Coordinated Air Treatment Control for Energy-Efficient Air Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air quality management systems face challenges in coordinating multiple air treatment apparatuses, leading to reduced effectiveness and increased energy consumption when used simultaneously, and struggle to meet diverse air quality requirements across different spaces.

Innovation Solution

An air quality management system that integrates multiple air treatment apparatuses with a control means to prioritize their operation based on user and environmental parameters, allowing for coordinated adjustment of operating states to enhance user comfort and energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple air treatment apparatuses are used simultaneously, then air quality requirements can be satisfied, but energy consumption increases and mutual interference occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair quality requirement satisfactionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple air treatment apparatuses (air conditioner, fresh air system, air cleaner) into a coordinated system where a control unit manages their joint operation. This merging allows the apparatuses to work synergistically rather than independently, satisfying diverse air quality requirements while reducing energy consumption through optimized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operating states of different air treatment apparatuses based on real-time environmental conditions and user requirements. The control unit continuously monitors and modifies the running modes, priorities, and power levels of each apparatus, enabling adaptive energy management that reduces overall consumption while maintaining air quality standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If fresh air system introduces fresh air from outside during air conditioner operation, then air quality improves, but cooling/heating effect is reduced and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair qualityVSAvoidcooling/heating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the fresh air intake amount based on the air conditioner's operating state and environmental conditions. When the air conditioner is actively cooling or heating, the system reduces fresh air intake to maintain efficiency, and increases it when appropriate, creating a dynamic balance between air quality and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control where the control unit monitors the operating states of both the air conditioner and fresh air system, and adjusts their coordination based on real-time performance data. This feedback mechanism ensures that fresh air introduction does not compromise cooling/heating efficiency while still achieving air quality improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If air treatment apparatuses operate independently, then each apparatus can function optimally, but coordinated control and energy saving are difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus functionVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control functions of multiple independently operating apparatuses into a unified control system. The control unit coordinates the operation of air conditioners, fresh air systems, and air cleaners, ensuring they function reliably together while achieving energy savings through optimized joint operation that independent control cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If air conditioners are installed individually for multiple rooms, then each room can be controlled independently, but coordinated control across rooms for energy saving is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent room controlVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality to manage both single-room and multi-room air treatment scenarios. It can independently control individual air conditioners in different rooms while also coordinating their operation across rooms to achieve overall energy savings, providing universal control capabilities that maintain ease of operation while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3734175B1Air quality management system and method
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3734175B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3734175B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3734175B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an air quality management system and an air quality management method that can acquire a better management effect by causing running modes of various air treatment apparatuses to cooperate. An air quality management system includes a control means, and a plurality of air treatment apparatuses mutually associated; and the control means is connected to each of the plurality of air treatment apparatuses and configured to make setting such that one air treatment apparatus among the plurality of air treatment apparatuses has a running priority, and the control means includes an information collection module that collects at least one of a user parameter, an air quality parameter, and a running parameter of one of the air treatment apparatuses, the control means processes information collected by the information collection module and acquires a processing result, the control means sets a running priority of one of the air treatment apparatuses based on the processing result, and the air treatment apparatus having the running priority adjusts an operating state of itself based on the processing result and simultaneously the air treatment apparatus having the running priority adjusts an operating state of another of the air treatment apparatuses in the system based on the processing result.