System for controlling air conditioner and method for controlling air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner control systems are inefficient in managing multiple air conditioners simultaneously or sequentially without separate control devices, leading to high costs and operational challenges, especially in large-scale spaces or when load demands are high.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner controlling system that employs a hierarchical control structure, where main and sub-controlling air conditioners manage lower rank groups, allowing for centralized control without the need for separate control devices, using a communication network to determine control authority and adjust operations based on user input and predefined settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple air conditioners are controlled simultaneously or sequentially without separate control devices, then control cost is reduced, but control efficiency and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels with main controlling air conditioners and sub-controlling air conditioners. Each level manages specific groups of air conditioners, allowing distributed control that maintains efficiency while reducing overall system cost by eliminating the need for a single centralized control device for all units.
Solution Approach 2:
The control architecture transitions from a single-dimensional centralized control to a multi-dimensional hierarchical control structure. This adds temporal and organizational dimensions to control management, where different levels of control authority operate at different hierarchical levels, improving both efficiency and reliability while reducing costs.
2Device complexity
If multiple air conditioners are controlled without separate control devices, then device complexity is reduced, but control reliability deteriorates during high demand or individual unit issues
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the control system into segmented hierarchical levels with main and sub-controlling air conditioners, the system reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability through distributed control. Each segment operates semi-independently, so failures in one segment do not necessarily affect the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The hierarchical control structure provides built-in redundancy and failover capabilities. When individual units or lower-level controllers fail, the system has pre-established higher-level controlling units that can compensate and maintain control, cushioning against reliability issues without requiring separate backup control devices.
3Productivity
If a hierarchical control structure with main and sub-controlling air conditioners is implemented, then control efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical control structure is segmented into clear levels with defined responsibilities. Main controlling air conditioners manage overall coordination while sub-controlling air conditioners handle specific group operations, improving efficiency through specialized division of labor while keeping each segment's complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Air conditioners in the hierarchical structure serve multiple functions - they can operate as controlled units, sub-controlling units, and main controlling units depending on their role in the hierarchy. This multi-functionality improves control efficiency without requiring separate dedicated control devices for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner, an air conditioner controlling system, and an air conditioner controlling method. The air conditioner controlling system includes one or more controlled air conditioners, a main controlling air conditioner having control authority over, from among the one or more controlled air conditioners, one or more controlled air conditioners that belong to an upper rank group corresponding to the main controlling air conditioner, and a sub-controlling air conditioner having control authority over, from among the one or more controlled air conditioners, one or more controlled air conditioners that belong to a first lower rank group.