JP2013002748A - Device and method for controlling air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner control device that easily converges within a certain normative operation range while introducing flexibility to balance between energy-saving performance and comfort.SOLUTION: The air conditioner control device 1 includes: a set value changing speed determination part 32 for determining a set value changing speed α(n) when a control set value Tset is changed from a reference set value Tini to a mitigation target set value Tsv on the energy-saving side; a demand evaluation part 33 for evaluating a demand amount with respect to thermal environment of a space to be controlled at regular time intervals; a set value determination part 34 for changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the mitigation target set value Tsv at the set value changing speed α(n); and an equipment control part 2 for controlling a control equipment 4 so that room temperature of the space to be controlled corresponds to the control set value Tset. The set value changing speed determination part 32 and the set value determination part 34 repeatedly search the set value changing speed α(n) in which the demand amount satisfies a predetermined mitigation target.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner control apparatus and method for realizing energy saving, and more particularly to an air conditioner control apparatus and method for realizing stable control while balancing energy saving and comfort according to a resident's request. Is.

  Conventionally, summer temperatures of 23 to 26 ° C. and winter temperatures of 20 to 24 ° C. have been internationally recommended as indoor temperature conditions, but in Japan, 28 ° C. and 20 ° C. are recommended as emergency energy saving measures. Air conditioning operation management that makes room temperature setting values recommended is easy for equipment managers and easy to introduce, but the setting values of 28 ° C for cooling and 20 ° C for heating depend on environmental factors other than temperature, etc. This can lead to significant deterioration or decline in productivity. Such a decrease in comfort and intellectual productivity is not only unfavorable for residents, but also for business operators such as tenants and offices, which leads to economic loss due to a decrease in employee productivity. Furthermore, dissatisfaction with residents and businesses in the living environment leads to a decline in building value, and there are many disadvantages especially for tenant owners. Therefore, the following two techniques are put into practical use.

  The first technology is a control technology that relaxes the control setting value of room temperature to the energy saving side from the setting value of the conventional operation (hereinafter referred to as reference setting value) based on the daily energy saving schedule (hereinafter referred to as setting value relaxation type). Called energy-saving control). For example, the energy consumption is suppressed by changing the control setting value of the cooling operation from the reference setting value 26 ° C. to the relaxation setting value 27 ° C. in the energy saving setting time zone. In many cases, the relaxation setting value is determined mainly by the facility manager and the person in charge of energy saving promotion in consideration of the indoor environment and taking into account complaints from residents (see Patent Document 1).

  The second technology is a comfortable control technology that incorporates the report, and is a control technology that reflects the resident's request report such as hot / cold (want to raise the temperature / want to lower the temperature) to the control setting value. (See Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-121126 A JP 2006-214624 A

  The set value relaxation type energy saving control disclosed in Patent Document 1 guarantees a modest operation, but has a problem that the room temperature setting is fixed and lacks flexibility. In other words, the set value relaxation type energy saving control disclosed in Patent Document 1 provides a stable control operation and an energy saving effect because of the constant temperature control, but cannot flexibly cope with fluctuations in load and usage conditions. The living environment may be greatly deteriorated.

  On the other hand, in the comfortable control disclosed in Patent Document 2, the flexibility of room temperature setting corresponding to the situation is maintained, but there is a problem that it is ad hoc and lacks in control stability. In the control disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, the control setting value of the room temperature is increased or decreased in accordance with the ratio of the request report ratio “hot” and the request report ratio “cold”. Therefore, although it is unlikely that the indoor environment will be extremely deteriorated, for example, in the vicinity of a state where conflicting demands such as “hot” and “cold” antagonize, the control setting value is changed on an ad hoc basis according to the situation of occurrence of the demand. As a result, the control becomes unstable without converging to a constant set value.

  The desired antagonistic state refers to, for example, a state in which conflicting demands on the hot side and the cold side are reversed at the vicinity of an arbitrary temperature. In comfortable control that reflects the resident's request report in the control setting value, the control setting value approaches the temperature at which the request is in an antagonistic state. Sometimes. FIG. 16 shows an example of the relationship between the room temperature and the resident's desired ratio. In FIG. 16, 100 indicates the ratio of requests for raising the room temperature, 101 indicates the ratio of no requests, and 102 indicates the ratio of requests for lowering the room temperature. In the example of FIG. 16, the ratio of requests on the hot side and the cold side is reversed at 26.5 ° C. When the comfort control disclosed in Patent Document 2 is adopted in such an environment, the set value approaches 26.5 ° C. in response to a hot / cold request report in the initial stage, but thereafter, a hot / cold request report is made. The setting value is changed frequently in response to the way of exiting, and the control becomes unstable. The state in which the control is unstable is left until the occupant naturally moves out of the desired antagonistic state due to a change in the occupant status of the occupant.

  Furthermore, in the comfort control incorporating the declaration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the resident's request may be excessively comfortable pursuit type, and if it is excessively comfortable pursuit type, energy consumption is inappropriately increased. There was a problem. Residents' requests are usually requests for environmental improvement such as hot / cold, that is, requests arising from dissatisfaction. Residents in moderate environments that are neither hot nor cold should be strongly aware of the air conditioning environment. Since it is general, a request that it is just right or just as it is (it is not requested in the example of FIG. 16) is difficult to gather except in cases where the resident is requested to report it experimentally. Therefore, the filings collected by the filing system that is actually operated mainly consist of conflicting request declarations such as hot / cold, and both conflicting requests in the vicinity of the demand antagonism are excessive in the worst case. It exists in a comfortable pursuit type. Further, in a general reporting system in which a resident freely reports, a resident who feels hot / cold can make a plurality of reports in a short time at an arbitrary timing. Therefore, the number of reports and the ratio of the number of reports (the ratio of hot / cold to the total number of reports) may change rapidly in a narrow temperature range depending on the resident's reporting behavior. It becomes unstable.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an air conditioner control device and method that easily converges within a certain normative operating range while incorporating flexibility in the balance between energy saving and comfort. The purpose is to do.

  The air conditioner control device of the present invention is a fixed value that stores in advance a reference set value Tini that is a control set value for constant temperature control and a relaxation target set value Tsv that is a control set value for energy saving setting than the reference set value Tini. Target storage means, set value change speed determining means for determining a set value change speed α (n) when changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the relaxed target set value Tsv, The control set value Tset is relaxed from the reference set value Tini at a set value change rate α (n) determined by the set value change rate determining unit and a request evaluation unit that evaluates a desired amount for a thermal environment at regular intervals. A set value determining means for changing to the target set value Tsv; and an equipment control means for controlling the air conditioning equipment so that the room temperature of the control target space matches the control set value Tset determined by the set value determining means. The set value change speed determining means and the set value determining means repeatedly search for the set value change speed α (n) where the desired amount satisfies a predetermined relaxation target.

Further, in one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the request evaluation unit is a request when only the latest request report is left among a plurality of request reports from the same resident as the request quantity. It is characterized in that the number of reporters or the ratio of request reporters obtained by dividing the number of request reporters by the number of residents in the control target space is derived.
Further, in one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the mitigation target is a time during which the desired amount can be maintained below a predetermined mitigation limit amount in a state where the control set value Tset = the mitigation target set value Tsv. Is a condition that is equal to or greater than a predetermined relaxation target time tkeep, and the set value determination means and the set value change speed determination means determine the set value change speed α (n) where the desired amount satisfies the predetermined relaxation target. The control set value change at the searched set value change speed α (n) is repeated in the range where the desired amount is less than or equal to the relaxing limit amount.
Further, one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention further includes search history information storage means for storing search history information of the set value change speed together with an operation mode and date / time information of the air conditioner, and the setting The value change speed determining means uses the search history information in which the external environment of the control target space is similar among the information stored in the search history information storage means to set the set value change speed α (n). It is characterized by determining.

In addition, one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention further includes an operation information storage unit that stores a history of the desired amount and the control set value Tset together with an operation mode and date / time information of the air conditioner. Information presenting means for presenting the requested amount and the operation result of the control set value Tset to an administrator based on the information stored in the operation information storing means is provided.
Further, in the configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the control set value Tset is increased during the setting change to the energy saving side from the reference set value Tini, among the residents' requests for the thermal environment of the control target space. A request that may become a trend is a trade-off request, and the request evaluation means is changing the control set value Tset to an energy saving side from the reference set value Tini, and the trade request is changed to the resident's request. If off-request is included, the requested amount when the control setting value Tset starts to be changed to the energy-saving side is used as an initial value, and the requested amount of trade-off requests up to the current time of aggregation is accumulated and aggregated. When the trade-off request is not included in the resident's request, the start time is set to a time before a predetermined fixed evaluation time tval from the current time at which the totaling is performed. It is characterized in that aggregates the requested amount to the current time as a time window from.

Further, in one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the set value change speed determination means calculates the set value change speed α (n) every time the set value change speed α (n) is searched. It is characterized by being changed at a constant rate.
Moreover, in one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the set value determining means searches for the set value change rate α that is searched when the search for the set value change rate α (n) that satisfies the relaxation target is completed. The control set value change in (n) is repeated in the range where the desired amount is equal to or less than the limit amount during relaxation, and the number of repetitions that does not satisfy the relaxation target at this set value change speed α (n) is a predetermined change speed retry. When the number Fgmax is exceeded, the number of searches is initialized, and the search for the set value change speed α (n) is performed again.
In addition, one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention further includes control settling determination means for determining whether the room temperature of the control target space has been set to the control set value Tset determined by the set value determination means. The set value determining means waits for the elapse of a predetermined set value maintenance time twait after settling, and then compares the requested amount calculated by the request evaluation means with a predetermined relaxation start limit amount, and the requested amount is Start of changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the relaxed target set value Tsv at the set value change speed α (n) determined by the set value change speed determining means when the amount is less than the relaxation start limit amount It is characterized by doing.

Further, in one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the set value determining means does the duration of a state where the condition that the desired amount is equal to or less than the relaxation start limit amount not exceeding a predetermined upper limit? Alternatively, when the number of comparisons between the request amount totaled by the request evaluation means and the relaxation start limit amount exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the set value change speed α (n) satisfying the relaxation target cannot be searched. This is characterized by notifying the administrator.
Further, in one configuration example of the air conditioner control device of the present invention, the set value determining means stops the search for the set value change speed α (n) when the predetermined search continuation condition is not satisfied, and The administrator is notified that the set value change speed α (n) satisfying the relaxation target cannot be searched.

  Further, the air conditioner control method of the present invention includes a request evaluation step for evaluating a desired amount for the thermal environment of the space to be controlled at regular intervals, and a control set value Tset as a reference set value that is a control set value for constant temperature control. A set value change speed determining step for determining a set value change speed α (n) when changing from Tini to a relaxation target set value Tsv that is a control set value for energy saving setting from the reference set value Tini; A set value determining step for changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the relaxation target set value Tsv at the set value change speed α (n) determined in the change speed determining step; A device control step for controlling the air conditioning device so as to coincide with the control set value Tset determined in the set value determination step, and the set value change speed determination step and the set value determination step. Flop and is the demand amount is characterized in that the repeatedly searching the set value change rate satisfying a predetermined relaxation target alpha (n).

  According to the present invention, the desired amount with respect to the thermal environment of the control target space is evaluated every predetermined time, and the control set value Tset is changed from the reference set value Tini to the relaxation target set value Tsv at the set value change speed α (n). By repeating this and repeatedly searching for a set value change rate α (n) where the desired amount satisfies a predetermined relaxation target, realization of stable control that realizes energy saving within a range that does not cause excessive deterioration of the living environment The possibility can be increased. In other words, in the present invention, while incorporating the evaluation of comfort reflecting the request declaration of the resident of the control target space when implementing energy saving control by changing the setting value, while incorporating flexibility in the balance between energy saving and comfort However, it is possible to realize an air conditioner control device that easily converges within a certain normative operating range.

  In the present invention, the search history information storage means for storing the search history information of the set value change speed together with the operation mode and date / time information of the air conditioner is provided, and among the information stored in the search history information storage means, the control By determining the set value change speed α (n) using search history information that is similar to the external environment of the target space, while taking flexibility into the balance between energy saving and comfort, a certain normative It is possible to increase the possibility of reducing the number of searches for the set value change speed that easily converges within the operating range.

  In the present invention, operation information storage means for storing the history of the requested amount and the control set value Tset together with the operation mode and date / time information of the air conditioner is provided, and the request is based on the information stored in the operation information storage means. By presenting the amount and the operation result of the control set value Tset to the manager, further set value relaxation is carried out to promote energy saving, or the reference set value Tini and the relaxation target set value in consideration of deterioration of the thermal environment It is possible to support operational decision making considering the balance between energy saving and comfort, such as whether to change Tsv to a value that emphasizes comfort.

  In the present invention, when the setting of the control setting value Tset is being changed to the energy saving side from the reference setting value Tini, and the trade-off request is included in the resident's request, the control setting value Tset is set to the energy saving side. By using the desired amount at the start of the change as an initial value and summing up the desired amount of trade-off requests up to the current time for aggregation, the possibility of excessive environmental degradation can be reduced.

  Further, in the present invention, when the number of repetitions that do not satisfy the relaxation target at the searched set value change speed α (n) exceeds a predetermined change speed retry number Fgmax, the number of searches is initialized and the set value change speed α By performing the search of (n) again, it is possible to cope with the case where the set value change speed α (n) searched for cannot meet the mitigation target due to changes in the indoor environment and resident status.

  In the present invention, it is determined whether or not the room temperature of the control target space has been set to the control set value Tset determined by the set value determining means, and after waiting for the elapse of a predetermined set value maintenance time twait after the set, The requested amount collected by the evaluation means is compared with a predetermined relaxation start limit amount. When the desired amount is equal to or less than the relaxation start limit amount, the set value change speed α (n) determined by the set value change speed determination means is used. By starting to change the control setting value Tset from the reference setting value Tini to the relaxation target setting value Tsv, the resident of the control target space gets used to the room environment of the room temperature of the control setting value Tset and waits until the desired amount has settled. The change of the control set value Tset can be started.

  In the present invention, the duration of the state in which the condition that the requested amount is less than or equal to the relaxation start limit amount is not satisfied exceeds a predetermined upper limit, or the request amount calculated by the request evaluation means is compared with the relaxation start limit amount When the number of times exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the administrator notifies the administrator that the set value change speed α (n) that satisfies the relaxation target cannot be searched, so that the administrator balances energy saving and comfort. It is possible to evaluate whether or not the operation setting takes account of the above, and it is possible to study for improvement such as changing the reference setting value Tini and the mitigation target setting value Tsv to a side that emphasizes more comfort.

  In the present invention, when the predetermined search continuation condition is not satisfied, the search for the set value change rate α (n) is stopped and the set value change rate α (n) that satisfies the relaxation target cannot be searched. By notifying the administrator, the administrator can evaluate whether the operation setting takes into account the balance between energy saving and comfort, and the standard setting value Tini and mitigation target setting value Tsv are more comfortable. It is possible to study for improvement such as changing to a side that emphasizes.

It is a figure which shows one example of the relationship between a request ratio and a temperature change rate. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the air conditioner control apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the control target determination part of the air conditioner control apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transition of the control setting value which a control target determination part determines, the number of request reporters which are the evaluation results of a demand evaluation part, and the setting value relaxation flag which shows whether it is during setting value relaxation operation | movement. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen of the report terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the request report data which the demand evaluation part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the total area of the request reporter number at the time of air_conditioning | cooling in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the total area of the request of "hot" at the time of air_conditioning | cooling in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the request reporter number calculation of the request evaluation part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example which deletes a duplicate request report in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example which classifies request report data in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the air conditioner control apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows one example of the change speed search log | history information in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the air conditioner control apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the presentation information displayed on the screen of an information terminal in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows one example of the relationship between room temperature and a request ratio of a resident.

[Principle of the Invention]
When changing the temperature from a predetermined temperature to a certain target temperature, it is known that the dissatisfied state changes when the temperature change rate is changed to approach the target temperature. For example, when the temperature is changed from 26 ° C. to 28 ° C., even if the target temperature is the same 28 ° C., if the rate of change in temperature when changing from 26 ° C. to 28 ° C. is changed, the state of occurrence of a request for hotness (hereinafter, (Yuka Iwasaki, “Analysis of air conditioning control and occupant characteristics using resident's thermal sensation report”, Masayuki Kuno, Department of Urban Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University) Laboratory, 2004, <http://www.davinci.nuac.nagoya-u.ac.jp/￣harada/gakui_thema/gakui.htm>)). The inventor has paid attention to the fact that the possibility of getting out of the desired antagonistic state can be increased by applying this knowledge. By applying this knowledge to setpoint relaxation control using request declaration, it is conceived that control can be easily converged within a certain operating range while incorporating flexibility in the balance between energy saving and comfort. did. Hereinafter, setting the control set value to the energy saving side is referred to as relaxation.

  FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show an example of the relationship between the desired ratio and the temperature change rate. As in FIG. 16, 100 indicates a request ratio for increasing the room temperature, 101 indicates a ratio for which there is no request, and 102 indicates a request ratio for decreasing the room temperature. The request ratio effectively represents the resident's dissatisfaction level. When the control set value is relaxed from the reference set value 26 ° C. to the relaxation target set value 27.5 ° C., if the temperature change rate to shift to 27.5 ° C. is a ′, the desired ratio of lowering the room temperature is the room temperature As shown in FIG. 1 (A) 103, the rate of change in temperature is a ″, and the desired ratio for lowering the room temperature changes as 104 in FIG. 1 (A). When the temperature change rate is a ″, the desired ratio for lowering the room temperature changes as indicated by 105 in FIG. That is, it is shown that the desired state on the hot side changes by changing the temperature change rate to a ′, a ″, a ″ ″. In this way, the change in the balance between the hot / cold desired states increases the possibility that the control set value will move toward the convergence direction by exiting from the desired antagonistic state. In the example of FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), for example, the situation in which the desired antagonistic state is reached at around 26.5 ° C. (change rate a ′) indicates the temperature change rate as a ″ or a ′. By changing to '', it becomes easy to shift to 27 ° C. which is a relaxation value on the energy saving side. Thus, by changing the temperature change rate and relaxing the control set value, the probability that the control can be stabilized increases. In addition, the number and intensity of request declarations (for example, “slightly hot” and “very hot” as the intensity of “hot” requests), the above-mentioned ratio of requests, and the number of residents who have declared requests are quantified. This is called the desired amount.

  Furthermore, the inventor, as a request quantity used as a comfort index when performing the set value relaxation control, is not the number or strength of individual request reports, but particularly the number of request reporters or the ratio of request reporters (hereinafter referred to as these). We paid attention to the amount of requesters. That is, the requester amount corresponds to a subordinate concept of the request amount. Usually, when a particular individual is accompanied by extremely intense thermal discomfort in an office environment or the like, it may be due to special factors such as high stress, extreme lack of sleep, and poor physical condition. Therefore, it is not preferable for other residents to reflect the number of requested reports from residents or the strength of requests in the control setting value, and there is a possibility that it becomes a factor of control instability. By using the requester amount, it is not necessary to reflect in the control the intensity of requests from residents who are strongly dissatisfied due to special factors, or excessive duplicate declarations from the same resident, thus realizing more stable control. It becomes easy.

  Further, adopting the requester amount realizes a state in which the tenant administrator, the facility administrator, etc. can appropriately manage the requester amount. By setting conditions regarding the amount of requesters and performing set value relaxation control so that the specified conditions are satisfied, the feasibility of stable control that achieves energy saving within a range that does not cause excessive deterioration of the living environment is increased. This is more preferable.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the condition that the control set value Tset = relaxation target set value Tsv and the number of request reporters Nv ≦ the number of relaxed limits Nvlim can be maintained as the relaxation target time tkeep is set as the relaxation target, and the relaxation target is satisfied. The set value relaxation control is performed while searching for the set value change speed in a range of Nv <Nvlim. The method for determining the control target is a unique invention part, and it is a general-purpose technique for controlling the device for which the target has been determined.

  For the sake of simplicity, an example of the cooling operation mode of a control target space such as an office will be described. However, if the variables and conditions shown in the present embodiment are appropriately set according to the application target, the same applies to other application targets as well. It goes without saying that it is possible. It is also possible to carry out the present invention throughout the year by setting application conditions and these setting parameters as a set and switching the setting parameters according to the conditions.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioner control device according to the present embodiment. The air conditioner control device 1 includes a device control unit 2 and a control target determination unit 3.
The device control unit 2 controls the control device 4 using the control set value (in this embodiment, the room temperature set value) determined by the control target determination unit 3 as a control target value.

  The set value determining unit 34 of the control target determining unit 3 is determined by the fixed value target value stored in the fixed value target storage unit 30, the control settling determination result determined by the control settling determining unit 31, and the set value change speed determining unit 32. The control setting value is determined using the request evaluation result obtained by the request evaluation unit 33 based on the change speed of the control target to be performed and the resident's request report input from the reporting terminal 5.

  The request of the request reporter (resident in the control target space) is input from the reporting terminal 5 and transmitted to the request evaluation unit 33 together with the identification information of the request reporter. If the request filer inputs his or her user ID to the reporting terminal 5 at the same time as the request report, the request reporter's identification information can be transmitted together with the request report as the request filer identification information. Good. Alternatively, when the reporting terminal 5 corresponds to each requesting filer, that is, when the reporting terminal 5 is provided for each requesting filer, the terminal ID for identifying the reporting terminal 5 is set as the identification information of the requesting filer. As well as the request report.

Hereinafter, each component will be described. The device control unit 2 controls the control device 4. Communication with the control device 4 and algorithms for controlling the control device 4 to control targets may be those using general-purpose products and technologies.
The control target determination unit 3 calculates a control set value Tset from a predetermined reference set value to a predetermined relaxed target set value while searching for a set value change rate (control set value change rate) that satisfies the above relaxation target. Based on each information of the target storage unit 30, the control settling determination unit 31, the set value change speed determination unit 32, and the request evaluation unit 33, the determination is made sequentially.

  The fixed value target storage unit 30 stores in advance a reference set value Tini [° C.], a relaxation target set value Tsv [° C.], and a relaxation target time t keep [sec], which are control set values for constant temperature control. . The reference set value Tini is a conventional set value in consideration of comfort. For example, in an internationally recommended example, the reference set value Tini is 23 to 26 ° C. in summer and 20 to 24 ° C. in winter. The mitigation target set value Tsv is a set value that is set to be energy saving than the reference set value Tini. That is, when air conditioning is operated in a general air conditioning system, the mitigation target set value Tsv is normally set to a temperature higher than the reference set value Tini during cooling, and the reference set value during heating. It is set to a temperature lower than Tini.

  The relaxation target time tkeep is a target time to be maintained with the control set value Tset = the relaxation target set value Tsv and the desired reporter number Nv ≦ the relaxed limit number Nvlim. These standard set value Tini, mitigation target set value Tsv, and mitigation target time tkeep are within a general range assuming that energy saving to be realized and extreme indoor environment deterioration will not occur. The environment manager (hereinafter referred to as the administrator) sets appropriately.

  The control settling determination unit 31 determines whether or not the control amount (the room temperature of the control target space in the present embodiment) has been set to the control set value determined by the control target determination unit 3. In the control settling determination unit 31, a control settling determination condition is set in advance by an equipment administrator or a control provider.

  The set value change rate determination unit 32 determines a set value change rate when changing the control set value from the reference set value Tini [° C.] to the relaxation target set value Tsv [° C.]. In the set value change rate determination unit 32, the change rate initial value αs [° C./sec], the change rate determination method, and the change rate search continuation condition (hereinafter referred to as search continuation condition) are set in advance by the facility manager or provider. Has been. As the change speed determination method, a general-purpose search method may be used, but for the sake of simplicity, the change speed determination method of the present embodiment is an example of decreasing the set value change speed at a constant rate. The search continuation condition is “the change speed change count is not more than a predetermined upper limit value and the change speed is not less than a predetermined lower limit value”. Further, in the set value change speed determination unit 32, a change speed change width −a [° C./sec] (a is a positive number), a change speed update upper limit number nmax [times], and a change speed lower limit αmin are set. .

  The request evaluation unit 33 receives and stores the request report of the request filer and the identification information of the request filer transmitted from the reporting terminal 5, evaluates the request report at a predetermined evaluation timing, and obtains a request evaluation result (this In the embodiment, the request reporter number Nv) is calculated. The request evaluation is performed based on the type of the request and a set value relaxation flag Cstat indicating whether or not the set value relaxation operation for changing the control set value to the energy saving setting is in progress.

  The request evaluation unit 33 includes a relaxation start limit number Nvs [person] used in the set value relaxation start determination for the obtained request evaluation result, and a relaxing limit number Nvlim [used in the set value relaxation stop determination. Person] is preset. Further, the request evaluation unit 33 sets the set value maintenance time as a time until the resident of the control target space gets used to the indoor environment of the reference set value Tini [° C.] after the control is settled to the reference set value Tini [° C.]. twait [min] is also set in advance.

  The mitigation start limit number Nvs [person] and the mitigation limit number Nvlim [person] are used by the manager as a management index of the indoor environment (including not only the thermal environment but also environmental productivity factors such as intellectual productivity). The number is set in advance in consideration of the number of request reporters.

  In the present embodiment, the number of request reporters is used as the requester amount, but a request reporter ratio obtained by dividing the number of request reporters by the number of residents in the control target space may be used as the requester amount. . Here, the number of residents to be used may adopt the exact number of people using the information of the security system or the image sensor, but this embodiment can also be achieved by using the average number of residents of the control target space. Applicable. In this case, parameter values such as the relaxation start limit number Nvs [person] and the relaxation limit number Nvlim [person] are appropriately determined in consideration of the fluctuation range of the actual number of residents with respect to the assumed average number of residents. To do.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the evaluation timing is set to each evaluation cycle Cs in order to simplify the explanation. However, the demand evaluation described in this embodiment sequentially at an arbitrary timing when the request report from the request filer occurs. May be performed.

  The control device 4 is an air conditioning device to be controlled. The reporting terminal 5 is a terminal through which a requesting reporter inputs a request for thermal improvement of the indoor environment (hot / cold, desire to raise / lower room temperature, etc.). Examples of the reporting terminal 5 include a dedicated terminal, a PC (computer), and a mobile phone. The reporting terminal 5 transmits the request input by the request filer and the identification information of the request filer to the request evaluation unit 33. As described above, the identification information of the request reporter may be a user ID, or the terminal ID of the report terminal 5 if the report terminal 5 corresponds to the request reporter on a one-to-one basis.

  Next, the operation of the control target determination unit 3 that is a characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control target determining unit 3. FIG. 4 is a control set value Tset determined by the control target determining unit 3, the number Nv of request reporters as the evaluation result of the request evaluation unit 33, and the set value relaxation operation. It is a figure which shows transition of the setting value relaxation flag Cstat which shows whether it is inside. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the device control unit 2 performs basic control basic operation of controlling the control device 4 using the control set value Tset determined by the control target determination unit 3 as a target value. It is assumed that it is executed in parallel with the operation of the unit 3. In addition, the request evaluation unit 33 sequentially receives request reports transmitted from the request filer via the reporting terminal 5 at an arbitrary timing, and the number Nv [persons] of request reporters as the evaluation results for each evaluation cycle Cs. It is assumed that the operation of updating is repeated.

Hereinafter, the basic operation of the control target determination unit 3 will be described, and then the details of the request evaluation of the request evaluation unit 33 will be described.
The fixed value target storage unit 30 is preset with a reference set value Tini [° C.] and a relaxation target set value Tsv [° C.] which are control set values for constant temperature control. The reference set value Tini is a conventional set value in consideration of comfort. For example, in an internationally recommended example, the reference set value Tini is 23 to 26 ° C. in summer and 20 to 24 ° C. in winter. The relaxation target set value Tsv is a set value that is set on the energy saving side with respect to the reference set value Tini in accordance with an air-conditioning operation mode such as cooling / heating. In order to simplify the explanation, in the present embodiment, a representative example at the time of cooling will be described, so that Tsv> Tini. The mitigation target set value Tsv, which is energy saving setting, is set as appropriate in accordance with the control device 4 being used and the operation mode (heating, etc.).

  When the set value determining operation is started, the set value determining unit 34 of the control target determining unit 3 initializes the set value relaxation flag Cstat to 0 and initializes the change speed change count n to 1 as an initialization process. Here, the set value relaxation flag Cstat indicates whether or not the control set value Tset, which is a control target, is set to be energy saving than the reference set value Tini. In the case of Cstat = 1, the control set value Tset is set to be energy saving than the reference set value Tini, which indicates that the set value relaxation operation is being performed. When Cstat = 0, the control setting value Tset is not set to be energy saving than the reference setting value Tini, indicating that the setting value relaxation operation is not being performed. That is, Cstat = 1 indicates a state in which the comfort of the occupant in the control target space may be sacrificed by the set value relaxation that is energy saving control. The change speed change count n (n is a positive integer) indicates the search count that is the change count of the set value change speed. Hereinafter, the change speed change count n is referred to as the search count n.

After the initialization process, the set value determination unit 34 sets Tset = Tini, t0 = tnow, Fg = 0, Nv = NvHbase = 0 as the set value determination start process (step S1-1 in FIG. 3). Here, Tset is the control set value, Tini is the reference set value, t0 is the reference value control start time, tnow is the current time, Fg is the search state flag, Nv is the number of request reporters, and NvHbase is “hot”. This is the initial number of request reporters.
By setting Tset = Tini in the target determination start process, the device control unit 2 starts control of the control device 4 so that the room temperature of the control target space becomes the reference set value Tini.

  The search state flag Fg is a positive integer indicating the search state of the set value change speed, and indicates a state as shown in Table 1.

The request reporter number Nv and the request reporter number initial value NvHbase are used in the operation of the request evaluation unit 33 described later.
Next, the set value change speed determination unit 32 determines the set value change speed α (n) based on the search state flag Fg (step S1-2 in FIG. 3). When Fg = 0, the set value change speed α (n) is determined according to the change speed determination method stored in advance. The case of Fg ≧ 1 will be described in the operations after step S1-11.

The change speed determination method of the present embodiment is expressed by the following equation using the change speed initial value αs [° C./sec] and the change speed change width −a [° C./sec] (a is a positive number). The decision method to be used.
α (n) = αs−a × (n−1) (1)
That is, the set value change speed determination unit 32 determines the set value change speed α (n) according to the equation (1). In order to simplify the explanation, the present embodiment shows an example in which the set value change speed α (n) is decreased by a predetermined change width a by the expression (1), but the set value change speed α (n ) May be increased by a predetermined change width, or the change width may be made variable.

  Next, the set value determination unit 34 makes a search continuation determination of the set value change speed α (n) based on the search continuation condition (step S1-3 in FIG. 3). The search continuation condition of the present embodiment is based on a predetermined upper limit number nmax [changes] of update speed update and a change speed lower limit αmin (αmin <αs), and (n ≦ nmax) and (α (n) ≧ αmin ). If the search continuation condition is not satisfied, the set value determination operation is stopped (NO in step S1-3 in FIG. 3). When the set value determining operation is stopped, the set value change speed α (n) satisfying a predetermined relaxation target of Tset = Tsv and Nv ≦ Nvlim that can be sustained while maintaining Nv ≦ Nvlim cannot be searched within the range of the search continuation condition. It shows that.

  Even when the set value determination operation is stopped, the mitigation target may be achieved due to changes in the outdoor air condition, the indoor load, and the number of residents. For this reason, when the set value determining operation is canceled, an activation schedule is set in advance such that the set value determining operation is activated again at a predetermined time or several tens of minutes after the set value determining operation is canceled. Thus, there is a possibility that a time zone that satisfies a predetermined relaxation target may be realized within a longer period such as a day unit. The search continuation condition may be determined as appropriate according to the change speed determination method, and in the case of using a search method, a constraint condition such as the number of searches and a search range may be determined.

  In addition, when the set value determination operation is canceled, it is desirable to notify the manager of the event by leaving an event in the log or sending an e-mail. The notified administrator can evaluate whether or not the operation setting takes into consideration the balance between energy saving and comfort, and changes the reference setting value and the mitigation target setting value to a side that emphasizes comfort. It is possible to study for improvement.

  Next, when the search continuation condition of (n ≦ nmax) and (α (n) ≧ αmin) is satisfied (YES in step S1-3 in FIG. 3), the set value determination unit 34 sets the control amount to the control set value Tset. Waiting for settling (step S1-4 in FIG. 3). The control settling determination unit 31 performs the determination as to whether or not the settling is performed based on a predetermined settling determination condition. The settling judgment condition may be a judgment condition generally used in air conditioning control. For example, the settling judgment condition is that the room temperature as the control amount is within a predetermined range near the control set value Tset for a predetermined time or more. Specifically, for example, the settling determination condition may be that the control amount changes for 10 minutes or more in the range of Tset ± 0.2 ° C.

  The set value determining unit 34 waits for the set value maintaining time twait to elapse while the control set value is kept at Tset = Tini (step S1-5 in FIG. 3). The set value maintenance time twait may be an approximate time until the resident of the control target space gets used to the indoor environment at room temperature Tini. For example, a value such as 20 minutes, which is adopted as a guideline in experiments relating to psychology and physiology of the thermal environment, is preset in the request evaluation unit 33 as the set value maintenance time twait.

  When the set value retention time twait elapses, the set value determination unit 34 makes a set value relaxation start determination (step S1-6 in FIG. 3). The set value determination unit 34 compares the relaxation start limit number Nvs [people] set in the request evaluation unit 33 with the number of request reporters Nv [people] that is the latest request evaluation result of the request evaluation unit 33. Thus, it is determined whether Nv ≦ Nvs. When Nv ≦ Nvs is not satisfied (NO in step S1-6 in FIG. 3), setting value determination unit 34 repeats the setting value relaxation start determination in step S1-6 and waits for the condition to be satisfied. During this time, since the control set value Tset remains the reference set value Tini, the room temperature is maintained at Tini.

  In addition, even if the upper limit is set for the duration in which Nv ≦ Nvs is not satisfied and the number of repetitions of the set value relaxation start determination, the duration exceeds the upper limit, or the number of repetitions of the set value relaxation start determination exceeds the upper limit. , Nv ≦ Nvs is not satisfied, it is preferable to cancel the set value determination operation and notify the administrator as in the case where the search continuation condition in step S1-3 is not satisfied. Also in this case, the notified administrator can examine whether or not it is an operation setting that takes into account the balance between energy saving and comfort.

  Examples of changes in the control set value Tset, the number of request reporters Nv, and the set value relaxation flag Cstat during the operations in steps S1-4 to S1-6 described above are shown in W-1, W-2, and W-3 in FIG. It is shown in the section. In each of the sections W-1, W-2, and W-3, since Nv ≦ Nvs is not satisfied, the control setting value Tset remains the reference setting value Tini, and the setting value relaxation flag Cstat is set. The value 0 remains indicating that the value relaxation operation is not being performed.

  Next, when Nv ≦ Nvs is satisfied (YES in step S1-6 in FIG. 3), the set value determining unit 34 sets the set value relaxation flag Cstat = 1 and the set value relaxation start time t1 = tnow as the set value relaxation start process. (Step S1-7 in FIG. 3). “tnow” is the time when the set value relaxation start processing is performed. In addition, the set value determination unit 34 sets the initial value NvHbase [person] of the number of reporters requesting “hot” at the start of set value relaxation to the number of the latest request reporters who are requesting “hot”. NvH [person] (step S1-7). NvH and NvHbase will be described in the operation of the request evaluation unit 33 described later.

Next, the set value determining unit 34 determines the control set value Tset as the energy saving setting relaxation value by using the set value changing rate α (n) determined by the set value changing rate determining unit 32 in step S1-2. (Step S1-8 in FIG. 3).
A = Tini + α (n) × F_et (tnow, t1) (2)

Here, F_et (tnow, t1) is an elapsed time [sec] from the set value relaxation start time t1 to the current time tow. n is the number of searches, and is an integer of n = 1, 2, 3,..., nmax. Needless to say, the current time tnow is the time at which the set value determination unit 34 attempts to determine the control set value Tset. The set value determining unit 34 sets the control set value Tset = A when the value A calculated by the equation (2) is smaller than the mitigation target set value Tsv, that is, A <Tsv, and the value A is equal to or greater than the mitigation target set value Tsv. That is, when A ≧ Tsv, the control set value Tset = Tsv.
The device control unit 2 controls the control device 4 so that the room temperature of the space to be controlled matches the new control setting value Tset determined by the setting value determination unit 34.

  Then, the set value determination unit 34 determines whether to cancel the set value relaxation to check whether the request reporter number Nv [person], which is the evaluation result of the request evaluation unit 33, does not exceed the relaxed limit number Nvlim [person]. Performed (step S1-9 in FIG. 3). If the desired reporter number Nv does not exceed the relaxed limit number Nvlim (NO in step S1-9 in FIG. 3), the set value determination unit 34 returns to step S1-8, and sets the control set value according to equation (2). Update Tset. Therefore, if Nv ≦ Nvlim, the processes of steps S1-8 and S1-9 are repeated, and the control set value Tset changes from the reference set value Tini [° C.] toward the relaxation target set value Tsv [° C.]. It is gradually changed to the energy saving side by α (n) [° C./sec]. Even if the control setting value Tset reaches the relaxation target setting value Tsv, if Nv ≦ Nvlim, the control setting value Tset is maintained as the relaxation target setting value Tsv.

  Then, when the number Nv of request reporters exceeds the limit number Nvlim during relaxation (Nv> Nvlim), the set value determination unit 34 stops the set value relaxation operation (YES in step S1-9 in FIG. 3) and searches for the current search. Based on the state flag Fg, the relaxation target maintaining time tmt, and the relaxation target time tkeep [sec], the search state flag Fg is updated (step S1-10 in FIG. 3). Here, tmt is the actual time [sec] in which the condition (Tset = Tsv) and (Nv ≦ Nvlim) is maintained, and tkeep is the target time [sec] in which the condition (Tset = Tsv) and (Nv ≦ Nvlim) is to be maintained. It is. The target time tkeep is predetermined by the administrator.

The set value determination unit 34 calculates the actual time tmt by the equation (3).
B = (Tsv−Tini) / α (n) (3)
When the value B calculated by the equation (3) is equal to or greater than the elapsed time F_et (tnow, t1) from the set value relaxation start time t1 to the current time tnow, the set value determination unit 34 sets the actual time tmt = 0, When B is less than the elapsed time F_et (tnow, t1), the actual time tmt is set to a value F_et (tnow, t1) -B obtained by subtracting B from the elapsed time F_et (tnow, t1). Needless to say, the current time tnow is the time at which the set value determination unit 34 attempts to update the search state flag Fg.

  When the current search state flag Fg = 0 and tmt <tkeep, that is, when the previous set value relaxation process and the current set value relaxation process do not satisfy the relaxation target, the set value determination unit 34 Is the same as Fg = 0. The set value determination unit 34 updates the search state flag to Fg = 1 when the current search state flag Fg = 0 and tmt ≧ tkeep, that is, when the relaxation target is satisfied in the current set value relaxation process. When the current search state flag Fg ≧ 1 and tmt <tkeep, that is, the set value determination unit 34 satisfies the relaxation target at least once in the previous set value relaxation process, and satisfies the relaxation target in the current set value relaxation process. If not, the value of the search state flag Fg is increased by 1 (Fg = Fg + 1). When the current search state flag Fg ≧ 1 and tmt ≧ tkeep, that is, the set value determination unit 34 satisfies the relaxation target at least once in the previous set value relaxation process, and also satisfies the relaxation target in the current set value relaxation process If the search status flag is updated, the search state flag is updated to Fg = 1.

Thus, when Fg = 1, it indicates that the current relaxation target has been met, and when Fg ≧ 2, the number of times that the relaxation target has not been met continuously when the set value change is repeated at the same change speed (Fg -1).
The actual time tmt is calculated by the equation (3). The time when Tset = Tsv is stored in the memory while steps S1-8 and S1-9 are repeated, and this time and step S1-10 are stored. Of course, a method of calculating the actual time tmt from the difference from the time at the time may be used.

  After the search state flag Fg is updated, the set value determination unit 34 sets the set value relaxation flag Cstat = 0 as the set value determination operation update process, and further updates the number n of searches based on the search state flag Fg (step S1 in FIG. 3). -11). The search count n is updated as follows based on the search state flag Fg and the change speed retry count Fgmax. The change speed retry count Fgmax is an allowable value for the number of times that the mitigation target is not continuously satisfied once the setting value change is repeated at a change speed that satisfies the mitigation target, and is determined in advance by the administrator or the control provider. Is a positive integer. Specifically, when the search state flag Fg = 0, the set value determination unit 34 increases the number of searches n by 1 (n = n + 1). The set value determination unit 34 maintains the current number of searches n when 1 ≦ Fg ≦ (Fgmax + 1). Further, the set value determining unit 34 initializes the number of searches n to 1 (n = 1) when Fg> (Fgmax + 1).

  That is, when Fg = 0, which is a case where the relaxation target is not satisfied in the previous set value relaxation process and the current set value relaxation process, the number of searches n is incremented (n = n + 1), and the next step S1- 1 to S1-11, the set value change speed α (n) is changed again. When Fg ≧ 1, the search for the set value change speed α (n) that satisfies the relaxation target is completed. Without incrementing the number of times n (n = n), the same set value change speed α (n) is used in the processing of the next steps S1-1 to S1-11.

  However, if the number of times that the relaxation target is not satisfied in the set value relaxation retry at the same set value change rate α (n) continuously exceeds Fgmax, the search count n is initialized (n = 1), so In the processing of steps S1-1 to S1-11, the operation is the same as when the set value determining operation is started. That is, even if the set value change speed α (n) satisfying the relaxation target is searched, the set value change speed α (n) cannot satisfy the relaxation target because the indoor environment or the resident's situation changes thereafter. In some cases, the set value change speed α (n) is searched again in response to this case.

  Then, the setting value determination start process is performed again in step S1-1, and the setting value change speed α (n) is determined based on the number of searches n updated in the immediately preceding step S1-11 (step S1-2). Steps S1-3 and subsequent steps are executed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the relaxation target (control set value Tset = relaxation target set value Tsv and the desired number of reporters Nv ≦ the time limit that can be maintained while the relaxation limit number Nvlim is maintained is the relaxation target time tkeep or more). By searching for the set value change rate α (n) and repeating the control set value change at the searched set value change rate α (n) in the range of Nv ≦ Nvlim, the range that does not cause excessive deterioration of the living environment The feasibility of stable control realizing energy saving can be increased.

  In the sections X-1 and X-2 in FIG. 4, while the requested reporter number Nv is equal to or less than the relaxed limit number Nvlim, the set value relaxation flag Cstat becomes a value 1 indicating that the set value relaxation operation is being performed. The control set value Tset is repeatedly changed at the set value change speed α (n), and the set value relaxation operation is stopped when the desired reporter number Nv exceeds the relaxed limit number Nvlim. On the other hand, similarly in the section X-3, the control set value Tset is repeatedly changed at the set value change speed α (n). However, before the desired reporter number Nv exceeds the relaxed limit number Nvlim, the control setting value is set. The value Tset has reached the relaxation target set value Tsv.

  Next, a request evaluation operation of the request evaluation unit 33 will be described. The reporting terminal 5 is a terminal through which a requesting reporter inputs a request for thermal improvement of the indoor environment (hot / cold, desire to raise / lower room temperature, etc.). Examples of the reporting terminal 5 include a dedicated terminal, a PC (computer), and a mobile phone. The reporting terminal 5 receives a request to be reported by the request filer at an arbitrary timing, and transmits the request and identification information of the request filer to the request evaluation unit 33. As described above, the identification information of the request reporter may be a user ID, or the terminal ID of the report terminal 5 if the report terminal 5 corresponds to the request reporter on a one-to-one basis. FIG. 5 shows an example of the screen of the reporting terminal 5.

  This embodiment is intended to increase the feasibility of stable control that achieves energy saving within a range that does not cause excessive deterioration of the living environment. And

  The request evaluation unit 33 sequentially receives the request report and the request reporter identification information transmitted from the reporting terminal 5, and stores them as request report data together with the request occurrence time. An example of the request declaration data is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, the value “1” in the request report column indicates a request report “cold”, and the value “2” indicates a request report “hot”. The request evaluation unit 33 uses this request report data to tabulate the number of request reporters for each request type (hot / cold etc.) that is a target for which a predetermined evaluation is made for each predetermined evaluation cycle Cs [minute]. The total value of the number of request reporters of each request type is calculated as the number Nv of request reporters as the request evaluation result.

  Whether the request type for each request type (hot / cold, etc.) is a trade-off request specified by the air-conditioning operation mode (cooling / heating, etc.) and the set value at the time of evaluation. Different tabulations are performed depending on. The trade-off request is a request that tends to increase when the indoor environment deteriorates due to a setting value that emphasizes energy saving. In the present embodiment (during cooling), the demand for “hot” that may increase with time when Cstat = 1 indicating that the set value relaxation operation is in progress is a trade-off request. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a count section of the number of request reporters during cooling. In the example of FIG. 7, the request “hot” aggregated in the section represented by 70 is a trade-off request.

  Note that the increasing trend of demand here refers to a gradual increase over time even if there is a slight increase or decrease. If the request to be evaluated is a trade-off request, the number of request reporters is the integrated value of the trade-off request. If the request to be evaluated is a request other than a trade-off request, the number of request reporters is the value of the most recent fixed evaluation section. The number of request reporters is updated for each evaluation as an aggregate value.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, different tabulation intervals are adopted depending on whether or not the request type at the time of evaluation is a trade-off request. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a totaling section of requests for “hot” during cooling. When the request to be evaluated is a trade-off request, the request evaluation unit 33 declares the trade-off request after the start of the set value relaxation as a total section from the set value relaxation start time t1 to the current time tnow as shown in FIG. The integrated value of the number of people is calculated. Needless to say, the current time tnow is the time at which the request evaluation unit 33 attempts to add up the number of request reporters. The request evaluation unit 33 sets the initial value of the number of request reporters of trade-off requests as the number of request reporters at the start of set value relaxation. In the example of FIG. 8, 80 indicates the totaling section of the number of reporters requesting trade-off requests, and 81 indicates the time point of counting the number of reporters requesting trade-off requests. The interval between the counting points 81 is the evaluation cycle Cs.

  On the other hand, when the request to be evaluated is a request other than the trade-off request, the request evaluation unit 33 calculates an integrated value of the number of reporters of the request using the past fixed evaluation section closest to the current time “tnow” as the total section. Requests other than the trade-off request are a request for “cold” during cooling and a request for “hot” when Cstat = 0 indicating that the set value relaxation operation is not being performed. In the case of cooling, the request “cold” is a request other than the trade-off request regardless of the value of the set value relaxation flag Cstat.

  For requests other than this trade-off request, as shown in FIG. 7, the time before the current evaluation time tval by the fixed evaluation time tval is set as the start time of the aggregation, and the number of request reporters is calculated from this start time to the current time tnow. This is the total section. In the example of FIG. 8, 82 indicates the time point of counting the number of reporters of requests other than trade-off requests, and a time period between the time point 82 before the fixed time tval and the time point 82 prior to the time point 82 is a request other than the trade-off request. This is a totaling section 84 of the number of reporters.

  For example, if the fixed evaluation time tval is 20 minutes and the current time tnow is 11:20, the total section is from 11:00 to 11:20. However, when the request to be evaluated is a request other than the trade-off request, if the start time of the total section is earlier than the standard control start time t0, the standard control start time t0 is set as the total start time. Further, the fixed evaluation time tval [min] may be a time required for a resident of the control target space to get used to the indoor environment at a constant temperature, and tval [min] = set value maintaining time twait [min] is appropriate. .

  From the above points, when the request for evaluation is a trade-off request, the aggregate section start time of the number of request reporters is the set value relaxation start time t1, and when the request for evaluation is a request other than the trade-off request, request declaration The total section start time of the number of persons is F_late (t0, F_past (tnow, tval)). Here, F_past (tnow, tval) is a time that is a fixed evaluation time tval before the current time tnow, and F_late (t0, F_past (tnow, tval)) is a reference control start time t0 and a time F_past (tnow, tval, tval). The later time of tval).

  Then, the request evaluation unit 33 calculates the total value NvH + NvC of the number NvC of requesters requesting “cold” and the number NvH of requesters requesting “hot” as the number of request reporters Nv. To do. In the example of FIG. 8, only the counting section of the request “hot” at the time of cooling is shown, but it goes without saying that the number of reporters requesting “cold” at the time of counting is counted at the same time. In the case of cooling, the request “cold” is a request other than the trade-off request regardless of the value of the set value relaxation flag Cstat. Therefore, when Cstat = 0, the number of reporters who request “cold” is counted in the same counting section as the request “hot” in the counting section 84 shown in FIG. When Cstat = 1, the number of reporters requesting “cold” from the time before the fixed evaluation time tval to the total time point 81 from the total time point 81 shown in FIG. 8 is totaled.

  FIG. 9 shows an operation flow for calculating the number of request reporters of the request evaluation unit 33. The request evaluation unit 33 determines whether or not a trade-off request is included in the request to be evaluated at the current time “tnow”, and the start time of the counting section of the number of request reporters according to whether or not the trade-off request is included. And the current time tnow is set as the end time of the counting section (step S1-21 in FIG. 9). As described above, when the request of the evaluation target is a trade-off request, the total section start time is the set value relaxation start time t1, and when the request of the evaluation target is a request other than the trade-off request, the total section start time is F_late (t0 , F_past (tnow, tval)).

  The aggregation section for the request “cold” thus obtained is PC (tcs, tnow), and the aggregation section for the request “hot” is PH (ths, tnow). Here, tcs is the start time of the counting section of the number of reporters requesting “cold”, and ths is the start time of the counting section of the number of reporters requesting “hot”. If the request to be evaluated does not include a trade-off request, the aggregation interval of the request “Cold” and the request “Hot” are the same (tcs = ths), but the trade-off request when Cstat = 1 In other words, when the request “hot” is included, the aggregation section of the request “cold” and the request “hot” are usually different (tcs ≠ ths).

  Next, the request evaluation unit 33 determines an extraction section E (tes, tnow) of request report data used for evaluation, and extracts the request report data in the extraction section E (step S1-22 in FIG. 9). Here, tes is the start time of the extraction section E. When tcs = ths, tes = tcs = ths, and when tcs ≠ ths, tes = F_ear (tcs, ths). Here, F_ear (tcs, ths) is the earlier time of time tcs and time ths.

  Then, in order to avoid duplicative counting when the same filer makes a plurality of declarations, the request evaluation unit 33 is updated when there are a plurality of request reports from the same filer in the extracted request report data. The request report of the reporter other than the request report is deleted (step S1-23 in FIG. 9). FIG. 10 shows an example in which the process of deleting the duplicate request report is performed on the request report data in the extraction section E (11:00, 11:20). In the example of FIG. 10, since the request filer of identification information “UID51” has filed twice, only the latest request filed by the request filer at 11:19 is left, and the request at 11: 1 The declaration has been deleted.

  The request evaluation unit 33 classifies the request report data after the processing in step S1-23 for each request type (step S1-24 in FIG. 9). FIG. 11 shows an example in which the request report data is classified into a request report “Cold” and a request report “Hot”.

  Next, the request evaluation unit 33 extracts only the request report data of the total section corresponding to the request type, and the number of requesters for each request type, that is, the number of request reporter identification information from the request report data of the total section. Are calculated, and the number NvC of requesters who request “cold” and the number NvH of requesters who request “hot” are obtained (step S1-25 in FIG. 9). When demand declaration data does not include a trade-off request, when tcs = ths, the extraction interval E (tes, tnow) is “cold” and the request interval is PC (tcs, now) and “hot” is calculated It coincides with the section PH (ths, tnow). On the other hand, when a trade-off request is included in the request declaration data, only one of PC (tcs, tnow) and PH (ths, tnow) coincides with the extraction section E (tes, tnow). The data of the total section corresponding to the request type is extracted again after the process of the person.

  Then, the request evaluation unit 33 totals the number NvC of requesters who request “cold” and the number NvH of requesters who request “hot” from the request report data in the total section. Only in the case of a request, a value obtained by adding the initial value at the start of set value relaxation to the number of reporter identification information of the trade-off request is set as the number of request reporters.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, in the calculation of the trade-off request when Cstat = 1, that is, the total number of reporters requesting “hot”, the initial number of reporters requesting “hot” at the start of setpoint relaxation A value obtained by adding the value NvHbase to the total value of the number of reporter identification information of trade-off requests is defined as NvH, and the number of requesting reporters from the start of set value relaxation is integrated. The initial value NvHbase of the number of reporters requesting “hot” at the start of set value relaxation is set in step S1-7. As described above, the possibility of excessive environmental deterioration can be reduced by evaluating the integrated value from the initial stage for the trade-off request in which the number of request reporters tends to increase.

  Finally, the request evaluation unit 33 terminates the request evaluation by setting the total value NvH + NvC of the number NvC of requesters requesting “cold” and the number of requesters NvH requesting “hot” as the number Nv of request reporters ( FIG. 9 step S1-26). The request evaluation unit 33 repeatedly executes the processes in steps S1-21 to S1-26 for each evaluation cycle Cs [minutes].

  In the present embodiment, two types of requests, hot / cold, are targeted for evaluation in the request evaluation. However, the living environment management index is determined according to the operation mode and control set value relaxation target. It is sufficient to select one or more request types that include an appropriate trade-off request. For example, only "Hot" requests during cooling operation are counted, and only "Cold" requests during heating operation are counted. It is good also as an object of.

  In addition, the request declaration is, for example, “Very hot”, “Hot”, “Cold”, “Very cold”, only the request of “Very hot” during cooling operation is evaluated, and “Very cold” during heating operation Only the request may be evaluated. In either case, the number of mitigation starting limits Nvs [persons] or the number of limits during relaxation Nvlim [persons] that are to be used as management indices according to the type of request selected as the evaluation target, the standard set value Tini, the mitigation target set value Tsv, etc. It goes without saying that it is set to.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the flexibility of the balance between energy saving and comfort can be obtained by incorporating the evaluation of comfort reflecting the request declaration of the resident in the controlled space when implementing energy saving control by changing the setting value. However, it is possible to realize an air conditioner control device that easily converges within a certain normative operating range.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, an operation history of past set value relaxation control is utilized, and a past set value change speed that satisfies a relaxation target under similar conditions is used when determining an initial value of a set value change speed search. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioner control device according to the present embodiment, and the same components as those in FIG. The air conditioner control device 1 a according to the present embodiment adds an operation information storage unit 6 to the air conditioner control device 1 according to the first embodiment, and includes a control target determination unit 3 a instead of the control target determination unit 3. It is a thing. The control target determination unit 3 a includes a set value change speed determination unit 32 a instead of the set value change speed determination unit 32.

The basic operation of the control target determination unit 3a is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the operation of step S1-2 is different. Since operations other than step S1-2 are the same, only different operations will be described.
The change rate search history information is stored in the operation information storage unit 6 together with the operation mode (air conditioning operation mode such as cooling / heating) of the control device 4 at the start of set value relaxation and date / time information at the start of set value relaxation. The change speed search history information includes the set value change speed α (n) determined by the set value change speed determination unit 32a, the number of searches n, the search state flag Fg updated in step S1-10, and the relaxation target maintenance time tmt. It is information to include. An example of the change speed search history information is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 13, Fgmax = 2 and tkeep = 20 [minutes].

  According to the change speed search history information, the set value change speed that has achieved the relaxation target can be determined from the number of searches n and the value of the search state flag Fg, and when the set value relaxation is repeated at the set value change speed. The number of times the mitigation target has been achieved and the maintenance time at the mitigation target set value can be extracted. In the example of FIG. 13, the set value change speed α (n) = P1, α (n) = P2, used in the set value relaxation control at 9:00, 9:40, 13:40, 14:15, It can be seen that when α (n) = P2 ′, the relaxation target could not be achieved (Fg = 0). On the other hand, the set value relaxation control at the set value change speed α (n) = P3 is performed a total of 5 times (number of times of Fg ≧ 1). Of these, the relaxation target is achieved twice (number of times of Fg = 1). It can be seen that the number of times that the mitigation target has not been achieved is three times (the number of times Fg ≧ 2).

  The operation information storage unit 6 also stores relaxation target maintenance time tmt when the set value relaxation control is performed at the set value change speed α (n) = P3 as the change speed search history information. In FIG. 13, in the change speed determination method of the first embodiment, α (n) = P2 = P2 ′. However, depending on the change speed determination method employed, α (n), which is an initial value of the change speed, is used. Of course, the setting value changing speed may be different except for P1.

  The set value change speed determination unit 32a of the present embodiment has an operation information storage unit 6 when the number of searches is n = 1 (that is, the first set value change speed search) in the process of step S1-2 of FIG. The external environment similar data determined using at least the operation mode and date / time information is extracted from the change speed search history information stored in the information, and the set value change satisfying the mitigation target is extracted from the external environment similar data The speed is adopted as the initial value of the set value change speed α (n).

  The external environment similar data is change speed search history information that is considered to be similar in the external environment and usage state of the building, for example, change speed search history information for a period in which the operation mode is the same and the seasons are similar. . As conditions similar to the season, for example, the same month in the previous year, the same month in the past several years, the same season in the previous year (a period of spring, summer, autumn and winter classified in units of 3 months) are set as appropriate. As information for judging that the external environment and usage of the building are similar, the outside temperature, solar radiation, weather data, building usage schedule (such as the number of residents in the area and the period of the seasonal event) Etc.) may be used together.

  If there are multiple same set value change speeds in the external environment similar data, you may try any set value change speed, for example, the number of achievements or unachieved times of the mitigation target as shown above, Alternatively, the set value change speed to be adopted may be determined by setting the priority of adoption based on the integrated value of the relaxation target maintenance time tmt when the set value relaxation control is repeatedly performed. In any case, the set value change speed determination unit 32a extracts external environment similar data in which the external environment and usage state of the building are considered similar to the current one from the change speed search history information, and the external environment similar data Of these, the set value change speed that satisfies the relaxation target may be adopted as the initial value of the set value change speed α (n).

  Not only the initial value but also the method of adopting one or more set value change rates included in the external environment similar data extracted from the change rate search history information as the set value change rate in the process of step S1-2. It is good also as a speed determination method. Further, the set value change speed included in the external environment similar data is adopted, and when the mitigation target cannot be achieved at this set value change speed, the change speed determining method as described in the first embodiment is continued. You may do it.

  As described above, this embodiment increases the possibility of reducing the number of searches for the set value change speed that easily converges within a certain normative operating range, while incorporating flexibility in the balance between energy saving and comfort. Can do.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the request evaluation result and the set value (relaxation) operation result are presented to the user as result management information. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioner control device according to the present embodiment, and the same components as those in FIGS. 2 and 12 are given the same reference numerals. The air conditioner control device 1b of the present embodiment has an operation information storage unit 6b added to the air conditioner control device 1 of the first embodiment, and further includes a presentation information generation unit 7 and an information terminal 8. It is. The presentation information generation unit 7 and the information terminal 8 constitute information presentation means.

  The basic operation of the control target determination unit 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and will not be described here. In the operation information storage unit 6b, the request evaluation result (the number of request reporters Nv) and the operation result data indicating the results of the operated mitigation target setting value Tsv are stored in the operation mode (cooling / heating, etc.) and date / time of the control device 4. Stored with information. For a period specified by the information terminal 8 by the user (mainly the administrator), the presentation information generation unit 7 generates presentation information to be presented to the user, and the user confirms the presentation information on the information terminal 8. The information terminal 8 may be a general-purpose information terminal such as a PC or a mobile phone, and may be the same as the reporting terminal 5 as a matter of course.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of the presentation information displayed on the screen of the information terminal 8. The presentation information may be performance management information for a predetermined period based on information on at least one of a request evaluation result related to comfort in a residential area and a control setting value related to energy saving operation of air conditioning. The presentation information includes, for example, the number Nv of request reporters that have been subjected to statistical processing (maximum value, average value, standard deviation, etc.), the time series transition of the number of request reporters Nv, the time series transition of control setting values, There are the number of times the requested reporter number Nv exceeds the limit number Nvlim during relaxation set as a standard for environmental management, the difference between the average value of the request reporter number Nv and the limit number Nvlim during relaxation. That is, the presentation information may be a numerical value or a graph obtained by performing processing generally performed on air conditioning operation results or the like on the request evaluation result or the control setting value.

  In the present embodiment, by presenting the presentation information, further set value relaxation is performed to promote energy saving (that is, in the case of cooling operation, the relaxation target set value Tsv is increased), or the thermal environment is deteriorated. Considering the balance between energy saving and comfort, such as whether to change the standard setting value Tini or mitigation target setting value Tsv to a value that emphasizes comfort, it is possible to support the decision making of operation considering energy saving and comfort. It is possible to realize an air conditioner control device that easily converges within a certain normative operating range while incorporating flexibility in the balance of sex.

  The air conditioner control devices 1, 1a, 1b described in the first to third embodiments can be realized by a computer having a CPU, a memory, and an interface, and a program for controlling these hardware resources. The CPU executes the processes described in the first to third embodiments according to the program stored in the memory.

  The present invention can be applied to a technique for appropriately setting an air conditioning control set value for energy saving.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b ... Air-conditioner control apparatus, 2 ... Equipment control part, 3, 3a ... Control target determination part, 4 ... Control equipment, 5 ... Report terminal, 6 ... Search history information storage part, 6b ... Operation information storage part , 7 ... presentation information generation unit, 8 ... information terminal, 30 ... fixed value target storage unit, 31 ... control settling determination unit, 32, 32a ... set value change speed determination unit, 33 ... request evaluation unit, 34 ... set value determination unit .

Claims (12)

Fixed value target storage means for preliminarily storing a reference set value Tini that is a control set value for constant temperature control and a relaxation target set value Tsv that is a control set value for energy saving setting than the reference set value Tini;
A set value change speed determining means for determining a set value change speed α (n) when changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the relaxation target set value Tsv;
A request evaluation means for evaluating the requested amount of the thermal environment of the control target space at regular intervals;
Set value determining means for changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the relaxation target set value Tsv at the set value change speed α (n) determined by the set value change speed determining means;
Device control means for controlling the air conditioning equipment so that the room temperature of the space to be controlled matches the control set value Tset determined by the set value determination means,
The air conditioner control device, wherein the set value change speed determining means and the set value determining means repeatedly search for the set value change speed α (n) in which the desired amount satisfies a predetermined relaxation target. In the air conditioner control device according to claim 1,
The request evaluation means determines the number of request reporters when only the latest request report is left out of a plurality of request reports from the same resident as the request quantity, or the number of request reporters in the control target space. An air conditioner controller characterized by deriving a request reporter ratio divided by the number of residents. In the air conditioner control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The relaxation target is a condition that a time during which the desired amount can be maintained below a predetermined relaxation limit amount in a state of the control set value Tset = relaxation target set value Tsv is equal to or longer than a predetermined relaxation target time tkeep,
The set value determining means and the set value change speed determining means search for the set value change speed α (n) in which the desired amount satisfies the predetermined relaxation target, and the searched set value change speed α (n) The air conditioner control device according to claim 1, wherein the control set value change in step is repeated in a range where the desired amount is equal to or less than the relaxing limit amount. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Furthermore, search history information storage means for storing the search history information of the set value change speed together with the operation mode and date and time information of the air conditioning equipment,
The set value change speed determination means uses the search history information in which the external environment of the control target space is similar among the information stored in the search history information storage means, and the set value change speed α (n ) Is determined. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Furthermore, operation information storage means for storing a history of the desired amount and the control set value Tset together with an operation mode and date / time information of the air conditioner,
An air conditioner control apparatus comprising: information presenting means for presenting the requested amount and the operation result of the control set value Tset to an administrator based on information stored in the operation information storage means. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Among the resident's requests for the thermal environment of the control target space, the control setting value Tset is a trade-off request that may increase during the setting change to the energy saving side from the reference setting value Tini,
The demand evaluation means is changing the control set value Tset to the energy saving side with respect to the reference set value Tini, and the control set value Tset when the trade-off request is included in the resident's request. The amount of trade-off requests up to the current time to be aggregated is totaled and aggregated, with the desired amount when starting the setting change to the energy saving side as the initial value, and the trade-off request is included in the resident's request In the case where there is not, the air conditioning is characterized in that the requested amount is totaled from the start time to the current time as a totaling section with a time before a predetermined fixed evaluation time tval as the total time from the current time at which the totaling is performed. Machine control device. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The air conditioner control device, wherein the set value change speed determining means changes the set value change speed α (n) at a constant rate each time the search for the set value change speed α (n) is performed. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
When the search for the set value change rate α (n) satisfying the relaxation target is completed, the set value determining means determines the control set value change at the searched set value change rate α (n) when the desired amount is When the number of repetitions that does not satisfy the relaxation target at the set value change speed α (n) exceeds a predetermined change speed retry number Fgmax, the number of searches is initialized. The air conditioner control device, wherein the search for the set value change speed α (n) is performed again. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Furthermore, a control settling determination unit that determines whether the room temperature of the control target space has been set to the control set value Tset determined by the set value determination unit,
The set value determining means waits for the elapse of a predetermined set value maintenance time twait after settling, and then compares the requested amount calculated by the request evaluation means with a predetermined relaxation start limit amount, and the requested amount is When the amount is equal to or less than the start limit amount, the control setting value Tset is changed from the reference setting value Tini to the relaxation target setting value Tsv at the setting value changing speed α (n) determined by the setting value changing speed determining means. An air conditioner control device characterized by that. In the air conditioner control device according to claim 9,
The set value determining means has a condition in which the condition that the desired quantity is less than or equal to the relaxation start limit quantity is not satisfied, or the requested quantity calculated by the demand evaluation means and the relaxation start are exceeded. When the number of comparisons with the limit amount exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the air conditioner control is characterized in that the administrator is notified that the set value change speed α (n) satisfying the relaxation target cannot be searched. apparatus. In the air conditioner control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The set value determining means can stop searching for the set value change rate α (n) and search for the set value change rate α (n) satisfying the relaxation target when a predetermined search continuation condition is not satisfied. An air conditioner control device that notifies an administrator of the absence of the air conditioner. A request evaluation step for evaluating the request amount for the thermal environment of the control target space at regular intervals;
Setting value change speed when changing the control setting value Tset from the reference setting value Tini, which is a control setting value for constant temperature control, to the relaxation target setting value Tsv, which is a control setting value for energy saving setting, rather than the reference setting value Tini a set value change speed determining step for determining α (n);
A set value determining step for changing the control set value Tset from the reference set value Tini to the relaxation target set value Tsv at the set value change speed α (n) determined in the set value change speed determining step;
A device control step of controlling the air conditioning device so that the room temperature of the control target space matches the control set value Tset determined in the set value determination step,
The air conditioner control method characterized in that the set value change speed determining step and the set value determining step repeatedly search for the set value change speed α (n) in which the desired amount satisfies a predetermined relaxation target.

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