Multi-Indoor Air Conditioner Refrigerant Temperature Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioning systems with multiple indoor units connected to an outdoor unit face challenges in efficiently managing refrigerant temperatures to balance energy conservation and control trackability, particularly when the number of indoor units increases, leading to prolonged room temperature achievement and potential comfort issues.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning apparatus incorporates a capacity controlling part and a target refrigerant temperature changing part that adjusts evaporation and condensation temperatures based on temperature differences and the number of operational indoor units, employing slow and fast changing control modes to optimize energy conservation and control trackability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the target evaporation temperature or target condensation temperature is changed to suppress excess air conditioning capacity, then energy conservation is improved, but the time required for room temperatures to reach set temperatures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of target refrigerant temperatures based on the number of operational indoor units. The target evaporation temperature or target condensation temperature is changed according to the operational status of indoor units, allowing the system to adapt between energy-saving mode (when fewer units operate) and rapid response mode (when more units operate), thus resolving the contradiction between energy conservation and temperature achievement time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the target refrigerant temperature parameter based on the number of indoor units in operation. When the number of operational indoor units increases, the target evaporation temperature is lowered or target condensation temperature is raised to increase air conditioning capacity and reduce the time to reach set temperatures, while maintaining energy efficiency when fewer units operate
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of indoor units in operation increases requiring large air conditioning capacity, then more rooms can be cooled, but the control trackability deteriorates due to prolonged temperature adjustment time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the target refrigerant temperature based on the number of operational indoor units. When more indoor units operate, the target temperature is adjusted to provide larger air conditioning capacity, ensuring that the system can handle increased load while maintaining appropriate control response, thus preserving control trackability across different operational scenarios
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 approach effectively suppresses excess air conditioning capacity, improves energy conservation, and ensures sufficient control trackability even when a large air conditioning capacity is needed, by promptly adjusting refrigerant temperatures in response to changes in indoor unit operation.
Implementation Method 1
evaporation temperature or the condensation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 2
refrigerant circuit configured as a result of plural indoor units being connected to an outdoor unit
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioning apparatus (1) has a refrigerant circuit (10) configured as a result of plural indoor units (4a, 4b) being connected to an outdoor unit (2), and the air conditioning apparatus has a capacity controlling part (81) and a target refrigerant temperature changing part (84). The capacity controlling part (81) is a part that controls the air conditioning capacity of the outdoor unit (2) in such a way that the evaporation temperature or the condensation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (10) becomes a target evaporation temperature or a target condensation temperature. The target refrigerant temperature changing part (84) performs slow changing control that changes the target evaporation temperature or the target condensation temperature in accordance with temperature differences between room temperatures and set temperatures and, in a case where the temperature differences have exceeded a threshold temperature difference and the number of the indoor units (4a, 4b) in operation has increased, performs fast changing control that forcibly changes the target evaporation temperature or the target condensation temperature to a fast tracking evaporation temperature or a fast tracking condensation temperature.