Device for controlling cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for air-conditioning equipment require expensive dry and wet-bulb temperature measurement sensors to optimize cooling water temperature control, leading to inefficient energy consumption due to unnecessary high inverter frequency operation under certain outside air conditions.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus using only a cooling water temperature sensor to adjust the cooling fan and pump speeds, employing a wet-bulb temperature estimation control method that reduces frequency gradually and stores the optimal frequency for efficient operation, eliminating the need for expensive humidity sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If dry and wet-bulb temperature measurement sensors are used to optimize cooling water temperature control, then energy-efficient control is achieved, but device cost increases due to expensive sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the wet-bulb temperature measurement function by using a neural network model that processes data from existing sensors (cooling water temperature sensor and outside air temperature sensor) to estimate wet-bulb temperature. This virtual sensor replicates the functionality of an actual wet-bulb sensor without requiring the expensive physical hardware, thereby reducing device cost while maintaining energy-efficient control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The neural network model acts as an intermediary that transforms data from simple, inexpensive sensors into information equivalent to what would be obtained from expensive specialized sensors. The model processes cooling water temperature and outside air temperature readings to generate wet-bulb temperature estimates, serving as a computational mediator that eliminates the need for direct physical wet-bulb measurement hardware
2Temperature
If inverter frequency is increased to cool cooling water when outside air temperature is high and humidity is low, then cooling water temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring cooling water temperature and outside air conditions, comparing actual temperatures with target values, and adjusting inverter frequency accordingly. The neural network model provides predictive feedback about wet-bulb temperature conditions, allowing the system to anticipate when increased fan speed will be effective and when it would be wasteful, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The inverter frequency is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed or purely reactive. The system continuously adjusts fan speed based on real-time conditions and neural network predictions, allowing optimal frequency modulation that matches actual cooling需求的. This dynamic adjustment prevents unnecessary high-frequency operation when cooling effectiveness would be limited by environmental conditions
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
This approach achieves energy-efficient control equivalent to using dry and wet-bulb temperature sensors, reducing energy consumption by optimizing fan and pump operations based on cooling water temperature alone, even under conditions where significant cooling effects are not achievable.
Implementation Method 1
in the cooling tower, a cooling fan for cooling the cooling water by blowing air is provided
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To provide a control apparatus for a cooling system which does not require an expensive dry and wet-bulb temperature measurement sensor, and can implement control equivalent to that using a dry and wet-bulb temperature measurement sensor in use of only a cooling water temperature measurement sensor. [Means of Solution] A cooling system is provided, which has a cooling tower 1, a refrigeration device 2, a cooling fan 11 provided in the cooling tower 1, a cooling water pump 21 which circulates cooling water between the cooling tower 1 and the refrigeration device 2, an inlet temperature sensor 7 which detects the cooling water temperature at an inlet of the cooling tower 1, and an inverter apparatus 12 which variably controls the speed of the cooling tower 11, wherein the output frequency of the inverter apparatus 12 is gradually reduced after the output frequency reaches an upper limit frequency, the output frequency at which the inlet temperature detection value T2 of the cooling water does not rise despite the reduction in the output frequency is stored, and the inverter apparatus 12 is operated thereafter on the basis of the stored output frequency.