Multi-Indoor Air Conditioning Control With Lower Communication Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning apparatuses with multiple indoor units experience increased communication traffic as the number of indoor units grows, requiring efficient solutions to manage data transmission effectively.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning apparatus incorporates a heat source unit and multiple indoor units connected via a heat medium converter, where remote controllers directly transmit operation instructions and temperature data to the heat source unit controller, reducing redundant data transmission and communication traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple indoor units are connected to the heat source unit in a conventional manner, then the air-conditioning apparatus can serve multiple indoor spaces, but the communication traffic increases as the number of indoor units increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat medium converter as an intermediary device between the heat source unit and multiple indoor units. This converter acts as a central coordination point that manages heat medium flow to different indoor units, enabling the system to serve multiple spaces while maintaining controlled communication traffic through the intermediary's centralized control mechanism
2Ease of operation
If remote controllers transmit operation instructions and temperature data to the indoor unit controller, then the indoor unit can be controlled, but redundant data transmission occurs when the indoor unit controller forwards the same data to the heat source unit controller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature detection function from the indoor unit controller and places it directly in the remote controller. This extraction eliminates the redundant transmission of temperature data through the indoor unit controller, as the remote controller now directly provides temperature information to the heat source unit controller, reducing overall communication traffic while maintaining full control functionality
3Measurement precision
If the indoor unit includes a sucked air temperature sensor, then the indoor unit can detect space temperature, but the system requires additional sensors and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the remote controller multi-functional by equipping it with both control functions and temperature detection capabilities. The remote controller serves dual purposes: it controls the indoor unit operation and simultaneously functions as a temperature sensor for the space, eliminating the need for separate temperature sensors in the indoor unit and reducing overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses the increase in communication traffic with multiple indoor units, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the need for additional sensors, thereby lowering system costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source unit provided outside the building, and configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and a heat source-side heat exchanger thereby generating cooling energy or heating energy
Implementation Method 2
exchange heat between air in a space to be air-conditioned supplied by an indoor air-sending device and a use-side heat exchanger and transmit the cooling energy or heating energy supplied from the heat source unit to the space to be air-conditioned
Data Source
AI summary
In an air-conditioning apparatus including a plurality of indoor units connected to a heat medium converter and a plurality of remote controllers respectively provided for the indoor units, the remote controllers each include a temperature sensor that detect a temperature of a corresponding space to be air-conditioned, and are each configured to communicate with a heat medium converter controller of the heat medium converter and an indoor unit controller of the corresponding indoor unit, transmit an instruction to start and stop an operation and data related to rotation speed of an indoor air-sending device to the corresponding indoor unit controller, and transmit the instruction to start and stop the operation, and a target temperature and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor or a difference therebetween, to the heat medium converter controller.