EP4653777A1

EP4653777A1 - Control device, heat source system, and control method

Info

Publication number: EP4653777A1
Application number: EP23922841.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Naoki Nishikawa; Atsushi Enya; Kenji Shimizu; Junji Morikawa; Kenta Arai; Takahiro Kato
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2023-02-16
Filing date: 2023-10-05
Publication date: 2025-11-26
Also published as: WO2024171507A1; JPWO2024171507A1; EP4653777A4

Abstract

This control device comprises: a setting reception unit that receives a setting for a target temperature of a subject for which the temperature is to be adjusted by a heat source device; a load factor calculation unit that calculates the load factor of the heat source device at which the amount of power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is lowest; and a control unit that operates the heat source device at said load factor.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a control device, a heat source system, and a control method.
This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-022446 filed in Japan on February 16, 2023 , the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

Provided is a function called a pre-cooling mode in which an operation of an air conditioner is automatically started before a setting time designated by a user, and a cooling operation is performed such that a room temperature reaches a setting temperature until the setting time (for example, PTL 1). When this function is used, the user designates a time at which the user returns his or her home to the setting time. In this manner, his or her home can be cooled to a desired setting temperature when the user returns his or her home. When the air conditioner is operated in the pre-cooling mode, the room temperature can be set to the setting temperature in a short time when the air conditioner is operated at a rated load. On the other hand, when the air conditioner is operated at a partial load having a reduced load factor, it takes a relatively long time to lower the room temperature to the setting temperature, but a power consumption can be suppressed.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-94505

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

The power consumption can be reduced by operating the air conditioner at the partial load. However, when the load factor is excessively reduced, the power consumption may increase conversely. It is desirable to operate the air conditioner at a load factor at which the power consumption is minimized.
Provided are a control device, a heat source system, and a control method, which can solve the above-described problems.

Solution to Problem

A control device of the present disclosure includes a setting receiving unit that receives a setting of a target temperature of a target whose temperature is adjusted by a heat source device, a load factor calculation unit that calculates a load factor of the heat source device, at which a power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is minimized, and a control unit that operates the heat source device at the load factor.
In addition, a heat source system of the present disclosure includes a heat source device and the control device.
In addition, a control method of the present disclosure includes a step of receiving a setting of a target temperature of a target whose temperature is adjusted by a heat source device, a step of calculating a load factor of the heat source device, at which a power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is minimized, and a step of operating the heat source device at the load factor.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the above-described control device, heat source system, and control method, the heat source device can be operated at the load factor which optimizes the power consumption of the heat source device.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an air conditioning system in a first embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a load factor calculation method in the first embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a graph showing an example of a relationship between a COP and a load factor in the first embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a load factor calculation result in the first embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a graph showing an example of a relationship between a power consumption and the load factor in the first embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for the air conditioning system in the first embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the air conditioning system in the first embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for an air conditioning system in a second embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

Hereinafter, a load factor calculation method and a control method for a heat source device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. The load factor calculation method and the control method of the present embodiment can be applied to control of various heat source devices such as an air conditioner, a water heater, and a refrigerator. Meanwhile, hereinafter, a case where the load factor calculation method and the control method are applied to the air conditioner will be described as an example.

(Configuration of Air Conditioning System)

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an air conditioning system in the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, an air conditioning system 100 includes an air conditioner 1 and a server 20. The air conditioner 1 includes an outside air temperature sensor 2, an indoor temperature sensor 3, and a control device 10. The outside air temperature sensor 2 and the indoor temperature sensor 3 are connected to the control device 10, and the control device 10 acquires temperatures measured by the outside air temperature sensor 2 and the indoor temperature sensor 3. The control device 10 and the server 20 are connected to be communicable via a network NW.

(Configuration of Control Device)

The control device 10 includes a sensor information acquisition unit 11, a setting receiving unit 12, a load factor calculation unit 13, a control unit 14, and a communication unit 15.
The sensor information acquisition unit 11 acquires an outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor 2 and the indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensor 3.
The setting receiving unit 12 receives settings of a setting temperature of an air conditioning target space and a setting time by which the setting temperature is to be achieved.
The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates which load factor enables a power consumption to be minimized without impairing comfort of a user when the air conditioner 1 is operated. The load factor calculation unit 13 stores a function, a table, or the like (for example, Fig. 3) indicating a relationship between a coefficient of performance (COP) and the load factor of the air conditioner 1. In addition, the load factor calculation unit 13 stores consumed power P_TH_RATED (kW) when the air conditioner 1 performs a rated operation.
The control unit 14 controls a compressor, a valve, or the like (not shown) included in the air conditioner 1, based on the temperature or the like measured by the outside air temperature sensor 2 and the indoor temperature sensor 3, and performs air conditioning such that the setting temperature can be achieved at the setting time. For example, the control unit 14 starts the air conditioning slightly before a time obtained by subtracting a time required for the air conditioning from the setting time, and performs a cooling operation or a heating operation such that the setting temperature can be achieved until the setting time. In this case, the control unit 14 operates the air conditioner 1 at the load factor calculated by the load factor calculation unit 13.
The communication unit 15 communicates with the server 20. For example, the communication unit 15 transmits the outside air temperature and the indoor temperature which are acquired by the sensor information acquisition unit 11, the setting time and the setting temperature which are acquired by the setting receiving unit 12 to the server 20, and acquires a prediction value of an air conditioning time required for achieving the setting temperature from the server 20.

(Configuration of Server)

The server 20 includes a prediction model creation unit 21, a prediction unit 22, and a communication unit 23.
The prediction model creation unit 21 creates a prediction model for predicting the air conditioning time required for setting the indoor temperature of the air conditioning target space to the setting temperature, when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the rated load. For example, the prediction model creation unit 21 analyzes how much air conditioning time is required for achieving the setting temperature at any indoor temperature and any outside air temperature, based on past operation data of the air conditioner 1, and creates a table, a function, or the like which defines a relationship among the indoor temperature, the outside air temperature, the setting temperature, and the air conditioning time required for achieving the setting temperature. Alternatively, the prediction model creation unit 21 uses machine learning or the like to create a prediction model in which the indoor temperature, the outside air temperature, the setting temperature, the setting time, the month (January, August, and the like) of the air conditioning target, the weather, and the like are used as explanatory variables and the air conditioning time required for achieving the setting temperature is used as an objective variable.
The prediction unit 22 predicts the air conditioning time required for achieving the setting temperature during the rated operation, based on the outside air temperature, the indoor temperature, and the like which are measured by the air conditioner 1, and the prediction model, the table, the function, and the like which are created by the prediction model creation unit 21.
The communication unit 23 communicates with the control device 10 and various servers or the like on the Internet. For example, the communication unit 23 receives the indoor temperature and the outside air temperature from the control device 10, and outputs these values to the prediction unit 22. In addition, for example, the communication unit 23 acquires weather forecast information or actual result information from a server that distributes a weather forecast or an actual result, and outputs the information to the prediction unit 22. The prediction unit 22 stores the temperature and the weather information which are acquired through the communication unit 23. The information is used for predicting the air conditioning time.
The configuration shown in Fig. 1 is an example. For example, the prediction unit 22 may be provided in the control device 10, and the server 20 may only create the prediction model which requires a large calculation amount, and the control device 10 may predict the air conditioning time. In addition, without providing the server 20, a functional unit corresponding to the prediction unit 22 may be provided in the control device 10, and for example, the functional unit corresponding to the prediction unit 22 may be configured to store a table in which the air conditioning time is determined for each setting temperature of the air conditioning target space, each outside air temperature, and each indoor temperature, and to predict the air conditioning time, based on the table.

(Determination Process of Load Factor)

Next, a method for calculating an optimal load factor when the air conditioner 1 is operated at a partial load will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In general, the control device 10 of the air conditioner 1 is often equipped with a computer that does not have high calculation capacity, such as a microcontroller. Since a calculation amount is small in a calculation method described with reference to Fig. 2, calculation can be performed without a burden even with the microcontroller or the like.
Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a load factor calculation method in the first embodiment.
The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates an air conditioning time during the rated operation (Step S1). For example, the load factor calculation unit 13 transmits the indoor temperature, the outside air temperature, the setting temperature, and the like to the server 20 through the communication unit 15, and inquires about the air conditioning time during the rated operation. The prediction unit 22 predicts the air conditioning time during the rated operation required for achieving the setting temperature, based on the prediction model created by the prediction model creation unit 21, and transmits a predicted air conditioning time to the control device 10 through the communication unit 23. The predicted air conditioning time is denoted as P0 (h). When the predicted air conditioning time is 30 minutes, P0 is 0.5 (h).
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 calculates an energy amount during the rated operation (Step S2). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates power consumption E_TH_RATED (kWh) required for achieving the setting temperature by multiplying the consumed power P_TH_RATED (kW) when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the rated operation by the predicted air conditioning time P0 (h) (Equation (1) below). $E_TH_RATED (kWh) = P_TH_RATED (kW) \times P 0 (h)$
The consumed power P_TH_RATED (kW) when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the rated operation is stored in advance by the load factor calculation unit 13. The calculated E_TH_RATED (kWh) is a reference heat energy amount in the following calculation.
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 sets a load factor X (%) (Step S3). For example, the load factor calculation unit 13 sets any value at an interval of 10% between 10% and 100% as the load factor X.
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 calculates an air conditioning time D (h) required for achieving the setting temperature when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the set load factor X (%) (Step S4). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates the air conditioning time D (h) by using Equation (2) below. $D (h) = P 0 (h) \div X (%)$
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 calculates the capacity of the partial load operation (Step S5). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates capacity P_TH (kW) required when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the partial load at the set load factor X (%) by using Equation (3) below. $P_TH (kW) = E_TH_RATED (kWh) \div D (h)$
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 calculates a prediction value of the consumed power during the partial load operation (Step S6). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates a prediction value P_EL (kW) of the consumed power when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the partial load at the set load factor X (%), based on a function or the like indicating a relationship between the COP and the load factor. Fig. 3 shows an example of a function showing the relationship between the COP and the load factor. A vertical axis in Fig. 3 represents the COP, and a horizontal axis represents the load factor. The COP is an efficiency of converting electric energy consumed when the air conditioning is performed by the air conditioner 1 into heat energy used for the air conditioning. In the example in Fig. 3, the COP is the highest in the vicinity of the load factor of 30%. The load factor calculation unit 13 reads a value (COP (P_TH)) of the COP corresponding to the load factor X (%) set in Step S3 from the function or the like in Fig. 3, and calculates the consumed power (prediction value) P_EL (kW) by using Equation (4) below. $P_EL (kW) = P_TH (kW) \div COP (P_TH)$
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 calculates a prediction value of the power consumption during the partial load operation (Step S7). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) by using Equation (5) below. $E_EL (kWh) = P_EL (kW) \times D (h)$
The load factor calculation unit 13 stores the load factor X (%) set in Step S3 and the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) calculated in Step S7 in association with each other.
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 determines whether the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is calculated for all of the load factors (Step S8). For example, it is assumed that the load factor calculation unit 13 is set in advance to calculate the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) at load factors of 10% to 100% at an interval of a load factor of 10%. In this case, when the load factor calculation unit 13 performs processes in Steps S3 to S7 for each load factor of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%, it is determined that the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is calculated for all of the load factors, and when the load factor calculation unit 13 does not perform the processes, it is determined that the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is not calculated for all of the load factors.
When it is determined that the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is not calculated for all of the load factors (Step S8; No), the load factor calculation unit 13 repeatedly performs the processes in Steps S3 to S7 for the load factor X (%) for which the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is not calculated.
When it is determined that the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is calculated for all of the load factors (Step S8; Yes), the load factor calculation unit 13 determines the load factor X (%) at which the value of the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is minimized (Step S9). The load factor calculation unit 13 specifies the load factor X (%) when the value of the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is minimized in a range of 10% to 100%. Fig. 4 shows an example of calculation results obtained by performing Steps S3 to S7 for each load factor X at an interval of 10% between 10% and 100%. Fig. 5 shows a graph in which the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is plotted for each load factor X (%). As shown in the drawing, it can be understood that the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is minimized when the partial load operation is performed at the load factor of 30%. The load factor calculation unit 13 determines the load factor of 30% as a most efficient operation point.
As can be understood with reference to Fig. 5, the power consumption can be suppressed by reducing the load factor. However, when the load factor X (%) is reduced beyond a certain value, the power consumption increases conversely (for example, 10%, 20%, or the like). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the load factor calculation unit 13 performs the process shown in Fig. 2 to search for the optimal load factor X (%). In this manner, an operation of the air conditioner 1 in which the power consumption is minimized can be realized. Furthermore, an air conditioning start time is appropriately set, and the air conditioning is started in advance. In this manner, the indoor temperature can be controlled to the setting temperature at a time set by a user. In this manner, the operation of the air conditioner 1 in which the power consumption is minimized can be realized without impairing comfort of the user.

(Air Conditioning Control)

A process of performing air conditioning control by using the load factor determined in the process in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for the air conditioning system in the first embodiment.
First, the prediction model creation unit 21 creates a prediction model that outputs the air conditioning time (Step S11). The prediction model creation unit 21 creates the prediction model, based on the past operation data, the indoor temperature, the outside air temperature, the weather information, and the like of the air conditioner 1. The prediction model creation unit 21 outputs the created prediction model to the prediction unit 22. Next, the user sets the setting temperature and the setting time in the control device 10 by using a remote controller (not shown), a smartphone, or the like (Step S12). The setting receiving unit 12 acquires and stores the setting temperature and the setting time. Here, it is assumed that the settings are made before the air conditioning time D (h) required when the air conditioner 1 is operated at the optimal load factor X (%) calculated by the load factor calculation unit 13 later. Next, the prediction unit 22 predicts the air conditioning time during the rated operation (Step S13). For example, the load factor calculation unit 13 transmits the setting temperature, the setting time, the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor 2, the indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensor 3, and the like, which are set in Step S12, to the server 20, and requests the air conditioning time. The prediction unit 22 inputs information on the setting temperature, the setting time, the outside air temperature, the indoor temperature, the weather, the month, and the like, to the prediction model, and predicts the air conditioning time. Alternatively, a functional unit corresponding to the prediction unit 22 may be provided in the control device 10, and the control device 10 may be configured to predict the air conditioning time, for example, based on a table in which the air conditioning time during the rated operation is determined for each setting temperature, each outside air temperature, and each indoor temperature.
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 determines the load factor (Step S14). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates the load factor X (%) at which the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is minimized and the air conditioning time D (h) in that case by performing the process described with reference to Fig. 2. The load factor calculation unit 13 outputs the calculated load factor X (%) and the air conditioning time D (h) to the control unit 14. Next, the control unit 14 sets an air conditioning start time from the setting time set in Step S12 and the air conditioning time D (h) calculated in Step S14 (Step S15). For example, in a case of the example shown in Fig. 4, the load factor X is 30(%), and the air conditioning time D is 0.83 (h). When the setting time set in Step S12 is 10 o'clock, the control unit 14 sets a time obtained by subtracting 0.83 (h) from 10 o'clock, or a time slightly before 10 o'clock (for example, 9 o'clock obtained by subtracting 1 hour) as the air conditioning start time, in view of some margin. Next, when the air conditioning start time set in Step S15 is reached, the control unit 14 starts the air conditioning based on the setting temperature and the setting time which are set by the user (Step S16). In this case, the control unit 14 operates the air conditioner 1 at the load factor determined in Step S14. In this manner, the setting temperature is achieved at the setting time with a minimum power consumption.

(Advantageous Effects)

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the air conditioner 1 can be operated at the load factor X (%) at which the power consumption is minimized. In addition, since the air conditioning time D (h) corresponding to the load factor X (%) can be calculated, in air conditioning control (for example, a pre-cooling mode or heating may be applicable) in which the air conditioning is automatically started before the setting time and the indoor temperature is set to the setting temperature until the setting time, a desired indoor temperature can be achieved until the setting time while unnecessarily consumed power is suppressed without impairing the comfort of the user. In addition, since a calculation load of the load factor calculation method (Fig. 2) of the present embodiment is low, the calculation can be performed without difficulty even with a non-powerful microcontroller or the like, and an optimal operation point (load factor X) can be efficiently found.
In the above-described embodiment, a case where the load factor calculation method (Fig. 2) of the present embodiment is applied to the air conditioning system has been described. Meanwhile, the present embodiment can also be applied to control when hot water is boiled by a water heater or a target is cooled by a refrigerator.
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment.
A computer 900 includes a CPU 901, a main storage device 902, an auxiliary storage device 903, an input/output interface 904, and a communication interface 905. The control device 10 and the server 20 are mounted on the computer 900. Each of the functions described above is stored in the auxiliary storage device 903 in a form of a program. The CPU 901 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 903, expands the program in the main storage device 902, and performs the above-described processes in accordance with the program. In addition, the CPU 901 secures a storage area in the main storage device 902 according to the program. In addition, the CPU 901 secures a storage area that stores currently processed data in the auxiliary storage device 903 in accordance with the program.
A program for realizing all or some functions of the control device 10 and the server 20 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The program recorded on the recording medium may be read by a computer system, and each functional unit may perform the process by executing the program. The "computer system" herein includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. In addition, the "computer system" includes the homepage providing environment (or display environment) when a WWW system is used. In addition, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as CD, DVD, and USB, or a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated into a computer system. In addition, when the program is distributed to the computer 900 by a communication line, the computer 900 receiving the distribution may expand the program to the main storage device 902, and may perform the above-described processes. In addition, the above-described program may be used for realizing some of the above-described functions, and furthermore, may realize the above-described functions in combination with a program previously recorded in the computer system.

Hereinafter, a control method for a heat source device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In the first embodiment, an example has been described as follows. The load factor X (for example, 30%) at which the consumed power is minimized is determined as the most efficient operation point, and the air conditioning is started at the load factor of 30% from a time obtained by subtracting the air conditioning time D (h) corresponding to the determined load factor of 30%. However, for example, in some cases, a time (for example, 0.5 h) until the setting time set by the user is shorter than the air conditioning time D (0.83 h) at the load factor of 30%. In this case, the temperature is less likely to reach the setting temperature until the setting time at the determined load factor of 30%. In view of this case, in the second embodiment, the air conditioner 1 is controlled at the load factor X at which the consumed power can be minimized, in the load factors X at which the temperature can reach the setting temperature until the setting time.
Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the control method for the air conditioning system in the second embodiment.
First, the prediction model creation unit 21 creates a prediction model that outputs the air conditioning time (Step S21). Next, the user sets the setting temperature and the setting time in the control device 10 (Step S22). In addition, the prediction unit 22 predicts the air conditioning time during the rated operation (Step S23). These processes are the same as those in the first embodiment (Steps S11 to S13 in Fig. 6).
Next, the load factor calculation unit 13 sets a constraint time D_must which is a difference between the setting time and a current time (Step S24). In addition, the load factor calculation unit 13 determines the load factor (Step S25). The load factor calculation unit 13 calculates the load factor X (%) at which the power consumption (prediction value) E_EL (kWh) is minimized and the air conditioning time D (h) in that case by performing the process described with reference to Fig. 2. In this case, for example, the load factor calculation unit 13 may perform Steps S3 to S7 in Fig. 2 in order of greater values of the load factor X (%), and may complete the process when the air conditioning time D calculated in Step S4 is longer than the constraint time D_must (D > D_must). That is, the load factor calculation unit 13 may perform the processes (Steps S5 to S7) of calculating the capacity P_TH (kW) of the partial load operation, the prediction value P_EL (kW) of the consumed power, and the prediction value E_EL (kWh) of the power consumption, only for the load factor X at which the air conditioning time D falls within the constraint time D_must (D ≤ D_must). In this case, the load factor calculation unit 13 determines the load factor X (%) having the prediction value E_EL (kWh) of the minimum power consumption in the prediction value E_EL (kWh) of the calculated power consumption, as the most efficient operation point. For example, when the constraint time D_must is 0.5 (h), in the example in Fig. 4, the air conditioning time D exceeds the constraint time D_must at the load factor of 40% or lower. Therefore, the load factor of 40% or lower may be excluded from a calculation target. In this manner, since an unnecessary calculation process is not required, the calculation load of the control device 10 can be reduced. In addition, in the load factors of 50% to 100%, the prediction value E_EL (kWh) of the power consumption is smallest when the load factor is 50%. Therefore, the load factor calculation unit 13 determines the load factor of 50% as the most efficient operation point while the constraint time D_must is satisfied.
The load factor calculation unit 13 outputs the calculated load factor X (%) and the air conditioning time D (h) to the control unit 14. Next, the control unit 14 sets the air conditioning start time from the setting time set in Step S22 and the air conditioning time D (h) calculated in Step S25 (Step S26). For example, in a case of the example shown in Fig. 4, the load factor X is 50(%), and the air conditioning time D is 0.5 (h). When the constraint time D_must from the current time to the setting time is 0.5 (h), the current time is set as the air conditioning start time. Next, when the air conditioning start time set in Step S26 is reached, the control unit 14 starts the air conditioning based on the setting temperature and the setting time set by the user (Step S27). In this case, the control unit 14 operates the air conditioner 1 at the load factor determined in Step S25. In this manner, the air conditioner 1 can be operated at the operation point at which the setting temperature can be achieved at the setting time and the power consumption is minimized.
While certain embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made within the scope not departing from the concept of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope of the invention described in the appended claims and an equivalent scope thereof, as well as in the scope or the concept of the invention.

The control device, the heat source system, and the control method which are described in each embodiment are understood as follows, for example.

(1) A control device according to a first aspect includes a setting receiving unit that receives a setting of a target temperature (setting temperature) of a target whose temperature is adjusted by a heat source device, a load factor calculation unit that calculates a load factor of the heat source device, at which a power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is minimized, and a control unit that operates the heat source device at the load factor.
In this manner, the heat source device can be operated at a load factor at which a power consumption is minimized.
(2) As the control device according to a second aspect, in the control device of (1), the setting receiving unit further receives a setting of a target time (setting time) by which the target temperature is to be achieved. The load factor calculation unit calculates an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the load factor. The control unit starts an operation of the heat source device at the load factor, based on a time obtained by subtracting the operation time from the target time.
In this manner, the target temperature can be achieved until the target time, and the heat source device can be operated to satisfy both needs (comfort or the like) of a user and energy saving.
(3) As the control device according to a third aspect, in the control device of (1) to (2), the load factor calculation unit calculates the power consumption by multiplying consumed power when the heat source device is operated at a rated load by a rated operation time which is an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the rated load, sets the power consumption as a reference energy amount, sets the load factor of the heat source device, calculates a partial load operation time which is an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, by dividing the rated operation time by the set load factor, calculates a partial load energy amount which is the power consumption required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, by multiplying a value obtained by dividing a value obtained by dividing the reference energy amount by the partial load operation time by a coefficient of performance (COP) when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, by the partial load operation time, and calculates the load factor when the partial load energy amount calculated by changing a value of the load factor is minimized.
In this manner, the load factor at which the power consumption is minimized can be calculated.
(4) As the control device according to a fourth aspect, in the control device according to (1) to (3), the heat source device is any one of an air conditioner, a water heater, and a refrigerator.
In this manner, the air conditioner, the water heater, and the refrigerator can be operated at a load factor at which the power consumption is minimized.
(5) As the control device according to a fifth aspect, in the control device according to (1) to (4), the heat source device is an air conditioner, and the control device further includes a prediction unit that predicts an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the air conditioner is operated at a rated load, based on a temperature of an air conditioning target space, an outside air temperature, the target time, a month of an air conditioning target, and the target temperature.
In this manner, the air conditioning time can be accurately predicted. Since the air conditioning time is accurately predicted, air conditioning control can be accurately performed to satisfy both the comfort of the user and the energy saving.
(6) As the control device according to a sixth aspect, in the control device according to (1) to (5), the load factor calculation unit sets a time from a current time to the target time as a constraint time, and calculates a load factor at which the power consumption is minimized in load factors at which the operation time is equal to or shorter than the constraint time.
In this manner, the heat source device can be operated at the load factor at which the power consumption is minimized in the load factors at which the target temperature can be achieved until the target time.
(7) A heat source system according to a seventh aspect includes a heat source device, and the control device according to (1) to (6).
In this manner, the heat source system can be operated at a load factor at which the power consumption of the heat source device is minimized.
(8) A control method according to an eighth aspect includes a step of receiving a setting of a target temperature of a target whose temperature is adjusted by a heat source device, a step of calculating a load factor of the heat source device, at which a power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is minimized, and a step of operating the heat source device at the load factor.
In this manner, the heat source device can be operated at the load factor at which the power consumption of the heat source device is minimized.

Industrial Applicability

Reference Signs List

100: air conditioning system
1: air conditioner
2: outside air temperature sensor
3: indoor temperature sensor
10: control device
11: sensor information acquisition unit
12: setting receiving unit
13: load factor calculation unit
14: control unit
15: communication unit
20: server
21: prediction model creation unit
22: prediction unit
23: communication unit
900: computer
901: CPU
902: main storage device
903: auxiliary storage device
904: input/output interface
905: communication interface

Claims

A control device comprising:
a setting receiving unit that receives a setting of a target temperature of a target whose temperature is adjusted by a heat source device;

a load factor calculation unit that calculates a load factor of the heat source device, at which minimizes a power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is minimized; and

a control unit that operates the heat source device at the load factor.
The control device according to Claim 1,
wherein the setting receiving unit further receives a setting of a target time by which the target temperature is to be achieved,

the load factor calculation unit calculates an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, and

the control unit starts an operation of the heat source device at the load factor, based on a time obtained by subtracting the operation time from the target time.
The control device according to Claim 1 or 2,
wherein the load factor calculation unit calculates the power consumption by multiplying consumed power when the heat source device is operated at a rated load by a rated operation time which is an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the rated load, sets the power consumption as a reference energy amount,

sets the load factor of the heat source device, calculates a partial load operation time which is an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, by dividing the rated operation time by the set load factor,

calculates a partial load energy amount which is the power consumption required for achieving the target temperature when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, by multiplying a value obtained by dividing a value obtained by dividing the reference energy amount by the partial load operation time by a coefficient of performance (COP) when the heat source device is operated at the load factor, by the partial load operation time, and

calculates the load factor when the partial load energy amount calculated by changing a value of the load factor is minimized.
The control device according to Claim 1 or 2,
wherein the heat source device is any one of an air conditioner, a water heater, and a refrigerator.
The control device according to Claim 2,
wherein the heat source device is an air conditioner, and the control device further comprises a prediction unit that predicts an operation time required for achieving the target temperature when the air conditioner is operated at a rated load, based on a temperature of an air conditioning target space, an outside air temperature, the target time, a month of an air conditioning target, and the target temperature.
The control device according to Claim 2,
wherein the load factor calculation unit sets a time from a current time to the target time as a constraint time, and

calculates a load factor at which the power consumption is minimized in load factors at which the operation time is equal to or shorter than the constraint time.
A heat source system comprising:
a heat source device; and

the control device according to Claim 1 or 2.
A control method comprising:
a step of receiving a setting of a target temperature of a target whose temperature is adjusted by a heat source device;

a step of calculating a load factor of the heat source device, at which a power consumption required for achieving the target temperature is minimized; and

a step of operating the heat source device at the load factor.