Control device and control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems with multiple indoor units connected to a single outdoor unit face issues with intermittent operation and degraded efficiency due to the time-consuming process of setting target evaporating temperatures and adjusting superheat degrees in response to changing cooling demands, leading to inefficiencies in air conditioning capacity alignment.
Innovation Solution
A control device that uses a learning model to select a representative indoor unit based on required air conditioning capacity, sets target evaporating or condensing temperatures, and calculates suitable superheat or supercooling degrees to ensure each indoor unit operates efficiently without intermittent operations, thereby optimizing air conditioning capacity alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a search for the target evaporating temperature is started after each indoor unit is activated, then the air conditioning capacity can be adjusted to match the required capacity, but it takes time before setting of the target evaporating temperature and causes intermittent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs a search for the target evaporating temperature in advance before each indoor unit is activated. By pre-calculating the target evaporating temperature based on the required air conditioning capacity and superheat degree, the system eliminates the time delay that would otherwise occur during operation, preventing intermittent operation and ensuring continuous efficient cooling.
2Temperature
If the target superheat degree is changed in accordance with a decrease in cooling temperature, then the cooling temperature can be maintained, but it is difficult to make the air conditioning capacity conform to the required air conditioning capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The control device independently adjusts the target evaporating temperature and target superheat degree as separate parameters. By changing the target evaporating temperature to match the required air conditioning capacity while maintaining the target superheat degree, the system achieves both temperature control and capacity alignment without the conflicts that arise from coupling these adjustments.
3Loss of energy
If the target evaporating temperature is set based on the highest required air conditioning capacity, then energy saving effect can be achieved, but intermittent operation occurs when the required capacity changes during search
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines the target evaporating temperature in advance based on the required air conditioning capacity and superheat degree before each indoor unit operates. This preliminary setting ensures that the air conditioning capacity is properly aligned from the start, preventing intermittent operation while maintaining energy efficiency by avoiding unnecessary capacity adjustments during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A selection unit selects, from among a plurality of indoor units to each of which an air-conditioned space to be air-conditioned is assigned, an indoor unit to represent the plurality of indoor units, as a representative indoor unit, based on a required air-conditioning capacity being an air conditioning capacity required for each indoor unit. A setting unit sets a target temperature of either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which enables an air conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit, using a learning model obtained by machine learning. A calculation unit calculates, for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree at which an air conditioning capacity of each indoor unit conforms to the required air-conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit when either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature in each indoor unit is made to conform to the target temperature.