Air-conditioner blowout temperature estimation device and program

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioner technologies fail to accurately estimate the blowing temperature from the indoor unit, particularly during heating operations, as they do not consider the state of the refrigerant piping temperature, leading to inaccurate temperature control and potential abnormalities.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner blowing temperature estimation apparatus that acquires refrigerant piping and intake temperatures, determines the operating state, and uses pre-set estimation models to estimate the blowing temperature, adjusting for changes in state and detecting abnormalities, while also controlling operations to maintain a target temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If existing air conditioner technologies use simple temperature monitoring without considering refrigerant piping state, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of blowing temperature estimation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature monitoring systemVSAvoidblowing temperature estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the temperature monitoring system into multiple independent measurement points: refrigerant piping temperature (with separate measurements for hot and cold pipes), intake port temperature, and blowing port temperature. This segmentation allows each sensor to capture specific thermal characteristics, improving overall estimation accuracy without requiring a single complex sensor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the refrigerant piping temperature as an intermediary parameter to mediate between the refrigeration system state and the blowing temperature. By measuring piping temperatures and using them as intermediate variables in the estimation algorithm, the system achieves more accurate blowing temperature prediction while maintaining relatively simple sensor requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the air conditioner uses multiple estimation models for different operating states, then the measurement precision of blowing temperature estimation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblowing temperature estimation accuracyVSAvoidestimation model system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic model selection mechanism that automatically switches between different estimation models based on the current operating state. The system determines whether the air conditioner is in heating or cooling mode and selects the appropriate model accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows high precision across varying conditions without requiring a single overly complex universal model.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the estimation system by selecting different mathematical models based on operating conditions. In heating mode, one estimation model is used with specific parameters, while in cooling mode, a different model with different parameters is applied. This parameter change strategy enables accurate estimation for each operating state while keeping individual models relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the air conditioner monitors blowing temperature continuously and adjusts total air volume, then the stability of temperature control is improved, but the productivity is reduced due to reduced air volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblowing temperature control stabilityVSAvoidair volume during defrosting
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the estimated blowing temperature is continuously monitored and compared against target values. When the estimated temperature deviates from the target, the system automatically adjusts the total air volume to bring the temperature back to the desired range. This feedback loop maintains temperature stability while dynamically optimizing air volume rather than simply reducing it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3431893B1Air-conditioner blowout temperature estimation device and program
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3431893B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3431893B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3431893B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Including a data acquisition unit (11) that periodically acquires various measured temperatures of a liquid pipe (4), a gas pipe (5), and an intake port from an air conditioner controller (20), an operating state determination unit (12) that determines an operating state of an indoor unit (2) on the basis of the acquired various measured temperatures, a blowing temperature estimation unit (13) that estimates a blowing temperature from the indoor unit on the basis of the acquired various measured temperatures and an estimation model set in accordance with the determined operating state, and a blowing temperature display unit (14) that displays an estimated value of the blowing temperature.