Multi-Unit Air Conditioning Load Balancing to Reduce Energy Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioning systems with multiple air conditioners in the same area, energy efficiency is compromised due to varying air conditioning loads caused by factors like solar light and outside air temperature, leading to high and low capacity air conditioners with increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A controller system adjusts the air conditioning capacities of multiple air conditioners based on load differences, inhibiting high capacity when necessary, and redistributing the load among other units to maintain energy efficiency and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If air conditioners operate independently based on local load requirements, then responsiveness to sudden load variations is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to high-capacity units operating at low load ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple air conditioners into a coordinated system where a controller manages the operation of individual units. By merging control functions, the system can optimize the operating state of each unit based on real-time load conditions, ensuring that units operate at efficient load ratios while maintaining rapid responsiveness to load changes through the coordinated control of multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating state of air conditioners based on real-time load conditions. The controller continuously monitors load variations and adjusts the operation of individual units accordingly, enabling the system to maintain optimal energy efficiency while responding rapidly to sudden load changes through dynamic reconfiguration of unit operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air conditioners operate independently to handle varying loads, then adaptability to different installation locations is improved, but overall energy efficiency deteriorates due to unbalanced load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements feedback mechanisms to monitor the operating state and load conditions of each air conditioner. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts the operation of individual units to optimize overall system energy efficiency while maintaining adaptability to different installation locations. The feedback loop enables continuous optimization of load distribution across units with varying environmental conditions.
3Power
If high-capacity air conditioners are deployed to handle peak loads, then ability to meet maximum air conditioning demand is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to operation at low load ratios
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of operating a single high-capacity air conditioner at low load ratio, the system employs multiple units operating at partial capacity. This approach allows the system to meet peak load demands through the combined output of multiple units while maintaining each unit at an efficient operating point, thereby improving overall energy efficiency without sacrificing maximum cooling capacity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In the present invention, provided are a plurality of air conditioners which are disposed in the same air-conditioning area. If the maximum air conditioning capacity from among the air conditioning capacities of the plurality of air conditioners is a set value or greater, such maximum air conditioning capacity is controlled.