Server and control method thereof for a multi-air conditioning system including grouping of indoor units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing power consumption of multiple air conditioning devices in large buildings is inefficient due to the need for manual control, leading to excessive energy usage and increased burden on building managers.
Innovation Solution
A server system that receives driving information from air conditioning devices, identifies the opening and closing cycles of valves, groups units based on power consumption, and prioritizes control signals to optimize energy use by adjusting temperature settings and valve operations across groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plurality of air conditioning devices are operated to provide comfortable environment in large buildings, then user comfort is improved, but power consumption is excessively increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the plurality of air conditioning devices into multiple groups based on their operational characteristics, specifically the opening and closing cycles of their valves. This segmentation allows the server to manage and control devices in groups rather than individually, enabling more efficient power consumption management while maintaining user comfort across different zones of the building.
Solution Approach 2:
The server changes operational parameters of air conditioning devices by adjusting temperature settings and controlling valve operations based on grouped characteristics. By modifying these parameters dynamically according to group performance and power consumption levels, the system optimizes energy usage while maintaining comfortable environments for users.
2Ease of operation
If building manager controls air conditioning devices one by one according to subjective judgment, then individual device control is possible, but management burden is increased and power consumption efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of multiple air conditioning devices into group-based management. Instead of controlling each device individually, the server manages groups of devices with similar operational characteristics collectively. This reduces the management burden on building managers while maintaining the capability to control individual devices when necessary, as the grouping is based on valve cycle patterns that reflect similar operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service control by automatically analyzing the opening and closing cycles of valve operations from driving information, autonomously grouping devices, and implementing control strategies without requiring manual intervention from building managers. The server independently determines optimal temperature settings and control actions based on observed operational patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If air conditioning devices are controlled based on subjective judgment without systematic grouping, then manual control flexibility is maintained, but power consumption management efficiency is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring driving information including valve opening and closing times, analyzing operational patterns, and using this feedback to dynamically adjust control strategies. The server learns from observed valve cycle patterns and adapts grouping and control decisions to optimize power consumption management while maintaining control flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs preliminary analysis of valve opening and closing cycles to pre-establish groups of air conditioning devices with similar operational characteristics. This preliminary grouping enables more efficient subsequent control decisions and power consumption management, as the system has already identified patterns and relationships among devices before implementing control actions.
Data Source
AI summary
A server is provided. The server includes a communicator and a processor configured to receive driving information of a plurality air conditioning devices through the communicator, identify an opening and closing cycle of a valve included in a pipe connected to each indoor unit of the plurality of air conditioning devices to control flow of a refrigerant, based on the driving information, group each indoor unit of the plurality of air conditioning devices into a plurality of groups based on the opening and closing cycle of the valve, based on a power consumed by the plurality of the air conditioning devices reaching a reference power amount, identify at least one group among the plurality of groups based on information about a control priority, and transmit a signal for driving control to at least one indoor unit included in the at least one group through the communicator.