Multi-Air Conditioner Load Balancing for Stable Room Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air-conditioning systems for large spaces, individual operation of multiple air conditioners leads to inefficient energy use, temperature nonuniformity, and discomfort due to simultaneous defrosting and low-load cooling operations, resulting in reduced comfort and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus that allows multiple air conditioners to communicate and adjust their capacities and operations through a computing section, leveling their loads, preventing simultaneous defrosting, and optimizing cooling and heating operations to maintain comfort and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple air conditioners are operated individually to meet high cooling loads in specific locations, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the power consumption increases and temperature uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independently operating air conditioners into a coordinated system where they communicate with each other and share operational information. This allows the system to optimize overall power consumption while maintaining temperature uniformity across the room, resolving the contradiction between individual high-capacity operation and system-wide efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of individual air conditioners based on real-time temperature readings and communication with other units. Instead of static individual operation, the system continuously optimizes which units run and at what capacity, achieving both temperature uniformity and reduced power consumption.
2Reliability
If multiple air conditioners perform defrost operations simultaneously during heating, then the defrosting function is effective, but room temperature drops significantly causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic defrost operations with staggered timing across multiple air conditioners. Instead of simultaneous defrosting, units are scheduled to defrost at different intervals, ensuring continuous heating capability while preventing severe room temperature drops that would occur with simultaneous defrost operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A central control system acts as an intermediary between multiple air conditioners, coordinating their defrost operations. This mediator receives status information from each unit and schedules defrost operations to avoid simultaneous execution, thereby maintaining room temperature stability while ensuring reliable defrosting occurs periodically.
3Use of energy by moving object
If air conditioners operate at high evaporation temperature and high sensible heat ratio during low-load cooling, then power consumption is reduced, but dehumidification capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters including evaporation temperature and sensible heat ratio based on real-time humidity and temperature conditions. When dehumidification is needed, the system adjusts parameters to enable effective moisture removal; when humidity is acceptable, it operates at higher efficiency settings, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and dehumidification capacity.
4Speed
If air conditioners are controlled to start heating operations simultaneously as a group, then the heating response is fast, but simultaneous defrosting causes serious room temperature reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic defrost operations with staggered timing across multiple air conditioners. Instead of simultaneous defrosting, units are scheduled to defrost at different intervals, ensuring continuous heating capability while preventing severe room temperature drops that would occur with simultaneous defrost operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces power consumption, maintains consistent room temperatures, and enhances comfort by adjusting air-conditioning loads and operations to match changing conditions, ensuring efficient dehumidification and preventing temperature drops.
Implementation Method 1
Each air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit that form a closed refrigerating cycle
Data Source
AI summary
To achieve a reduction in power consumption by allowing a plurality of air conditioners to communicate with each other and thereby leveling their air-conditioning capacities with no load variations involved by temperature variations. An air-conditioning apparatus 100 may include a plurality of air conditioners and a computing section for control, where each air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit that form a closed refrigeration cycle. The indoor units of the plurality of air conditioners are installed in an area to be air-conditioned. The computing section for control may allow the plurality of air conditioners to communicate with each other, thereby leveling their air-conditioning capacities based on air-conditioning load detected by each air conditioner.