Air-conditioning system, controller, and program
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance operation of air conditioners increases humidity in the room, leading to decreased user comfort due to the evaporation of water droplets on the heat exchanger during the maintenance mode.
Innovation Solution
A control device connected to the air conditioning system and ventilator via a communication network, which controls the ventilator to operate during maintenance operations and adjusts airflow strength during heating or cooling operations, while displaying installation and operation details on a screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air conditioner performs maintenance operation to evaporate water droplets on the heat exchanger, then mold and odor are prevented, but humidity in the room increases and user comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A ventilator is introduced as an intermediary device to remove the harmful byproduct (humid air) generated during maintenance operation. The ventilator operates in coordination with the air conditioner's maintenance mode, creating a coupled system where the ventilator compensates for the humidity increase caused by the maintenance operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between preventing mold/odor and maintaining comfortable humidity levels.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ventilator operates at high airflow strength during maintenance operation, then humidity is effectively controlled, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilator's airflow strength is made dynamic rather than static. The control device adjusts the ventilator's operation based on the air conditioner's operational state: during maintenance operation, the ventilator operates at high airflow strength to effectively control humidity; during heating or cooling operations, the ventilator operates intermittently at lower airflow strength to reduce energy consumption. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between effective humidity control and energy efficiency.
3Loss of information
If the control device monitors and displays detailed operation information, then user awareness and control are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the air conditioner and ventilator operations, monitors operational states, and provides user interface for information display. By making the control device universal and multi-functional, the patent manages to provide comprehensive operation information transparency without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same control infrastructure serves multiple purposes.
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
Prevents unnecessary humidity increases during maintenance operations, enhancing user comfort by ensuring proper ventilation and airflow management.
Implementation Method 1
a maintenance operation for evaporating water droplets attached to a heat exchanger included in an indoor unit of the air conditioning device by heating the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
control the ventilator to operate in at least a portion of a period during which the maintenance operation is being performed
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An air conditioning system (1) includes: an air conditioning device (20A, 20B), a ventilator (30A, 30B), a sensor group (40), an operation terminal (50), and a control device (60) installed in a building (10). The control device (60) performs controlling and monitoring of operation of the air conditioning device (20A, 20B) and the ventilator (30A, 30B). The control device (60) controls the ventilator (30A, 30B) so as to operate during the maintenance operation of the air conditioning device (20A, 20B).