Air conditioner and method of controlling an air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners fail to adequately address user comfort and energy efficiency, particularly in buildings with poor thermal insulation, as they do not effectively compensate for temperature differences caused by heat loss or gain during heating and cooling operations, leading to discomfort and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system that adjusts the set indoor temperature based on the thermal insulation performance of the building and outdoor temperature, using a controller to determine a target temperature and adjust the heating or cooling operation accordingly, with increased compensation within a pre-set temperature range around 0°C to mitigate temperature fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the set temperature is shifted to a higher temperature during heating operation to compensate for heat loss in buildings with poor thermal insulation, then user comfort near floor, walls and windows is improved, but actual indoor temperature may become too high in buildings with very good thermal insulation, leading to user discomfort and unnecessary energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating temperature control based on building-specific characteristics. The control unit adjusts the set temperature according to the determined thermal insulation performance of each individual building, allowing buildings with poor insulation to receive higher temperature compensation while buildings with good insulation receive minimal or no compensation, thus avoiding overheating and unnecessary energy consumption in well-insulated buildings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the set temperature parameter based on the thermal insulation performance parameter. The control unit determines the thermal insulation performance and uses this information to modify the set temperature, shifting it to a higher temperature for buildings with poor insulation and maintaining or reducing it for buildings with good insulation, thereby optimizing energy consumption across different building types
2Ease of operation
If a fixed temperature shift is applied to all buildings during heating operation, then compensation for heat loss is simplified, but it cannot adequately address the varying thermal insulation performances of different buildings, leading to insufficient compensation for poor insulation or excessive compensation for good insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static, fixed temperature shift approach to a dynamic, adaptive temperature control system. The control unit continuously determines or updates the thermal insulation performance of the building and adjusts the set temperature accordingly, enabling the system to adapt to varying thermal insulation characteristics of different buildings and changing environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the determined thermal insulation performance information to adjust the set temperature. The control unit receives information about the building's thermal insulation performance and uses this feedback to optimize the temperature control strategy, ensuring appropriate compensation for each building's specific characteristics rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air conditioner which controls operation by adjusting or changing a set indoor temperature of the air conditioner in accordance with a thermal insulation performance of the building in which the air conditioner is installed and an outdoor air temperature, wherein an amount of adjusting or changing the set indoor temperature is set to be different within a pre-set temperature range around 0° C. outdoor air temperature than outside the pre-set temperature range. The present invention further relates to a computer-implemented method of controlling an air conditioner and a controller of an air conditioner.