Multi-Zone Air Conditioning Control for Load-Based Capacity Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning unit systems with multiple indoor units face challenges in maintaining a target environment while minimizing energy consumption, as actual loads may not match the capacity of indoor and outdoor units, leading to discomfort and increased energy use.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning unit control device that sets environment target values, forms zones based on detected conditions, calculates heat loads, allocates operation capacity to minimize total power consumption, and adjusts control signals to each unit to achieve compatible target environments and energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of indoor units and outdoor units is increased to compensate for insufficient air conditioning capacity, then the air conditioning capacity is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large space into multiple zones based on thermal characteristics and air conditioning requirements. Each zone is independently controlled with dedicated indoor units, allowing precise temperature control without over-provisioning the entire space. This segmentation enables the system to achieve sufficient cooling capacity in each zone without increasing the total number of outdoor units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of indoor units based on real-time thermal load calculations and zone requirements. The control device determines optimal operation states for each indoor unit according to actual environmental conditions, enabling the system to adapt capacity dynamically rather than relying on fixed oversized equipment.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If control is based on predicted loads using empirical rules or programming methods, then energy saving is achieved, but the ability to reach target environment may be compromised when actual load does not match capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual environmental conditions in each zone and compares them with target values. Based on this feedback, the control device adjusts the operation of indoor units in real-time to ensure target environments are achieved. This closed-loop control compensates for discrepancies between predicted and actual loads, maintaining reliability while optimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device dynamically changes operational parameters of indoor units (such as capacity output and operation state) based on real-time thermal load calculations. This allows the system to adapt to actual load conditions rather than relying solely on predetermined programming, ensuring target environments are met while minimizing energy consumption.
3Reliability
If the environment target is set to ensure comfort for all individuals in a space, then the target environment achievement is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the space into multiple zones with different environmental requirements, the system can provide customized comfort levels in each zone rather than uniformly conditioning the entire space. This allows the system to meet diverse comfort needs while avoiding the energy waste of over-conditioning areas with lower requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different environmental control strategies to different zones based on their specific characteristics and occupancy patterns. Each zone receives the appropriate level of conditioning required for its particular comfort needs, rather than applying a uniform high-level conditioning across the entire space, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining local comfort satisfaction.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air-conditioning unit control device controls an air-conditioning unit system including one or more outdoor units (110) and a plurality of indoor units (120). The air-conditioning unit control device includes an environment target value setting unit (170) to set an environment target value for an environment intended to be achieved by air conditioning through each of the indoor units (120), a zone setting unit (190) to form one or more groups of the indoor units (120) and set a zone for each of the groups, a zone load calculating unit (200) to calculate a heat load on the set zone, an air conditioning capacity allocation calculating unit (210) to determine an allocation of operation capacity to each of the indoor units (120) and the outdoor units (110) based on power consumption of each of the indoor units(120) and the outdoor units (110), and a control instructing unit (240 to transmit a control signal based on each operation capacity.