Multi-air conditioner peak power control system and control method thereof

• US 20060207269A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeon, Duck Gu, Jung, Jae Sik, Youn, Sang Chul
• Application Number:
  US11/360,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20060207269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/130
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a multi-air conditioner peak power control system and a control method thereof. The peak power control system comprises a central control unit for controlling a multi-air conditioner system including a plurality of multi-air conditioners each having an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units in an integrated manner, and operating the multi-air conditioner system at a reference operation rate, and a demand control unit for sending/receiving data to/from the central control unit to control power consumption of the multi-air conditioner system such that the power consumption is less than total reference power consumption allocated to a building. The control method of the peak power control system adjusts the total power consumption in the building such that the total power consumption does not exceed the total reference power consumption in a more efficient and convenient way, thereby reducing excessive cost burden due to power over-consumption and significantly enhancing user convenience.

Claims

1. A peak power control system of a multi air-conditioner comprising:

a central controller performing integrated control of a multi air-conditioner having a plurality of indoor units and outdoor units and operating the multi air-conditioner depending on a set reference operation ratio; and

a demand controller controlling power consumption of the multi air-conditioner by transmitting and receiving data with the central controller so that power is spent within a total reference power amount allocated to a building.

2. The peak power control system of claim 1, further comprising a power amount sensor sensing a total power consumption amount spent within the building.

3. The peak power control system of claim 1, wherein the central controller and the demand controller transmits and receives data through a first network N1, and the multi air-conditioner and the central controller 210 transmit and receive data through a second network N2.

4. The peak power control system of claim 3, wherein the first network N1 is Ethernet and the second network N2 is RS-485.

5. The peak power control system of claim 1, wherein the demand controller comprises a power controller comparing a total used power within the building with a total reference power amount set depending on input from itself or the outside and transmitting a control instruction which adjusts an operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner depending on the compared result to the central controller.

6. The peak power control system of claim 5, wherein the demand controller comprises a memory storing data of the total reference power amount and the total used power amount.

7. The peak power control system of claim 5, wherein the power controller transmits a decrease instruction of a reference operation ratio to the central controller when the total used power amount is equal to or more than the total reference power amount and an increase instruction of a reference operation ratio or a sustain instruction of a current reference operation ratio to the central controller when the total used power amount is less than the total reference power amount.

8. The peak power control system of claim 5, wherein the power controller transmits a increase instruction of a reference operation ratio or a sustain instruction of a current reference operation ratio to the central controller when the total used power amount is less than the total reference power amount.

9. The peak power control system of claim 1, wherein the central controller comprises a controller updating a reference operation ratio data set depending on a change instruction of a reference operation ratio received from the demand controller 100 and adjusting an operation ratio of each multi air-conditioner depending on the updated reference operation ratio data.

10. The peak power control system of claim 9, wherein the central controller further comprises a database storing state information data and the reference operation ratio data of each multi air-conditioner.

11. The peak power control system of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a peak power control module adjusting an operation ratio of each multi air-conditioner depending on the reference operation ratio data, a scheduling control module operating each multi air-conditioner depending on the set time or number, and a breakdown management module judging whether each indoor unit or outdoor unit is out of order by reading the state information of each multi air-conditioner.

12. The peak power control system of claim 11, wherein the peak power control module calculates an average operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner system through state information data received from each multi air-conditioner and transmits a control instruction reducing an operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner to a corresponding multi air-conditioner when the calculated average operation ratio is equal to or more than the reference operation ratio.

13. A control method of a peak power control system of a multi air-conditioner the control method comprising:

calculating a total used power amount spent in a multi air-conditioner and other electrical appliances provided within a building; and

adjusting a reference operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner depending on the compared result of the calculated total used power amount and the set total reference power amount.

14. The control method of claim 13, wherein in the adjusting, a reference operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner decreases when the total used power amount is larger than the total reference power amount.

15. The control method of claim 13, wherein in the adjusting, a reference operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner increases or maintains when the total used power amount is smaller than the total reference power amount.

16. The control method of claim 13, further comprising displaying the adjusted reference operation ratio.

17. The control method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a control instruction which reduces an operation ratio of each indoor unit or outdoor unit provided in the multi air-conditioner to a corresponding indoor unit or outdoor unit when an average operation ratio is larger than the reference operation ratio by comparing the adjusted reference operation ratio with the average operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner.

18. The control method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining an operation ratio of each indoor unit or outdoor unit provided in the multi air-conditioner when the average operation ratio is smaller than the reference operation ratio by comparing the fluctuated reference operation ratio with the average operation ratio of the multi air-conditioner.

19. The control method of claim 17, wherein the average operation ratio is calculated based on operation ratio data received from the indoor unit or the outdoor unit.

20. The control method of claim 19, further comprising displaying the operation ratio data and the average operation ratio.