Central control system of air conditioners and method for operating the same
First Claim
1. A central control system of air conditioners, comprising:
- a plurality of air conditioners, installed in rooms of a building, for providing air conditioning; and
a central control unit, connected to the plurality of air conditioners via a network, and configured for receiving a control command for monitoring and controlling each of the air conditioners, said central control unit adjusting an operating schedule of each of the air conditioners for limiting a total peak power consumption of the plurality of air conditioners in operation below a reference power value, said central control unit controlling an operation of each of the air conditioners based on the adjusted operating schedule,the central control unit comprising;
an air conditioner communication module for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the plurality of air conditioners via the network;
a database configured to store a maximum power consumption value for each of the air conditioners;
a peak operation processor configured to calculate a total peak power consumption based on the maximum power consumption value of each of the air conditioners stored in the database, and to determine an operating schedule and an operating mode of each of the air conditioners when the total peak power consumption of the air conditioners in operation exceeds the reference power value; and
an air conditioner controller configured to issue a control signal for allowing a corresponding air conditioner to operate in the determined operating mode according to the determined operating schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A central control system includes a plurality of air conditioners and a central control unit connected to the air conditioners over a network. The air conditioners are installed in rooms of a building to provide air conditioning in the rooms. The central control unit receives a control command for monitoring and controlling each of the air conditioners, and adjusts an operating schedule of each of the air conditioners to limit total peak power consumption of the air conditioners in operation below a reference power value. The central control unit controls the operation of each of the air conditioners based on the adjusted operating schedule. When the total peak power consumption exceeds the reference power value, the central control unit prevents the entire air conditioning system from shutting down, which improves stability of the air conditioning system and decreases electricity costs for air conditioning.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A central control system of air conditioners, comprising:
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a plurality of air conditioners, installed in rooms of a building, for providing air conditioning; and a central control unit, connected to the plurality of air conditioners via a network, and configured for receiving a control command for monitoring and controlling each of the air conditioners, said central control unit adjusting an operating schedule of each of the air conditioners for limiting a total peak power consumption of the plurality of air conditioners in operation below a reference power value, said central control unit controlling an operation of each of the air conditioners based on the adjusted operating schedule, the central control unit comprising; an air conditioner communication module for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the plurality of air conditioners via the network; a database configured to store a maximum power consumption value for each of the air conditioners; a peak operation processor configured to calculate a total peak power consumption based on the maximum power consumption value of each of the air conditioners stored in the database, and to determine an operating schedule and an operating mode of each of the air conditioners when the total peak power consumption of the air conditioners in operation exceeds the reference power value; and an air conditioner controller configured to issue a control signal for allowing a corresponding air conditioner to operate in the determined operating mode according to the determined operating schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for operating a central control system of air conditioners, said central control system including a central control unit connected to a plurality of air conditioners via a network, said central control unit being configured to monitor states of the air conditioners and to control operations of the air conditioners, said method comprising the steps of:
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comparing a total peak power consumption of a plurality of air conditioners currently in operation with a previously input reference power value; allowing, when the result of the comparison indicates that the total peak power consumption exceeds the reference power value, at least one air conditioner selected from the plurality of air conditioners currently in operation to maintain a normal operating mode, and allowing at least one unselected air conditioner in operation, other than the selected air conditioner, to switch to a blowing mode; updating an operating schedule of each of the air conditioners, when an operating time in the operating mode switched during the allowing exceeds a previously input mode change period; and controlling operations of the air conditioners according to the updated operating schedules. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A central control unit for a central control system of air conditioners that is connectable to a plurality of air conditioners installed in areas of a building via a network;
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adjusting an operating schedule of each of the air conditioners for limiting a total peak power consumption of the plurality of air conditioners in operation below a reference power value and; controlling an operation of each of the air conditioners based on the adjusted operating schedule, the central control unit comprising; an air conditioner communication module configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the plurality of air conditioners via the network; a database configured to store a maximum power consumption value of each of the air conditioners; a peak operation processor configured to calculate a total peak power consumption based on the maximum power consumption value of each of the air conditioners stored in the database, and determining an operating schedule and an operating mode of each of the air conditioners when the total peak power consumption of the air conditioners in operation exceeds the reference power value; and an air conditioner controller configured to issue a control signal for allowing a corresponding air conditioner to operate in the determined operating mode according to the determined operating schedule. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification