Facility device management apparatus and abnormality detection method for facility device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing facility device management systems face challenges in accurately detecting abnormalities in large numbers of devices due to variations in operating environments and degradation over time, especially when using centralized or generalized mathematical models.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioning facility management apparatus groups devices by specifications and environment, calculates feature values and determination values based on operation status information, and compares these values to predefined thresholds to detect abnormalities without complex machine learning, using simple numerical calculations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a centralized mathematical model is constructed for each facility device to detect abnormalities, then abnormality detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and computational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidmodel construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the facility devices into multiple groups based on their specifications and operating environments. Instead of constructing a separate complex mathematical model for each individual device, the system creates a determination value for each group by comparing feature values of devices within the same group. This segmentation approach maintains detection accuracy by accounting for device-specific characteristics while significantly reducing the computational burden and complexity of model construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a general mathematical model is constructed for all facility devices to simplify management, then device complexity is reduced, but abnormality detection accuracy deteriorates due to environmental variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel management simplicityVSAvoidabnormality detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the local quality principle by creating determination values that are specific to each group of facility devices with similar specifications and operating environments. Instead of using a single general model for all devices, the system tailors the determination values to local characteristics of each group, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while still simplifying management through grouping. This allows the system to account for environmental variations without requiring individualized complex models for each device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If facility devices are monitored using traditional methods without considering degradation over time, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability of abnormality detection decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring simplicityVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating determination values for each group of facility devices based on their historical operation data and characteristics. These determination values are stored and can be directly applied when monitoring devices, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis while accounting for degradation over time. This approach maintains ease of operation by using pre-computed reference values while improving reliability by incorporating temporal degradation effects into the determination criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250271840A1Facility device management apparatus and abnormality detection method for facility device
Publication Date: 2025.08.28 CARRIER JAPAN CORP
  • US20250271840A1 patent drawing
  • US20250271840A1 patent drawing
  • US20250271840A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A facility device management apparatus includes: an operation information acquisition unit configured to acquire operation status information related to a predetermined item for each predetermined time from each of three or more facility devices; a determination value calculation unit configured to calculate a feature value of operation status information related to the predetermined item for each facility device included in the facility devices, calculate a difference value between feature values of one of the facility devices and each of the other of the facility devices, and calculate a median value or an average value of calculated difference values as a determination value of relevant facility devices; and an abnormality detection unit configured to detect the facility device that has a determination value exceeding a preset threshold as a facility device in which an abnormality has occurred with respect to the operation status information.