Distributed Fan Airflow Control for Lower HVAC Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air supply systems face increased control load due to centralized control of fan units, leading to inefficiencies and higher power consumption, as they rely on a single controller to manage airflow across multiple outlets.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized air supply system where each fan unit includes a local controller that adjusts airflow based on detected conditions, reducing reliance on a central controller and optimizing airflow volume and pressure to match target settings, while prioritizing high-efficiency fans for energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single central controller is used to control multiple fan units, then centralized management is achieved, but the control load on the controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into a central controller and multiple local controllers distributed across different fan units. Each local controller independently manages its associated fan unit, dividing the overall control function into smaller, manageable segments that reduce the burden on the central controller while maintaining centralized coordination capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rotational speed of fan motors is controlled by a single external controller, then uniform control policy is applied, but response time to local conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each fan unit is equipped with a local controller that can independently detect and respond to local environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air quality. This local quality approach enables faster response times to local changes while the central controller maintains uniform control policies through coordinated command distribution.
3Device complexity
If all fan units are controlled from a single location, then system coordination is simplified, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system transitions from static centralized control to dynamic distributed control, where local controllers continuously adjust fan motor rotational speeds based on real-time local conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows each fan unit to operate at optimal efficiency levels while the central controller coordinates overall system behavior to maintain simplified system-wide management.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air supply system moderates excess energy consumption occurring in fans. A second unit (30) includes a second fan (31) that supplies first air (SA) to a target space (100). A duct (40) sends the first air (SA) sent from a first unit (20) by a first fan (21) to the second unit (30). A remote sensor (70) acting as a first detector detects information about second air (RA) in the target space (100). A main controller (51) acting as a first controller communicates with the second unit (30) and the remote sensor (70). The second unit (30) includes a second detector (32) that detects the air flow volume sent by the second fan (31), and a sub-controller (52) acting as a second controller that controls the rotation speed of the second fan (31). The main controller (51) determines a target air flow volume of the second unit (30) on the basis of the information about the second air (RA) acquired from the remote sensor (70), and transmits an instruction indicating the target air flow volume to the sub-controller (52). The sub-controller (52) controls the rotation speed of the second fan (31) such that the air flow volume detected by the second detector (32) approaches the target air flow volume.