Multi-Zone Air Conditioner Control for Pressure-Balanced Energy Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems face challenges in preventing the outflow of temperature-regulated air from areas where people are present to areas where no one is present, leading to inefficiencies and inadequate energy saving due to pressure differences across borders.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that utilize human detection sensors to equalize airflow between areas with and without people, adjusting the operation of air conditioners to reduce pressure differences and prevent air outflow by making adjacent air conditioners perform equivalent air blowing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air conditioners in areas without people carry out air blowing operation to prevent temperature-regulated air outflow, then energy saving is improved, but pressure difference between areas causes air to flow out anyway
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives detection results from human detection sensors and temperature sensors, and dynamically adjusts the operation mode and parameters of air conditioners based on this feedback. When a person is detected in an area, the air conditioner in that area performs air conditioning operation, and adjacent air conditioners perform air blowing operation to create a pressure barrier. The system continuously monitors temperature and humidity in each area and adjusts operations accordingly to maintain effective air flow control and energy saving.
Solution Approach 2:
Adjacent air conditioners act as intermediaries between the occupied area and unoccupied areas. These air conditioners perform air blowing operation to blow air downward from side blow ports, creating a pressure barrier that prevents temperature-regulated air from flowing out of the occupied area. This intermediary action effectively blocks air outflow without requiring the air conditioner in the occupied area to operate at full capacity.
2Temperature
If air conditioners perform air conditioning operation to maintain comfortable temperature, then temperature regulation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operation modes to different air conditioners based on their location and the presence of people. Air conditioners in areas where people are present perform air conditioning operation (cooling or heating) to maintain comfortable temperature. Air conditioners in adjacent areas without people perform air blowing operation to create pressure barriers. This localized differentiation allows temperature regulation where needed while minimizing energy consumption in unoccupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having all air conditioners perform full air conditioning operation, the system uses partial action by having adjacent air conditioners perform only air blowing operation (without full cooling or heating) to create pressure barriers. This partial action is sufficient to prevent temperature-regulated air outflow while consuming less energy than full air conditioning operation would require.
3Loss of energy
If air conditioners are installed in each area to enable selective air conditioning, then energy saving is improved, but pressure difference causes air to flow across borders
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful pressure difference that causes air outflow into a beneficial pressure barrier. By having adjacent air conditioners perform air blowing operation, they create a controlled pressure difference that acts as a barrier to prevent temperature-regulated air from flowing out of occupied areas. The pressure difference, which would normally cause air outflow, is harnessed to create an effective air barrier that maintains energy saving.
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
Effectively prevents the outflow of temperature-regulated air, thereby achieving significant energy savings by maintaining comfortable temperatures in occupied areas while minimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a human detection sensor that detects a person
Implementation Method 2
each of the plurality of air conditioners detects a temperature of an area for which the air conditioner itself carries out air conditioning, by a temperature sensor
Implementation Method 3
an air conditioner that is in an adjacent position and that has not detected presence of any person carries out air blowing operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device (500) controls a plurality of air conditioners (2) that are placed in a space so as to adjoin. A designation unit (501) designates an air conditioner (2) being placed in an area in the space where presence of any person is detected, as a first air conditioner, and designates an air conditioner (2) being placed adjacent to the first air conditioner, as a second air conditioner, among the plurality of air conditioners (2). A control unit (503) causes the first air conditioner to carry out either of cooling operation and heating operation as air conditioning operation, and causes the second air conditioner to carry out air blowing operation with an air volume and a wind direction that are equivalent to an air volume and a wind direction of the air conditioning operation by the first air conditioner.