Air Conditioning Temperature Mapping for Uneven Cooling Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-conditioning systems cannot accurately determine if a space is sufficiently cooled or if temperature distribution is uneven, making it difficult to decide on necessary inspections or repairs.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system that includes a radiation temperature sensor to detect temperature in the space, a controller to acquire and transmit this data, and a terminal to analyze and output changes in temperature distribution, allowing for more precise decision-making on maintenance needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional air-conditioning systems use basic operation history and failure code monitoring, then the system complexity is low, but the inspection decision precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection decision precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical temperature sensing with infrared radiation temperature sensors that detect thermal radiation to measure temperature distribution in the air-conditioned space. This substitution enables precise measurement of temperature fields without physical contact, providing detailed spatial temperature data that improves inspection decision precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through wireless communication integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a terminal device as an intermediary between the air-conditioning system and the user. This terminal receives temperature distribution data from the air-conditioning apparatus, processes the information, and presents it in an easily understandable format. The intermediary handles the complexity of data processing and analysis, allowing the air-conditioning system itself to remain relatively simple while achieving high inspection decision precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If radiation temperature sensors are added to detect temperature distribution, then the temperature measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation temperature sensor is integrated into the existing air-conditioning apparatus structure, serving multiple functions: monitoring temperature distribution for inspection decisions, verifying cooling/heating effectiveness, and providing data for system optimization. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by delivering comprehensive temperature measurement capabilities that improve overall system performance and inspection accuracy.

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

3Loss of information

If the system collects and transmits detailed temperature distribution data, then the information completeness improves, but the communication data volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidcommunication data volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device extracts and processes only the essential information from the comprehensive temperature distribution data collected by the air-conditioning apparatus. Instead of transmitting all raw sensor data, the system identifies key temperature variations and anomalies, transmitting only the critical information needed for inspection decisions. This extraction approach maintains information completeness for decision-making while significantly reducing communication data volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables precise determination of whether an air-conditioning apparatus requires inspection or repair by visualizing temperature distribution, helping to identify insufficient cooling or heating and uneven temperature issues.

Implementation Method 1

an indoor unit having a radiation temperature sensor configured to detect radiation temperature in a space to be air-conditioned

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3232132B1Air conditioning system
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3232132B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3232132B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3232132B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

An air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning apparatus including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit having a radiation temperature sensor that detects radiation temperature in a space to be air-conditioned, a controller that communicates with the indoor unit and acquires detection data from the radiation temperature sensor, and a terminal that communicates with the controller and acquires the detection data from the controller. The terminal detects a change in detection data and outputs the change.