Elevator Group Control for Unbalanced Traffic Standby
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator group control systems fail to effectively implement distributed standby control during unbalanced traffic demand periods, leading to prolonged user waiting times and inefficient energy usage, especially in off-hours when traffic is unbalanced in one direction.
Innovation Solution
An elevator group control apparatus that detects downward and upward traffic flow ratios using traffic flow detection means and determines effective standby modes based on reference values, allocating at least one elevator car to standby on higher or main floors to optimize car allocation and reduce waiting times while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If distributed standby control is not implemented during unbalanced traffic periods, then power consumption during runs can be reduced, but user waiting time becomes long
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the standby control mode based on real-time traffic demand detection. When unbalanced traffic is detected (upward or downward), the system activates distributed standby control; when traffic is balanced, it deactivates this mode. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by implementing energy-saving standby control only when traffic patterns warrant it, rather than using a static approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of elevator cars based on detected traffic conditions. Specifically, it modifies the standby location and operational state of elevator cars when traffic demand becomes unbalanced. This parameter change enables the system to reduce power consumption during unbalanced periods while maintaining acceptable waiting times, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and service quality.
2Measurement precision
If traffic demand detection includes unnecessary elements such as basement floor traffic, then the detection system is more comprehensive, but the determination of distributed standby necessity becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates the relevant traffic demand elements that directly impact the decision for distributed standby control. It specifically focuses on traffic between the main floor and other floors, excluding unnecessary elements such as basement floor traffic from the determination calculation. This extraction improves the accuracy of the standby determination while simplifying the detection system by removing irrelevant components.
3Loss of time
If distributed standby control is activated during all periods, then user waiting time is reduced, but power consumption during runs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control by continuously monitoring traffic demand and adjusting the distributed standby control activation accordingly. Rather than maintaining a fixed standby mode, the system activates distributed standby control only during periods when traffic demand indicates unbalanced patterns. This dynamic approach reduces power consumption compared to continuous activation while still providing standby services during periods when they are most beneficial, thus resolving the contradiction between waiting time reduction and energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an elevator group control apparatus which brings distributed standby control into action when the movement of users is heavy in one direction in an unbalanced manner in time zones which account for large proportions of an elevator use condition of a day, for example, in off-hour zones and time zones in which traffic demand is relatively small, thereby improving the waiting time of users, and does not bring distributed standby control into action when there is no unbalanced condition of the movement of the users, whereby it is possible to perform energy savings by reducing power consumption during runs without greatly worsening the waiting time of the users. In an elevator group control apparatus which performs the operation control of a plurality of elevators, there is detected a downward traffic flow ratio of traffic flows departing downward from floors higher than a prescribed main floor in the total traffic flow departing from one floor to another. If the downward traffic flow ratio is not less than a prescribed reference value, a standby mode for downward traffic flow is made effective. If the above-described standby mode for downward traffic flow has been made effective, at least one elevator car is caused to be on standby on a floor higher than the main floor and at least one elevator car is caused to be on standby on the main floor.