Air conditioning controlling device and method

• US 8,958,920 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Azbil Corporation (Azbil BioVigilant Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Azbil Corporation (Azbil BioVigilant Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dazai, Ryouta
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/356,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/295, 700/296, 700/62, 137/2, 236/19.3, 454/229, 454/236, 454/256
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid

Abstract

An air conditioning controller includes a supply air temperature controller controlling a temperature of supply air provided to an air conditioner so a supply air temperature measurement value matches a supply air temperature setting value; a total air volume device measuring/calculating a total supply air volume value that is the total of the air volumes to each individual variable air volume unit; a supply air volume controller controlling an air volume of supply air to the air conditioner, depending on the total air volume value; an air volume insufficiency evaluator evaluating if the air volume is insufficient by comparing the total air volume value to a total air volume lower limit value; and a supply air temperature setter changing the supply air temperature setting value in a direction that the variable air volume unit increase the air volume, when there is an evaluation that the air volume is insufficient.

Claims

1. An air conditioning controlling device in an air conditioning system comprising a plurality of variable air volume units for controlling, depending on a load status of a controlled area, a plurality of air volumes of supply air provided to a plurality of controlled areas from an air conditioner, the air conditioning controlling device comprising:

a supply air temperature controller controlling a temperature of supply air provided by the air conditioner so that a supply air temperature measurement value will match a supply air temperature setting value;

an air volume insufficiency evaluator evaluating whether or not an air volume is insufficient relative to a required air volume based on either a total air volume value, which is a sum of the air volumes supplied to the respective variable air volume units, or a CO₂ concentration of a controlled area; and

a supply air temperature setting device changing the supply air temperature setting value in a direction wherein the variable air volume unit increases the air volume, when the air volume insufficiency evaluator has evaluated the air volume to be insufficient, wherein;

when the air conditioner is blowing cold air with a temperature lower than a room temperature of the controlled area, the direction in which the variable air volume unit increases the air volume is a direction in which the supply air temperature setting value increases; and

when the air conditioner is blowing hot air with a temperature higher than the room temperature of the controlled area, the direction in which the variable air volume unit increases the air volume is a direction in which the supply air temperature setting value decreases.

2. The air conditioning controlling device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a total air volume deriving device either measuring or calculating the total air volume value; and

a supply air volume controller controlling the air volume of supply air provided by the air conditioner in accordance with the total air volume value;

wherein;

the air volume insufficiency evaluator evaluates whether the air volume is insufficient by comparing the total air volume value to a total air volume lower limit value that has been set in advance.

3. The air conditioning controlling device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a CO₂ controller controlling an outside air introduction volume to the air conditioner so that the CO₂ concentrations in the plurality of the control areas match a CO₂ concentration setting value that has been set in advance;

wherein

the air volume insufficiency evaluator evaluates whether or not the air volume is insufficient by evaluating whether an outside air is insufficient.

4. The air conditioning controlling device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a CO₂ controller controlling an outside air introduction volume to the air conditioner so that the CO₂ concentrations in the plurality of the control areas match a CO₂ concentration setting value that has been set in advance;

wherein

the air volume insufficiency evaluator, along with evaluating whether or not the total air volume is insufficient by comparing the total air volume value with the total air volume lower limit value, also evaluates whether or not an outside air is insufficient, and evaluates the air volume as insufficient when either the total air volume is insufficient or the outside air is insufficient.

9. The air conditioning controlling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

when the air conditioner is blowing the cold air and the supply air temperature setting value is increased, each of the plurality of the variable air volume units increases the air volume to control a measured room temperature value of the controlled area to match a predetermined room temperature setting value; and

when the air conditioner is blowing the hot air and the supply air temperature setting value is decreased, each of the plurality of the variable air volume units increases the air volume to control the measured room temperature value of the controlled area to match the predetermined room temperature setting value.

5. An air conditioning controlling method in an air conditioning system comprising a plurality of variable air volume units for controlling, depending on a load status of a controlled area, a plurality of air volumes of supply air provided to a plurality of controlled areas from an air conditioner, the air conditioning controlling method comprising:

a supply air temperature controlling step controlling, by a supply air temperature controller, a temperature of supply air provided by the air conditioner so that a supply air temperature measurement value matches a supply air temperature setting value;

an air volume insufficiency evaluating step evaluating, an air volume insufficiency evaluator, whether an air volume is insufficient relative to a required air volume based on either a total air volume value, which is a sum of the air volumes supplied to the respective variable air volume units, or a CO₂ concentration of a controlled area; and

a supply air temperature setting step changing the supply air temperature setting value in a direction wherein the variable air volume unit increases the air volume, when the air volume is evaluated to be insufficient, wherein;

when the air-conditioner is blowing cold air with a temperature lower than a room temperature of the controlled area, the direction in which the variable air volume unit increases the air volume is a direction in which the supply air temperature setting value increases; and

when the air-conditioner is blowing hot air with a temperature higher than the room temperature of the controlled area, the direction in which the variable air volume unit increases the air volume is a direction in which the supply air temperature setting value decreases.

6. The air conditioning controlling method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a total air volume deriving step either measuring or calculating, by a total air volume deriving device, the total air volume value; and

a supply air volume controlling step controlling, by a supply air volume controller, the air volume of supply air provided by the air conditioner in accordance with the total air volume value;

wherein;

the air volume insufficiency evaluating step evaluates whether the air volume is insufficient by comparing the total air volume value to a total air volume lower limit value that has been set in advance.

7. The air conditioning controlling method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a CO₂ controlling step controlling, by a Co₂ controller, an outside air introduction volume to the air conditioner so that the CO₂ concentrations in the plurality of the control areas match a CO₂ concentration setting value that has been set in advance;

wherein

the air volume insufficiency evaluating step evaluates whether the air volume is insufficient by evaluating whether an outside air is insufficient.

8. The air conditioning controlling method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a CO₂ controlling step controlling, by a Co₂ controller, an outside air introduction volume to the air conditioner so that the CO₂ concentrations in the plurality of the control areas match a CO₂ concentration setting value that has been set in advance;

wherein,

in the air volume insufficiency evaluating step, along with evaluating whether the total air volume is insufficient by comparing the total air volume value with the total air volume lower limit value, the air volume insufficiency evaluator also evaluates whether or not the outside air is insufficient, and evaluates the air volume as insufficient when either the total air volume is insufficient or the outside air is insufficient.

10. The air conditioning controlling method as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

when the air conditioner is blowing the cold air and the supply air temperature setting value is increased, each of the plurality of the variable air volume units increases the air volume to control a measured room temperature value of the controlled area to match a predetermined room temperature setting value; and

when the air conditioner is blowing the hot air and the supply air temperature setting value is decreased, each of the plurality of the variable air volume units increases the air volume to control the measured room temperature value of the controlled area to match the predetermined room temperature setting value.