Operation control device, air conditioning system, operation control method, and operation control program

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioning load prediction techniques fail to adequately handle fluctuations, leading to delayed and inefficient adjustments in control plans, which can result in errors in power consumption and comfort level deviations.

Innovation Solution

An operation control device that selects a pre-formulated control plan from a set of candidates based on real-time weather data and load conditions, allowing for immediate modifications to maintain target power consumption and comfort levels without requiring extensive recalculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If air conditioning load prediction is performed using building models and weather data, then the control plan can be formulated in advance, but the system cannot sufficiently deal with fluctuations in air conditioning load when actual conditions deviate from predictions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for control plan modificationVSAvoidadaptability to load fluctuations
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores multiple control plans corresponding to different weather patterns and load conditions before operation begins. When actual conditions deviate from predictions, the system can immediately select and apply a pre-prepared control plan without time-consuming recalculation, thus resolving the contradiction between advance formulation and adaptability to fluctuations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system formulates multiple control plans based on different weather prediction parameters and load condition parameters. By changing these parameters to match actual conditions, the system can select the most appropriate pre-formulated plan, enabling both advance preparation and flexible adaptation to fluctuations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the operation plan is reformulated from the beginning when load prediction errors occur, then the control accuracy can be improved, but time-consuming processing delays the application of modified plans

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of power consumption controlVSAvoidspeed of plan modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple control plans are pre-formulated and stored before operation begins, covering various scenarios of weather patterns and load conditions. When prediction errors occur, the system selects from these pre-prepared plans rather than recalculating from scratch, thus maintaining both accuracy and speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates multiple copies of control plans for different scenarios and stores them in advance. Instead of generating new plans through time-consuming calculations when errors occur, the system copies and applies the most appropriate pre-existing plan, achieving rapid correction while maintaining control accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Loss of time

If multiple control plans are formulated in advance for different weather patterns, then immediate application of modified plans is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for control plan adjustmentVSAvoidcomplexity of control plan management
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control plans are segmented and organized according to different weather patterns and load conditions. This structured segmentation allows the system to efficiently search and select the appropriate pre-formulated plan without being overwhelmed by complexity, enabling rapid response while maintaining manageable system structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a universal framework that handles multiple weather patterns and load conditions through a standardized process of plan selection and application. This multi-functional approach allows the same system structure to handle diverse scenarios, reducing overall complexity while enabling immediate response to various conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3617607B1Operation control device, air conditioning system, operation control method, and operation control program
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3617607B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3617607B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3617607B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an operation control device (10), a plan selection unit (15) determines, at a time point midway through a time zone where an operation of an air conditioner (54) is controlled along one control plan among a plurality of control plans, whether a weather change pattern corresponding to the one control plan deviates from an actual weather change pattern, based on weather data. If deviates, the plan selection unit (15) selects a weather change pattern that is different from the weather change pattern corresponding to the one control plan, from among a plurality of weather change patterns, in accordance with the weather data. During a rest of the time zone, the plan selection unit (15) controls the operation of the air conditioner (54) along a control plan corresponding to the different weather change pattern, among the plurality of control plans.