Zoned Central Air Conditioning for Rapid Occupied-Room Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central air-conditioning systems face challenges in rapidly changing the temperature of a room occupied by a resident while maintaining overall house conditioning, leading to discomfort due to gradual temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
A controller switches the operating mode of the targeted room from energy-saving to rapid conditioning by closing valves in non-targeted rooms, allowing concentrated air supply to the occupied room, and resumes overall air supply after rapid conditioning is complete, simplifying control processes and allowing for versatile temperature adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the central air-conditioning system conditions all rooms simultaneously, then the overall house conditioning is maintained, but the temperature change speed in a specific occupied room is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the house into multiple independent control zones (rooms), each with its own duct and open/close valve. This allows the controller to selectively close valves for non-occupied rooms, concentrating conditioned air into the occupied room to achieve rapid temperature change, while maintaining the ability to restore overall house conditioning when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating mode for each room based on occupancy detection. When a room is occupied, the controller switches from energy-saving conditioning to rapid conditioning by closing valves in non-targeted rooms. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the system to adapt between maintaining overall house conditioning and achieving rapid temperature change in specific rooms.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the system switches to energy-saving mode for unoccupied rooms, then energy consumption is reduced, but the temperature adjustment responsiveness when a room becomes occupied is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses occupancy sensors to detect when a room becomes occupied and provides feedback to the controller. Upon detecting occupancy, the controller immediately switches the room's operating mode from energy-saving to rapid conditioning, ensuring responsive temperature adjustment. The system continuously monitors occupancy status and adjusts conditioning modes accordingly, balancing energy savings with responsiveness.
3Productivity
If the controller concentrates conditioned air to a single occupied room, then rapid temperature change is achieved, but the other rooms lose conditioning
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system is segmented into multiple independent pathways, each controlled by its own open/close valve. This segmentation allows the controller to close valves for non-occupied rooms, directing all conditioned air to the occupied room for rapid temperature change, while maintaining the capability to open all valves and restore full house conditioning when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically reconfigures air distribution based on real-time occupancy detection. When a room is occupied, the controller switches to concentrated conditioning mode by closing valves in non-targeted rooms. When no rooms are occupied or when overall conditioning is needed, the system restores full distribution. This dynamic switching enables the system to alternate between high efficiency and comprehensive coverage modes.
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
Enables rapid temperature changes in occupied rooms while maintaining overall house conditioning, reducing discomfort in unoccupied rooms and simplifying control routines for maintenance and design changes.
Implementation Method 1
the controller closes an open/close valve provided in an air-conditioner duct connecting the air-conditioning unit with a non-targeted room
Implementation Method 2
Cold air or warm air generated by heat exchange performed in the air-conditioning unit is supplied to each room via the air-conditioner ducts
Data Source
AI summary
A central air-conditioning system conditions a house having a plurality of rooms. When a person is not present in any of the rooms, each room is conditioned in energy-saving conditioning mode having a low load. On the other hand, when the person is detected in any of the rooms, a controller switches an operating mode for conditioning the room, in which the person is detected, from the energy-saving conditioning to rapid conditioning. Air-conditioner ducts respectively connected to the remaining rooms are closed. Therefore, cold air or warm air from an air-conditioning unit is supplied to the room in which the person is detected, while the cold air or warm air is not supplied to the rooms in which the person is not present. As a result, the room that has been switched from energy-saving conditioning to rapid conditioning is conditioned in a concentrated manner.