Portable air conditioner and control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable conditioners face inefficiencies in energy consumption due to pressure imbalances between internal and external spaces, leading to increased energy expenditure without enhanced cooling or heating efficiency, as they struggle to dynamically adapt to varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A portable conditioner with a control and command unit that regulates air exchange through connection pipes using sensors to manage enthalpy differences, adjusting airflow based on set-point temperatures and humidity levels, optimizing energy consumption by promoting or hindering natural air reintegration between spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the conditioner operates with fixed energy supply, then the internal space can be maintained at a stable temperature, but energy expenditure increases when external environmental conditions vary significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic energy regulation by continuously monitoring external temperature, humidity, and solar radiation levels, then adjusting the energy supplied to the conditioner components (compressor, fans, heat exchangers) in real-time. This replaces fixed energy supply with adaptive control that matches actual cooling/heating demands, reducing waste while maintaining internal space temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously measure external environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, solar radiation) and internal space conditions, feeding this data back to the control unit. The control unit processes this feedback and dynamically adjusts energy distribution to optimize performance and minimize energy expenditure while maintaining the desired internal temperature.
2Productivity
If the conditioner increases energy supply to handle higher thermal load, then cooling or heating capacity improves, but energy expenditure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes operational parameters (compressor speed, fan rotation rates, heat exchanger airflow) based on real-time environmental conditions. When external temperature or humidity increases thermal load, the system adjusts these parameters to provide additional cooling or heating capacity only when and where needed, rather than operating at fixed high capacity, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing energy expenditure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the conditioner operates continuously to maintain internal space conditions, then temperature stability is maintained, but energy consumption remains high during nighttime or favorable external conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by operating components at reduced capacity or intermittently when external conditions are favorable (e.g., nighttime cooling, low solar radiation). Instead of continuous full operation, the conditioner monitors environmental conditions and activates or scales back components based on actual need, maintaining internal space stability while reducing energy consumption during periods when full capacity is unnecessary.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the conditioner uses simple temperature-based control, then the system complexity is low, but it cannot effectively adapt to varying humidity and solar radiation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed as a multi-functional system that simultaneously processes multiple environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, solar radiation) and controls multiple conditioner components (compressor, evaporator fan, condenser fan, expansion valve). This universal controller integrates sensing, processing, and actuation functions, enabling effective adaptation to varying environmental conditions while consolidating control logic into a single coordinated system rather than multiple separate controls.
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
This solution dynamically optimizes energy consumption and performance by adjusting airflow in response to environmental conditions, reducing energy expenditure and enhancing the real cooling or heating capacity of the conditioner.
Implementation Method 1
an internal exchanger and an external exchanger functionally connected to each other to cool or heat an internal space
Implementation Method 2
This pressure imbalance induces a natural re-integration of air from the external to the internal space through doors, windows, or other apertures or interspaces that can possibly be present
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Portable conditioner (10) to cool or heat an internal space (1 1) separate from an external space (12), it comprises a control and command unit (21) configured to determine at least the enthalpy difference (ΔΗ) between the internal space (11) and the external space (12), and to regulate the quantity of air exchanged with the external space (12) in relation to the enthalpy difference (ΔΗ) determined with respect to an expected value of enthalpy difference (AHset) corresponding to a conditioning temperature (Tc) and to a defined conditioning relative humidity (RHc%). The present invention also concerns a method to regulate the portable conditioner (10).