Multi-Zone Air Conditioner Control for Neighbor-Zone Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air conditioning systems struggle to efficiently control temperature across multiple zones and indoor units, leading to difficulties in predicting temperature changes and calculating operation efficiency, as they primarily focus on single zones and units, neglecting the impact of neighboring zones and units on energy consumption and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A server-based system that determines a target temperature range, predicts indoor and outdoor unit efficiencies, and controls operations across multiple zones, considering neighbor zones and units to optimize energy use and user comfort by setting air conditioning-control zones based on user location, mobility patterns, and default zone-use schedules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional single-zone control system is used, then the control simplicity is maintained, but the temperature prediction accuracy and operation efficiency calculation deteriorate due to ignoring neighbor zone impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the air conditioning control into multiple independent zones, each with its own indoor units and temperature control parameters. This allows the server to predict and control temperature for each zone separately while considering the cumulative impact of multiple indoor units across different zones, thereby improving temperature prediction accuracy without requiring a completely complex integrated control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that collects operation information from multiple indoor units across different zones, predicts temperature changes considering neighbor zone impacts, and sends control commands back to the indoor units. This intermediary approach enables sophisticated multi-zone temperature prediction and efficiency calculation without requiring direct complex interactions between all indoor units.
2Measurement precision
If multiple zones and indoor units are considered simultaneously, then the operation efficiency calculation accuracy improves, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the server continuously collects operation information from indoor units, predicts temperature changes and operation efficiency, and adjusts control commands based on this feedback. This allows accurate efficiency calculation across multiple zones while managing system complexity through iterative optimization rather than requiring complex upfront control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The server dynamically changes control parameters such as target temperature ranges and operation modes for different indoor units based on predicted efficiency metrics and temperature requirements. This parameter-based control approach enables accurate multi-zone efficiency calculation while maintaining relatively simple control logic through adaptive parameter adjustment rather than complex structural changes.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional air conditioning control is used without considering neighbor zones, then the power consumption is higher due to inefficient operation, but the system simplicity is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary temperature prediction and efficiency calculation before executing control commands. By predicting the cumulative temperature impact of multiple indoor units and neighbor zone effects in advance, the system can optimize power consumption through pre-calculated efficient operation schedules rather than reacting to temperature changes after they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operation of indoor units based on real-time predictions of temperature changes and efficiency metrics. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize power consumption by activating or deactivating specific indoor units based on their predicted efficiency and the current thermal state of multiple zones, rather than using static control rules.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a sensor network, machine type communication (MTC), machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and technology for internet of things (IoT). A method of a server is provided. The method includes determining a target temperature range to be applied to a first zone; predicting an indoor temperature for each of a plurality of zones included in a second zone in which the first zone is included; predicting efficiency of at least one first outdoor unit connected to first indoor units installed at the second zone; and controlling operations of the first indoor units based on the target temperature range, the indoor temperature for each of the plurality of zones, and the efficiency of at least one first outdoor unit.