Air-Conditioning System with Integrated General-Purpose Device Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building air-conditioning remote management systems lack integrated management capabilities for air-conditioning control systems, particularly when cooperating with general-purpose devices like humidifiers and heaters, failing to meet individual user needs and requiring effective system management.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system that communicably connects air-conditioning apparatus, energy management means, and general-purpose device controllers through a dedicated communication line, enabling cooperative control by transmitting signals between these components using a unique communication protocol, allowing for integrated management of air-conditioning and general-purpose devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated communication line is used to connect air-conditioning apparatus, energy management means, and general-purpose device controllers, then cooperative control capability and system integration are improved, but device complexity and communication infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooperative control capabilityVSAvoidcommunication infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dedicated communication line serves multiple functions: it transmits operation commands from the energy management means to both air-conditioning apparatus and general-purpose devices, carries control signals for coordinated operation, and enables integrated management of diverse devices through a single communication infrastructure, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility improvement and complexity increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If integrated management of air-conditioning and general-purpose devices is implemented, then system management efficiency and user customization are improved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem management efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy management means acts as an intermediary device that centralizes the control of multiple air-conditioning apparatus and general-purpose devices. It receives user customization requirements and translates them into coordinated operation commands for connected devices, thereby improving system management efficiency while containing control system complexity through centralized mediation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If signal transmission between energy management means and multiple devices is enabled, then cooperative control functionality is improved, but information transmission requirements and communication load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooperative control functionalityVSAvoidinformation transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges communication channels by using the dedicated communication line to simultaneously transmit operation commands, control signals, and status information to multiple air-conditioning apparatus and general-purpose devices. This consolidation of information transmission reduces overall communication load compared to separate communication channels for each device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2950015B1Air-conditioning system
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2950015B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2950015B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2950015B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an air-conditioning control system, including: an air-conditioning apparatus constructed by connecting one or a plurality of indoor units and one or a plurality of outdoor units by refrigerant pipes; a general-purpose device controller to which a general-purpose device that operates in cooperation with the air-conditioning apparatus is connected, configured to control the general-purpose device; and an energy management gateway, which is communicably connected to the air-conditioning apparatus and the general-purpose device controller through a transmission line, configured to control a device to be controlled, based on a signal related to communication.