Multi-Room Airflow Control for Independent Temperature Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-conditioning systems struggle to independently control and maintain different temperature settings in multiple rooms, leading to temperature variations and inadequate fine temperature control.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system with an air conditioner in an air-conditioning room, delivery fans for each room, a system controller, room temperature sensors, and an air-conditioning room temperature sensor, which allows for independent temperature control in each room by adjusting ventilation airflow based on set target temperatures and current room temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a central air conditioner is used to cool or heat air returned from rooms and deliver it to each room through ducts, then energy efficiency is improved, but independent temperature control for each room is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidindependent temperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the air delivery function into separate delivery fans for each room, allowing independent temperature control while maintaining the central air conditioning unit for energy-efficient cooling/heating of the main air supply

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operation of delivery fans based on individual room temperature requirements, enabling each room to be controlled independently while the central unit operates efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If air is distributed and supplied to multiple rooms from a single air-conditioning room, then system complexity is reduced, but fine temperature control in each room becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidtemperature control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the air delivery control by installing individual delivery fans in each room, allowing precise temperature control for each room while maintaining a simple centralized air-conditioning room

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature sensors in each room provide feedback to the controller, which then adjusts the delivery fan operations to achieve the target temperature for each specific room

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If a thermostat is installed in one room to control the air conditioner, then the system is simple to operate, but temperature adjustment in rooms without thermostats cannot be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidmulti-room temperature adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions by receiving temperature information from sensors in all rooms and controlling delivery fans to achieve target temperatures for each room, making the system adaptable to multi-room temperature adjustment requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11353233B2Air-conditioning system and air-conditioning system controller

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

This air-conditioning system includes an air conditioner: a room temperature sensor; an air-conditioning room temperature sensor; and a system controller. In the system controller, a room target temperature obtainer obtains a plurality of room target temperatures. Moreover, a ventilation airflow determiner determines the ventilation airflow of each of the delivery fans on the basis of the room target temperature, the temperature in the corresponding room, and the temperature in the air-conditioning room, and a fan airflow controller controls the ventilation airflow of each of the delivery fans according to the ventilation airflow determined by the ventilation airflow determiner.