JP2003302091A - Control method of air conditioning system and air conditioning control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning control system and a control method of the air conditioning system wherein can reduce time of registration/deletion of an air conditioner to/from a group and can registration/deletion errors are reduced. <P>SOLUTION: This control method of the air conditioning system is a control method of the air conditioning system for controlling, in the air conditioning control system for controlling an air conditioning system with a plurality of refrigerant systems including a plurality of air conditioners and at least a single outdoor machine, the air conditioners at least belonging to the same refrigerant system in a same group, and includes a first step (Step 20), a second step (Step S52, S54), and a third step (Step S60, S62, S66). The first step is a step to detect a refrigerant system to which each of the air conditioners belongs. The second step is a step to select one of the plurality of air conditioners. The third step is a step to register in the same group/delete in lump sum all the air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system with the selected air conditioner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioning management system for managing an air conditioning system having a plurality of refrigerant systems including a plurality of air conditioners and at least one outdoor unit. The present invention relates to a management method for an air conditioning system that manages the air conditioners that belong to the same power group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multi-type air conditioning system having a refrigerant system including a plurality of air conditioners and one outdoor unit, a power apportionment is made for estimating the power used for each air conditioner and apportioning the power of the entire refrigerant system. Those having a function are known. For example,
The usage load of each air conditioner is estimated by the difference between the intake temperature and the set temperature, and the power usage of the outdoor unit connected to one power meter (an example of power measurement means) is apportioned by the estimated usage load. Power consumption of a plurality of air conditioners belonging to the refrigerant system. With such a power apportioning function, even if air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system are provided in different borrower's rooms in the building, the electricity bill can be evenly charged.

When performing such a trial run of the power apportioning function, it is necessary to register a plurality of air conditioners connected to the same power meter to one power group to be apportioned. For this reason, conventionally, the process of registering the air conditioner in the power group is performed via the input screen during the trial run for checking the power distribution function. At the time of this registration processing, air conditioners connected to the same power meter are registered one by one in the power group to which the air conditioners belong while seeing, for example, an air conditioning system diagram.

[0004]

In the conventional registration processing method, since the air conditioners are registered in the electric power group one by one while looking at the input screen, the registration processing requires a long time. In addition, mistakes such as mistakenly registering an air conditioner in another power group during registration are likely to occur. The same problem is likely to occur in the process of deleting the air conditioner from the group due to a registration error or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning management system and an air conditioning system management method that can shorten the time required for processing air conditioners in groups and reduce processing errors.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning management system for managing an air conditioning system having a plurality of refrigerant systems including a plurality of air conditioners and at least one outdoor unit. A method for managing an air-conditioning system that manages at least air-conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system in the same group, including a first step, a second step, and a third step. The first step is a step of detecting the refrigerant system to which each air conditioner belongs. Second
The step is a step of selecting one of the plurality of air conditioners. The third step is a step in which all the air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system as the selected air conditioner are collectively managed as the same group.

In this system, when one air conditioner belonging to the same detected refrigerant system is selected and the air conditioner is managed by a group, all air conditioners belonging to the refrigerant system are collectively registered as the same group, for example. Management processing such as deletion and deletion is performed. Here, by selecting one air conditioner, all air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system are collectively managed as the same group,
Since it is not necessary to perform the management process for each air conditioner, the time required for the management process can be shortened. In addition, since the air conditioners belonging to the same group are collectively processed during the management processing, processing errors can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning system management method according to the first aspect, wherein the management process performed in the third step collectively includes all the air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system as the selected air conditioner. Then, it includes a registration process of registering in the same group and / or a deletion process of deleting from the same group. In this case, in the registration / deletion process, the processing time can be shortened and the number of processing errors can be reduced.

A method for managing an air conditioning system according to a third aspect is the method according to the first or second aspect, wherein in the first step, each air conditioner is identified by refrigerant system identification information included in a signal constantly transmitted by each air conditioner. The refrigerant system of the machine is detected.
In this case, since the refrigerant system of the air conditioner can be detected by the refrigerant system identification information from each air conditioner, it is easy to detect the air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system.

The air conditioning system management method according to a fourth aspect is the method according to the first or second aspect, wherein in the first step, when transmission between each air conditioner included in the refrigerant system and the outdoor unit is established. The refrigerant system of each air conditioner is detected by the obtained refrigerant system identification information of each air conditioner. In this case, since the refrigerant system identification information obtained when the transmission between each air conditioner and the outdoor unit is established detects the refrigerant system of each air conditioner, it is not necessary for each air conditioner to have the refrigerant system identification information. The configuration of each air conditioner becomes simple.

A method for managing an air conditioning system according to claim 5 is the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In the third step, one or a plurality of refrigerant systems connected to one power measuring means are registered in the same group. In this case, even if a plurality of refrigerant systems are connected to one electric power measuring means, the air conditioners of the respective refrigerant systems can be registered in the same group, and the processing becomes easy when performing the power apportioning processing, for example.

A method for managing an air conditioning system according to a sixth aspect is the method according to the fifth aspect, further comprising a fourth step of apportioning the electric power measured by the electric power measuring means according to the electric power load of each air conditioner. Prepare In this case, since the electric power is proportionally distributed according to the electric power load of each air conditioner grouped, it is possible to rationally calculate the electric power consumption for each air conditioner.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioning system management method according to the sixth aspect, in the fourth step, the electric power load is estimated according to the difference between the intake temperature of each air conditioner and the set temperature. In this case, since the power load is estimated according to the difference between the intake temperature of each air conditioner and the set temperature, the power load can be reasonably estimated according to the actual usage state.

An air conditioning management system according to an eighth aspect comprises a computer program for registering an air conditioner in a group by the method for managing an air conditioning system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects. In this case, the computer program can shorten the registration process of the air conditioner and reduce registration errors.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <System Configuration> FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This air conditioning management system is an air conditioning system 3 installed in a building or the like.
Is a system that monitors and controls the air conditioning system 3, and executes state monitoring, start / stop control, operation settings, etc. of the air conditioning system 3 in response to a request from a user of the system or an operation schedule. The air conditioning management system includes an information terminal 1 for trial operation, a station 2 connected to the information terminal 1 by, for example, a LAN and a station 2 connected to the air conditioning system 3, for example, by a two-core cable, and monitoring for monitoring the air conditioning system 3. It is composed of the terminal 4.

The information terminal 1 is connected to the station 2 during the trial run.
The terminal has a power distribution test operation program 11 for setting the power distribution processing of the air conditioning system 3 by the group registration routine 12 according to the present invention. The information terminal 1 requests the station 2 for trial operation control of the air conditioning system 3 by the electric power apportioning trial operation program 11 and sets the monitoring control program 21 included in the station 2. Also, the information terminal 1
Displays the monitoring / control results of the air conditioning system 3 obtained from the station 2 and the setting state of the monitoring control program 21 of the station 2. The monitoring terminal 4 requests the operation control of the air conditioning system 3 to the station 2 and sets the monitoring control program 21 included in the station 2. Here, the information terminal 1 and the monitoring terminal 4 are, for example, personal computers, portable computers, panel computers, etc., and computers having a display and input keys.

The station 2 has a supervisory control program 21 for supervising and controlling the air conditioning system 3, and has information on the refrigerant system identification information of each air conditioning system 3, monitoring of the operating state, start / stop control, operation setting, etc. It is automatically executed according to a request from the terminal 1 or according to an operation schedule or the like. Further, the result of the monitoring / control is notified to the information terminal 1 and the monitoring terminal 4.

The air conditioning system 3 includes one outdoor unit 30 and
A plurality of refrigerant systems 20 having a plurality of indoor air conditioners 31 are provided, and an integrated wattmeter 32 for measuring the power supplied from the commercial power source 33 is connected to each outdoor unit 30. . The integrated power meter 32 detects the power used by each outdoor unit 30. The integrated power meter 32 is connected to the station 2 via a pulse converter (not shown), and the detection result of the integrated power meter 32, that is, the integrated power of the outdoor unit 30 is sent to the station 2.

The air conditioner 31 has a remote controller 40 for setting the temperature and a temperature sensor 41 for detecting the suction temperature. The air conditioner 31 constantly transmits a signal including control information such as temperature setting information and suction temperature information and refrigerant system identification information to the station 2. Based on this refrigerant system identification information, the information terminal 1
Recognizes the refrigerant system 20 of each air conditioner 31 via the station 2.

<Operation of the trial run program> During the trial run,
The air conditioner 3 of the air conditioning system 3 connected to this air conditioning management system from the information terminal 1 by the power apportioning trial operation program
It is possible to perform the confirmation work of the electric power apportioning process of 1. 2 and 3 are control flowcharts thereof, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are screens displayed on the information terminal 1 during the power apportioning test operation of the air conditioner. The operation of the test operation program of the air conditioner 31 will be described with reference to these drawings.

The test run program is a program that can be operated by a graphic user interface (GUI). When the test run program starts operating, the main screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the information terminal 1. Note that FIG. 4 shows a state in which the initialization process is selected on the main screen. The main screen of FIG. 4 is a screen that is displayed when the power apportioning trial run program is executed, and the initialization button 51, the time setting button 52, and the device setting button 5 are displayed at the top of the screen.
3, a power group button 54, an operation confirmation button 55, a monitor button 56, and an end button 57 are displayed. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the initialization button 51 is selected as described above. The initialization button 51 is a button for initializing the refrigerant system 20, and by this operation, detection processing of which refrigerant system each air conditioner 31 belongs to is performed. The time setting button 52 is a button for setting the time at the time of test operation. The device setting button 53 is a button for setting parameters of each air conditioner 31 for power distribution. The power group button 54 is for each air conditioner 31.
Is for group editing which refrigerant system 20 belongs to. The operation confirmation button 55 is for confirming the power apportioning operation being executed in the station 2. The monitor button 56 is for monitoring the current operating state of the air conditioner 31. The end button 57 is a button for ending the power apportioning trial operation program. You can operate each button by moving the cursor on the screen with the mouse or cursor keys to select these buttons and then left-clicking or pressing the enter key in the selected state.

Then, in steps S10 to S16 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether any of the buttons arranged on the upper portion of the main screen has been operated. Step S10 is
It is determined whether the initialization button 51 has been operated. In step S12, it is determined whether the power group button 54 has been operated. In step S14, it is determined whether or not another operation such as operation of another button such as the time setting button 52, the operation confirmation button 55, the device setting button 53, the monitor button 56, or the like is selected. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the end button 57 has been operated. When another operation is performed, the process proceeds from step S14 to step S48, and another process such as an operation based on the selected button is executed. When the end button 57 is operated, the process ends.

When the initialization button 51 is operated, the process proceeds from step S10 to step S20. Step S2
At 0, which refrigerant system 20 each air conditioner 31 belongs to is detected. This detection processing is determined by the refrigerant system identification signal included in the signal constantly transmitted from each air conditioner 31. In step S22, the initialization screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. In this initialization screen, the detection display field 5 on the right side of the screen
The air conditioner number for identifying each detected air conditioner 31 and the system number which is the refrigerant system identification information are displayed in FIG. Here, since the refrigerant system 20 of each air conditioner 31 can be detected by the refrigerant system identification information from each air conditioner 31, it is easy to detect the air conditioners 31 belonging to the same refrigerant system 20.

When the power group button 54 is operated,
The process moves from step S12 to step S24. In step S24, a power group list screen is displayed. In this power group list display screen, as shown in FIG. 5, a calculation start button 71 and a calculation end button 72 are arranged vertically side by side on the left side of the screen, and a new button 73, a delete button 74, and a name change button on the right side of the screen. 75 and a group edit button 76 are arranged side by side vertically. Further, a power group display field 77 is arranged in the center of the screen. Here, the calculation start button 71 is for starting the power apportioning calculation, and the calculation end button 72 is for ending the power apportioning process. New button 73
Is for registering a new power group,
The delete button 74 is for deleting the displayed power group, and the name change button 75 is for changing the name of the displayed power group. The group edit button is for registering or deleting a group of each air conditioner 31 in the power group.

When the power group list screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, it is determined in step S26 whether the calculation start button 71 has been operated. In step S28, it is determined whether the calculation end button 72 has been operated. In step S30, it is determined whether the group edit button 73 has been operated. In step S32, the new button 7
It is determined whether or not another button such as 3 or the delete button 74 has been operated. In step S34, it is determined whether or not the end button 57 has been operated. If any other button is operated, the process proceeds to step S48 to perform a process corresponding to the other button. If the end button 57 is operated, the process proceeds to step S14, and if not operated to step S26. Return.

When the calculation start button 71 is operated, the process proceeds from step S26 to step S42 to start the power proportional division calculation. In this power apportioning calculation process, the set temperature set by the remote controller 40 and the temperature sensor 41 are set.
The power load of each air conditioner 31 in each refrigerant system 20 was estimated using the temperature difference from the suction temperature measured in step S3 and the set parameters, and the power integrated by the integrated power meter 32 was estimated. Proportional processing is performed based on the power load.

Here, since the integrated electric power of the outdoor unit 30 is proportionally divided according to the electric power load of each air conditioner 31 grouped for each refrigerant system 20, the electric power consumption of each air conditioner 31 is rationalized. Can be calculated as Further, since the electric power load is estimated according to the difference between the intake temperature of each air conditioner 31 and the set temperature, the electric power load can be reasonably estimated in accordance with the actual usage state.

When the calculation end button 72 is operated, the process proceeds from step S28 to step S44, and the electric power proportioning calculation is ended. When the group edit button 76 is operated,
The process moves from step S30 to step S46. In step S46, the group editing process shown in FIG. 3 is executed. The group editing process in step S46 corresponds to the group registration routine 12 of the power apportioning trial run program 11. In the group editing process, step S50 in FIG.
The group edit screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. In this group edit screen, a registration display field 65 that displays the air conditioners 31 registered in the group (refrigerant system) and an unregistered display field 6 that displays the air conditioners 31 that have not been registered are displayed on the right side of the screen.
6 and 6 are arranged side by side. Both display columns 6
Between 5 and 66, the registration move button 61 for collectively moving the air conditioner 31 displayed in the unregistered display field 66 to the registered display field 65 for each refrigerant system 20 and the registered display field 65 are displayed. A delete movement button for collectively moving the air conditioners 31 for each refrigerant system 20 to the unregistered display field 66 is arranged vertically. A registration button 63 for confirming registration and deletion and a cancel button 63 for canceling the contents of registration or deletion are displayed at the bottom of the screen.

In step S52, the air conditioner 31 displayed in the unregistered display field 66 is selected by operating the cursor, and it is determined whether or not the unregistered air conditioner 31 has been selected. In step S54, the air conditioner 31 displayed in the registration display field 65 is selected by operating the cursor, and it is determined whether or not the registered air conditioner 31 has been selected. In step S56, a registration button 63 or a cancel button 64
It is determined whether or not is operated.

If an unregistered air conditioner 31 is selected, the process proceeds from step S52 to step S58. In step S58, it is determined whether the registration move button 61 has been operated. When the registration move button 61 is operated,
Control goes to step S60. In step S30, FIG.
As shown in, the air conditioners 31 belonging to the same refrigerant system 20 as the selected air conditioner 31 among the unregistered air conditioners 31 displayed in the unregistered display field 66 are collectively moved to the registered display field 65. In the example shown in FIG. 5, 1-1-00 to 1-1-07,1 belonging to the refrigerant system 20 with system number 1-08
Sixteen air conditioners 31 of −2-00 to 1-2-07 move to the registration display field 65. If the registration move button 61 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S54.

Here, the air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system are detected (step S20 in FIG. 2), and one air conditioner 31 is detected.
All the air conditioners 31 belonging to the same refrigerant system 20 are registered in the same group only by selecting (step S52 in FIG. 3) (step S60), so that it is necessary to perform the registration process for each air conditioner 31 one by one. It is possible to reduce the time required for the registration process. Further, since the air conditioners 31 belonging to the same group are collectively registered at the time of registration, registration errors can be reduced.

When the registered air conditioner 31 is selected, the process proceeds from step S54 to step S62. In step S62, it is determined whether the delete move button 62 has been operated. When the delete move button 62 is operated,
Control goes to step S64. In step S64, the air conditioners 31 belonging to the same refrigerant system 20 as the selected air conditioner 31 among the registered air conditioners 31 displayed in the registration display field 66 are collectively moved to the unregistered display field 66. If the delete move button 62 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S56.

Here, together with the registration processing, the refrigerant system 20
The process of deleting the air conditioner 31 from the group
Since it can be collectively performed for each 0, the processing time can be shortened and deletion mistakes can be reduced even in the deletion processing. When the registration button 63 is operated, step S56
To step S66, the air conditioner 31 displayed in the registration display field 65 or the air conditioner 31 displayed in the unregistered display field 66 is collectively registered or deleted in the group of the same refrigerant system 20 to perform the group editing process. finish. When the cancel button 64 is operated, the group editing process ends without registering or deleting anything.

<Other Embodiments> (A) In the above embodiment, the refrigerant system of each air conditioner 31 is detected by the refrigerant system identification information included in the signal from each air conditioner 31. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the refrigerant system identification information obtained when the transmission between each air conditioner 31 and the outdoor unit 30 is established is temporarily stored in the station 2, and the stored refrigerant system identification information is stored. The refrigerant system to which each air conditioner 31 belongs may be detected by referring to. In this case, each air conditioner 31 does not need to have the refrigerant system identification information, and the configuration of each air conditioner 31 is simplified.

(B) In the above embodiment, the integrating power meter (power measuring means) 32 is connected to each refrigerant system 20,
One integrated power meter 32 may be connected to a plurality of refrigerant systems. In this case, it is possible to transmit the power system identification information from the outdoor unit 30 by, for example, giving the outdoor unit 30 the power system identification information. Then, by referring to the electric power system identification information and the refrigerant system identification information, the air conditioners included in the same electric power system are collectively registered / referenced by them.
It may be configured to be deleted. These processing steps are
Specifically, the air conditioners included in the plurality of refrigerant systems connected to the same integrated power meter at the time of detection in step S20 are detected with reference to the power system identification information and the refrigerant system identification information, and detected. When selecting and moving one of the air conditioners, it is only necessary to collectively move and register the air conditioners of the same power system. In this case, multiple refrigerant systems
Even if connected to one integrated wattmeter, the air conditioners of the refrigerant system connected to the same integrated wattmeter can be registered in the same group, and the processing becomes easy when performing the power apportioning processing.

[0036]

According to the air-conditioning system management method of the first aspect, since all the air-conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system are collectively managed as the same group only by selecting one air-conditioner, the air-conditioning system is controlled. Since it is not necessary to perform the management process for each machine, the time required for the management process can be shortened. In addition, since the air conditioners belonging to the same group are collectively processed during the management processing, processing errors can be reduced.

In the air-conditioning system management method according to the second aspect, the processing time and the processing error can be reduced in the registration / deletion processing. In the management method of the air conditioning system according to the third aspect, the refrigerant system can be detected by the refrigerant system identification information from each air conditioner, so that it is easy to detect the air conditioners belonging to the same refrigerant system.

In the air conditioning system management method according to the fourth aspect, the refrigerant system of each air conditioner is detected by the refrigerant system identification information obtained when the transmission between each air conditioner and the outdoor unit is established. Need not have refrigerant system identification information, and the configuration of each air conditioner is simplified. In the method for managing an air conditioning system according to claim 5, even if a plurality of refrigerant systems are connected to one electric power measuring means, the air conditioners of the respective refrigerant systems can be registered in the same group. It becomes easier to process.

In the air-conditioning system management method according to the sixth aspect, since the electric power is proportionally distributed according to the electric power load of each of the grouped air-conditioners, the electric power consumption of each air-conditioner can be rationally calculated. . In the method for managing an air conditioning system according to claim 7, since the electric power load is set according to the difference between the intake temperature of each air conditioner and the set temperature, the electric power load is set rationally according to the actual usage state. it can.

In the air conditioning management system according to the eighth aspect, it is possible to shorten the registration process of the air conditioner and reduce the registration error by the computer program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a power apportioning trial run program.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a group editing program.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main screen of a power apportioning trial operation program.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a power group list screen of a power apportioning trial operation program.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an edit screen of a power group before group registration.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an edit screen of a power group after group registration.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Information terminal 2 stations 3 air conditioning system 11 Power distribution test run program 12 Group registration routine

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioning management system for managing an air conditioning system (3) having a plurality of refrigerant systems (20) including a plurality of air conditioners (31) and at least one outdoor unit (30), at least the same refrigerant. A method of managing an air conditioning system for managing air conditioners (31) belonging to a system (20) in the same group, comprising: a first step of detecting a refrigerant system (20) to which each air conditioner (31) belongs; The second step of selecting one of the air conditioners (31), and the same refrigerant system (20) as the selected air conditioner (31)
A method for managing an air conditioning system, which includes a third step of collectively managing all the air conditioners (31) belonging to the same group as the same group. 2. The management process performed in the third step is a registration for collectively registering all the air conditioners (31) belonging to the same refrigerant system (20) as the selected air conditioner (31) into the same group. The method for managing an air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a process and / or a delete process of deleting from the same group. 3. The air conditioner (31) in the first step.
The air-conditioning system management method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerant system (20) of each air conditioner (31) is detected based on the refrigerant system identification information included in the signal constantly transmitted by the. 4. In the first step, the refrigerant system (2
0), the refrigerant system identification information of each air conditioner (31) obtained when the transmission between the air conditioner (31) and the outdoor unit (30) is established. The method for managing an air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein (20) is detected. 5. In the third step, one or a plurality of refrigerant systems (2) connected to one electric power measuring means (32).
The method of managing an air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein 0) is registered in the same group. 6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, further comprising a fourth step of apportioning the electric power measured by the electric power measuring means (32) according to the electric power load of each air conditioner (31). Management method. 7. In the fourth step, each of the air conditioners (3
The management method of the air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein the electric power load is estimated according to the difference between the suction temperature and the set temperature of 1). 8. An air conditioning management system comprising a computer program (11) for registering an air conditioner (31) in a group by the method for managing an air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.