Indoor Temperature Control Using Mode Switching to Cut Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature control systems consume excessive power to quickly reach a target temperature, neglecting user requirements and increasing energy costs, as they do not efficiently manage operation power within a specified time frame.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control system comprising an indoor apparatus with multiple operation modes, a temperature sensor, and a control apparatus that calculates and executes an operation strategy to minimize total power consumption by switching between modes based on target time, target temperature, current temperature, and environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the temperature control system performs cooling operation with higher operation power, then the temperature of indoor space can be reduced faster to achieve target temperature, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation power of the cooling device based on real-time temperature monitoring and remaining time calculations. The control apparatus continuously modifies operation strategies to balance cooling speed and power consumption, transitioning between different operation modes rather than maintaining a fixed high-power state throughout the cooling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control system implements periodic operation cycles with alternating high-power and low-power phases. The control apparatus periodically evaluates the cooling progress and adjusts power levels accordingly, using high power only when necessary to meet the target temperature within the specified time, then reducing power to minimize energy consumption during maintenance phases.
2Loss of time
If the temperature control system uses higher operation power to reach target temperature early, then the target temperature is achieved within the predetermined time, but the cost of using power increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters dynamically by calculating remaining time and adjusting operation strategies in real-time. The control apparatus modifies power consumption parameters based on the relationship between time remaining and temperature differential, optimizing the balance between achieving target temperature within the predetermined time and minimizing power cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor provides continuous feedback to the control apparatus, which uses this information to adjust operation strategies. The system monitors current temperature, calculates remaining time, and modifies power consumption levels based on this feedback loop, ensuring optimal balance between time efficiency and energy cost.
3Reliability
If the temperature control system performs cooling operation with higher operation power, then the target temperature can be maintained continuously, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by using high operation power only when necessary to reach or maintain target temperature, rather than continuously. The control apparatus determines when high-power operation is needed based on temperature measurements and time calculations, using lower power for temperature maintenance once the target is reached, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature control method used for changing a current temperature of an indoor space to a target temperature in a target time comprises following steps: retrieving the target time, the target temperature and an operation data of an indoor apparatus; retrieving an environmental factor; retrieving the current temperature of the indoor space via a temperature sensor; calculating an operation strategy according to the target time, the target temperature, the operation data, the environmental factor and the current temperature; executing the operation strategy to control the indoor apparatus to switch between multiple operation modes. This application uses a better energy-saving way to adjust the temperature of the indoor space to achieve the target temperature in the target time.