JP2015001321A - Air conditioning control device, air conditioning facility, program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to get used to a thermal environment of summer or winter before the user of air conditioning equipment knows it.SOLUTION: An air conditioning control device 2 includes a first acquisition unit 21, a second acquisition unit 22, a determination unit 23 and a control unit 25. The first acquisition unit 21 acquires environment information from an environment sensor 3. The second acquisition uni 22 acquires operation information of air conditioning equipment 1. The determination unit 23 determines whether or not the relationship between the environment information and the operation information satisfies an environment condition, and when the environment condition is not satisfied, the determination unit 23 generates a control rule. The control unit 25 instructs an operation state of the air conditioning equipment 1 according to the control rule generated by the determination unit 23. The control rule is generated in such a manner that the relationship between the environment information and the operation information comes closer to the environment condition, and the change of the operation state of the air conditioning equipment 1 becomes a minute change which is not perceived by a person.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning control device that controls an air conditioning device that adjusts an indoor environment, an air conditioning facility using the air conditioning control device, and a program that realizes the air conditioning control device.

  In recent years, since the time spent in a room where the environment is adjusted with an air conditioner has become longer, there is a concern about providing it to health. In particular, it is said that the cooling and sweating ability declines due to the cooling in summer, and the ability to adjust the body is reduced by the air conditioning equipment leveling the environment.

  When the thermal environment is controlled by an air conditioner so that the body's ability to adjust does not decrease, it is common to set the set temperature higher during cooling and set the set temperature lower during heating. However, setting a higher temperature for air-conditioning equipment during cooling and lowering it during heating impairs comfort for the user, so users who prefer health or energy conservation rather than comfort. Otherwise, such temperature setting is not performed.

  As a technique for controlling the thermal environment regardless of the user's intention, for example, a technique for calculating a thermal sensation index such as PMV and determining a control value of the air conditioner so that the calculated PMV value falls within a comfortable range. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-127882 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 determines the control value of the air conditioner in the comfort range based on the thermal sensation index. Since the thermal sensation index has a wide range of comfort, the setting of the air conditioner The temperature can be set higher during cooling and lower during heating.

  However, there are individual differences in the thermal sensation of the user, and some users do not accept the automatically set control value, and as a result, there is a high possibility that a preset temperature comfortable for the user is selected. . That is, with the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is not possible to acclimatize to a thermal environment in summer or winter using an air conditioner.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an air-conditioning control device that allows an air-conditioning device user to acclimatize to a thermal environment in summer or winter by controlling the air-conditioning device. It aims at providing the program for implement | achieving the air-conditioning equipment used and this air-conditioning control apparatus.

  An air conditioning control device according to the present invention includes a first acquisition unit that acquires environmental information from an environmental sensor, a second acquisition unit that acquires operation information including an operation state for an air conditioner that adjusts an indoor environment, It is determined whether the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information satisfies a predetermined environmental condition, and if the environmental condition is not satisfied, a control rule for changing the operation state of the air conditioner is generated A determination unit, and a control unit that instructs an operation state of the air conditioner according to the control rule generated by the determination unit, wherein the control rule brings the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information closer to the environmental condition, And the change of the operating state of the air conditioner is generated so as to be a minute change which is not perceived by humans.

  In this air conditioning control device, the control rule is generated so as to change the operation state of the air conditioning equipment in a stepwise manner, and the amount of change in one step is a minute change in which the change in the operation state is not perceived by humans. It is preferable that the duration between the stages is determined so that the person becomes accustomed to the operating state after the change.

  In this air conditioning control device, it is preferable that the environmental condition is determined using temperature.

  In this air conditioning control device, the control rule is set temperature of the air conditioner so that the environmental condition is satisfied by performing heat acclimatization for one or more cooling periods or cold acclimatization for one or more heating periods. And a long-term rule in which the set temperature is applied, and a set temperature defined in the long-term rule is used as a target set temperature, and the set temperature of the air conditioner is different from the target set temperature, It is further preferable to include a short-term rule that is set so that the set temperature of the air conditioner approaches the target set temperature.

  The air conditioning equipment according to the present invention includes any one of the air conditioning control devices described above, an air conditioning device that is controlled by the air conditioning control device to adjust the indoor air temperature, and an environmental sensor that monitors environmental information including the outdoor air temperature. It is characterized by that.

  The program according to the present invention causes a computer to function as any one of the air conditioning control devices described above.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, when the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information does not satisfy a predetermined environmental condition, the control rule for changing the operation state of the air conditioner is generated. The control rule is generated so that the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information is close to the environmental condition, and the change in the operation state of the air conditioner is a minute change that is not perceived by humans. Therefore, even if the operating state of the air conditioning equipment is set so that the user pursues comfort, if the operating state does not satisfy the environmental condition, the environmental condition is satisfied without the user being aware. Will approach the operating state. As a result, there is an advantage that it becomes possible to acclimatize the user to the thermal environment in summer or winter without the user of the air conditioner noticing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning control device 2 described below includes a first acquisition unit 21, a second acquisition unit 22, a determination unit 23, and a control unit 25. The first acquisition unit 21 acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 3. The second acquisition unit 22 acquires operation information including an operation state for the air conditioner 1 that adjusts the environment of the room 11. The determination unit 23 determines whether or not the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information satisfies a predetermined environmental condition, and when the environmental condition is not satisfied, the control rule for changing the operation state of the air conditioner 1 Is generated. The control unit 25 instructs the operation state of the air conditioner 1 according to the control rule generated by the determination unit 23. The control rule is generated so that the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information is close to the environmental condition, and the change in the operation state of the air conditioner 1 is a minute change that is not perceived by humans. Here, it is preferable that the environmental condition is determined using the temperature of the room 11.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a control rule is produced | generated so that the operation state of the air conditioning equipment 1 may be changed in steps. In this case, the amount of change in one step is determined so that the change in the operation state is a minute change that is not perceived by the person, and the duration between the steps is a time for the person to adapt to the operation state after the change. It is preferable that

  The control rules preferably include a long-term rule and a short-term rule. When the environmental conditions are determined using the temperature of the room 11, the long-term rule is such that the environmental conditions are satisfied by performing heat acclimatization for one or more cooling periods or cold acclimatization for one or more heating periods. The set temperature of the air conditioner 1 and the date and time when the set temperature is applied are determined. The short-term rule uses the set temperature defined in the long-term rule as a target set temperature, and when the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is different from the target set temperature, the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is set to the target set temperature. It is determined to approach.

  The air conditioning equipment described below includes an air conditioning control device 2, an air conditioning device 1 that is controlled by the air conditioning control device 2 to adjust the temperature of the room 11, and an environmental sensor 3 that monitors environmental information including the temperature of the outdoor 12. .

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning equipment described below includes an air conditioner 1 that controls the environment of the room 11, an air conditioning control device 2 that controls the operation of the air conditioner 1, and an environmental sensor that monitors the environment of the outdoor 12. 3.

  In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 1 is assumed to be an apparatus that mainly controls the temperature in the environment of the room 11. This type of air conditioner 1 is selected from a heat pump type air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as “air conditioner”), as well as various cooling devices and heating devices. The air conditioner 1 can change the operating state including the temperature by an instruction from an operating device (not shown) used by the user, and can also be changed by a control signal from the air conditioning controller 2. It is configured.

  Since this embodiment mainly assumes that the temperature is controlled, an air conditioner that does not substantially change the room temperature such as a fan, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, or an air cleaner is not handled in this embodiment. . However, the technique described in the present embodiment may be employed to control the operation of these air conditioners.

  The room 11 in which the air conditioner 1 controls the environment means a range in which the environment can be controlled by the operation of the air conditioner 1, and does not necessarily mean the inside of one room. That is, it does not exclude a common part of an apartment house, a store building, a hospital, a building of a hotel or the like. However, in the following, it is assumed that the room of the residence is the room 11 as a space regularly used by one person or several persons (about 4 to 5 persons).

  The outdoor 12 where the environmental sensor 3 monitors the environment means a space that is the outside of the indoor 11 described above. In the following, it is assumed that the building is outside the building. However, even inside the building, if there is a difference in the environment between the inside and outside of the room, the outside of the room can be handled as the outside 12.

  The air conditioning control device 2 includes a device including a processor that operates according to a program and an interface device as main hardware elements. The device including the processor is selected from a microcomputer integrally including a memory and a processor, a processor including a memory externally, and the like.

  A program for realizing the functions described below by these devices is built in a ROM provided in the air conditioning control device 2 in advance. The program may be provided through an electric communication line such as the Internet, or may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium.

  The air conditioning control device 2 includes a first acquisition unit 21 that acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 3 installed outside the room 12. The environmental information includes at least information related to the temperature of the outdoor 12. The environmental information may include information on humidity, air quality, etc. in addition to temperature. In addition, the air conditioning control device 2 includes a second acquisition unit 22 that acquires operation information regarding the operation state of the air conditioner 1. In principle, the operation information is acquired from a setting device (not shown) that sets the operation state of the air conditioner 1. However, when the air conditioner 1 includes an interface unit that extracts information regarding the operation state, it can be acquired from the air conditioner 1.

  The 1st acquisition part 21 and the 2nd acquisition part 22 make unit time the time when the temperature of room 11 reaches the set temperature after the set temperature of air-conditioning equipment 1 is changed, and information is obtained for each unit time. get. The unit time is determined in the range of, for example, 10 to 60 minutes. For example, the unit time is set to 30 minutes.

  The environment information acquired by the first acquisition unit 21 and the operation information acquired by the second acquisition unit 22 are input to the determination unit 23 provided in the air conditioning control device 2. The judgment unit 23 compares the outdoor air temperature included in the environmental information and the set temperature (temperature instructed by the user) of the air conditioner 1 included in the operation information with predetermined environmental conditions. A control rule corresponding to the is generated. That is, the determination unit 23 determines the control rule of the air conditioner 1 so that the environmental condition is associated with the control rule, and the environmental information and the operation information satisfy the environmental condition. Specific contents of the control rule will be described later.

  The control rule is generated by the determination unit 23 and stored in the storage unit 26 provided in the air conditioning control device 2. Alternatively, the control rule generated by the determination unit 23 is stored in the external device 30 through a communication interface unit (hereinafter, “communication I / F unit”) 24 provided in the air conditioning control device 2. When the communication I / F unit 24 is connectable to an electric communication line NT such as the Internet, the external device 30 is a computer server or a cloud computing system. The communication I / F unit 24 may be configured to directly connect a support device such as a personal computer as the external device 30.

  The control rule is determined as an environmental condition such as a temperature difference between the room 11 and the outdoor room 12, an upper limit value or a lower limit value of the temperature of the room 11. The environmental conditions in the present embodiment are determined based on the temperature that is said to be appropriate for human health management with respect to the temperature of the room 11.

  Therefore, the environmental conditions in the present embodiment are selected from conditions recommended by ISO 7730, conditions recommended by the Architectural Institute of Japan or the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and conditions recommended from a medical standpoint. For example, according to the Architectural Institute of Japan, the room temperature during cooling (summer season) is recommended to be 25 to 28 ° C., and the room temperature during heating (winter season) is recommended to be 17 to 22 ° C. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism recommends a room temperature of 28 ° C. in summer and a temperature of 20-22 ° C. in winter.

  In addition to information necessary for controlling the air conditioner 1 such as environmental conditions and control rules, the storage unit 26 or the external device 30 displays the set temperature during the operation of the air conditioner 1, the outdoor air temperature, the date and time, and the like. It is desirable to store the associated history information. Since a relatively large storage capacity is required to store the history information, it is desirable that the history information be temporarily stored in the storage unit 26 and then transferred to the external device 30.

  The air conditioning control device 2 includes a control unit 25 that controls the air conditioning equipment 1 in accordance with the control rules stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). The control unit 25 controls the operation state of the air conditioner 1 according to the control rule given from the determination unit 23 when the user is not instructing the operation state to the air conditioner 1.

  Since environmental conditions vary depending on the situation and new medical knowledge may be discovered, it is desirable that the environmental conditions to be adopted are selectable. Predetermined values may be used for parameters (such as the amount of change in the set temperature and the period during which the set temperature is maintained) necessary for setting the control rule, but it is possible to select from a plurality of options or a predetermined range. May be. These selections do not necessarily have to be made by the user, but in the case of enabling selection by the user, a display device and an operation device for enabling interactive input of information to the air conditioning control device 2 Or a terminal device may be connected through the communication I / F unit 24. The terminal device may be selected from a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

  For example, in the summer season, selectable environmental conditions are (1) 27 to 28 ° C., (2) (outdoor 12 temperature) −7 ° C., and (3) (outdoor 12 temperature). It is conceivable to select from options of −5 ° C. It is also possible to give priority to these options. As for the parameters, the amount of change in the set temperature, the length of the period for maintaining the set temperature, the fine adjustment of the set temperature, etc. may be made possible. If such adjustment is possible, the user can adjust the control rule to suit his taste, habit, constitution, health condition, and the like. The information that can be selected is preferably stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30).

(Operation)
Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioning control device 2 will be described. The air conditioning control device 2 controls the operating state of the air conditioning equipment 1 using two types of control rules. One control rule is a control rule applied for a period of up to several hours, and is hereinafter referred to as a “short-term rule”. The other control rule is a control rule applied for a period of several months to several years, and is hereinafter referred to as a “long-term rule”.

<Short-term rules>
The short-term rule includes the outdoor 12 temperature in the environmental information acquired by the first acquisition unit 21 for each unit time and the set temperature in the operation information acquired by the second acquisition unit 22 for each unit time. Used for conditions. The determination unit 23 sets the control rule corresponding to the environmental condition by comparing the outdoor air temperature and the set temperature with the environmental condition stored in the storage unit 26.

  In the short-term rule, the range of the temperature difference between the room 11 and the outdoor room 12, and the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the temperature of the room 11 are determined as environmental conditions. This kind of environmental condition is selected from, for example, a condition recommended by ISO 7730, a condition recommended by the Architectural Institute of Japan, a condition recommended from a medical standpoint, and the like.

  In ISO7730, it is recommended that the temperature difference between the indoor 11 and the outdoor 12 is 5 to 7 ° C. or less in the summer, and that the lower limit of the temperature of the indoor 11 is 20 ° C. in the winter. The Architectural Institute of Japan recommends that the temperature difference between the indoor 11 and the outdoor 12 during cooling is within 7 ° C, and the lower limit of the temperature of the indoor 11 (room) during heating is 17 ° C. Yes. Furthermore, from a medical standpoint, the temperature of the room 11 is set to a range 5 to 7 ° C. lower than the temperature of the outdoor 12 in July to September from the viewpoint of heat shock prevention and the like. It is recommended that the air temperature be in the range of 18-22 ° C.

  The determination unit 23 defines a control rule (short-term rule) for determining the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 using the condition relating to the air temperature as an environmental condition. In the following, assuming the case of summer, the environmental condition is “outdoor temperature−7 ° C. ≦ indoor temperature ≦ outdoor temperature−5 ° C.”. It is assumed that the air temperature in the room 11 matches the set temperature of the air conditioner 1.

  When the relationship between the air temperature in the room 11 and the air temperature in the outdoor room 12 satisfies the environmental conditions described above, the determination unit 23 gives an instruction not to change the set temperature to the control unit 25 as a short-term rule. In this case, the determination unit 23 stores the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, the outdoor air temperature detected by the environmental sensor 3, and the date and time in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30).

  On the other hand, when the relationship between the temperature of the room 11 and the temperature of the room 12 does not satisfy the environmental conditions described above, the determination unit 23 controls an instruction to change the set temperature (control content) of the air conditioner 1 as a short-term rule. Part 25 is given. The set temperature to be instructed is determined as follows, for example.

  Now, it is assumed that the temperature of the outdoor 12 is 33 ° C. and the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is 24 ° C. In this case, since the temperature difference between the indoor 11 and the outdoor 12 is 9 ° C., the environmental conditions described above are not satisfied. In this case, the determination unit 23 searches for a control rule in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). In addition, when the control rule is being applied, the control unit 25 determines whether the operation state of the air conditioner 1 is an operation that satisfies the control rule.

  When the control rule is being applied by the search and the air conditioner 1 is in an operation state that satisfies the control rule, the determination unit 23 controls the air conditioner 1 to continue the operation state according to the control rule that is being applied. The unit 25 is instructed. Further, when the air conditioner 1 is in an operation state by application of the control rule, the determination unit 23 associates the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, the outdoor air temperature detected by the environmental sensor 3, and the date and time with a storage unit. 26 (or external device 30).

  On the other hand, when the control rule is being applied by the search and the operation state of the air conditioner 1 does not satisfy the control rule, the determination unit 23 sets the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 and the set temperature when the control rule is satisfied. The temperature difference is calculated. For example, if the set temperature based on the control rule is 26 ° C., the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is 24 ° C. as described above, that the operating state of the air conditioner 1 does not satisfy the control rule. become.

  In this way, when the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is different from the set temperature based on the control rule, the determination unit 23 sets the set temperature so that the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 approaches the set temperature determined by the control rule. Is changed over time. That is, the determination unit 23 changes the set temperature step by step with time.

  The determination unit 23 changes the set temperature by a predetermined minute change amount every unit time described above, and reaches the set temperature based on the control rule when a predetermined number of times the unit time has elapsed. The set temperature is determined as follows. That is, the determination unit 23 causes the set temperature to reach the target set temperature by changing the set temperature by a change amount of one step every unit time. The target set temperature is set according to a long-term rule described later.

  The unit time and the amount of change in one stage per unit time are determined to such an extent that a change in the set temperature cannot be perceived by a person. Further, the unit time is desirably a time that allows a person to acclimatize (acclimate) to the set temperature after the change. The unit time is set to 30 minutes, for example, and the change amount is set to 0.3 ° C., for example. In short, the control rules bring the relationship between the environmental information (outdoor 12 air temperature) and the operation information (current set temperature) closer to the environmental conditions, and the change in the operating state (set temperature) of the air conditioner 1 is not perceived by humans. It is generated so as to have a slight change.

  In the example described above, the temperature difference from the case where the set temperature is determined according to the control rule is 2 ° C., and 2 ° C./0.3° C.≈7. Therefore, the set temperature is 7 times the unit time (= 3.5 hours) to reach the set temperature according to the control rule. That is, the determination unit 23 sets a short-term rule that “the control for increasing the set temperature by 0.3 ° C. every 30 minutes is repeated seven times”.

  In the control rule (short-term rule) described above, the unit time is set to 30 minutes, and the amount of change in one step of the set temperature is set to 0.3 ° C. for the following reason. That is, according to human physiological characteristics, it is known that a human temperature receptor adapts approximately in 30 minutes when the temperature stimulus to the skin is in the range of 16 to 40 ° C. Moreover, it is said that the temperature difference perceivable by humans is 0.5 ° C. under 50 years old and 1-5 ° C. over 65 years old. Therefore, if the amount of change in one step is 0.3 ° C., no temperature difference is perceived regardless of age, and if the unit time is 30 minutes, it is considered that the temperature is almost adapted to the set temperature. These values are examples and can be changed as appropriate.

  By the way, when the skin temperature is about 33 to 34 ° C., a person does not feel hot and cold. Such a skin temperature is a neutral skin temperature and is called an insensitive temperature.

  The control unit 25 instructs the air conditioner 1 on the operation state using the short-term rule set by the determination unit 23. Here, since only the set temperature is focused on in the operation state, the control unit 25 gives an instruction to the air conditioner 1 so as to set the set temperature according to the short-term rule. The air conditioner 1 changes the set temperature when the set temperature is instructed from the control unit 25.

  Whenever the control unit 25 changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, the control unit 25 associates the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, the outdoor air temperature detected by the environmental sensor 3, and the date and time with the storage unit 26 (or an external device). 30).

  In the example described above, if the temperature of the room 11 at 14:00 is 24 ° C. and the temperature to be reached is 26 ° C., the contents stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) are as shown in Table 1. become that way. In this way, data is added to the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) every 30 minutes until the set temperature reaches 26 ° C.

  By the way, there is a possibility that the user changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 during the period in which the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is close to the set temperature according to the control rule from the state where the set temperature is not in accordance with the control rule. In the above-described example, the operation of changing the set temperature by 0.3 ° C. every 30 minutes is repeated 7 times, so it takes 3.5 hours to reach the desired set temperature. For this reason, the user may change the set temperature. When the user changes the set temperature, the determination unit 23 obtains a temperature difference between the changed set temperature and the set temperature according to the control rule, and sets the short-term rule again.

  In order for the determination unit 23 to recognize whether or not the user has changed the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, for example, a flag indicating the subject that has instructed the set temperature is used, or the set temperature indicated by the air conditioning control device 2 A technique for comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is used.

  When the flag is used, when the control unit 25 instructs the set temperature to the air conditioner 1 according to the control rule, the control unit 25 sets the flag in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). Moreover, information indicating that the user has changed the set temperature is included in the operation information received by the second acquisition unit 22 from the air conditioner 1, and when this information is received, the determination unit 23 cancels the flag. By this operation, the determination unit 23 can distinguish whether the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is set based on the control rule or set by the user depending on the presence or absence of the flag.

  In addition, when comparing the set temperatures, the determination unit 23 determines, for each unit time, the set temperature previously instructed by the control unit 25 to the air conditioner 1 and the set temperature acquired by the second acquisition unit 22 from the air conditioner 1. Compare If the comparison results match, it is determined that the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 has been set according to the control rule. If the comparison results do not match, it is determined that the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 has been set by the user.

  The operation | movement which applied the short-term rule mentioned above is put together in FIG. The air conditioning control device 2 acquires operation information of the air conditioning equipment 1 (S1), and acquires environmental information from the environment sensor 3 (S2). The order of obtaining the operation information and the environment information is not limited. When the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information satisfies a predetermined environmental condition (S3: Y), the operation information and the environmental information are stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) without controlling the air conditioner 1. (S8).

  When the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information does not satisfy the environmental condition (S3: N), the control rule is not being applied, or the control information does not satisfy the control rule even when the control rule is being applied (S4: N), a short-term rule is newly created (S5). The air conditioning control device 2 updates the set temperature (control content) according to the newly created short-term rule (S6). On the other hand, when the control rule is being applied and the control information satisfies the control rule (S4: Y), the control content is updated according to the short-term rule (S6). The new control content is instructed to the air conditioner 1 (S7), and the instructed control content is stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) together with the operation information and the environment information (S8).

<Long-term rules>
Incidentally, the target set temperature in the short-term rule is set by the long-term rule as described above. The long-term rule is a control rule applied for months to years, and is used in units of seasons. The reason for using the season as a unit is that the control rules differ between heating and cooling.

  In order to set the long-term rule, the determination unit 23 reads out the outdoor air temperature and the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 during a predetermined period from the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). Information stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) by the air conditioning control device 2 is used as the outdoor air temperature and the set temperature of the air conditioning device 1. The predetermined period is a period corresponding to cooling or heating of the air conditioner 1, and usually corresponds to the season. The predetermined period is, for example, 2 months.

  The determination unit 23 obtains an average value of information read from the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). Now, assume that the temperature of the outdoor 12 is θo, the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is θac, the average value of the temperature of the outdoor 12 is θom, and the average value of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is θacm.

  The determination unit 23 uses the temperature difference between the air temperature of the outdoor unit 12 and the average value θacm of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 as the environmental condition. In the long-term rule, the average value θacm of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is regarded as the temperature of the room 11, and the average value θom of the temperature of the outdoor 12 is regarded as the temperature of the outdoor 12. Assuming that the summer season is the same as the short-term rule, the environmental condition is “outdoor temperature−7 ° C. ≦ indoor temperature ≦ outdoor temperature−5 ° C.”.

  When the relationship between the average value θacm of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 and the average value θom of the temperature of the outdoor 12 satisfies the environmental conditions described above, the determination unit 23 determines that the air conditioner 1 is being applied as a long-term rule. The control unit 25 is instructed to continue the operation state according to the control rule. That is, the determination unit 23 sets the set temperature instructed to the air conditioner 1 by the long-term rule as the average value θacm of the set temperatures.

  On the other hand, when the relationship between the average value θacm of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 and the average value θom of the outdoor air temperature 12 does not satisfy the environmental condition described above, the determination unit 23 determines a target temperature difference Δθt, The set temperature is changed with time so that the temperature difference Δθt becomes zero.

  The temperature difference Δθt is determined by the average value θom of the outdoor 12 air temperature, the average value θacm of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, and the environmental conditions. The target temperature difference Δθt is represented by a relationship of (θom−7 ° C.) − Θacm ≦ Δθt ≦ (θom−5 ° C.) − Θacm, for example. Here, if θom−θacm = θdm, the above-described relationship is expressed as θdm−7 ° C. ≦ Δθt ≦ θdm−5 ° C.

  Similar to the short-term rule, also in the long-term rule, the determination unit 23 changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 step by step with time. The one-step change amount θstp is set based on a temperature difference perceivable by a person, and is set to 0.3 ° C., for example. According to the long-term rule, the period for changing the set temperature by one step is set to about 1 to 2 weeks.

  The determination unit 23 obtains the required number of times N to change the set temperature by N = Δθt / θstp in order to change the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 so that the temperature difference Δθt approaches 0. A period obtained by multiplying the period Tstp in which the set temperature is changed by one step by the number N is a period in which the air conditioning apparatus 1 performs the heat acclimation or the cold acclimation. The determination unit 23 sets a long-term rule by assigning a set temperature to each period Tstp.

  If you exercise and encourage sweating, you will be accustomed to heat in a few days to 10 days depending on the intensity of the exercise. Accompanied by. On the other hand, since this embodiment only changes the preset temperature of the air conditioner 1 to adjust the air temperature in the room 11, the user is accustomed to heat or cold without pain. It will be.

  The heat acclimatization is performed in the summer (cooling period) and the cold acclimatization is performed in the winter (heating period). Therefore, in order for the determination unit 23 to set the control rule, the cooling period or the heating period can be determined in advance. is necessary.

  By the way, the period Tstp for changing the set temperature by one step is, for example, 1 to 2 weeks. For example, even if the period Tstp is 1 week, it takes N weeks to set the temperature difference Δθt to 0 according to the long-term rule. . Therefore, when the temperature difference Δθt is relatively large, the cooling period or the heating period may end before the temperature difference Δθt reaches zero. In such a case, the long-term rule is carried over to the next cooling period or heating period. That is, the remaining control of the long-term rule is performed in the cooling period of the next year if it is a cooling period, and is performed in the heating period from the end of the year if it is a heating period.

  For example, assume that the cooling period (summer season) is from July 1 to September 30 and the long-term rule is applied from the second week of August. If the period Tstp for changing the set temperature in one step is 1 week and the required number of times to change the set temperature is 9, the application period of the long-term rule will end in October, and the number of times to change the set temperature is 3 Will remain. In such a case, the remaining three times are carried out after July 1 when the cooling period of the next year is started.

  When the application period of the long-term rule is determined, the determination unit 23 assigns a set temperature for each day. That is, in the application period of the long-term rule, the determination unit 23 creates, as the long-term rule, data (X1 Y1 to X2 Y2 and θx ° C.) in which the set temperature is assigned to the period specified by the date. The rule is stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). The long-term rule stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) is read by the control unit 25 so that the set temperature corresponding to the period specified by the date is applied. That is, the control unit 25 determines the set temperature of the long-term rule as the target set temperature in the short-term rule.

(Effect of embodiment)
As described above, according to the long-term rule, the heat acclimatization or the cold acclimatization is performed for a long time, and when the user temporarily changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 1, the short-term rule is applied. Let's get used to short-term acclimatization and return to long-term rules. As an example where the short-term rule is applied, for example, in the summer, a case where the user lowers the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 from the normal time immediately after returning home.

  That is, when the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 is adjusted so that the user is comfortable, the set temperature is changed by a change amount that cannot be perceived by the user in the short term, and the setting is changed. Maintain the set temperature until enough time has passed to adapt to the temperature. By repeating this operation, it becomes possible to approach the target set temperature set by the long-term rule, and as a result, to adapt to the set temperature that is considered appropriate for the user.

  In this operation, the temperature of the room 11 does not change abruptly, and the user is accustomed to an appropriate set temperature without noticing, so that he / she is accustomed to an appropriate thermal environment without pain.

(Other configuration examples)
In the above configuration example, the control rule determined by the determination unit 23 is continuously used, but the control rule determined by the determination unit 23 may not be suitable for the user. That is, since the user varies in preference, habit, constitution, health condition, etc., the control rule defined by the determination unit 23 may not be suitable for the user.

  When the air conditioning control device 2 includes an input device or the air conditioning control device 2 communicates with the terminal device, the determination unit 23 receives an instruction from the input device or the terminal device, and discards and recreates the control rule. It is desirable that this is possible. Further, instead of an instruction from the input device or the terminal device, a configuration may be adopted in which the frequency with which the user changes the set temperature is monitored and the control rule is changed when the frequency is equal to or higher than a specified value. For example, when the user changes the set temperature continuously for 5 days, the applied control rule may be discarded.

  In the configuration example described above, the environmental sensor 3 that monitors the environment of the outdoor 12 is provided and the temperature of the outdoor 12 is monitored by the environmental sensor 3, but it is also possible to provide the environmental sensor 3 that monitors the environment of the indoor 11. is there. For example, in addition to the outdoor 12 temperature, the indoor 11 temperature can be monitored. If the air temperature in the room 11 is monitored, the air conditioner 1 such as a fan or a circulator is used so as to satisfy the recommended value of ISO 7730 that the temperature difference between the floor and the ceiling is within 3 ° C. in winter. It becomes possible to control the environment of the room 11.

  The environment sensor 3 may monitor an environment related to human comfort, such as humidity and wind speed, in addition to the temperature inside the room 11 and the temperature outside the room 12. This type of information may be used to calculate a thermal sensation index such as PMV (Predicted Mean Vote = predicted average thermal sensation), SET * (Standard New Effective Temperature), OT (Operative Temperature = operating temperature). By calculating this type of thermal sensation index, it is also possible to control the temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc. of the environment that can be controlled by the air conditioner 1.

  The control target of the air conditioning control device 2 in this case includes the air conditioning device 1 selected from a heating device, a fan, a dehumidifier, and the like. Since the electric fan and the dehumidifier cannot change the temperature of the room 11 alone, they are used in combination with other air conditioners 1 that change the temperature of the room 11.

  When the air conditioner 1 includes a fan, a dehumidifier, etc., for example, when the comfort is impaired by changing the set temperature, the comfort is maintained by adjusting the humidity and the wind speed, and the target set temperature is set for the user. It can be achieved. That is, even if the temperature in the room 11 is the same, if the humidity is reduced or the wind speed is increased, a sensation as if the air temperature has decreased can be obtained.

  Therefore, when the control rule is to set the set temperature to 26 ° C. during cooling, the control unit 25 sets the set temperature to 26.8 ° C. or the like by adjusting at least one of humidity and wind speed. Is possible. In short, the control unit 25 controls at least one of humidity and wind speed so that the thermal sensation index does not change when the set temperature is changed. Although it depends on the electric power required for controlling the humidity and the wind speed, if the thermal sensation index is the same, the electric power required for controlling the set temperature is generally larger. Therefore, the above-described control leads to energy saving.

  In the long-term rule, the set temperature is determined according to the month and day. For example, in the summer when the temperature of the outdoor 12 is exceptionally high, such as 38 ° C, to prevent heat stroke etc. It becomes necessary to ignore the long-term rule and change the set temperature. Since this embodiment applies a short-term rule that allows a user to change the set temperature, even when an exceptional set temperature is required, the short-term rule can be flexibly handled without discarding the long-term rule. be able to.

  In order to set the long-term rule, as described above, the average value of the temperature of the outdoor 12 and the average value of the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 are necessary. When calculating the average value, an exceptional value may be excluded from the average calculation as an abnormal value. In addition, when calculating the average value, if only the data stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30) is insufficient, the data published by a public organization such as the Japan Meteorological Agency is acquired. May be used. This type of data includes, for example, data of a regional weather observation system (so-called AMeDAS).

  The air conditioning control device 2 described in the present embodiment can be used alone. Moreover, the function of the air-conditioning control apparatus 2 is incorporated in a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller that enables monitoring of the operation of the electric load and control of the operation of the electric load by communicating with the electric load having a communication function. It may be.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the open / close unit 4 that enables natural ventilation between the room 11 and the outdoor 12 and the environment sensor 3A that monitors the environment of the room 11 with respect to the configuration of the first embodiment. And the structure added.

  The 1st acquisition part 21 provided in air-conditioning control device 2 acquires not only environmental information on outdoor 12 from environmental sensor 3, but also acquires environmental information on indoor 11 from environmental sensor 3A. In the present embodiment, the outdoor environment information monitored by the environmental sensor 3 includes temperature and wind speed, and the indoor environment information monitored by the environmental sensor 3A includes temperature and wind speed. In the present embodiment, a thermal sensation index is considered. Therefore, the environmental sensors 3 and 3A may be configured to monitor information including humidity as environmental information.

  The control unit 25 provided in the air conditioning control device 2 controls not only the control of the air conditioning equipment 1 but also the opening ratio of the opening / closing unit 4. The opening / closing part 4 is selected from windows, doors, and the like, and is provided at a plurality of locations in the building. By opening the opening / closing part 4 at an appropriate portion, outside air is ventilated into the room 11 and natural ventilation is performed. The opening ratio of the opening / closing unit 4 is acquired by the second acquisition unit 22 as operation information.

  Of the environmental information monitored by the environmental sensors 3 and 3A, the information on the wind speed is used to take in the outdoor 12 air from the opening / closing part 4, so the environmental sensors 3 and 3A that monitor at least the wind speed are in the vicinity of the opening / closing part 4. It is desirable to be arranged in.

  In the present embodiment, the air-conditioning control device 2 performs control so that the opening / closing unit 4 is used with priority over the air-conditioning equipment 1, thereby acclimating the user to the outside temperature and contributing to energy saving. The determination unit 23 uses the wind speed monitored by the outdoor environmental sensor 3 disposed in the vicinity of the opening / closing unit 4, and the wind speed measured by the environmental sensor 3 is within a predetermined range (for example, 0.5 to 5 m / s). If so, the control unit 25 is instructed to open the opening / closing unit 4.

  On the other hand, the first acquisition unit 21 periodically acquires the environment of the room 11 from the environment sensor 3A. Here, after the control unit 25 opens the opening / closing unit 4, when the environment of the room 11 does not satisfy the predetermined environmental conditions (that is, when the wind speed and the air volume do not reach the reference values), the determination unit 23 The air conditioner 1 and the opening / closing part 4 are controlled so as to improve the environment.

  That is, if the opening / closing part 4 is not fully open, the determination part 23 controls the opening / closing part 4 to increase the opening ratio of the opening / closing part 4. When the air conditioner 1 includes a fan or a circulator, the fan or circulator is operated. Furthermore, if the environment of the room 11 still does not satisfy a predetermined environmental condition even when these air conditioners 1 are operated, the air conditioner 1 that performs cooling or heating is operated.

  The determination unit 23 sets the control rule of the long-term rule and the short-term rule for the set temperature obtained from the thermal sensation index in the same manner as the processing described in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the control unit 25 controls the air conditioner 1 using the control rule determined by the determination unit 23 when operating the air conditioner 1 that performs cooling or heating.

  By this operation, when a thermal environment index comparable to the set temperature set by the control rule is obtained, the dependence on the air conditioner 1 is reduced by taking the air of the outdoor 12 into the room 11 as much as possible. It becomes possible. Here, since the wind speed of the outdoor 12 is not uniform and changes every moment, it is difficult to evaluate the thermal environment index even using the instantaneous value of the wind speed. Therefore, for the wind speed monitored by the environmental sensors 3 and 3A, an average value for a predetermined time obtained by the determination unit 23 is used. When the outdoor air 12 is taken in by opening the opening / closing part 4, the wind speed changes. Therefore, the thermal sensation of the user in the room 11 is not constant but changes with time. Therefore, the heat acclimatization is further promoted, and the ability of the person to adjust to the thermal environment is activated.

  By the way, it is known that when the air temperature is higher than the body temperature (for example, 38 ° C. or higher), the amount of heat released from the human body does not increase even if the wind speed is high, but rather is radiated from the air to the human body. That is, when the temperature of the outdoor 12 exceeds a predetermined temperature, the cooling effect by the air flow cannot be expected even if the open / close unit 4 is opened and the outdoor air is taken into the indoor 11. In addition, the human body radiates heat by the dissipation of heat of vaporization associated with sweating and sweat evaporation. However, when the humidity rises, the vaporization of sweat is inhibited, and the efficiency of heat dissipation is significantly reduced.

  In view of such an event, it is preferable to operate the air conditioner 1 without opening the opening / closing part 4 by combining the outdoor air temperature, wind speed, and humidity. Therefore, in this embodiment, the range of conditions for opening the opening / closing unit 4 and the range of conditions for operating the air conditioner 1 are determined and stored in the storage unit 26 (or the external device 30). Here, when it is raining, if the opening / closing part 4 is opened, the room 11 may get wet, and the humidity in the room 11 may increase. Therefore, it is desirable to add a function for judging the weather to the environmental sensor 3A, and the control unit 25 closes the opening / closing unit 4 when it rains.

  The determination unit 23 determines whether to open the opening / closing unit 4 or to operate the air conditioner 1 by comparing the environmental information monitored by the environmental sensors 3 and 3A with these conditions. Further, when the air conditioner 1 is operated, the set temperature is adjusted according to the long-term rule and the short-term rule, as in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the wind speed and humidity are monitored using the environmental sensors 3 and 3A. However, regarding the wind speed and humidity of the outdoor 12, data such as a local weather observation system (so-called AMeDAS) may be used. .

  In the configuration example described above, the air conditioning control device 2 automatically combines the operation of the air conditioner 1 and the opening / closing of the opening / closing unit 4, but depending on the user, the opening / closing unit 4 may be automatically opened / closed. There are cases where it is avoided. Therefore, it is desirable that the air conditioning control device 2 can select an operation mode in which the air conditioner 1 and the opening / closing unit 4 are used together and an operation mode in which only the air conditioner 1 is used. That is, it is desirable that the user select one of two types of operation modes. Other configurations and operations in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from the above-described embodiment. Various changes can be made in accordance with the design or the like as long as they are not.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning apparatus 2 Air-conditioning control apparatus 3 Environmental sensor 3A Environmental sensor 11 Indoors 12 Outdoors 21 1st acquisition part 22 2nd acquisition part 23 Judgment part 24 Communication interface part 25 Control part 26 Storage part 30 External apparatus

Claims (6)

A first acquisition unit for acquiring environmental information from an environmental sensor;
A second acquisition unit that acquires operation information including an operation state for an air conditioner that adjusts an indoor environment;
Determine whether the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information satisfies a predetermined environmental condition, and generate a control rule that changes the operating state of the air conditioner if the environmental condition is not satisfied A determination unit to
A control unit for instructing an operating state of the air conditioner according to the control rule generated by the determination unit,
The control rule is
An air-conditioning control apparatus, characterized in that the relationship between the environmental information and the operation information is close to the environmental condition, and the change in the operation state of the air-conditioning apparatus is a minute change that is not perceived by a person. The control rule is
It is generated so as to change the operation state of the air conditioner step by step,
The amount of change in one stage is determined so that the change in the operating state is a minute change that is not perceived by humans.
The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the duration time between the stages is determined to be a time for the person to acclimatize to the operating state after the change. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is determined using air temperature. The control rule is
A set temperature of the air conditioner and a date and time to apply the set temperature are determined so that the environmental condition is satisfied by performing the heat acclimatization for one or more cooling periods or the cold acclimatization for one or more heating periods. Long-term rules,
The set temperature determined by the long-term rule is used as a target set temperature, and when the set temperature of the air conditioner is different from the target set temperature, the set temperature of the air conditioner is brought close to the target set temperature. The air-conditioning control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a short-term rule that is defined. An air conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An air-conditioning device that is controlled by the air-conditioning control device and adjusts the indoor air temperature;
Air-conditioning equipment equipped with environmental sensors that monitor environmental information including outdoor temperature. Computer
The program made to function as an air-conditioning control apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4.

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