Occupancy-Based Air Conditioner Control for Comfort and Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner control methods struggle to maintain comfort while reducing power consumption, especially in large spaces where people are distributed in various directions, as fixed control times can lead to uneven temperature changes and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner control device that adjusts the energy-saving control time for each unit based on the calculated number of people in the space, using presence/absence sensors to determine the optimal control time to minimize temperature fluctuations and maintain comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If energy-saving control is executed for a fixed control time regardless of occupancy, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature variation increases and comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control time determination unit dynamically adjusts the control time based on the number of people detected in the air-conditioned room. When more people are present, the control time is shortened to maintain comfort; when fewer people are present, the control time is extended to maximize energy savings. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between energy saving and temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses presence/absence sensors to detect the number of people in the room and feeds this information back to the control time determination unit, which then adjusts the energy-saving control duration accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy-saving control adapts to actual occupancy conditions, preventing excessive temperature variation while maintaining power reduction benefits.
2Use of energy by moving object
If energy-saving control restricts maximum performance, then power consumption is reduced, but comfort of occupants may be decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the intensity and duration of energy-saving control based on real-time occupancy detection. When occupants are present, the control is softened to maintain comfort; when the room is empty or sparsely occupied, more aggressive energy-saving measures are applied. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between power reduction and occupant comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The control time determination unit changes the control time parameter based on the number of detected occupants. By adjusting this key parameter, the system optimizes the balance between energy-saving performance and comfort maintenance, ensuring that performance restriction does not excessively impact occupant comfort when people are present.
3Use of energy by moving object
If fixed control time is used for energy-saving control in large spaces with people in many directions, then power consumption is reduced, but uneven temperature changes occur and comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically shortens the control time when multiple occupants are detected in different directions within the space. This prevents the air conditioner from creating uneven temperature zones that would occur with fixed control time, while still maintaining overall energy savings. The dynamic adjustment ensures uniform temperature distribution is preserved despite the complexity of the occupancy pattern.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner control device controls a plurality of air conditioners installed at different positions in a predetermined living room space. A memory unit manages presence and absence data on people who are in a room air-conditioned by each of the air conditioners. Based on the managed presence and absence data, a number-of-people-in-the-room calculation unit calculates, on a per-air-conditioner basis, the number of people who are in the room air-conditioned by each of the air conditioners. A control time determination unit increases or decreases the control time during which an energy saving control of each of the air conditioners is executed, depending on the calculated number of people in the room. A control execution unit repeatedly executes the energy saving control of each of the air conditioners, according to the determined control time.