Air-Conditioning System Heat Load Sharing for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning systems face inefficiencies in managing heat loads within indoor spaces, particularly in balancing the temperature and humidity levels across different areas, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced comfort.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system comprising a ventilation device and an air-conditioner, controlled by an upper-level control unit that shares heat loads between the two, utilizing refrigerant circuits and heat exchangers to optimize temperature and humidity adjustments based on power consumption capabilities and real-time environmental data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ventilation device and an air-conditioner are installed in the same space to perform cooling or heating operations, then the heat load adjustment capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a ventilation device with heat exchange functionality and an air-conditioner into a cooperative system. The ventilation device includes a compressor, first heat exchanger, and refrigerant circuit, while the air-conditioner has a third heat exchanger. Both devices share a common refrigerant system and are controlled by a unified control apparatus that distributes heat load between them based on their respective capabilities, achieving coordinated operation to adjust heat load in the indoor space.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a ventilation system and a heat exchange system. The first heat exchanger can function as either a condenser or evaporator, and the system can perform both ventilation and cooling/heating operations. The control apparatus universally manages both devices, allocating heat load based on real-time capability assessment of each device.
2Ease of operation
If the ventilation device and air-conditioner operate independently to adjust heat load, then the control simplicity is improved, but the energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the operational status and heat load capabilities of both the ventilation device and air-conditioner. The processor dynamically adjusts the heat load distribution between the two devices based on real-time feedback regarding their respective capabilities, ensuring optimal energy efficiency while maintaining simple unified control through automated load balancing.
3Device complexity
If the heat load is concentrated on a single device, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature and humidity uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat load adjustment function is segmented and distributed between two devices: the ventilation device with its first and second heat exchangers, and the air-conditioner with its third heat exchanger. Each device handles a portion of the total heat load, with the control apparatus allocating tasks based on capability assessment. This segmentation enables better temperature and humidity uniformity across different areas of the indoor space compared to single-device operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances energy efficiency by dynamically adjusting heat loads and improving comfort by optimizing the operation of both ventilation devices and air-conditioners, reducing power consumption and ensuring uniform temperature and humidity levels across indoor spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a third heat exchanger configured to function as a condenser or an evaporator
Implementation Method 2
a compressor; a refrigerant circuit in which a refrigerant flows, the refrigerant circuit being connected to the compressor
Implementation Method 3
perform heat exchange on the taken in air with a refrigerant flowing through the third heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The air-conditioning system according to an embodiment is provided with a ventilation device, an air-conditioner, a processor, and a memory storing one or more programs, which when executed, cause the processor to control the ventilation device and the air-conditioner. The processor stores a first capability indicating a heat load that can be output corresponding to the power consumption of the ventilation device and a second capability indicating a heat load that can be output corresponding to the power consumption of the air conditioner, acquires the temperature of an indoor space, and sets the ventilation device and the air conditioner to share the first heat load that needs to be adjusted in the indoor space calculated based on the temperature of the indoor space according to the first capability and the second capability.