Air Conditioning Interlock Control Simulation for Setting Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems face challenges in easily confirming interlocking control settings, particularly when multiple devices are involved, and struggle to simulate interlocking control operations with other facility devices, leading to difficulties in detecting incorrect or contradictory settings.
Innovation Solution
A control system for air conditioning that includes a controller, storage device for interlock settings, a simulation device to generate simulation operation information, and a display device to visualize the layout plan and simulation operations, allowing for easy confirmation of interlocking control settings and detection of incorrect settings without actual device operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interlocking control settings are confirmed by visual inspection of facility devices during actual operation, then the control system can verify interlocking behavior, but it becomes difficult to confirm settings when multiple devices are involved and requires actual device operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the facility devices and their interlocking control relationships in a simulation environment. The simulation device reproduces the interlocking control behavior based on stored interlock settings information, allowing users to verify control settings by observing the simulated device operations rather than actual physical devices. This copying approach maintains reliability of verification while dramatically improving ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If interlocking control settings are displayed as information lists, then the settings can be viewed, but it becomes difficult to detect incorrect settings or mistakes in device locations
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation device creates virtual representations of facility devices with their spatial relationships preserved. By displaying simulated device operations on a layout plan rather than mere information lists, the system maintains complete information about interlocking settings while making it visually intuitive to detect incorrect settings, wrong device locations, and logical errors through the graphical representation of device interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional text-based information lists to two-dimensional graphical layout plans showing facility device positions and interlocking relationships. This dimensional change allows users to visually perceive spatial relationships and logical connections between devices, making it much easier to detect incorrect settings and configuration errors that would be difficult to identify in text form.
3Reliability
If simulation of air conditioner operation is performed, then operational procedures can be verified, but simulation of interlocking control with other facility devices cannot be carried out
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple types of facility devices (air conditioners, lighting, ventilation, etc.) and their interlocking control relationships. By storing interlock settings information that identifies different device types and their relationships, the simulation device can verify interlocking control across diverse facility devices within the same controlled space, not just air conditioners alone.
4Adaptability or versatility
If interlocking control is set with multiple devices and combinations, then comprehensive control is achieved, but the complexity of confirming and detecting errors increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation device creates virtual copies of all facility devices and their interlocking relationships in a controlled environment. This allows comprehensive verification of complex multi-device interlocking controls without the complexity of coordinating actual physical devices. The simulation reproduces all interlocking behaviors based on stored settings, enabling easy confirmation and error detection even for complex control scenarios involving multiple devices and conditions.
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4(a)~4(b)
AI summary
To obtain a control system of an air conditioning system capable of easily confirming a set content of an interlocking control. A simulation device 120 that generates simulation operation information simulating an interlock operation of facility devices based on interlock settings information 400, a display controller 111 that makes a display device 140 display a layout plan 500 and the simulation operation information in accordance with the display of the facility devices in the layout plan 500.