JP2003130418A - Electric power control method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save on power by decreasing working ratio with a set temperature remaining as it is without charging load on an air conditioner or the like. SOLUTION: In this power control method, power is controlled by turning on or off a power supply of the air conditioner, a refrigerator, or the like. When a temperature is in a predetermined range and ON/OFF control is performed, switching from OFF to ON is detected, the power supply is forcibly returned to OFF on detecting the switching, and the power supply is switched to ON after a predetermined period.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling power by turning on and off a power source such as an air conditioner and a refrigerator, and more particularly to a power control method and device for saving power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a heat insulator, or the like, control is performed so that a set temperature is maintained.

For example, in the summer, when the room temperature is adjusted by an air conditioner, the room temperature is adjusted so that it falls within a predetermined range. That is, when the temperature is set in the air conditioner, the lower limit temperature and the upper limit temperature are determined according to the set temperature. The air conditioner is switched to a non-operating state (stopped state) when the room temperature reaches the lower limit temperature, and switched to an operating state (operating state) when the room temperature reaches the upper limit temperature. Thereby, on / off control is performed between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature.

Conventionally, in order to reduce the power consumption of the air conditioner, that is, as a power control method for saving power, the compressor of the air conditioner is stopped at regular time intervals, whereby the operating time and stop time of the air conditioner are reduced. There is a method to reduce the ratio of.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-179912,
A method has been proposed in which the compressor is forcibly stopped for a predetermined time when the air conditioner is in operation and the room temperature is maintained between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature.

[0006]

However, in the former case, since the compressor is stopped regardless of the room temperature, the room temperature may be far from the set temperature.

In the latter case, since the compressor is forcibly stopped during the operation of the air conditioner without changing the upper limit temperature, the room temperature fluctuation is small and the power saving effect is hardly obtained. Further, since this is forcibly stopped during the operation of the compressor, it may cause a failure of the air conditioner.

An object of the present invention is to save electricity by reducing the operating rate while keeping the set temperature as it is, without burdening the air conditioner or the like.

[0009]

A method according to the present invention is a method for controlling power by turning on / off a power source of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, etc., and performing on / off control when a temperature falls within a predetermined range. When it is present, the switching from off to on is detected, when it is detected, it is forcibly returned to off, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is switched on.

Alternatively, it is detected that the temperature has reached a predetermined temperature in the off state, the off state is maintained when the temperature is detected, and the on state is switched after a predetermined time has elapsed. Further, a normal mode and a power saving mode are provided. In the normal mode, when the temperature reaches the first temperature, the operation mode is switched to the non-operation state, and when the temperature reaches the second temperature, the operation mode is switched to the power saving mode. In the mode, when the temperature reaches the first temperature, the non-operating state is switched to, and when the temperature reaches the second temperature, the non-operating state is extended and maintained for a predetermined time and then switched to the operating state. .

A device according to the present invention is a device for controlling power by turning on / off a power source such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, and when the temperature is within a predetermined range and the on / off control is performed, the device is turned off. It has means for detecting switching to ON and means for forcibly extending the OFF time by a predetermined time without switching to ON when detecting switching from OFF to ON.

Further, a mode switching means for switching between the normal mode and the power saving mode, and in the normal mode, when the temperature reaches the first temperature, it is switched to the non-operating state, and when the temperature reaches the second temperature, the operating state is set. And a normal control means for switching to a non-operating state when the temperature reaches the first temperature in the power saving mode, and extends the non-operating state for a predetermined time when the temperature reaches the second temperature. And a power saving control means for switching to an operating state after being maintained.

Preferably, there is provided means for switching to the non-operating state for the set time ts when the operating state continues for the set time tr in the power saving mode.

[0014]

1 is a block diagram of an air conditioning system CS using a power control device 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of how the room temperature T is changed by the air conditioning system CS, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the air conditioner of the on / off control system by the power control device 12 during normal operation, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioning system CS. Note that FIG. 2 shows a case where the air conditioner 11 is used for indoor cooling.

In FIG. 1, the air conditioning system CS comprises an air conditioner 11 and a power controller 12. Air conditioner 11
Is a known device including a compressor, a heat exchanger, an operation unit, a control unit, and the like. Usually, the compressor is provided in the outdoor unit, and the heat exchanger and the operation unit are provided in the indoor unit. The air conditioner 11 and the power control device 12 are connected to an AC power source by breakers CB1, CB2 and the like.

The air conditioner 11 includes a compressor motor M.
There are an on-off control system that controls ON / OFF of the motor and an inverter control system that controls the rotation speed of the motor M by an inverter. To distinguish between these,
The former is referred to as "air conditioner 11A" and the latter is referred to as "air conditioner 11B".

In the on / off control type air conditioner 11A, the motor M of the compressor is on / off controlled by the electromagnetic switch R so that the temperature becomes a set temperature during its operation. When the air conditioner 11A is controlled by the power control device 12, electric wires are connected to the internal circuit of the air conditioner 11A so that signals to be described later are exchanged between them.

In the inverter control type air conditioner 11B,
During the operation, normally, the motor M of the compressor is always turned on, and the rotation speed is controlled so as to reach the set temperature. Normally, the air conditioner 11B is provided with a remote control terminal defined by JAM-A. It is possible to forcibly turn off the motor M by connecting an electric wire to this remote control terminal and sending an appropriate signal.

The power control device 12 uses the air conditioner 11A.
Also, it is applicable to both the air conditioner 11B. The power control device 12 includes a mode switching unit 20, a detection unit 21, a forced signal output unit 22, timers 23 and 24, and the like.

The mode switching unit 20 is used to switch between the normal mode and the power saving mode according to the user's operation. The detection unit 21 detects that the motor M of the compressor of the air conditioner 11A is switched from off to on.
As a detection method, the voltage across the coil of the electromagnetic switch R is monitored to detect when the electromagnetic switch R is switched from OFF to ON, the connection state of the contacts of the electromagnetic switch R is monitored, and Various methods such as a method of detecting that the switch R is switched from off to on and a method of monitoring the current flowing through the motor M to detect that the motor M is switched from off to on are applicable. For monitoring the voltage, current, connection state, etc., the air conditioner 11A and the power control device 12 are connected by an electric wire, and the signal S1 obtained by the monitoring is input to the power control device 12.

The compulsory signal output unit 22 supplies the air conditioner 11 with a signal S2 for compulsorily turning off the power of the motor M.
Is output. The timing at which the signal S2 is output is the following 2
There are two cases. (1) When the timer 24 measures time and the time tr has elapsed. (2) When detection is performed by the detection unit 21.

The signal S2 is output at any of these timings, and when the time ts set in the timer 23 elapses, the output of the signal S2 is stopped. That is, the timer 23
Starts counting at the timing when the count-up signal from the timer 24 is input or at the timing when the detection signal S3 from the detection unit 21 is input, and then outputs the count-up signal at the timing when the time ts elapses. To do.

The timer 24 repeatedly measures the set time tr and outputs a count-up signal each time the time tr elapses. However, when the power of the motor M is turned off, it is reset, and when the motor M is turned on, timing is started from the beginning.

Therefore, the motor M of the air conditioner 11 is continuously in the on state, or is in the on state for the time tr.
If it lasts longer than, each time the time tr elapses,
It is controlled so as to be turned off only during the time ts. Further, when the motor M of the air conditioner 11 is on for a shorter time than the time tr, the motor M is controlled to be off for the time ts each time the detection unit 21 performs detection.

In this case, in the air conditioner 11A, the electromagnetic switch R is forcibly turned off by the signal S2, or the motor M is turned off by another control device. Motor M
Is forcibly turned off immediately after it is turned on, the motor M
Is virtually the same as one that remains off continuously. Therefore, there is almost no increase in the load on those devices, the motor M, and the compressor. Although the power of the motor M or the electromagnetic switch R is turned on and off, the entire air conditioner 11 may be turned on and off.

In the air conditioner 11B, the signal S2
Controls the inverter to stop the motor M. The time t measured by the timers 23 and 24
s and tr can be set by the user. Time ts
Is usually, for example, about 2 to 5 minutes, and the time tr is, for example, 5
It is set to about 30 minutes. When the time tr is set to infinity, the timer 23 starts counting only when the detection by the detection unit 21 is performed.

Next, the control operation by the power controller 12 will be described. First, the control of the air conditioner 11A will be described. In FIG. 2, the normal mode is set until time t5, but it is assumed that the power saving mode is switched to at time t5.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the motor M is turned on and the operation of the air conditioner 11 is started at time t0, the room temperature T is lowered at time t. In the normal mode, time t
When the lower limit temperature T1 of the set temperature is reached at 1, the motor M is turned off and the room temperature T rises. When the room temperature T reaches the upper limit temperature T2 at time t2, the motor M is turned on and the room temperature T drops. Room temperature T is lower limit temperature T1 at time t3
When the temperature reaches, the motor M is turned off and the room temperature T rises. Such control is repeated.

After the time t5 in the power saving mode, the room temperature T rises because the motor M is off. Even if the room temperature T reaches the upper limit temperature T2 at the time t6, the motor M is not turned on, and the off state is maintained until the set time ts elapses. At time t7 when the time ts has elapsed, the motor M is turned on and the room temperature T drops. Time t
When the room temperature T reaches the lower limit temperature T1 in FIG.
Turns off and the room temperature T rises. Room temperature T at time t9
After reaching the upper limit temperature T2, the motor M is turned on and the room temperature T is lowered at time t10 when time ts has further elapsed. Such control is repeated.

As described above, in the power saving mode, the motor M is kept off for a predetermined time ts, so that the average room temperature T is slightly increased and the power consumption is reduced accordingly. That is, it is possible to save electricity by reducing the operating rate while keeping the set temperature of the air conditioner 11 unchanged. Moreover, every time the room temperature T reaches the upper limit temperature T2, a constant time t
Since the air conditioner 11 is stopped for s, the room temperature T does not greatly deviate from the set temperature. In addition, since the number of times the motor M is turned on and off does not substantially change, the air conditioner 11 is not burdened. Further, since the on / off cycle of the motor M becomes long, the load on the air conditioner 11 may be reduced.

It has been found that when the average room temperature rises by about 1 ° C., humans do not feel too hot, but the power consumption is reduced by about 10%. In the air conditioner 11, when the ON / OFF timing of the electromagnetic switch R or the motor M is monitored to manage the device, until the air conditioner 11 makes an error judgment after the ON state of the motor M is detected. Then, the motor M may be actually turned on again.

In FIG. 2, from time t5 to time t
The time until 6 and the time from time t8 to time t9 are shorter than the time tr. That is, the time tr is set to be sufficiently long. Next FIG. 3 and FIG.
Also in the flowchart of (1), it is assumed that the time tr is sufficiently long.

In FIG. 3, the detection unit 21 has an air conditioner 11A.
When the ON state of the motor M is detected (Yes in # 11), the signal S2 is output (# 12), and the motor M of the air conditioner 11A is forcibly stopped. When the time ts elapses (Yes in # 13), the signal S2 is turned off (# 14), and the motor M is operated.

In FIG. 4, when the room temperature T reaches the lower limit temperature T1 by the operation of the air conditioner 11A (Yes in # 21), the motor M is turned off (# 22). When the room temperature T reaches the upper limit temperature T2 (Yes in # 23), the motor M is turned on (# 2 if not in the power saving mode (No in # 24)).
5). In power saving mode (Yes in # 24), time t
After s has elapsed (Yes in # 26), the motor M is turned on (# 25).

Next, the case where the signal S2 is output by the count-up signal from the timer 24 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of how the room temperature T changes in the power saving mode by the air conditioning system CS.

As shown in FIG. 5, at time t0, the motor M is turned on and the operation of the air conditioner 11A starts. At the same time, the timer 24 starts counting time. Room temperature T decreases with time t, but time t1 when time tr has elapsed
At, the timer 24 counts up. As a result, the signal S2 is output, the motor M is turned off, and the room temperature T rises. When the time ts has elapsed, the motor M is turned on and the room temperature T drops again. While repeating such operations, the room temperature T reaches the lower limit temperature T1 of the set temperature at time t7. Here, the motor M is turned off and the room temperature T rises.

Even when the room temperature T reaches the upper limit temperature T2 at the time t8, the motor M is not turned on, and the off state is maintained until the set time ts elapses. Time t
At time t9 when s has elapsed, the motor M is turned on and the room temperature T is lowered. Such an operation is similar to the case of FIG.

Normally, the time from time t7 to time t8 when the motor M is on, and time t10 to time t1.
The time until 1 is shorter than the time tr. However, if the time during which the motor M is on is longer than the time tr, the timer 24 counts up during the time and the motor M is turned off for the time ts at that time.

Next, the control operation for the air conditioner 11B will be described. FIG. 6 shows an inverter-controlled air conditioner 11.
It is a figure which shows the mode of control of B. As shown in FIG. 6, the motor M of the air conditioner 11B is turned on during the time tr and at the time t.
It turns off during s.

That is, from the time t0 when the operation is started to the set temperature, it is the same as in the case of FIG. 5, and even after that, regardless of the room temperature T, it is similarly turned on for the time tr. The turning off during the time ts is repeated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall control operation by the power control device 12. FIG. 7 is applicable to any of the air conditioners 11A and 11B. In FIG. 7, the timer 24 that measures the time tr is reset (# 31). Then, elapse of time tr or the detection unit 2
Wait for detection of turning on of the motor M of the air conditioner 11 by 1 (#
32, 33). However, in the case of the air conditioner 11B, the motor M
ON is not detected. When the time tr has elapsed or when the motor M is detected to be on, the signal S2 is output (# 34) and the motor M of the air conditioner 11 is forcibly stopped. When the time ts elapses (Yes in # 35), the signal S2 is turned off (# 36), and the motor M is operated.

In the embodiment described above, the detector 21
Detects ON / OFF of the motor M and the like, but may detect that the upper limit temperature T2 is reached when the motor M of the air conditioner 11 is OFF. Further, the power control device 12 may directly turn on / off the electromagnetic switch R of the air conditioner 11. The power line of the air conditioner 11 may be connected to the power control device 12, and the power control device 12 may turn on / off the power line of the air conditioner 11. The power control device 12 may be incorporated in the control device of the air conditioner 11 to integrate them.

In the above embodiment, the case where the air conditioner 11 is used for cooling has been described, but it can be applied when it is used for heating. In that case, the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature,
The relationship with ON / OFF of the motor M is opposite to that in the case of cooling. In addition to the air conditioner 11, the present invention can be applied to electric power control for a refrigerator, a heat insulator, a heater, and the like.

Further, two timers 23 for measuring the time ts are used, and the time is measured by the timer 24 so that the time tr
The time at which the signal S2 is output may be different depending on whether or not has elapsed and when the detection by the detection unit 21 is performed.

In addition, the air conditioner 11, the power control device 12,
And the configuration or circuit of the entire or each part of the air conditioning system CS,
The control order, contents, timing, etc. can be appropriately changed in accordance with the gist of the present invention.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to save power without burdening an air conditioner or the like by reducing the operating rate while maintaining the set temperature.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air conditioning system using a power control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of how the room temperature is changed by the air conditioning system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation during normal operation of an air conditioner of an on / off control system by a power control device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioning system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of how the room temperature changes in the power saving mode by the air conditioning system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how an inverter-controlled air conditioner is controlled.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an overall control operation by the power control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

CS air conditioning system 11 air conditioners 12 Power control device (power saving control means) 20 Mode switching unit (mode switching means) 21 detector (means for detecting) 22 Forced signal output section 23 timer 24 timer T1 lower limit temperature (first temperature) T2 upper limit temperature (second temperature) ts time (predetermined time)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling electric power by turning on / off a power source of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, etc., which is switched from OFF to ON when temperature is within a predetermined range and ON / OFF control is being performed. Is detected, and when it is detected, the power is forcibly returned to off, and after a predetermined time has passed, it is switched on again. 2. A method for controlling electric power by turning on / off a power source such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, wherein the temperature is set to a predetermined value when the temperature is in a predetermined range and the on / off control is being performed. Detected that the temperature has reached
An electric power control method, characterized in that, when it is detected, it is maintained in an off state and is switched on after a predetermined time has elapsed. 3. A method for controlling electric power of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, etc., wherein a normal mode and a power saving mode are provided, and in the normal mode, when the temperature reaches a first temperature, a non-operating state is set. switching,
When the temperature reaches the second temperature, the operating state is switched to. In the power saving mode, when the temperature reaches the first temperature, the operating state is switched to the non-operating state, and when the temperature reaches the second temperature, the non-operating state is set. A power control method, characterized by switching to an operating state after extending and maintaining the operating state for a predetermined time. 4. The set time t when the operating state continues for a set time tr in the power saving mode.
The power control method according to claim 3, wherein only s is switched to a non-operating state. 5. A device for controlling power by turning on / off a power source such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, which is switched from off to on when temperature is within a predetermined range and on / off control is performed. And a means for detecting a change from off to on, and a means for forcibly extending the off time by a predetermined time without switching on when a change from off to on is detected. . 6. A device for controlling electric power, such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, which is a mode switching means for switching between a normal mode and a power saving mode, and does not operate when the temperature reaches a first temperature in the normal mode. Normal control means for switching to a state and switching to an operating state when the temperature reaches the second temperature; and, in a power saving mode, switching to a non-operating state when the temperature reaches the first temperature, the temperature being the second temperature. And a power saving control means for switching the operating state to the operating state after extending and maintaining the non-operating state for a predetermined time. 7. The set time t when the operating state continues for a set time tr in the power saving mode.
7. A means for switching to the non-operating state by s.
The power control device described.