Air-Conditioner Peak Power Cut With Dynamic Drive Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional peak electric power cut systems for household appliances, such as air-conditioners, struggle to accurately reduce power consumption during peak demand periods and cannot promptly respond to requests for power consumption cuts, as they rely on shifting set temperatures without clear consumption reduction metrics.

Innovation Solution

A household electric system comprising a mobile terminal, radio adaptor, gateway device, and air-conditioner units that receive power consumption cut requests, allowing for direct detection and reduction of peak power consumption through controlled operation of compressor and fan drive circuits based on set thresholds, enabling immediate response to peak demand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the set temperature is shifted up to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the response speed to peak demand requests deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of the air-conditioner by switching between normal operation mode and peak cut operation mode based on received requests. The control unit dynamically adjusts the drive unit's operation according to the operation mode, enabling the system to adapt its behavior in real-time rather than using a fixed temperature shift approach, thus achieving both energy reduction and quick response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the set temperature is shifted up to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the precision of consumption reduction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidconsumption reduction precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the drive unit based on the operation mode. In peak cut operation mode, the control unit adjusts parameters such as compressor runtime, fan speed, or temperature setpoints to achieve a specific power consumption reduction rate. This parameter-based control enables precise consumption reduction rather than relying on simple temperature shifting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the air-conditioner operates within a narrow temperature range, then comfort is maintained, but power consumption reduction capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort maintenanceVSAvoidpower consumption reduction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between normal operation mode (maintaining comfortable temperature range) and peak cut operation mode (allowing wider temperature variations to reduce consumption). This dynamic mode switching enables the air-conditioner to balance comfort and energy reduction needs based on external requests, rather than operating within a fixed narrow temperature range at all times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2884194B1Household electrical appliance and household electrical system
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2884194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2884194B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2884194B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A household electric appliance and a household electric system are provided which are capable of quickly responding to the electric power demand in which the peak cut of the power consumption is requested. The household electric appliance comprises: a receiving unit that receives a request for a peak cut of power consumption at a predetermined rate from a remote controller and a mobile terminal; a drive unit that drives a power-consuming object to be driven; and a control unit that controls an action of the drive unit. The control unit, in the case of reception of the peak cut request from the remote controller or the mobile terminal, controls the action of the drive unit so as to cut a maximum value of the power consumption within the appliance based on the requested rate.