Air-conditioning unit control device and air-conditioning unit control program for minimizing power consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning unit systems with multiple indoor units struggle to maintain a target environment and reduce energy consumption, as actual loads often mismatch the capacity of indoor and outdoor units, leading to discomfort and increased energy use.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning unit control device that sets environment target values, forms zones based on load calculations, allocates operation capacity to minimize total power consumption, and adjusts control signals to each unit to achieve a comfortable environment while reducing energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of indoor units and outdoor units is increased to compensate for insufficient air conditioning capacity, then the air conditioning capacity is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air conditioning system into multiple zones based on spatial relationships and load characteristics. Each zone is controlled by a specific subset of indoor and outdoor units, allowing optimized operation where only necessary units run at full capacity while others operate at reduced levels, thereby maintaining adequate cooling/heating capacity without requiring all units to operate at high power consumption levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation capacity of each indoor and outdoor unit based on real-time zone load calculations and environmental conditions. The control device optimizes the allocation of operation capacity dynamically, assigning different operational loads to different units depending on current demands, which allows the system to meet capacity requirements while minimizing overall power consumption through flexible, adaptive unit operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If control is based on predicted loads using empirical rules or programming methods, then power consumption is reduced, but the environment may fail to reach target environment when actual load does not match capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual environmental conditions in each zone and compares them against target values. Based on this feedback, the control device recalculates zone loads and adjusts the operation capacity allocation in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the system adapts to actual load conditions rather than relying solely on predictions, thereby reliably achieving target environments while maintaining energy efficiency through optimized unit operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from static predicted-load-based control to dynamic real-time optimization. By continuously calculating actual zone loads based on current environmental conditions and adjusting operation capacity allocation accordingly, the system dynamically adapts to changing demands, ensuring reliable target environment achievement while minimizing power consumption through optimal unit utilization.
3Reliability
If the pursuit of only comfort is prioritized, then the target environment is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements zone-based control where each spatial zone is treated independently with its own environmental targets and load calculations. The system identifies which specific zones require active cooling or heating and allocates operation capacity only to the necessary indoor and outdoor units serving those zones. This localized approach ensures comfort is maintained in occupied zones while avoiding energy waste in unoccupied or already comfortable areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically optimizes the balance between comfort and energy consumption by continuously adjusting operation capacity allocation based on real-time zone load assessments. Rather than maintaining fixed high-capacity operation for all units, the system adaptively scales unit operation to match actual zone demands, ensuring comfort requirements are met while minimizing energy consumption through precise, demand-responsive control.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning unit control device controls an air-conditioning unit system including one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units. The air-conditioning unit control device includes an environment target value setting unit to set an environment target value for an environment intended to be achieved by air conditioning through each of the indoor units, a zone setting unit to form one or more groups of the indoor units and set a zone for each of the groups, a zone load calculating unit to calculate a heat load on the set zone, an air conditioning capacity allocation calculating unit to determine an allocation of operation capacity to each of the indoor units and the outdoor units based on power consumption of each of the indoor units and the outdoor units, and a control instructing unit to transmit a control signal based on each operation capacity.