Cooperative Load Control for Outdoor and Indoor Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems face challenges in simultaneously achieving energy conservation and comfortableness, as the operation states of outdoor and indoor air conditioners are not coordinated, leading to difficulties in maintaining both energy efficiency and comfort simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system that includes an outdoor-air conditioner, an indoor-air conditioner, and a control unit that performs cooperative load control, adjusting the operating capacities of both units based on the status of outdoor and indoor air conditions to optimize temperature and humidity while reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the operation state of the outdoor-air conditioner is switched based on operating modes (comfortable mode or energy-saving mode), then energy conservation or comfortableness is prioritized, but both energy conservation and comfortableness cannot be achieved simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operating capacities of both the outdoor-air conditioner and indoor-air conditioner adjustable and controllable in real-time based on actual operating conditions. The control unit dynamically modifies operating capacities according to outdoor air conditions, indoor air conditions, and current operation statuses, enabling the system to transition smoothly between energy-saving and comfort-oriented operations without being locked into fixed modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by modifying the operating capacities (such as refrigerant flow rates, fan speeds, and heat exchanger temperatures) of both air conditioners based on measured conditions. The control unit continuously adjusts these parameters to optimize the balance between power consumption and comfortableness, rather than switching between predetermined modes with fixed parameters.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the outdoor-air conditioner and indoor-air conditioner operate independently without coordinated control, then each unit can be controlled separately, but the total power consumption cannot be optimized and both units cannot achieve cooperative energy saving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of the outdoor-air conditioner and indoor-air conditioner into a unified cooperative control system. The control unit integrates information from both units (outdoor air conditions, indoor air conditions, and their respective operation statuses) and coordinates their operating capacities together, enabling them to work as a unified system for optimized energy consumption while maintaining the ability to adapt to various operating scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the control unit continuously monitor the operation statuses of both air conditioners along with environmental conditions, and use this feedback information to dynamically adjust their operating capacities. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to changing conditions and optimize power consumption in real-time based on actual system performance and environmental factors.
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
The system achieves high operation efficiency by coordinating the outdoor and indoor air conditioners, allowing for both energy conservation and comfortableness by optimizing the operating capacities and power consumption, especially during partial load operations.
Implementation Method 1
The outdoor-air conditioner heat exchanger causes heat exchange between the outdoor-air sucked by the first fan and the heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 2
The indoor-air conditioner heat exchanger causes heat exchange between the indoor-air sucked by the second fan and the refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an air conditioning system that achieves energy conservation and comfortableness. In the air conditioning system (100), an outdoor-air conditioner (10) sucks outdoor-air (OA) and supplies the outdoor-air as supply air (SA) from an air handling unit (30). An indoor-air conditioner (50) cools or heats indoor-air (IA) that is an air inside a target space (SP) by using an indoor unit (70) and supplies the air to the target space (SP). A general control unit (90) controls performs cooperative load control in which an operating capacity of the outdoor-air conditioner (10) and an operating capacity of the indoor-air conditioner (50) are controlled in cooperation in accordance with a status of the outdoor-air (OA), a status of the indoor-air (IA), an operation status of the outdoor-air conditioner (10), and/or an operation status of the indoor-air conditioner (50). The general control unit (90) controls, in the cooperative load control, at least one of a parameter of the outdoor-air conditioner (10) and a parameter of the indoor-air conditioner (50) such that a temperature or humidity of the indoor-air (IA) approaches a set value and also a total amount of power consumption of the outdoor-air conditioner (10) and power consumption of the indoor-air conditioner (50) is reduced.