Air Conditioning System Energy Allocation Using Cost-Based Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems, such as those described in PTL 1, do not consider fair distribution of costs associated with using multiple indoor units when allocating limited electrical energy to compressors.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a first controller that limits electrical energy consumption by calculating a score for each indoor unit based on its usage cost, then sets the drive frequency for each compressor according to a ratio of the total score of its indoor units to the total score of all air conditioners, ensuring fair energy allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If electrical energy is limited in an air conditioning system with multiple compressors and indoor units, then energy consumption is reduced, but it becomes difficult to fairly allocate the limited energy based on usage costs of different indoor units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different scores to different indoor units based on their specific usage costs. Each indoor unit receives a customized score reflecting its individual cost characteristics, allowing the system to differentiate energy allocation locally rather than applying a uniform approach across all units. This enables fair energy distribution while maintaining overall energy limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by introducing a scoring system that transforms usage cost information into actionable control parameters. The controller calculates scores based on usage costs and uses these scores to determine drive frequencies for compressors. This parameter transformation allows the system to respond dynamically to varying energy constraints while maintaining fairness in energy allocation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air conditioners with multiple indoor units each are provided, then air conditioning coverage is improved, but the complexity of fairly distributing costs and allocating energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the energy allocation problem into independent scoring calculations for each indoor unit. Instead of attempting to solve the complex multi-compressor, multi-indoor unit allocation problem as a single integrated system, the controller calculates scores and allocates energy for each indoor unit separately based on its usage cost. This segmentation simplifies the overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive air conditioning coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system comprises one or more air conditioners through which refrigerant circulates, and a first controller. For each of one or more indoor units, a score corresponding to a cost of using the indoor unit is preset. The first controller calculates, for each of the one or more air conditioners, a first total value of a score of each of the one or more indoor units included in the air conditioner. The first controller calculates a second total value of the first total value of each of the one or more air conditioners. When an electrical energy limit condition is satisfied, the first controller sets for each of the one or more air conditioners a drive frequency for a compressor included in the air conditioner according to a ratio of the first total value of the air conditioner to the second total value.