Air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning systems face challenges in stabilizing the refrigeration cycle due to varying environmental conditions and operation states, leading to inefficient control gains and intervals, resulting in hunting and excessive pressure fluctuations, which require extensive storage and simulation to optimize.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning apparatus that dynamically adjusts the control gain and intervals of the electric expansion valve based on real-time system configuration and operating state, using sensors to measure refrigerant temperatures and pressures, and calculating optimal control parameters to minimize overshoot and setting time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If fixed control gain and intervals are stored in a table based on predetermined conditions, then the control device can operate with simple structure, but the control cannot adapt to changing operation states and environmental conditions, causing hunting and pressure fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device structureVSAvoidadaptability to operation state changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control gain and control intervals are changed from fixed predetermined values to dynamic values that are automatically adjusted based on real-time operation state. The control device calculates optimal control parameters by acquiring current operation state data and determining control gains and intervals that adapt to changing conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple structure and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device implements a feedback mechanism where the current operation state is continuously monitored and used to adjust the control gain and intervals. By acquiring real-time data about the refrigeration cycle state and using this information to recalculate optimal control parameters, the system adapts to changing conditions without requiring complex predetermined tables for every possible state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If control parameters are optimized for each specific system configuration through test and simulation, then optimal control performance can be achieved, but huge storage area and vast time are needed to determine and store control constants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol performanceVSAvoidtime to determine control constants
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs self-adjustment by automatically calculating optimal control gain and intervals based on real-time operation state data. Instead of requiring external test and simulation processes to predetermined optimal values for each configuration, the system serves itself by dynamically determining appropriate control parameters during operation, eliminating the need for extensive pre-stored control constants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control device changes the approach from storing fixed parameter values to dynamically calculating parameters based on operation state. By using calculation based on current operational data rather than predetermined stored values, the system achieves optimal control performance without requiring huge storage areas or time-consuming test and simulation processes for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If control gain and intervals are determined based on number of indoor units and deviation from target value, then some adaptation to system configuration is achieved, but the control constant remains fixed and cannot respond to environmental condition changes or pressure fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to system configurationVSAvoidresponse to environmental changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system transitions from static predetermined tables to dynamic real-time calculation. By continuously acquiring operation state data and recalculating control gain and intervals based on current conditions including environmental factors and pressure states, the system achieves both adaptability to system configuration and responsiveness to environmental changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device implements comprehensive feedback that monitors not only the number of indoor units and deviation from target values but also current environmental conditions and refrigeration cycle state. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adjust control parameters in response to real-time changes in both system configuration and environmental conditions, improving productivity and response capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2863138B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2863138B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2863138B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2863138B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a time constant calculation means 20 that estimates a response time constant at a time when an opening degree of an expansion device 7 is changed on the basis of specifications of a compressor 3 that forms a refrigeration cycle of the air-conditioning apparatus, specifications of a load side heat exchanger 6, and an operating state quantity of the air-conditioning apparatus, a control constant calculation means 21 that calculates at least one of a control gain of the opening degree of the expansion device 7 and a control interval on the basis of a calculation result of the time constant calculation means 20, and a control constant change means 22 that changes a control constant.