Indoor Fan Airflow Limiting for Temperature-Adaptive Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioning apparatuses where the airflow rate of the indoor fan can be manually set, there is a wasteful power consumption issue due to unnecessarily high airflow rates, which limits the improvement in the Annual Performance Factor (APF) when the airflow rate is not adjusted according to outside air temperature and indoor conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an indoor airflow rate limitation control that forcibly reduces the airflow rate of the indoor fan to a lower setting based on outside air temperature, with adjustable upper limits for the airflow rate, and considering indoor air-conditioning load and temperature variations to optimize power usage and maintain the manually instructed setting when possible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the airflow rate setting of the indoor fan is manually instructed to be high, then the user comfort is improved, but the power consumption of the indoor fan increases wastefully
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the airflow rate parameter of the indoor fan based on outdoor air temperature conditions. When outdoor temperature is low (e.g., below 10°C), the system automatically limits the maximum airflow rate to a lower level even if the user manually selects high airflow, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining user comfort within acceptable ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from outdoor temperature sensors to automatically adjust the airflow rate settings. The control unit receives temperature information and automatically modifies the airflow rate parameter, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents wasteful energy consumption without requiring continuous user intervention.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the airflow rate of the indoor fan is reduced to save power, then the power consumption is reduced, but the indoor air-conditioning load processing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system intelligently adjusts the airflow rate parameter based on outdoor temperature conditions and indoor load requirements. When outdoor temperature is not extremely low, the system allows higher airflow rates to maintain adequate cooling capacity, while only limiting airflow when outdoor conditions make high airflow unnecessary for energy savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow rate is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt between different operating modes based on real-time conditions. The control unit continuously monitors outdoor temperature and automatically switches between different airflow rate levels, optimizing both energy consumption and cooling performance under varying conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. An airflow rate setting of the indoor fan can be manually instructed. An indoor airflow rate limitation control useable to forcibly limit the airflow rate setting of the indoor fan to be nearer to a low airflow rate in accordance with an outside air temperature is carried out with the airflow rate setting of the indoor fan having been manually instructed.