Air-conditioning control apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning systems in offices face inefficiencies in power consumption due to variations in the number of people present, leading to either excessive cooling or heating when occupancy changes, resulting in wasteful energy use.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning control apparatus that detects the number of people in different sections of an office and adjusts the set temperature and air supply accordingly, decreasing the temperature when more people are present and increasing it when fewer people are present to optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air conditioner operates under the same condition regardless of occupancy changes, then the temperature control is simple, but power is consumed wastefully when the number of people decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a detecting device to continuously monitor the number of people in the predetermined section and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the set temperature or supply amount based on the detected occupancy changes, creating a closed-loop feedback system that prevents wasteful energy consumption while maintaining appropriate comfort levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system transitions from a static operation mode to a dynamic one where the set temperature and/or supply amount are adjusted in real-time based on occupancy changes. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying heat generation amounts caused by different numbers of people, optimizing energy efficiency throughout operation.
2Temperature
If the air conditioner increases cooling capacity when more people are present, then temperature comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameters of the air conditioner (set temperature and/or supply amount) based on the detected number of people. When occupancy increases, the set temperature is lowered or supply amount increased to maintain comfort; when occupancy decreases, the set temperature is raised or supply amount reduced to save energy. This parameter adjustment strategy ensures temperature control accuracy while optimizing energy consumption.
3Loss of energy
If the air conditioner decreases operation when fewer people are present, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detecting device continuously monitors occupancy and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts the set temperature or supply amount accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that even when the number of people decreases and operation is reduced, the temperature control remains precise by adapting the setpoint to match the actual thermal load of the space.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air-conditioning control apparatus for controlling an air conditioner configured to supply conditioned air into a space to be air-conditioned so that a temperature of a predetermined section in a plurality of sections in the space to be air-conditioned becomes a set temperature, the air-conditioning control apparatus comprising: a detecting device configured to determines the number of people in the predetermined section; and a controller configured to correct the set temperature so as to be decreased if the number of people is increased and so as to be increased if the number of people is decreased.