Outside Air Processor Control for HVAC Output Restriction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users often unknowingly continue to operate the outside air processor after stopping the indoor air conditioning units, leading to wasteful power consumption due to the processor's inconspicuous installation and lack of integrated control systems.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a control device that synchronizes the output restriction of the outside air processor with the indoor units, allowing for stop or suppression control to reduce power consumption by associating the outside air processor's operation with the indoor units' control states, including stop or suppression modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the outside air processor is installed in an inconspicuous place and operated independently, then the air conditioning system can provide continuous air processing functionality, but users do not know the presence of the outside air processor and stop only the indoor units while keeping the outside air processor operating, resulting in wasteful power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives operation state information from indoor units and automatically controls the outside air processor accordingly. When all indoor units are stopped, the control device stops the outside air processor; when any indoor unit is operating, the control device operates the outside air processor. This feedback mechanism eliminates wasteful power consumption while maintaining independent operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device integrates control functions for both indoor units and the outside air processor into a single system. By merging the control logic, the system ensures coordinated operation where the outside air processor automatically responds to the operational status of indoor units, preventing energy waste while preserving functional independence.
2Reliability
If the outside air processor is operated without integrated control, then the system maintains operational independence and reliability, but power consumption increases due to unnoticed continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the operation state of indoor units and automatically adjusts the outside air processor operation. This feedback loop maintains reliability by ensuring the outside air processor operates only when needed (when indoor units are running) while eliminating unnecessary power consumption during system shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the outside air processor without requiring user intervention. The control device self-adjusts the processor operation based on indoor unit status, maintaining system reliability while optimizing energy consumption by preventing unnoticed continuous operation.
3Loss of energy
If the outside air processor is controlled to stop when indoor units stop, then power consumption is reduced, but the system requires integrated control mechanisms that increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control device combines control functions for indoor units and the outside air processor into a single integrated system. This merging approach reduces device complexity by using one control unit instead of separate controls, while simultaneously reducing power consumption through coordinated operation management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device performs multiple functions: it controls both indoor units and the outside air processor, monitors operation states, and automatically adjusts processor operation based on system needs. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control systems, lowering overall complexity while achieving energy savings.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3(D)
AI summary
An air conditioning system (10) includes an outdoor unit (12) including a control device (12A), an indoor unit (13) communicably connected to the control device (12A), and an outside air processor (21) communicably connected to the control device (12A). The indoor unit (13) is capable of performing ordinary operation control to adjust a temperature of air in a room, the air being taken in the indoor unit (13), and supply the air into the room, and output restriction control under which an output is restricted as compared with an output under the ordinary operation control. The outside air processor (21) is capable of performing ordinary operation control to adjust at least one of a temperature and a humidity of air outside the room, the air being taken in the outside air processor (21), and supply the air into the room, and output restriction control under which an output is restricted as compared with an output under the ordinary operation control. The control device (12A) causes the outside air processor (21) to shift from the ordinary operation control to the output restriction control on condition that the indoor unit (13) shifts from the ordinary operation control to the output restriction control.