Ducted Air Conditioning Fan Control for Heat Source Energy Moderation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioning systems that use ducts to supply conditioned air to multiple places within a building face challenges in controlling energy consumption on the heat source side, as existing control methods do not effectively moderate energy usage.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning system incorporates a configuration with multiple fan units and a controller that adjusts the air supply amount by controlling the rotation speed of fan motors and differential pressure, allowing for efficient heat exchange and energy moderation through a network of ducts and fan units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If fan units are controlled to supply conditioned air to multiple places using ducts, then air conditioning coverage is improved, but energy consumption on the heat source side increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the air conditioning service area into multiple zones, each served by dedicated fan units connected to the heat source through ducts. This segmentation allows the heat source to serve multiple areas simultaneously while maintaining efficient heat exchange in each zone, resolving the contradiction between expanded coverage and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of fan units based on actual air conditioning demands in different zones. The controller adjusts fan operation dynamically, enabling the system to expand coverage to multiple areas while modulating energy consumption according to real-time needs, thus resolving the contradiction between area coverage and energy usage.
2Productivity
If air supply amount is increased to improve cooling/heating effectiveness, then air conditioning performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the air supply amount based on detected air conditioning demands. When demand is high, air supply and energy consumption increase together to maintain effectiveness. When demand is low, both are reduced. This dynamic coordination resolves the contradiction by making energy consumption proportional to actual effectiveness needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates demand detection and controller feedback mechanisms that monitor air conditioning needs and adjust air supply accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that energy consumption is optimized to match actual effectiveness requirements, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fan units are distributed to multiple locations, then installation flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular components: a central heat source, multiple fan units, and a controller. Each fan unit can be independently installed in different locations and connected to the heat source via ducts. This modular segmentation provides installation flexibility while keeping each component relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat source unit is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple fan units simultaneously through a distributed duct network. This multi-functionality allows the same heat source configuration to adapt to various installation scenarios with different numbers and locations of fan units, providing flexibility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
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 configuration enables efficient heat exchange in the heat exchanger and moderates energy consumption, preventing backflow and reducing heat exchange efficiency losses, while allowing for flexible installation and cost-effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fan units 30, 30a to 30d, 30M, 30GM, and 30S, which supply the conditioned air from the heat exchanger unit 10 through the plurality of ducts 20, 20a to 20e, to the plurality of air outlets 71 in the air conditioned space SA
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger unit 10, which heats or cools air to be sucked from the air conditioned space SA, thereby generating conditioned air
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present disclosure controls the supply of conditioned air to moderate the energy consumption by the heat source side in the supply of conditioned air using ducts in an air conditioning system. A heat exchanger unit (10) includes a use side heat exchanger (11). A plurality of ducts (20) distribute conditioned air that has passed through the use side heat exchanger (11) of the heat exchanger unit (10). A plurality of fan units (30) suction the conditioned air from the heat exchanger unit (10) through the plurality of ducts (20), and supply the conditioned air to an air conditioned space (SA). Each fan unit (30) includes a fan motor (33) that acts as an actuator configured to change an individual air supply amount of the conditioned air. A controller controls the plurality of fan motors (33) to control the respective air supply amounts of the plurality of fan units (30).