Air-conditioning system and method for controlling amount of power of air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems fail to fairly allocate limited electrical energy among multiple indoor units, leading to an unfair distribution of costs associated with their utilization.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a controller that calculates scores for each indoor unit based on its cost and allocates electrical energy by adjusting the drive frequency of compressors according to a ratio of total scores, ensuring fair distribution of costs while adhering to electrical energy limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple indoor units are provided for multiple compressors, then the air conditioning system can serve more workspaces simultaneously, but it becomes difficult to fairly allocate limited electrical energy and distribute costs among the indoor units
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the electrical energy allocation problem by assigning a separate score to each indoor unit based on its utilization cost. The controller calculates scores for individual indoor units within each air conditioner, then aggregates these to determine compressor allocation. This segmentation allows fair distribution of limited electrical energy across multiple indoor units while maintaining system versatility.
2Use of energy by moving object
If electrical energy is limited in response to demand requests, then energy consumption is controlled, but it becomes difficult to fairly distribute the limited energy among multiple indoor units with different cost structures
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of energy allocation from equal distribution to score-based distribution. Each indoor unit is assigned a score reflecting its utilization cost, and the controller adjusts compressor drive frequencies based on these scores. This parameter change enables both energy consumption control and fair cost distribution, as compressors serving high-cost indoor units receive preferential energy allocation.
3Ease of operation
If compressors are allocated based on arbitrary rules, then energy distribution is simple to implement, but the cost distribution among indoor units becomes unfair
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the utilization status of each indoor unit and adjusting compressor allocation accordingly. The controller calculates scores based on actual usage patterns and cost data, then dynamically adjusts drive frequencies. This feedback mechanism ensures fair cost distribution while maintaining operational simplicity, as the system automatically adapts to changing conditions without complex manual intervention.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioning system (1000) comprises one or more air conditioners (100) through which refrigerant circulates, and a first controller (1). For each of one or more indoor units (20), a score corresponding to a cost of using the indoor unit (20) is preset. The first controller (1) calculates, for each of the one or more air conditioners (100), a first total value of a score of each of the one or more indoor units (20) included in the air conditioner (100). The first controller (1) calculates a second total value of the first total value of each of the one or more air conditioners (100). When an electrical energy limit condition is satisfied, the first controller (1) sets for each of the one or more air conditioners (100) a drive frequency for a compressor (11) included in the air conditioner (100) according to a ratio of the first total value of the air conditioner (100) to the second total value.