Air-conditioning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

When a power source for one or more indoor units in an air conditioning system is interrupted, devices that consume more power than the auxiliary power feed can cause insufficient power supply, leading to malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioning system includes a refrigerant cycle, a power feed unit, and a controller that detects devices consuming excessive power, performs notifications, and deactivates or limits functions to maintain system stability by feeding power from an auxiliary source to interrupted units and preventing overloads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power is fed from an auxiliary power source to an indoor unit whose power source has been interrupted, then the air conditioning system can continue operation, but if a high-power device is connected to the indoor unit, the power feed becomes insufficient and malfunctions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuation of air conditioning operationVSAvoidpower feed capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The controller detects and identifies high-power devices connected to indoor units before power interruption occurs, storing this information for later use. This preliminary detection allows the system to prepare appropriate power management strategies in advance, preventing malfunctions when auxiliary power is activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors power consumption of connected devices and provides feedback to determine whether the device is a high-power device. This feedback mechanism enables the controller to dynamically adjust power feed strategies, notifying users or limiting functions when high-power devices are detected, thus preventing power insufficiency during auxiliary power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If the controller limits functions or deactivates high-power devices, then power sufficiency is maintained, but system functionality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower feed capacityVSAvoiddevice functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely deactivating high-power devices, the controller applies partial action by selectively limiting only certain functions that consume excessive power. This allows the device to remain operational with reduced functionality, maintaining user convenience while ensuring power sufficiency during auxiliary power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically adjusts device functions based on real-time power conditions and device type. Rather than static deactivation, the system flexibly modifies operational parameters, enabling high-power devices to function within available power constraints while maintaining system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3978814B1Air-conditioning system
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3978814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3978814B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3978814B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an air conditioning system capable of detecting in advance a device that consumes more power than the power that can be fed by a power feed unit. An air conditioning system (100) includes a refrigerant cycle (RC), a power feed unit (40), and a controller (60). The refrigerant cycle (RC) includes an outdoor unit (10) and a plurality of indoor units (30). In a case where a power source for at least one indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units (30) has been interrupted, the power feed unit (40) feeds power from an auxiliary power source to the indoor unit (30) for which the power source has been interrupted. When a predetermined device has been connected to at least part of the plurality of indoor units (30) and the power feed unit (40), the controller (60) performs at least one of notification of a state of the device and deactivation of at least one of functions of the device.