Duct-Type Air Conditioning Sensor Selection for Multi-Space Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The duct type air conditioning system faces challenges in providing appropriate conditioned air to individual air-conditioned spaces due to varying room temperatures, resulting in poor user convenience as users must select the space and sensor for air conditioning.

Innovation Solution

The system includes a control device and controllers that automatically determine the room temperature sensor for each space, calculating the air conditioning control amount based on detected temperatures, allowing for simultaneous control of multiple spaces without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses multiple room temperature sensors in different air-conditioned spaces, then the ability to detect temperatures in multiple spaces is improved, but the complexity of selecting which sensor to use increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detection capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control device automatically determines which room temperature sensor to use based on the air-conditioned space where air-conditioning is started, without requiring user selection. The system serves itself by autonomously selecting the appropriate sensor corresponding to the active air-conditioned space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control device stores sensor setting information in advance that associates each air-conditioned space with its corresponding room temperature sensor. When air-conditioning is started in a specific space, the control device quickly retrieves the pre-associated sensor information to determine which sensor to use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the system allows simultaneous air-conditioning of multiple spaces, then the productivity of the air conditioner is improved, but the complexity of controlling multiple dampers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair-conditioning coverageVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air-conditioning system is divided into multiple independent air-conditioned spaces, each with its own damper and temperature sensor. The control device independently controls each damper based on the air-conditioning status and temperature conditions of each specific space, allowing simultaneous operation without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3054233B1Duct-type air conditioning system
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3054233B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3054233B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3054233B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A duct type air conditioning system includes an air conditioner; a plurality of ducts that are disposed in a plurality of air-conditioned spaces that are supplied with conditioned air of the air conditioner; a plurality of room temperature sensors that are disposed in the air-conditioned spaces; a control device 4 that controls the air conditioner; and controllers 6-1 and 6-2 that control the air conditioner. The control device 4 determines a room temperature sensor disposed in any of the air-conditioned spaces on which an air-conditioning starting operation is performed by the controllers 6-1 and 6-2 by using sensor setting information in which the air-conditioned spaces and the room temperature sensors are associated with each other. The air conditioner includes an air-conditioning control degree calculating unit 22 that calculates a degree of control of the air conditioner on the basis of a room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor determined by the control device.