Air conditioning system, indoor unit of air conditioning system and method for controlling the same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems consume excessive energy by uniformly conditioning entire areas, including spaces where users do not stay, such as areas above 1 m height, leading to unnecessary energy expenditure, especially during hot summer nights.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with an indoor unit that employs temperature stratification by controlling airflow using a blower fan, temperature sensor, and processor to adjust the fan speed based on sensed temperature and a temperature correction coefficient, which compensates for temperature differences between the sensed and target heights, thereby reducing energy consumption by limiting cooling to areas where users are present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional mixing system is used to uniformly air condition entire area, then temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases due to cooling unoccupied areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different temperature zones at different heights rather than uniform temperature throughout. The cool air discharge device releases cooled air at lower levels where users are present, while upper areas remain warmer, matching the temperature characteristic to the local need (occupied vs. unoccupied space).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air conditioning space into different height zones with different temperature requirements. The indoor unit separately controls temperature in the lower occupied zone (0-1m) from the upper unoccupied zone, allowing independent temperature management for energy efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If temperature correction coefficient is applied to compensate temperature difference between sensed and target heights, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by applying a correction coefficient to compensate for the temperature difference between the sensor location and the target height. This parameter adjustment allows the control system to account for vertical temperature gradients without adding physical sensors at multiple heights.
3Loss of energy
If blower fan speed is controlled according to corrected temperature, then energy saving is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control by continuously monitoring the temperature with the sensor and adjusting the blower fan speed accordingly. The corrected temperature information feeds back to the control unit, which modulates the fan speed to maintain the desired temperature in the occupied zone while minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control by continuously adjusting the blower fan speed based on real-time temperature conditions and the calculated correction coefficient. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions and optimize energy usage throughout 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
The system effectively reduces energy consumption by concentrating cooling efforts to areas where users are present, maintaining temperature stratification and minimizing energy use in unoccupied spaces, thus lowering operational costs and energy wastage.
Implementation Method 1
an air conditioning system capable of saving energy through temperature stratification by controlling airflow due to buoyancy
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit of an air conditioning system is provided. The indoor unit according to an exemplary embodiment includes a blower fan, a plurality of micro-holes configured to discharge cool air flowed in from the blower fan, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature, and a processor configured to control a speed of the blower fan, wherein the processor, in a first mode, controls the speed of the blower fan according to a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and in a second mode, corrects the sensed temperature by applying a temperature correction coefficient and controls the speed of the blower fan according to the corrected temperature, and wherein the temperature correction coefficient is a coefficient set for compensating a difference between the sensed temperature and a temperature of a target height.