JP2006046821A - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning system for changing the output of an ion generator according to contamination of air measured by a dust sensor, which can perform a further proper control to a dust detection quantity. <P>SOLUTION: For detection values of the dust sensor, an index moving average value adapting values in the last four samplings and using a weight to the nearest sampling value of 0.4 and a weight to the remaining sampling values of 0.2 is used. Based on the index moving average value, the output of the ion generator is controlled. The response to a natural change in sensor value is more rapid in the index moving average value. Although the phenomenon that a simple moving average value is reversed in spite of the increase of the sensor value from 18 to 19 in the 15-th item, the index moving average value faithfully responses to the natural change in sensor value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning system capable of controlling to change the output of an ion generator in accordance with air dirt measured by a dust sensor.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional general air conditioner. The refrigeration cycle of the air conditioner may have a well-known structure, and the control unit 1 that controls the operation of the refrigeration cycle includes a microcomputer. Based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor 2 that detects the operation of the user and the temperature of the intake air, the control unit 1 is a blower 3 for an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor 4, a blower 5 for an outdoor heat exchanger, and vertical and horizontal louvers. 6 and the wind guide plate 7 are controlled. Further, the control unit 1 performs drive control of the ion generator 9 based on the detection signal of the optical dust sensor 8.

Conventionally, in this type of air conditioner equipped with an optical dust sensor and an ion generator, the sensitivity of the sensor is high, so it reacts to even a small amount of dust, and it becomes a one-shot pulse noise when cleaning indoor air. Is occurring. The frequent fluctuation of the output of the ion generator in response to such noise does not correspond to the fluctuation of the average amount of dust and is not an appropriate control of the ion generator. Moreover, since it becomes a cause of malfunctions, such as reducing the lifetime of an ion generator, it is not preferable. Therefore, in this type of air conditioner, the output of the optical dust sensor is sampled for a certain time and then averaged (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-11890 (paragraphs [0015] to [0017], FIGS. 1 and 2)

  As another conventional example, when the sensor values sampled at regular intervals are set to X1, X2, X3, and X4, Xs1 = (X1 + X2 + X3 + X4) / 4 is calculated according to the formula of the simple moving average value, and the average The value was used for control. Next, when X5 was measured, an average value (moving average) for the past four times was always calculated as Xs2 = (X2 + X3 + X4 + X5) / 4, and compared with the contamination reference value. And the output of an ion generator is changed with the magnitude of the comparison value, and generation | occurrence | production density | concentration of the ion (positive ion, negative ion) which has the function to inactivate mold | fungi in the air, pollen, etc. is changeable.

  However, in this method, the sensor values for four times are calculated at the same level. Therefore, in the case of X1 >> X5> X4, although X5 is larger than X4 (dirt is increased), However, Xs2 may be smaller than Xs1 (moving average becomes smaller on the contrary). In such a case, the original control direction should be to increase the output of the ion generator when a value X5 larger than X4 is detected. However, the reverse control (the output of the ion generator is controlled by the smaller Xs2). Down).

  In the above-described conventional air conditioning system, the cause of the situation that the control in the direction opposite to the original control direction may be performed is that the past value and the new value detected by the sensor when obtaining the moving average are at the same level. The simple moving average value is used. Therefore, paying attention to this, when applying the moving average to the sensor detection value of the dust sensor that uses the output of the ion generator for control, the past value and the new value are not evaluated equally, and the weight is reduced. Therefore, there is a problem to be solved in that it can be evaluated appropriately by responding to changes in the amount of dust.

  The object of the present invention is to control in the reverse direction as described above with respect to the change in the amount of dust detected in an air conditioning system in which the output of the ion generator can be changed according to the dirt of the air measured by the dust sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning system that can control the ion generator more appropriately avoided.

  An air conditioning system according to the present invention is an air conditioning apparatus having an ion generator that generates at least one of positive ions and negative ions, a blower, a dust sensor, and a controller that controls the ion generator and the blower. The control unit is a sensor output measuring unit that samples the output of the dust sensor, an exponential moving average calculating unit that calculates an exponential moving average value of the sampled values, the calculated exponential moving average value, and a preset dirt reference value Comparing means for comparing the positive ions generated by the ion generator or the ion concentration of the negative ions in accordance with the comparison result by the comparing means.

  According to this air conditioning system, in the control unit, the sensor output measuring unit samples the output of the dust sensor, the exponential moving average calculating unit calculates the exponential moving average value of the sampled value, and the comparing unit is calculated. The exponential moving average value is compared with a preset dirt reference value, and the amount of ions generated by the ion generator is changed according to the comparison result by the comparison means. The exponential moving average value is a moving average value with a greater weight as the sampling time value is closer to the present time. Therefore, in the control of the ion generator, the data value of the new dust amount is reflected more greatly than the simple moving average of the sampling value obtained from the output of the dust sensor. Correspondingly, the ion concentration can be controlled. Note that, as the contamination is larger, the control for increasing the amount of generated ions or increasing the ion concentration is as usual.

  In this air conditioning system, the contamination reference value can be set in a plurality of stages. By setting the contamination reference value in a plurality of stages, fine control of the output of the ion generator can be performed according to the degree of contamination.

  According to this air conditioning system, it is possible to control to change the output of the ion generator in accordance with the dirt of the air measured by the dust sensor, and for the detected value of the dust sensor, a different weight is given between the past value and the new value. By using the moving average value to be added, a new measurement value is evaluated with a large weight, so that the phenomenon of frequent reverse control can be avoided. Accordingly, it is possible to generate an ion amount appropriately corresponding to increase / decrease in dust, mold fungus, pollen and the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an air conditioning system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control unit in the air conditioning system according to the present invention. Similarly to the conventional air conditioning system shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 10 receives the detection signal from the temperature sensor 2 and controls each of the blowers 3 and 5, the compressor 4, the louver 6, and the air guide plate 7. Although signals are output, these signals are omitted. The detection signal always output from the optical dust sensor 8 is input to the sensor output measuring means 11 in the control unit 10, and the sampling value X (i) is sequentially output to the exponential moving average calculating means 12 according to the sampling timing. . In the exponential moving average calculation means 12, for example, exponential moving average values Xei of four signals X (i) to X (i + 3) are calculated and output to the comparison means 14. At the manufacturer's shipping stage or the like, the dirt reference values L1 to L3 are input from the dirt reference value setting means 16 and stored in the dirt reference value storage means 13 in the control unit 10. The comparison means 14 compares the exponential moving average value Xei with the dirt reference values L1 to L3 and outputs the comparison result to the ion generator control output means 15. The ion generator control output means 15 controls the output of the ion generator 9 based on the comparison result.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit in the present air conditioning system. According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, after the start, first, the output value of the dust concentration detected by an optical dust sensor which is a kind of dust sensor for detecting mold fungi, pollen, etc. in the air is read (step 1). Abbreviated as “S1” (hereinafter the same). Specifically, the output value of the dust concentration is measured by a sensor output measuring unit provided in the control unit. Next, the measured dust concentration value is determined as an average dust concentration value after sampling processing for sampling and averaging for a certain period of time. In the flowchart, it is determined whether the sampling is finished (S2). If the determination in S2 is No, the process ends. If Yes, the moving average is calculated (S3).

The average dust concentration value calculated in S3 is compared with the set and stored dirt reference values in a plurality of stages (S4). By comparing the setting of the reference value in S4 with the set reference value, the output values of positive ions and negative ions for inactivating mold fungus, pollen and the like in the air are determined. The effect of positive and negative ions is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-95731, but will be briefly described here. The working principle of an ion generating element is that when an alternating high voltage (in many cases, a pulse voltage) is applied between the electrodes of an ion generating element that has an ion generating electrode that generates ions by forming a plasma region, ions are generated by discharge. Positive ions and negative ions are generated from the electrodes. H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is an arbitrary natural number) is generated as the positive ion, and O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is an arbitrary natural number) is generated most stably as the negative ion. . The ionic species have been confirmed by precise measurement by mass spectrometry. When these positive ions and negative ions are generated in the air at the same time, a chemical reaction occurs to generate hydrogen peroxide H ₂ O ₂ or hydroxy radicals · OH as active species. These hydrogen oxides H ₂ O ₂ or hydroxy radicals · OH exhibit extremely strong activity, and can thereby remove and inactivate allergen components of airborne bacteria, viruses, pollen and mites. .

  Based on the comparison in S4, the average dust concentration value and the preset reference value (level L1 for determining whether or not clean and two types of levels L2 and L3 for determining three levels of dirt, a total of three levels of reference values Note that the above-mentioned contamination level indicates that the air is dirty in the order of L3> L2> L1. Specifically, the average dust concentration value and each criterion value are compared. The determination reference values are provided in a plurality of stages (in the case of the present embodiment, three stages L1 to L3), and the operation intensity of the ion generator is finely controlled according to each stage. If it is determined in S4 that the average dust concentration value is the clean level (less than L1), Yes is selected in determination S5, and it is not necessary to generate ions, so that the plasma cluster is turned “OFF” ( S8). In S4, when it is determined that the average dust concentration value is the dirt strong level (L3 or higher), No is selected in Determination S5, Yes is determined in Determination S6, and the plasma cluster is set to “strong ON”. (S11). In S4, when it is determined that the average dust density value is not the stain strong level but the dirt level (L2 or more and less than L3), No is selected in the determinations of S5 and S6, and Yes is selected in the determination S7. The plasma cluster is set to “medium ON” (S10). If it is determined in S4 that the average dust concentration value is not the level during dirt but exceeds the clean level (L1 or more and less than L2), No is selected in the determinations in S5 to S7, and the plasma cluster is “weak”. ON "is set (S9).

  In FIG. 2, positive ions and / or negative ions are not generated in the plasma cluster “OFF”. In the plasma cluster “weak ON”, the plasma cluster “medium ON”, and the plasma cluster “strong ON”, the plasma cluster “strong ON”> plasma cluster “medium ON”> plasma cluster “weak ON” The amount of ions and / or negative ions generated increases. That is, the plasma cluster “strongly ON” has the largest amount of ions generated, and the plasma cluster “weakly ON” has the smallest amount of ions generated.

In this flowchart, the averaging process (moving average calculation method in S3) is different from the conventional method. Conventionally, as described above, the past four values of the sampled values are simply averaged. However, in the present invention, when calculating the moving average, an index in which a sampling value closer to the present value is given a greater weight when calculating a moving average. Moving average (weighted moving average) is performed. The average of the first four times is the same as the above-mentioned simple average. That is, the first average value Xe1 = (X1 + X2 + X3 + X4) / 4, which is the same numerical value as Xs1. Next, when X5 is measured, the values for the past three times excluding X5 are all regarded as equivalent to Xe1, and are calculated according to the following formula.
Xe2 = {(X5 * 1.6) + (Xe1 * 0.8) + (Xe1 * 0.8) + (Xe1 * 0.8)} / 4
= (X5 * 0.4) + (Xe1 * 0.6)
Hereinafter, when X6 and X7 are measured,
Xe3 = (X6 * 0.4) + (Xe2 * 0.6)
Xe4 = (X7 * 0.4) + (Xe3 * 0.6)
In other words, the latest value is given higher value than the past value. Thereafter, Xen is obtained by the above formula every time a new value Xn is measured. This 0.4 is set as an optimum value for obtaining the exponential average value for four times (if the average number changes, the coefficient 0.4 also changes. That is, from the theory of statistics, the number of samples is N ), The most recent data is given a weight of 2 / (N + 1), and the previous data is given a weight equally divided by {1-2 / (N + 1)}.

  FIG. 3 is an example of calculation of each moving average value. The initial average value is the same for both, but the average value is also different for the two items and thereafter because the calculation method is different. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the difference between the conventional simple moving average value and the exponential moving average value based on the present invention for the sensor output value. As is apparent from FIG. 4, the exponential moving average value has a faster response to changes in the original sensor value. Also, looking at the 15 items in the figure, there is a reversal phenomenon that the simple moving average value becomes negative from 18.75 to 18.25 even though the sensor value is positive from 18 to 19. . Here again, the exponential moving average value increases from 18.22 to 18.53, and it can be seen that it responds faithfully to changes in the original sensor value. In the present invention, the dust concentration is detected by the optical dust sensor. However, for example, an ion concentration measuring device may be used to change the ion concentration. In this case, for example, in the case of an air conditioning system that generates negative ions, a comfortable space can be maintained more finely by measuring the concentration of negative ions and controlling the concentration.

The block diagram which shows an example of the control part in the air conditioning system by this invention. The figure which shows an example of the flowchart showing operation | movement of the control part in the air conditioning system by this invention. An example showing the difference between a simple moving average value and an exponential moving average value. The table and graph which show a sensor value, a simple moving average value, and an exponential moving average value. The block diagram which shows the structure of a general air conditioner.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Temperature sensor 3 Blower (for indoor side heat exchangers)
4 Compressor 5 Blower (for outdoor heat exchanger)
6 Vertical and horizontal louvers 7 Air guide plate 8 Optical dust sensor 9 Ion generator 10 Control unit 11 Sensor output measurement means 12 Exponential moving average calculation means 13 Dirt reference value storage means 14 Comparison means 15 Ion generator control output means 16 Dirt reference Value setting means

Claims (2)

  An air conditioner having an ion generator that generates at least one of positive ions and negative ions, a blower, a dust sensor, and a control unit that controls the ion generator and the blower, wherein the control unit is the dust sensor. Sensor output measuring means for sampling the output of the sample, exponential moving average calculating means for calculating the exponential moving average value of the sampled values, and comparing the calculated exponential moving average value with a preset soil reference value Means for changing the ion concentration of the positive ions or the negative ions generated by the ion generator according to a comparison result by the comparison means.   The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the contamination reference value is provided as a plurality of reference values.

Images