Refrigeration Cycle Control for Low-Power Stable Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerating cycle devices face challenges in minimizing power consumption while maintaining cooling or heating capacity, as they are sensitive to sensor accuracy and require extensive searching for optimal operation states, leading to instability and comfort issues.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerating cycle device with a compressor of variable operation capacity, outdoor and indoor blowers, and a throttle with variable opening degree, controlled by an air-temperature setter and power detecting means to minimize power consumption by adjusting compressor operation, blower air amounts, and throttle opening degree.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the predetermined range for deviation is expanded to minimize power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the deviation between indoor temperature and set temperature becomes large, causing comfort loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the control strategy adaptive rather than fixed. The controller dynamically switches between two control modes: when temperature deviation is within a first predetermined range, it minimizes power consumption; when deviation exceeds this range, it prioritizes reducing temperature deviation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for power consumption only when comfort requirements are already satisfied, otherwise prioritizing comfort.
2Reliability
If sensor accuracy deteriorates due to aging or failure, then the apparent deviation from target value becomes large, and the control to minimize power consumption is not performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by preparing a backup control strategy that does not depend on sensor accuracy. When sensor accuracy deteriorates and temperature deviation becomes large, the system switches to a control mode that prioritizes reducing temperature deviation rather than minimizing power consumption. This pre-prepared alternative control mode cushions against the failure of power consumption minimization when sensors are unreliable, ensuring the system continues to operate effectively.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the manipulation amount change is small to avoid hunting, then convergence is poor and it takes time to reach minimum power consumption state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a two-stage control approach. In the first stage, when temperature deviation is within the first predetermined range, the system performs slow optimization to minimize power consumption with small manipulation changes, ensuring stability. In the second stage, when deviation exceeds this range, the system performs fast optimization with larger manipulation changes to quickly reduce temperature deviation. This dynamic switching between optimization speeds resolves the contradiction between stability and convergence time.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention optimizes the settings of refrigeration components to achieve a power efficient state. First, the compressor is run at a level that achieves a desired temperature. Next, the invention searches for the most energy efficient settings (claimed as operation manipulation amounts) for the fans and indoor expansion valves. The search algorithm tries adjusting the settings of each component by a predetermined amount, adopting the setting that is the most energy efficient for the refrigeration cycle. The algorithm then increases or decreases the predetermined amount, as appropriate, and repeats the search. This allows the invention to quickly and accurately converge on the most energy efficient setting for each component.