Air conditioning system control device and air conditioning system control method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning system control devices fail to increase operation efficiencies while maintaining a stable room temperature within a predetermined range, leading to inefficient energy usage and frequent temperature fluctuations.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system control device that determines optimum control commands based on a heat-load change permissible range, calculated from a room-temperature change permissible range and the operation efficiency of the air-conditioning apparatus, to manage energy usage and maintain comfortable temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If air-conditioning system control devices provide exact required capacity depending on heat load, then room temperature is maintained constant, but operation efficiency of air-conditioning apparatus is not improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroom temperature stabilityVSAvoidoperation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary actions by determining a heat-load change permissible range based on room-temperature change permissible range before controlling the air-conditioning apparatus. This allows the system to proactively adjust operations to maintain both temperature stability and improve operation efficiency, rather than simply reacting to maintain constant temperature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If air-conditioning apparatus is stopped when heat load decreases operation efficiency, then energy-saving operation is achieved, but room temperature changes frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy-saving operationVSAvoidroom temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts the operation of air-conditioning apparatus based on the determined heat-load change permissible range. Instead of statically stopping the apparatus when efficiency decreases, the system dynamically modulates operations within the permissible range, thereby achieving energy-saving operation while maintaining room temperature stability through flexible, real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If heat load is adjusted to increase operation efficiency, then energy-saving operation is achieved, but room temperature may exceed permissible range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoidroom temperature within permissible range
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses feedback by continuously monitoring whether room temperature remains within the permissible range and adjusting the heat load accordingly. The system determines the heat-load change permissible range based on the room-temperature change permissible range, creating a feedback loop that ensures energy-saving operation does not cause temperature to exceed acceptable limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3012546B1Air conditioning system control device and air conditioning system control method
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3012546B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3012546B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3012546B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air-conditioning system control device (41) controls one or a plurality of air-conditioning apparatus (21) installed in a building, and includes an air-conditioning apparatus data obtaining unit (64), a heat load estimation obtaining unit (62), and air-conditioning apparatus control command determining unit (63) that determines an air-conditioning apparatus control command so that a preset evaluation index satisfies a preset condition in a preset control-target period under a preset constraint. The air-conditioning apparatus control command determining unit (63) includes time sections to divide the control-target period by one or a plurality of preset division intervals, determines a room-temperature change permissible range within which a room temperature satisfies the constraint, determines a heat-load change permissible range, based on the room temperature, the room-temperature change permissible range, a heat load estimation (53), and a heat load to be processed by each of the air-conditioning apparatus (21), and determines, for each of the time sections, as the air-conditioning apparatus control command, an operation frequency and start-stop of the air-conditioning apparatus (21), based on the heat-load change permissible range and an operation efficiency of the air-conditioning apparatus (21).