Air Conditioning Control for Unoccupied Temperature Setback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioning systems face energy wastage issues when left operating in unoccupied spaces, as they must maintain comfort and safety by not being turned off, leading to user-unfriendliness and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a controller and indoor unit that includes a controlling module, which sends energy control signals to manage operation states based on preset temperatures, adjusting heating and cooling demands to balance comfort and energy savings by reducing energy consumption when unoccupied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air conditioning system operates continuously to maintain comfort and safety when people leave, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters based on occupancy detection. When occupancy is detected, the system operates at full capacity for comfort; when unoccupied, it transitions to energy-saving mode with reduced heating/cooling power, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (temperature setpoints, heating/cooling power levels) based on occupancy status. The controlling module receives occupancy information and adjusts system parameters accordingly, allowing the system to maintain reliability when needed while consuming less energy when unoccupied
2Use of energy by moving object
If the air conditioning system is turned off to save energy when people leave, then energy consumption is reduced, but comfort and safety requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its operation based on real-time occupancy detection. Rather than being statically on or off, the system transitions between different operational states (full operation, partial operation, energy-saving mode) based on whether occupants are present, thus balancing energy savings with comfort and safety requirements
3Ease of operation
If the air conditioning system operates at full capacity to maintain comfort, then comfort is improved, but energy waste occurs in unoccupied spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational intensity based on occupancy. When occupants are present, it operates at full capacity to ensure comfort; when unoccupied, it automatically reduces to energy-saving mode, eliminating the need for manual user adjustment and preventing energy waste while maintaining comfort when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously detects occupancy status and self-adjusts its operation without requiring user intervention. The controlling module receives occupancy information and automatically manages the transition between comfort mode and energy-saving mode, making the system both user-friendly and energy-efficient
Data Source
AI summary
In an air conditioning system of the present disclosure, the controlling module determines state of the indoor unit. If the indoor unit is under off state, the controlling module determines whether an indoor temperature is smaller than a preset temperature. If yes, the controlling module controls the indoor unit to heat according to a first heating temperature. If the indoor unit is under heating state, the controlling module sets a second heating temperature of the indoor unit to the first heating temperature, and controls the indoor unit to heat according to the first heating temperature. The first heating temperature is smaller than the second heating temperature. If the indoor unit is under cooling state, the controlling module sets a first cooling temperature to a second cooling temperature which is greater than the first cooling temperature, and controls the indoor unit to cool according to the second cooling temperature.