Air-conditioning control apparatus, air-conditioning control method, and computer readable medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning systems fail to effectively select the most energy-efficient method between conventional cooling and outdoor air cooling, leading to increased energy consumption when conditions for outdoor air cooling are met, even if it is less efficient than using a heat pump.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning control apparatus that compares the operating efficiencies of conventional cooling and outdoor air cooling methods, using sensors to determine the optimal choice based on indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, and adjusts the air-conditioning method accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If outdoor air cooling is performed based on fixed conditions (temperature, humidity, enthalpy difference), then the system can utilize free cooling when conditions are favorable, but energy consumption increases when the heat pump would be more efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between outdoor air cooling and heat pump operation based on real-time comparison of operating efficiencies. The control apparatus calculates both operating efficiencies and selects the method with higher efficiency, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions rather than relying on fixed thresholds. This dynamic selection resolves the contradiction by enabling energy-efficient operation across varying environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter from fixed environmental thresholds to variable operating efficiency comparison. By calculating and comparing the operating efficiencies of both methods in real-time, the system can accurately determine when to switch between outdoor air cooling and heat pump operation, preventing energy waste while maintaining adaptability to different operational scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If control of outdoor air cooling and normal cooling are performed independently, then each system operates autonomously, but the system cannot select the most energy-efficient method between the two
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus merges the independent control systems by introducing a unified efficiency comparison mechanism. Both outdoor air cooling and heat pump operations are evaluated together through operating efficiency calculations, and the system selects the optimal method based on this combined assessment. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity while enabling energy-optimized selection between methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously calculating and comparing the operating efficiencies of both cooling methods. The control apparatus uses this feedback information to determine which method should be operated at any given time, ensuring energy-efficient operation while maintaining independent control capabilities for each system.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning method suitable for reducing energy consumption is selected. A comparison unit 105 compares first operating efficiency, which is operating efficiency when only first air conditioning is performed, with second operating efficiency, which is operating efficiency when only second air conditioning is performed. The first air conditioning is air conditioning in an air-conditioning target space by an air conditioner, and the second air conditioning is air conditioning in the air-conditioning target space by supplying outdoor air without adjusting a temperature of the outdoor air to the air-conditioning target space. A decision unit 106 decides whether to perform the first air conditioning and whether to perform the second air conditioning, based on a result of comparison between the first operating efficiency and the second operating efficiency by the comparison unit 105.