this case, the upper control device 4 performs air conditioning (temperature adjustment operation) on the first living room space R1 by the first indoor unit 22A and the ventilation device 3, and performs air conditioning (temperature adjustment operation) on the second living room space R2 only by the ventilation device 3, and controls the first and second indoor units 22A, 22B and the ventilation device 3.

[0073] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the upper control device in the intermediate mode. The upper control device 4 of the present embodiment sets the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3 based on the air conditioning load H1 in the high load zone. Then, based on the air conditioning load H2 in the low load zone, the air conditioning capacity of the ventilation device 3 is set.

[0074] Specifically, in step S21 of Fig. 5, the upper control device 4 first obtains the heat exchange capacity of the air supply unit 31 at which the power consumption (system power consumption) of the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3 required to process the air conditioning load H1 in the high load zone is minimized. This heat exchange capacity corresponds to the difference Δh between the specific enthalpy of the air (OA) before passing through the air supply heat exchanger 34 provided in the air supply unit 31 and the specific enthalpy of the air (SA) after passing through. The system power consumption is the sum of the power consumption in the air conditioner 2 and the power consumption in the ventilation device 3.

[0075] The relationship between the specific enthalpy difference Δh and the system power consumption can be represented by a cubic equation graph, as shown in Figure 3B, for example. In this graph, the system power consumption is high in the region where the specific enthalpy difference Δh is small and in the region where it is large, and low in the intermediate region. This graph can be obtained from indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, the COP (Coefficient of Performance) of the air conditioner, the air conditioning loads H1 and H2, etc. The storage unit 59 of the higher-level control device 4 stores information such as calculation formulas, graphs, or tables that show the above relationship. The higher-level control device 4 uses this information to determine the specific enthalpy difference Δh of the supply air heat exchanger 34 that minimizes the system power consumption. ｍｉｎ Calculate and set it.

[0076] Next, in step S22, the higher-level control device 4 uses the specific enthalpy difference Δh obtained in step S21. ｍｉｎ When the supply air heat exchanger 34 is operated to obtain the desired result, the airflow rate m of the first supply air fan 35A is set to minimize the system power consumption. １ ＳＡ The following is determined and set. Figures 3C and 3D are graphs showing the relationship between the airflow of the first supply fan 35A and the system power consumption. Each graph shows the maximum airflow m that the first supply fan 35A can output. ｍａｘ and minimum airflow m ｍｉｎ This is shown. This graph is either a linear graph with a negative slope (see Figure 3C) or a linear graph with a positive slope (see Figure 3D). As shown in the following equation (1), the slope k of each graph is equal to the specific enthalpy difference Δh that has already been determined. ｍｉｎ This can be determined from the current COP of air conditioner 2.

[0077] However, a and b are predetermined coefficients.

[0078] When the slope k obtained by equation (1) is negative (see Figure 3C), the system power consumption decreases as the airflow rate of the first supply fan 35A increases. Therefore, the higher-level control device 4 controls the airflow rate m of the first supply fan 35A. １ ＳＡ As the maximum value m ｍａｘThe following is adopted and set. Similarly, when the slope k is positive (see Figure 3D), the system power consumption decreases as the airflow of the first supply fan 35A decreases, so the higher control device 4 sets the minimum value m ｍｉｎ and maximum value m ｍａｘ Between these two points, the minimum airflow that satisfies the required ventilation volume is the airflow m of the first supply fan 35A. １ ＳＡ It will be adopted and set as such.

[0079] By following the above procedure, it becomes possible to set the air conditioning capacity (heat exchange stress and airflow) of the ventilation system 3 for the first living space R1, which is a high-load zone. The higher-level control device 4 controls the supply air heat exchanger 34 and the first supply air fan 35A of the ventilation system 3 to satisfy the required air conditioning capacity.

[0080] Next, the higher-level control device 4 sets the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner 2 for the first living space R1, which is a high-load zone. Specifically, it first determines the air conditioning load H1a that the ventilation device 3 will handle from the air conditioning load H1 of the first living space R1. This air conditioning load H1a can be expressed, for example, by the following equation (2).

[0081]

[0082] The higher-level control device 4 determines the air conditioning load H1b to be processed by the air conditioner 2 from the air conditioning load H1 of the first living space R1 and the air conditioning load H1a processed by the ventilation device 3, as shown in the following equation (3). In step S23, the higher-level control device 4 acquires and sets the air conditioning capacity (workload) that can process the determined air conditioning load H1b.

[0083]

[0084] Next, the higher-level control device 4 sets the air conditioning capacity of the ventilation device 3 for the second living space R2, which is a low-load zone. In step S21 described above, the specific enthalpy difference Δh is the heat exchange capacity of the supply air heat exchanger 34 in the ventilation device 3. ｍｉｎ This has already been acquired. Therefore, in step S24, the higher-level control device 4 determines the airflow m of the second supply fan 35B of the supply air unit 31, which is necessary to process the air conditioning load H2 in the second living space R2. ２ ＳＡSpecifically, as shown in equation (4) below, the air conditioning load H2 in the second living space R2 and the specific enthalpy difference Δh of the supply air heat exchanger 34 are obtained. ｍｉｎ Therefore, the airflow of the second supply fan 35B is m ２ ＳＡ Calculate and set it.

[0085]

[0086] Based on the above, in step S25, the upper control unit 4 performs air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 2 and ventilation device 3 at the set air conditioning capacity for the living space R1, which is the high-load zone, and performs air conditioning operation of only the ventilation device 3 at the set air conditioning capacity for the living space R2, which is the low-load zone. This enables efficient air conditioning with low power consumption. In particular, in the living space R2, which is the low-load zone, the air conditioning operation of the second indoor unit 22B is stopped, so the second indoor unit 22B does not repeatedly start and stop (start and stop of temperature control operation), and power consumption can be reduced.

[0087] [Second Embodiment] Figure 6 is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of the ventilation device and air conditioners of the air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. The air conditioning system 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality (two) of air conditioners 2, each having a different refrigerant system. Each air conditioner 2 has an outdoor unit 21, indoor units 22A and 22B, and connecting piping to connect them, forming a refrigerant circuit 23. One air conditioner 2 provides air conditioning for the first living space R1, and the other air conditioner 2 provides air conditioning for the second living space R2. The other configurations are the same as in the above embodiment.

[0088] [Third Embodiment] Figure 7 is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of the ventilation device and air conditioner of the air conditioning system according to the third embodiment. The air conditioning system 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality of ventilation devices 3 having different refrigerant systems. Each ventilation device 3 has an air supply unit 31A, 31B, an exhaust unit 32A, 32B, and a compressor unit 33 (see Figure 1), forming a refrigerant circuit 55. One ventilation device 3 ventilates and air-conditions the first living space R1, and the other ventilation device 3 ventilates and air-conditions the second living space R1. The other configurations are the same as in the above embodiment.

[0089] In this embodiment, when the higher-level control device 4 controls the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3 in intermediate mode, the ventilation device 3 in the high-load zone can be controlled according to the air conditioning load H1 of the high-load zone, and the ventilation device 3 in the low-load zone can be controlled according to the air conditioning load H2 of the low-load zone without being affected by the ventilation device 3 in the high-load zone.

[0090] [Fourth Embodiment] Figure 8 is a diagram showing a specific arrangement example of the ventilation device and air conditioner of the air conditioning system according to the fourth embodiment. Figures 9A and 9B are schematic explanatory diagrams showing the airflow adjustment unit. As shown in Figure 8, the air conditioning system 1 of this embodiment includes an air supply unit 31, an exhaust unit 32, and a compressor unit 33 (see Figure 1), as well as airflow adjustment units 61A, 61B, 62A, and 62B. The air supply unit 31 has an air supply heat exchanger 34 but does not have an air supply fan. The exhaust unit 32 has an exhaust heat exchanger 41 but does not have an exhaust fan. Therefore, the air supply unit 31 and the exhaust unit 32 constitute a "heat exchange unit" that exclusively performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air.

[0091] The airflow adjustment unit includes first and second supply airflow adjustment units 61A and 61B connected to the first and second supply air ports 38A and 38B, and first and second exhaust airflow adjustment units 62A and 62B connected to the first and second exhaust ports 45A and 45B. As shown in Figure 9A, the first supply airflow adjustment unit 61A has a first supply fan 35A, a damper 64, and a casing 63 housing them. The second supply airflow adjustment unit 61B has a second supply fan 35B, a damper 64, and a casing 63 housing them. The first and second supply airflow adjustment units 61A and 61B are connected to the supply unit 31 by first and second supply ducts 48 (48A and 48B).

[0092] As shown in Figure 9B, the first exhaust airflow control unit 62A includes a first exhaust fan 42A, a damper 67, and a casing 66 housing these components. The second exhaust airflow control unit 62B includes a second exhaust fan 42B, a damper 67, and a casing 66 housing these components. The first and second exhaust airflow control units 62A and 62B are connected to the exhaust unit 32 by first and second exhaust ducts 49 (49A and 49B).

[0093] In this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the first and second supply fans 35A, 35B and the first and second exhaust fans 42A, 42B are configured to allow adjustment of airflow, for example, by inverter control. Furthermore, dampers 64 and 67 are driven to oscillate by motors (not shown). Damper 64 adjusts the airflow of supply air (SA) supplied from the first and second supply ports 38A, 38B to the living spaces R1, R2. Damper 67 adjusts the airflow of return air (RA) discharged from the first and second exhaust ports 45A, 45B to the living spaces R1, R2.

[0094] In this embodiment, in the intermediate mode, the airflow rate of the air (SA) supplied from the first and second air inlets 38A and 38B can be controlled by controlling the first and second air inlet fans 35A and 35B and the damper 64. In this embodiment, the airflow rate of the air (SA) supplied from the first and second air inlets 38A and 38B may also be controlled solely by controlling the damper 64. In this case, the first and second air inlet fans 35A and 35B can be operated at a constant output.

[0095] The air supply airflow adjustment units 61A and 61B may also consist of air supply fans 35A and 35 and dampers 64 housed in separate casings. Similarly, the exhaust airflow adjustment units 62A and 62B may consist of exhaust fans 42A and 42B and dampers 67 housed in separate casings.

[0096] [Other Embodiments] In the above embodiments, the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 in the high-load zone R1 and low-load zone R2 were handled by controlling the airflow of the first and second supply fans 35A and 35B of the supply air unit 31. Alternatively, the air conditioning loads H1 and H2 in the high-load zone R1 and low-load zone R2 may be handled by controlling the airflow of the first and second exhaust fans 42A and 42B of the exhaust unit 32. By controlling the airflow of the first and second exhaust fans 42A and 42B in this way, the airflow of the air supplied from the supply air unit 31 into the living spaces R1 and R2 also changes, and the temperature of the living spaces R1 and R2 can be adjusted.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the indoor space had two living spaces R1 and R2 separated by a wall W, and these living spaces R1 and R2 constituted a high-load zone (first zone R1) and a low-load zone (second zone R2). In other words, the high-load zone and the low-load zone were composed of spaces that did not communicate with each other. However, the air conditioning system 1 of this disclosure can also be applied when the high-load zone and the low-load zone are composed of spaces that communicate with each other. For example, the high-load zone and the low-load zone may be composed of spaces separated by partitions, spaces that communicate with each other by openings that open and close with doors, spaces without partitions, etc. Even in a single indoor space, the air conditioning load may differ between areas where many people are present and areas where they are not, and the air conditioning load may also differ between areas with heat-generating electrical appliances and areas without them. In addition, there may be areas in a single indoor space where the air conditioning load differs depending on whether or not sunlight enters, whether or not there are doors, whether or not there are windows, etc. The air conditioning system 1 of this disclosure can also be applied when there are high-load zones and low-load zones that communicate with each other in this manner.

[0098] In the air conditioner 2, one of the first and second indoor units 22A and 22B may be set as the master unit and the other as the slave unit. The master indoor unit has the authority to decide on operations such as cooling operation, heating operation, and shutdown, and the slave indoor unit is configured to operate in accordance with the master unit's instructions. In the above embodiment, when the higher-level control device 4 controls the air conditioner 2 and ventilation device 3 in intermediate mode, if the second indoor unit 22B is the master unit, there is a possibility that the first indoor unit 22A, which is the slave unit, will also shut down when the second indoor unit 22B, which is in the low-load zone, shuts down. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 1 of this disclosure, the higher-level control device 4 transfers the authority of the master unit from the second indoor unit 22B, which is shut down, to the first indoor unit 22A. This allows control in intermediate mode to be performed without any problems.

[0099] In the fourth embodiment, the air supply airflow adjustment units 61A and 61B are equipped with both air supply fans 35A and 35B and dampers 64, but they may be equipped with only one of them. If the air supply airflow adjustment units 61A and 61B are equipped with only dampers 64, the air supply unit 31 can be equipped with air supply fans 35A and 35B, as in the first embodiment.

[0100] In each of the above embodiments, the air conditioning system 1 does not necessarily have a higher-level control device 4. In this case, it is sufficient if the control unit 54 of the air conditioner 2 or the control units 37 and 44 of the ventilation device 3 are configured to perform the same functions as the control unit 58 of the higher-level control device 4.

[0101] The ventilation device 3 of the air conditioning system 1 in each of the above embodiments had an air supply unit 31, an exhaust unit 32, and a compressor unit 33, but is not limited to this, as long as it can blow temperature-controlled air into the indoor space. For example, the ventilation device 3 may be an integrated unit of the air supply unit 31 and the exhaust unit 32, in other words, it may have two heat exchangers 34, 41 and two fans 35, 42 in one casing. Furthermore, the compressor unit 33 may be an integrated unit of the air supply unit 31 and / or the exhaust unit 32. Alternatively, the ventilation device 3 may have a heat source unit in which the components of the exhaust unit 32 (heat exchanger 41 and fan 42, etc.) and the components of the compressor unit 33 (compressor 51, four-way valve 52, expansion valve 53, etc.) are housed in one casing, and the heat source unit may be installed outdoors. Alternatively, the ventilation system 3 may be further equipped with a total heat exchanger within the air supply unit 31, which exchanges total heat (sensible and latent heat) between the air taken in from outside and the air from the indoor space, and the air after total heat exchange is temperature-adjusted by a heat exchanger 34 before being supplied to the indoor space.

[0102] The ventilation device 3 may not include a refrigerant circuit. For example, the ventilation device 3 may take in air from outside, adjust its temperature using a heat source other than a heat exchanger, and supply it to the indoor space. In this case, a heater that operates on electricity or gas, or a Peltier element, can be used as the heat source.

[0103] [Effects of the Embodiment] (1) The air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment includes an air conditioner 2 having a first refrigerant circuit 23 that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from indoor spaces (living spaces R1, R2) by heat exchange with a refrigerant and supplies it to indoor spaces, a ventilation device 3 having a second refrigerant circuit 55 that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from outdoors by heat exchange with a refrigerant and supplies it to indoor spaces, and a control unit (higher-level control device 4) that controls the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3 according to the heat load of the indoor space where temperature adjustment is required. The air conditioner 2 has a first indoor unit 22A and a second indoor unit 22B. When the heat load (air conditioning load) H1 of the indoor space (first living space R1) whose temperature is regulated by the first indoor unit 22A is in a high load state and the heat load (air conditioning load) H2 of the indoor space (second living space R1) whose temperature is regulated by the second indoor unit 22B is in a low load state, the control unit 4 stops the temperature regulation operation of the second indoor unit 22B and performs temperature regulation operation of the ventilation device 3.

[0104] According to the above configuration, when the heat load H2 of the indoor space whose temperature is controlled by the second indoor unit 22B is in a low-load state, the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit 22B is stopped, and the temperature control operation of the ventilation device 3 is performed. As a result, repeated starting and stopping of the second indoor unit 22B in a low-load state is suppressed, and temperature control can be performed by the ventilation device 3. Since the ventilation device 3 is a device whose primary purpose is ventilation and can be operated at a lower output than the second indoor unit 22B, it is possible to operate with reduced power consumption even in a low-load state, and power consumption optimization can be achieved.

[0105] (2) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the ventilation device 3 has a second refrigerant circuit 55 and supplies the air taken in from outside to the indoor space after adjusting its temperature through heat exchange with the refrigerant. With this configuration, the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor space can be adjusted by the refrigerant.

[0106] (3) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the ventilation device 3 has a first air inlet 38A and a second air inlet 38B for supplying temperature-controlled air to the indoor space, and the indoor space has a first zone (first living space R1) whose temperature is controlled by air supplied from the first indoor unit 22A and the first air inlet 38A, and a second zone (second living space R2) whose temperature is controlled by air supplied from the second indoor unit 22B and the second air inlet 38B, and the control unit 4 stops the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit 22B and performs the temperature control operation of the ventilation device 3 for the second zone R2 when the first zone R1 is in a high load state and the second zone R2 is in a low load state.

[0107] With the above configuration, when the heat load in the second zone R2 is low, the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit 22B is stopped, and the temperature control operation of the ventilation device 3 is performed. This suppresses repeated starting and stopping of the second indoor unit 22B in a low-load state, and allows the ventilation device 3 to control the temperature of the second zone R2. Since the ventilation device 3 is a device whose primary purpose is ventilation and can operate at a lower output than the second indoor unit 22B, it is possible to operate with reduced power consumption even in a low-load state, thereby optimizing power consumption.

[0108] (4) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, a first temperature sensor 27A for detecting the temperature of the first zone R1 and a second temperature sensor 27B for detecting the temperature of the second zone R2 are further included, and the control unit 4 identifies the heat load H1 in the first zone R1 based on the value detected by the first temperature sensor 27A and identifies the heat load H2 in the second zone R2 based on the value detected by the second temperature sensor 27B. With this configuration, the control unit 4 can control the first indoor unit 22A, the second indoor unit 22B and the ventilation device 3 in accordance with the heat loads H1 and H2 of the first zone R1 and the second zone R2 identified based on the values ​​detected by the first temperature sensor 27A and the second temperature sensor 27B.

[0109] (5) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, when the second zone R2 is in a low load state, the control unit 4 performs temperature control operation of the ventilation device 3 so as to minimize the system power consumption of the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3. As a result, the power consumption of the air conditioning system 1 can be reduced.

[0110] (6) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the control unit 4 sets the specific enthalpy difference Δh between the air taken in from outside by the ventilation device 3 and the air supplied to the room, such that the specific enthalpy difference Δh minimizes the system power consumption. ｍｉｎ Determine the specific enthalpy difference Δh ｍｉｎ The ventilation device 3 controls the temperature of the air supplied from the second air inlet 38B. This configuration reduces the power consumption of the air conditioning system.

[0111] (7) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the control unit 4 controls the specific enthalpy difference Δh ｍｉｎ Based on the heat load H2 of the second zone R2, the ventilation device 3 controls the airflow rate supplied by the second air inlet 38B. This minimizes the specific enthalpy difference Δh of the system. ｍｉｎ Based on the heat load H2 of the second zone R2, the ventilation device 3 controls the airflow rate supplied from the second air inlet 38B, thereby efficiently adjusting the temperature of the second zone R2 with low power consumption.

[0112] (8) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the specific enthalpy difference Δh ｍｉｎ This is determined based on the heat load in the first zone R1. The specific enthalpy difference Δh of the ventilation device 3 is determined to minimize system power consumption based on the heat load in the first zone R1, which is under high load conditions. ｍｉｎ By calculating this specific enthalpy difference Δh ｍｉｎ This allows the ventilation device 3 to control the temperature of the air blown out from the first air supply port 38A, and to efficiently adjust the temperature of the first zone R1.

[0113] (9) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the ventilation device 3 has a first exhaust port 45A for discharging air from the first zone R1 and a second exhaust port 45B for discharging air from the second zone R2, and the control unit 4 controls the airflow rate of the air discharged from the second exhaust port 45B by the ventilation device 3. With this configuration, the control unit 4 can control the airflow rate of the air discharged from the second exhaust port 45B by the ventilation device 3, thereby changing the airflow rate of the air supplied to the indoor space from the second air supply port 38B and adjusting the temperature of the indoor space.

[0114] (10) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the ventilation device 3 has an air supply unit 31 that takes in air from outside, adjusts its temperature, and supplies it to the indoor space. The air supply unit 31 includes a first airflow adjustment mechanism (for example, a first air supply fan 35A) that adjusts the airflow rate of the air supplied to the indoor space from a first air supply port 38A, and a second airflow adjustment mechanism (for example, a second air supply fan 35B) that adjusts the airflow rate of the air supplied to the indoor space from a second air supply port 38B. With this configuration, air can be supplied at an appropriate airflow rate to each of the first zone R1 and the second zone R2. The air supply unit 31 may also be equipped with a damper as an airflow adjustment mechanism.

[0115] (11) In the air conditioning system 1 of the third embodiment described above, the ventilation device 3 includes a first air supply unit 31A that takes in air from outside, adjusts its temperature, and supplies it to the indoor space from a first air supply port 38A, and a second air supply unit 31B that takes in air from outside, adjusts its temperature, and supplies it to the indoor space from a second air supply port 38B. With this configuration, temperature-adjusted air can be supplied to the first zone R1 and the second zone R2, respectively.

[0116] (12) In the air conditioning system 1 of the fourth embodiment described above, the ventilation device 3 includes a heat exchange unit 31 having a heat exchanger for adjusting the temperature of air taken in from outside, a first air supply duct 48A and a second air supply duct 48B connected to the heat exchange unit 31, a first airflow adjustment unit 61A for adjusting the airflow rate of air from the first air supply duct 48A to the first air supply port 38A, and a second airflow adjustment unit 61B for adjusting the airflow rate of air from the second air supply duct 48B to the second air supply port 38B. With this configuration, the airflow rate of air (SA) supplied from the first and second air supply ports 38A and 38B can be controlled by the first and second airflow adjustment units 61A and 61B.

[0117] (13) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the first zone R1 and the second zone R2 are spaces that do not communicate with each other. When the first zone R1, which is a high-load zone, and the second zone R2, which is a low-load zone, do not communicate with each other, the air conditioning system 1 can appropriately control the air conditioner 2 and the ventilation device 3 according to the respective air conditioning loads and reduce the system power consumption.

[0118] (14) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, the first zone and the second zone may be spaces that communicate with each other. Even when the first zone R1, which is a high-load zone, and the second zone R2, which is a low-load zone, are in communication with each other, the air conditioning system 1 can appropriately control the air conditioners 2 and the ventilation device 3 according to the respective air conditioning loads H1 and H2, thereby reducing the system power consumption.

[0119] (15) In the air conditioning system 1 of the above embodiment, if the second indoor unit 22B has the authority to give instructions to other indoor units, the control unit 4 transfers the authority from the second indoor unit 22B to the first indoor unit 22A when it stops the temperature adjustment operation of the second indoor unit 22B. With this configuration, even if control is performed in intermediate mode when the second indoor unit 22B is the master unit in the low load zone, the operation of the second indoor unit 22B can be stopped and the operation of the first indoor unit 22A can be continued by transferring the authority of the master unit to the first indoor unit 22A.

[0120] Although embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that various modifications to the form and details are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0121] 1: Air conditioning system 2: Air conditioner 3: Ventilation device 4: Higher-level control unit (control unit) 22A: First indoor unit 22B: Second indoor unit 23: Refrigerant circuit (first refrigerant circuit) 27A: First temperature sensor 27B: Second temperature sensor 31: Air supply unit (heat exchange unit) 31A: First air supply unit 31B: Second air supply unit 34: Heat exchanger for air supply 35A: First air supply fan (first airflow adjustment mechanism) 35B: Second air supply fan (second airflow adjustment mechanism) 38A: First air supply port 38B: Second air supply port 45A: First exhaust port 45B: Second exhaust port 48A: First air supply duct 48B: Second air supply duct 55: Second refrigerant circuit 61 : First airflow adjustment unit 61A : Airflow adjustment unit 61B : Second airflow adjustment unit H1 : Air conditioning load (heat load) H2 : Air conditioning load (heat load) R1 : First living space (first zone) R2 : Second living space (second zone)

Claims

1. An air conditioning system comprising: an air conditioner (2) having a first refrigerant circuit (23) that takes in air from an indoor space, adjusts its temperature by heat exchange with a refrigerant, and supplies it to the indoor space; a ventilation device (3) that takes in air from outdoors, adjusts its temperature, and supplies it to the indoor space; and a control unit (4) that controls the air conditioner (2) and the ventilation device (3) according to the heat load of the indoor space that requires temperature adjustment, wherein the air conditioner (2) has a first indoor unit (22A) and a second indoor unit (22B), and when the heat load of the indoor space whose temperature is adjusted by the first indoor unit (22A) is in a high load state and the heat load of the indoor space whose temperature is adjusted by the second indoor unit (22B) is in a low load state, the control unit (4) stops the temperature adjustment operation of the second indoor unit (22B) and performs temperature adjustment operation of the ventilation device (3).

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation device (3) has a second refrigerant circuit (55) and supplies the indoor space with air taken in from the outdoors, with its temperature adjusted by heat exchange with the refrigerant.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation device (3) has a first air inlet (38A) and a second air inlet (38B) for supplying temperature-controlled air to the indoor space, the indoor space has a first zone (R1) whose temperature is controlled by air supplied from the first indoor unit (22A) and the first air inlet (38A), and a second zone (R2) whose temperature is controlled by air supplied from the second indoor unit (22B) and the second air inlet (38B), and the control unit (4) stops the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit (22B) and performs temperature control operation of the ventilation device (3) for the second zone (R2) when the first zone (R1) is in a high load state and the second zone (R2) is in a low load state.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, further comprising a first temperature sensor (27A) for detecting the temperature of the first zone (R1) and a second temperature sensor (27B) for detecting the temperature of the second zone (R2), wherein the control unit (4) identifies the heat load in the first zone (R1) based on the value detected by the first temperature sensor (27A) and identifies the heat load in the second zone (R2) based on the value detected by the second temperature sensor (27B).

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit (4) performs temperature control operation of the ventilation device (3) so as to minimize the system power consumption of the air conditioner (2) and the ventilation device (3) when the second zone (R2) is in a low load state.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit (4) determines the specific enthalpy difference between the air taken in from outside by the ventilation device (3) and the air supplied to the room, such that the system power consumption is minimized, and controls the temperature of the air supplied by the ventilation device (3) from the second air inlet (38B) based on the specific enthalpy difference.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit (4) controls the airflow rate of the air supplied by the ventilation device (3) from the second air inlet (38B) based on the specific enthalpy difference and the heat load of the second zone (R2).

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the specific enthalpy difference is determined based on the heat load in the first zone (R1).

9. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the ventilation device (3) has a first exhaust port (45A) for discharging air from the first zone (R1) and a second exhaust port (45B) for discharging air from the second zone (R2), and the control unit (4) controls the airflow rate of the air discharged from the second exhaust port (45B) by the ventilation device (3).

10. The ventilation device (3) has an air supply unit (31) that takes in air from outside, adjusts its temperature, and supplies it to the indoor space, and the air supply unit (31) comprises a first airflow adjustment mechanism (35A) that adjusts the airflow rate of the air supplied to the indoor space from the first air supply port (38A), and a second airflow adjustment mechanism (35B) that adjusts the airflow rate of the air supplied to the indoor space from the second air supply port (38B), the air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 8.

11. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the ventilation device (3) includes a first supply unit (31A) that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from outside and supplies it to the indoor space through the first supply port (38A), and a second supply unit (31B) that adjusts the temperature of air taken in from outside and supplies it to the indoor space through the second supply port (38B).

12. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the ventilation device (3) comprises: a heat exchange unit (31) having a heat exchanger (34) for adjusting the temperature of air taken in from outside; a first supply air duct (48A) and a second supply air duct (48B) connected to the heat exchange unit (31); a first airflow adjustment unit (61A) for adjusting the airflow from the first supply air duct (48A) to the first supply air inlet (38A); and a second airflow adjustment unit (61B) for adjusting the airflow from the second supply air duct (48B) to the second supply air inlet (38B).

13. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the first zone (R1) and the second zone (R2) are spaces that do not communicate with each other.

14. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the first zone (R1) and the second zone (R2) are spaces that communicate with each other.

15. If the second indoor unit (22B) has the authority to give instructions to another indoor unit (22A), the control unit (4) transfers the authority from the second indoor unit (22B) to the first indoor unit (22A) when it stops the temperature control operation of the second indoor unit (22B), the air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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