HVAC Control Updates for Changing Energy Regulations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning management systems struggle to adapt to changing laws and regulations, requiring costly updates and extensive man-hours to achieve energy-saving controls.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning management apparatus with means to acquire and update measured values and control methods dynamically, using network connectivity and user inputs to adjust to changing legal and regulatory requirements, allowing flexible energy-saving controls at a lower cost and reduced man-hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the air conditioning management apparatus uses fixed control methods and measurement parameters, then the system structure is simple and stable, but it cannot adapt to changing laws and regulations, requiring costly updates and extensive man-hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configurability by allowing the measurement parameters, control methods, and target values to be changed without system redesign. The apparatus can dynamically adjust measurement items (e.g., from basic temperature to detailed operational parameters) and control strategies based on updated laws and regulations, eliminating the need for costly hardware or software reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with universal interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of measurements and control methods through a unified architecture. The apparatus can handle various law and regulation requirements using the same core system, supporting different target values, measurement approaches, and control strategies without requiring separate specialized systems for each regulatory framework
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system frequently updates control methods and measurement parameters to follow new laws and regulations, then adaptability improves, but system stability and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation and simulation before implementing changes to control methods and measurement parameters. By pre-testing updated configurations in a virtual environment and validating against expected outcomes, the system ensures that regulatory updates maintain reliability and do not introduce operational instability
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus incorporates continuous feedback mechanisms that monitor system performance after updates are applied. If changes to control methods or measurement parameters result in degraded performance or operational issues, the feedback system detects these problems and triggers automatic adjustments or alerts administrators to revert changes, thereby maintaining system reliability despite frequent regulatory updates
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed and frequent measurements are performed to ensure precise energy-saving control, then control precision improves, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial measurement strategies by selectively monitoring only the most critical parameters needed to achieve energy-saving targets, rather than continuously measuring all possible variables. The apparatus identifies key influence factors (e.g., outdoor temperature, occupancy patterns, equipment runtime) and focuses measurement resources on these parameters, achieving sufficient control precision while minimizing measurement system energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus dynamically adjusts measurement frequency and detail level based on current operational conditions and regulatory requirements. During periods of stable operation, the system reduces measurement frequency to conserve energy, while intensifying monitoring when approaching target thresholds or when regulatory changes require more stringent verification, thereby optimizing the balance between control precision and energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning management apparatus has a measured value acquisition portion for obtaining measured values of the state of air conditioning equipment and an air-conditioned state, a law/regulation information acquisition portion for obtaining law/regulation information through a network, an equipment control portion for determining a control method of the air conditioning equipment to realize energy saving from the measured values and law/regulation information and controlling the air conditioning equipment, an adding/changing portion for measured value acquisition portion for adding/changing an object to be measured and a measurement method, through the network or by an input by the user, and an adding/changing portion for equipment control portion for adding/changing a determination method of an air conditioning equipment control method and a method of executing the control of the air conditioning equipment, through the network.