Method and device for saving energy in indoor cooling and heating

• US 20040020222A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kazuo Miwa
• Original Assignee: Kazuo Miwa
• Inventors: Miwa, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 6,843,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/186
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 12/00 Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air F24F3/147
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct

Abstract

Energy saving in indoor air conditioning is achieved by combining indoor air vertical convection producing means and indoor air conditioning means.

A fan for performing suction and exhaust of the air for vertically circulating the indoor air through suction and exhaust ports provided on upper and lower parts of a room is operated or stopped, according to a difference in temperatures detected on the upper and lower parts of the room, and the output of the fan at the time of operation is increased or decreased according thereto, so as to prevent a loss of energy such that warm air is accumulated on the upper part in the room, and cool air is accumulated on the lower part of the room.

Further, the operation or suspension of an air conditioner installed indoors, and the amount of energy consumed at the time of operating the air conditioner is controlled depending on a difference between a temperature detected in the room and a preset indoor temperature.

By combining the indoor air vertical convection producing means and the indoor air conditioning means, room temperature can be controlled efficiently with less energy consumption.

Claims

1. An energy saving method in indoor air conditioning, comprising:

a step of vertically circulating indoor air by sucking or exhausting air from the upper and lower parts of the room, depending on a temperature difference between the upper temperature and the lower temperature in the room; and

a step of operating or stopping an air conditioner equipped in the room, depending on a temperature difference between the indoor temperature and a predetermined set indoor temperature.

2. An energy saving method in indoor air conditioning according to claim 1, wherein the upper temperature in the room is detected at one or a plurality of points near the ceiling, and the lower temperature in the room is detected at one or a plurality of points near the floor.

3. An energy saving method in indoor air conditioning according to any one of claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the suction rate or exhaust rate of the air from the upper and lower parts of the room is increased or decreased, based on the size of a difference between a detected temperature difference between the upper and lower parts of the room and the set temperature difference, and the energy quantity used for the operation of the air conditioner is increased or decreased, based on the size of a difference between the detected indoor temperature and the set indoor temperature.

4. An energy saving method in indoor air conditioning according to claim 3, wherein suction or exhaust of the air from the upper and lower parts of the room is carried out at a plurality of points on the upper and lower parts of the room, and detection of temperatures on the upper and lower parts of the room is carried out at the plurality of suction or exhaust points of the air, and increase or decrease of the suction rate or exhaust rate of the air is carried out at the respective points where the suction or exhaust of the air is carried out.

5. An energy saving apparatus in indoor air conditioning, comprising:

indoor air vertical convection producing means comprising;

air suction and exhaust ports respectively provided on the upper and lower parts of the room;

a duct for connecting the suction and exhaust ports;

a fan placed in the intermediate of the duct, which can change over the air blasting direction;

first and second temperature sensors for detecting the temperature on the upper part and the temperature on the lower part of the room, respectively; and

a first control unit which receives the input from the first and second temperature sensors and controls the operation of the fan corresponding to a temperature difference between the upper part and the lower part of the room; and

indoor air conditioning means comprising;

an air conditioner equipped in the room;

a third temperature sensor for detecting the indoor temperature; and

a second control unit which receives the input from the third temperature sensor and controls the operation of the air conditioner corresponding to the indoor temperature.

6. The energy saving apparatus in indoor air conditioning according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of structures comprising:

air suction and exhaust ports respectively provided on the upper and lower parts of the room; and

a duct for connecting the suction and exhaust ports, having a fan that can change over the air blasting direction placed in the intermediate thereof, is installed at a plurality of places in the room, and the first and second temperature sensors for respectively detecting the temperature on the upper part and the temperature on the lower part of the room are provided for each structure, so that the operation of the fan is controlled by the first control unit for each fan in the plurality of structures.