JP4569370B2 - Equipment control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for monitoring and controlling building equipment.

There is a system that controls user equipment by learning user operations. As a typical example, in Japanese Patent No. 2673394, a kind of control environment is created by learning remote control operation of an air conditioner, and the user feels comfortable in an environment that saves time and effort to operate the user. There is optimization control.

Japanese Patent No. 2673394

  In these systems, the equipment is controlled so as to best meet the user's requirements. However, for managers of buildings and companies, it may be necessary to reduce energy consumption by reducing the comfort felt by the user. In particular, in a control method that can set a target upper limit for energy consumption or amount of money for a certain period (hereinafter referred to as cost target control), it is necessary to reduce energy by forcibly stopping equipment operation or reducing output. If the uniform energy consumption suppression control is performed at that time, the user's comfort is greatly impaired.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an implementation means of the present invention. The facility operation request learning unit 110 learns the operation request input input from the facility operation request input unit 100 by the user on the condition of the measurement value of the environment measurement unit 120. Facility operation request intensity estimation unit 130, subject to the measurement value of the environment measuring unit 120, a learning result of the facility operation requested learned unit 110 infers equipment operation strength required of the user in the control execution time. The facility control execution determining unit 140 compares the threshold value instructed by the facility control threshold value calculating unit 150 with the facility operation request strength estimated by the facility operation request strength estimating unit 130, and controls the control command when the comparison result satisfies the condition. the issues, equipment control unit 160 controls the equipment based on the control command.
For example, the facility control execution determining unit 140 preferentially stops and outputs the facility from the time / location where the facility operation required strength estimated by the facility operation required strength estimating unit 130 is smaller than the threshold indicated by the facility control threshold calculating unit 150. The execution of the reduction control is decided and a control command is issued, and the equipment control means 160 shifts the control command to execution, thereby reducing energy consumption. Note that the facility control execution determining unit 140 may issue a command to start the facility as a control command when the facility operation request strength is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

  In the cost target type control, the facility control threshold value calculation means 150 changes the threshold value according to the cost margin. That is, when the cost margin is large, the threshold value is lowered, and when the cost margin is small, the threshold value is raised, thereby changing the control execution frequency and adaptively changing the energy consumption reduction range.

  The facility control for the purpose of reducing energy consumption can suppress the influence on the comfort felt by the user. In the cost target type control system, the probability of keeping the upper limit can be increased and the specifiable range of the upper limit can be lowered as compared with the non-implementation of the present invention.

  Constructed a cost target control system that controls the start / stop, set temperature, wind direction, and air volume of indoor units in buildings where BA (building automation) is used, using packaged air conditioners for offices and dedicated air conditioning. did.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the building 290, a central monitoring device 200, a field controller 210, and an air conditioner controller 220 of a BEMS (building energy management system) for monitoring and controlling facilities and managing energy are provided.
Connected via a BA-based communication network 205. The central monitoring device 200 has a facility operation information DB 201 that records the operation state of the facility, and the operation state, state change, and energy consumption of the facility every predetermined time are recorded here. The energy consumption is obtained by measuring the value inside the air conditioner or by connecting a separate measuring instrument to the BA. The air conditioner control execution judgment and control command transmission are performed by the central monitoring 200.

  The air conditioning in the living room is performed by the indoor units 230a to 230n and the outdoor units 240a to 240m. Here, one outdoor unit circulates a plurality of indoor units and refrigerant. Each indoor unit has a wall-mounted remote controller 250a to 250n, and a building user can adjust start / stop, temperature setting, and wind direction. The air conditioner controller 220, the indoor units 230a to 230n, the outdoor units 240a to 240m, and the wall remote controllers 250a to 250n are connected by an air conditioning communication network 225 and are part of the BA.

  The living rooms are divided into k areas, and are each provided with occupancy sensors 260a to 260k, and are connected to the BA via the sensor monitoring controller 260, so that the occupancy status of each area can be grasped from the central monitoring device 200. If it is inaccurate to grasp the occupancy status based on the current value of the occupancy sensor alone, it may be absent only when there is no detection for a certain period of time.

  Hereinafter, for each of the indoor units 230a to 230n, “air conditioning operation request probability” is used as a measure of “operation required strength” that is a strength of a request that a person in the corresponding area wants the air conditioner to operate. . The air conditioning operation request probability is the existence probability of the operation request intensity under a given condition, and the probability of occurrence of an operation request input changes accordingly. The operation request input is an operation that seems to be related to the operation request intensity of the building user, and the air conditioning operation request probability can be learned from this input. In this embodiment, an ON operation and an OFF operation from a wall remote controller are considered as input items. The operation request strength for a certain air conditioner is expressed as a weighted average value obtained by extracting an average value of the air conditioning operation request probability for one or more input items from the corresponding one or more operation request input means.

  FIG. 3 is a processing procedure of air conditioning control according to the present invention. Through this series of processing, the air conditioner stop control is performed in order to keep the energy cost within the target upper limit. The calculation process is performed by the central monitoring apparatus 200.

  In step 310, an initial distribution of the air conditioning operation request probability and an energy consumption upper limit are given as initial settings. Here, a model of the air conditioning operation request probability is prepared for each day type (weekday / holiday), for each time zone (morning / daytime / evening / night), and for each predetermined range such as outside temperature and room temperature. The specified item of the energy consumption upper limit may be consumption, amount, or both.

  In step 320, the air conditioning operation request probability model is updated based on the past air conditioning operation request input.

  In step 330, a stop threshold value of the air conditioner is calculated. This threshold value is an execution determination criterion for air conditioner stop control. When the total of the results and predictions for the energy consumption upper limit is exceeded, this threshold value is increased, and the air conditioner stop control is performed more frequently to try to keep the energy consumption within the upper limit.

  Steps 335 to 365 are performed for each air conditioner. When all the air conditioners have been completed, the process proceeds to step 370. In step 340, the operation request probability for the air conditioner is calculated from the model updated in step 320 and estimated based on conditions such as day type, time zone, outside air temperature, and room temperature at the time of control execution. For each air conditioner, the operation request strength is calculated by weighted average of the operation request probability average values related to the ON / OFF operations of the corresponding wall remote control. The weight is given in advance.

  In step 340, the required operation intensity based on the occupancy state is corrected. For example, the operation request strength when absent is set to zero. Instead of correction, an operation request probability model may be provided for each occupancy state (presence / absence). As another correction method, the return of the operation request probability and the number of occupants is taken, and the operation request probability at that time is obtained by the number of occupants at the time when the air conditioner stop control is performed. As means for detecting the number of people in the room, there are an entrance / exit management system, image processing, laser radar, and the like.

  If the occupancy state is not taken into account, learning of user operation cannot catch up when sudden occupancy changes, and it takes time to perform proper driving, which may cause unnecessary energy consumption and loss of convenience. is there. By considering the occupancy status, it eliminates the error that the difference between the occupancy status at the time of user input and control execution gives to the estimation of the required operating intensity, and responds quickly to sudden changes in the usage of the occupancy such as events, It is possible to grasp the operation request more accurately and perform appropriate equipment operation. By managing the occupancy status and the facility operation request input for each individual, the resolution of the facility operation request can be increased, and the influence on the user's comfort can be minimized.

  In step 345, if the operation request intensity estimated in step 340 is equal to or less than the stop threshold calculated in step 330, the process proceeds to step 350, and otherwise, the process proceeds to step 335 to perform calculation regarding the next air conditioner.

  In step 350, if the random number is greater than or equal to the specified value, the process proceeds to step 360. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 335. Although this specified value is stored in the equipment operation information DB 201, it may be divided into when the room is present and when the room is absent, for example, 0.5 when the room is present and 0 (always performing control) when the room is absent. The meaning of deciding control execution with random numbers is to distribute the execution time.

  In step 360, the central monitoring device 200 issues a stop command to the air conditioner. The sleep state may be set by raising the set temperature instead of stopping.

  In step 370, it is determined whether or not the control is terminated due to reasons other than the control period. If not, the process waits for a certain period (such as 15 minutes) in step 380, and then proceeds to step 390. In step 390, if the date has been changed since the previous execution of step 320, return to step 320, otherwise return to step 335.

  FIG. 4 shows the detailed processing procedure of step 320. Steps 405 to 425 are performed for each air conditioner, and when all the air conditioners are completed, the process is terminated.

In step 410, the facility operation information DB 201 is searched for the air conditioner operation request input for the air conditioner input from the previous update of the air conditioner operation request probability to the present. Since the indoor units 230a to 230n and the wall remote controllers 250a to 250n correspond one-to-one, the ON operation / OFF operation from the corresponding wall remote controller is searched. This correspondence table is in the equipment operation information DB 201. If the indoor unit does not correspond to the remote controller with the wall on a one-to-one basis, the search is similarly performed using the table.

In step 420, the air conditioning operation request probability for this air conditioner is calculated. As a calculation method, the current air conditioning operation request probability is assumed to be a prior distribution, and the air conditioning operation request probability is calculated as a post-distribution by the Bayes estimation of the equation (1) as an observed event. This posterior distribution becomes the new air conditioning operation request probability. As a measure of the size of the operation request, PPD (Predicted
Percentage of Dissatisfied), one side or the like can be used.

The size of the operation request: X, input presence / absence; D, probability P (·), the air conditioner operation request probability posterior distribution P (X | D), the air conditioner operation request probability prior distribution P (X), and the likelihood function P ( D | X)
P (X | D) = P (D | X) P (X) / P (D), P (D) = ΣP (D | X) P (X) (1)
The standard value of P (D | X) is confirmed in advance by experiments.

  FIG. 5 is a detailed processing procedure of step 330. In step 510, the energy consumption amount / money from the control period start date and time to the present is totaled. Here, assuming that the control period is every month, the consumption from the first day to the previous day is retrieved from the equipment operation information DB 201 and converted into a monetary amount.

  In step 520, the energy consumption margin, that is, the energy consumption amount / money that may occur in the remaining control period is obtained by subtracting the actual amount / money amount accumulated in step 510 from the target upper limit. A margin for the target upper limit may be several percent.

  Steps 525 to 545 are performed while changing the stop threshold value from the lower limit value 0 to a predetermined upper limit value (maximum 1). In step 530, energy consumption is predicted for the remaining control period. The predicted energy consumption amount and amount are considered to be smaller as the stop threshold is higher, and the prediction method needs to reflect this point. As an example of a specific method, a multiple regression analysis using the stop threshold as an explanatory variable can be considered.

  In step 540, it is determined whether the predicted consumption / amount calculated in step 530 is less than or equal to the consumption margin calculated in step 520. If it is less than the consumption margin, the process is terminated and the stop threshold is determined. If the consumption margin is exceeded, the process returns from step 545 to step 525. If the stop threshold does not become less than the consumption margin even when the stop threshold is reached, the process ends after setting the stop threshold to the upper limit in step 550.

  Through the series of processes described above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, stop control is performed on the air conditioner so that the consumption and / or the amount of money at the end of the month or both fall within the target upper limit. Since this stop control is preferentially performed when the occupant's request for air conditioning operation is not high and from the location (of the air conditioner), the influence on the comfort of the building user is minimized. When a building user turns on an air conditioner that is not operating due to stop control with a remote controller with a wall, it becomes a new operation request input for updating the air conditioner operation request and calculating the stop threshold value. In FIG. 3, the operation request probability is updated once a day. However, the operation request probability may be updated each time an operation request is input, and an execution determination regarding air conditioner stop control or start control may be performed.

As an upper limit designation item related to energy consumption, air-conditioning time, exhausted CO ₂ amount, and the like can be used in addition to consumption amount and amount. In addition to stopping control of the air conditioner, it is also conceivable to perform start-up control when the operation request is high. The equipment operation request input is ON / OFF operation from the wall-mounted remote control, but the temperature control from the wall-mounted remote control is handled in the same way as the start / stop operation (set temperature drop during cooling, set temperature rise during heating ON For example, the operation request input can be observed.

  Although the stop threshold value has been raised or lowered according to the energy consumption margin in the above, it may be controlled as a constant value. Further, if the building user is likely to be turned ON, the control execution determination may be made on condition that the required operation strength is low until after a certain time has elapsed so as not to perform stop control. If the requested operation strength is low, a threshold (fixed value) different from the stop control implementation is prepared, and it is assumed that it is equal to or less than this threshold. In calculating the operation request probability after a certain period of time, it is necessary to predict room temperature and the like. For this prediction, the average room temperature change rate immediately after the past air conditioning stop is used.

  FIG. 6 shows a system configuration partially different from that of the first embodiment. Although the air conditioning control is performed by raising and lowering the air conditioning stop threshold according to the energy consumption margin, the air conditioning operation request input is different. A center server 600 is used instead of the central monitoring device 200. The BA communication network 205 is connected via the Internet 610 with the router 605, the router 620, and the firewall 625 interposed therebetween.

On the other hand, in the room, a user can use a personal computer (PC) 650a ~ on each person's desk.
650x is used. These PCs are connected to a LAN 640, and are connected to the center server 600 via the Internet 610 with the router 605, the router 630, and the firewall 635 interposed therebetween. Each PC is installed with software (air conditioning control software) 660a to 660x that periodically transmits the operation information of the PC to the center server 600, and the center server 600 can grasp the operation state of each PC. This operation information is used instead of the information on the presence sensors 260a to 260k.

  The air conditioning control software 660a to 660x also has a function for the user to report to the center server 600 a thermal feeling such as “hot” or “cold” regarding the air conditioning environment from the input screen 700 of FIG. This report is shared with another air conditioning temperature control, and is handled as an air conditioning operation request input in place of the ON operation from the wall-mounted remote controller of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the operation request input is managed for each remote controller with a wall, but here it is managed for each individual.

  FIG. 8 shows an air conditioning operation request probability update method that handles an air conditioning complaint as an operation request input, which corresponds to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. Steps 805 to 825 are performed for each individual building user who knows the occupancy state with the air conditioning control software. In step 810, the facility operation information DB 201 is searched for the air conditioning complaint that has been input from the previous update of the air conditioning operation request probability to the present. In step 820, the air conditioning operation request probability when each person is in the room is calculated in the same manner as with the wall-mounted remote controller. During cooling, the “hot” side declaration is regarded as an ON operation, and the “cold” side declaration is regarded as an OFF operation. The opposite is true when heating. Also, assuming that “Slightly hot” and “Slightly hot” are considered as operations for one time, “Hot” and “Samui” are considered as operations for two times, and “Very hot” and “Very hot” are considered as operations for three times.

Steps 835 to 855 are performed for each air conditioner. In step 840, a building user belonging to an area to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner is searched. The air-conditioning control software 660a to 660x has a function of selecting and setting the location from the list. The location ID is transmitted to the center server 600, and the location ID of each PC (building user) is registered in the facility operation information DB 201. Is done. In the facility operation information DB 201, a plurality of position IDs are registered as air conditioning areas of the respective air conditioners. A building user whose air conditioning area and position ID match is extracted.

  In step 850, the air conditioning operation request probability for the air conditioner is calculated. This is obtained from the air conditioning operation request probability for each building user extracted in step 840. Here, the average value is taken.

  In addition to the air conditioning claim, the wall remote control operation can be taken into account by handling the ON operation from the wall remote control equivalent to an individual air conditioning complaint. Since it is considered that the wall remote control operation reflects the intentions of a plurality of building users, the air conditioning operation request of the wall remote controller may be weighted in step 850. In order to reflect the occupancy status, the building user extracted in step 840 may be targeted only to those who are in the occupancy status with the air conditioning control software.

  The equipment configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment, but other equipment control methods are combined. FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram in the center server 600. The operation request estimation type air conditioning control determination function 900 determines the execution of the air conditioning control based on the method described in the second embodiment. However, the upper limit designation item of the energy consumption index is the air conditioning time of the remaining control period. The cost target type facility control determination function 910 is a control method different from that of the second embodiment, and controls the energy consumption or amount of money for a certain period within the specified upper limit by adjusting the start and stop of the air conditioner and the set temperature. Control decisions are made. The control command communication function 920 is connected to the Internet 610 via the router 605, receives a request from the function 900 or the function 910, transmits a control command to the equipment in the building 290 through the BA communication network 205, and receives the result. Receive. When the control request for the same control target point is received from the function 900 and the function 910 at the same time, the function 900 has priority. The facility operation / occupancy status monitoring function 930 is connected to the Internet 610 via the router 605, and periodically collects the measurement / operation status values of the facilities in the building 290 through the BA communication network 205, thereby providing facility operation information. Store in the DB 201. The recorded value of the facility operation information DB 201 is used for the function 900 and the function 910.

  The function 910 calculates how long the air conditioning time is within the upper limit when the energy consumption at the end of the control period is not likely to be within the upper limit as a result of the air conditioning time prediction and the energy consumption prediction. For the upper limit of the air conditioning time of the remaining control period. In step 330, the function 900 issues a control command for suppressing the air conditioning time within the upper limit of the request by determining the air conditioning stop threshold using the air conditioning time upper limit as a constraint condition instead of the energy consumption / money upper limit. Thereby, in addition to the function 910 working alone, the energy consumption / money upper limit can be protected more reliably, and the user can specify a lower upper limit.

  From Example 1 to Example 3, the energy consumption reducing means of the present invention is the air conditioning stop control, but the air conditioner output is decreased by adjusting the set temperature (extremely high during cooling and extremely low during heating). May be. Rather than directly controlling the facility for which energy consumption is to be reduced, the facility operation information DB 201 is searched for necessary operations to reduce the name, installation location, and energy consumption of the facility, and the display device on the BA or air conditioning control It may be displayed on the PC screen with the software for use. In addition to reducing energy consumption, to improve comfort, increase the air volume in areas where air conditioning operation demands are high, and avoid air conditioning by avoiding air flow directions or reducing air volume in areas where air conditioning operation demands are low. It is conceivable to perform control to improve the quality of the air-conditioning environment. The controlled object is not limited to a packaged air conditioner but may include a concentrated heat source type VAV (variable air amount) duct.

  10, 11 and 12 are examples of screens provided from the center server 600 to the building manager. In FIG. 10, an energy consumption graph 1010 represents the actual amount and the forecast of the daily amount and the cumulative amount. Moreover, the assumed value when the air-conditioning time suppression control is not performed and the actual value / predicted value when it is performed are also displayed. Further, the air conditioning suppression degree display 1020 is a value indicating how much the air conditioning time is suppressed, and this control is performed by displaying (actual value during control / assumed value during non-control), an air conditioning stop control threshold, and the like. You can see the consumption suppression effect. The graph 1010 may indicate the air conditioning time.

  In FIG. 11, an air conditioning operation request strength graph 1110 shows the air conditioning operation request strength in a certain area in a time series of one day. The air conditioner operating time zone display 1120 indicates when the air conditioner is operating, and the air conditioner stop control timing display 1130 indicates when the air conditioner stop control is applied, and the relationship between the required operating intensity and the air conditioner stop control. As a result, the operating state of the air conditioner can be known.

  In FIG. 12, the air conditioning operation required intensity display 1210 expresses the air conditioning operation required intensity for each area with colors and numerical values in accordance with actual sections. The desired date and time can be specified in the display date and time specification area 1220, and the display can be returned to the current date and time with the display date and time reset button 1230. With this graph, you can visually know the difference in the required operating intensity for each area.

  Possible forms include incorporating the control method of the present invention into an air conditioner controller, providing a BEMS control method, and providing a facility remote control monitoring service from a building management center.

The realization means block diagram of this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of Embodiment 1. FIG. The processing procedure of this invention. Procedure for updating the air conditioning operation request probability when using a wall remote control. Procedure for calculating the air conditioning stop threshold. The system block diagram of Example 2 * 3. Air conditioning complaint report screen. Procedure for updating the air conditioning operation request probability when using air conditioning complaints. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram in the center server in the third embodiment. Example of a screen provided for a building manager (part 1). Example of a screen provided for a building manager (part 2). Example of a screen provided for a building administrator (part 3).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Air-conditioning operation request input means 110 ... Air-conditioning operation request learning means 120 ... Occupancy status grasping means 130 ... Equipment operation request calculation means 140 ... Equipment control execution judgment means 150 ... Equipment control threshold calculation means 160 ... Equipment control means, 200 ... central monitoring device, 201 ... equipment operation information DB, 205 ... BA communication network, 210 ... field controller, 220 ... air conditioner controller, 225 ... air conditioning communication network, 230a to 230n ... package air conditioner indoor unit ,
240a to 240m ... outdoor unit for packaged air conditioner, 250a to 250n ... remote controller with packaged air conditioner wall, 260 ... sensor monitoring controller, 260a to 260k ... in-room sensor, 310 to 390 ... processing steps of the present invention, 405 to 425 ... remote controller with wall Steps for updating the air conditioning operation request probability when using the operation 510-550 ... Steps for calculating the air conditioning stop threshold, 600 ... Center server, 605, 620, 630 ... Router, 610 ... Internet, 625, 635 ... Firewall, 640 ... LAN ( OA communication network), 650a to 650x ... personal computer, 660a to 660x ... software for air conditioning control, 700 ... air conditioning complaint report screen, 805-855 ... step of updating the air conditioning operation request probability when using air conditioning complaint, 900 ... operation request Speculative sky Control judgment function, 910 ... Cost target type equipment control judgment function, 920 ... Control command communication function, 930 ... Equipment operation / occupancy status monitoring function, 1010 ... Energy consumption graph, 1020 ... Air conditioning suppression degree display, 1110 ... Time series Air conditioning operation required intensity graph, 1120 ... Air conditioner operating time zone display, 1130 ... Air conditioning stop control timing display, 1210 ... Area-specific air conditioning operation required intensity display, 1220 ... Display date designation area, 1230 ... Display date reset button.

Claims (7)

Equipment operation request input means for a user to input an equipment operation request, environment measurement means for measuring an environment related to the equipment, and equipment operation for learning the operation request input on condition of a measurement value of the environment measurement means A requirement learning unit, a facility operation request strength estimation unit that estimates a user's facility operation request strength at the time of control from a learning result of the facility operation request learning unit on the condition of a measurement value of the environment measurement unit, and the operation request Equipment control threshold value calculation means for instructing a threshold value for equipment control execution with respect to the equipment, the equipment operation request strength estimated by the operation demand strength estimation means and the threshold value indicated by the equipment control threshold value calculation means are compared to determine whether to execute equipment control. Based on the control command requested by the equipment control execution judging means for issuing a control command when the comparison result satisfies the condition And a facility control means for controlling the equipment,
The facility control execution determining means issues a command to reduce energy consumption by reducing or stopping the output of the facility as the control command when the facility operation required strength is less than or equal to the threshold value.
A target upper limit can be set for an energy consumption index for a certain period, and the facility control threshold value calculation means, according to the margin for the target upper limit of the energy consumption index, if the margin is large, the threshold is small, An equipment control system , wherein the threshold value is calculated and changed so that the threshold value increases when the margin is small . In equipment control system according to claim 1, equipment control system wherein the equipment is an air conditioner.   The equipment control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the equipment control execution determination means issues a command to start the equipment as the control command when the equipment operation required strength is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Feature equipment control system. The equipment control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the equipment is an air conditioner, and the equipment control execution determination means improves comfort in an area where the equipment operation demand strength is high as the control command. In order to do so, the equipment control system which issues the command which controls the wind direction or the air quantity of the air conditioner. The equipment control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the equipment is an air conditioner, and the equipment operation request input means inputs a user operation on the air conditioner. . In equipment control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the equipment is an air conditioner, the facility operation request input means, equipment control, characterized in that inputting the declaration of thermal sensation of the user system. In equipment control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the comparison if the result satisfies the condition, equipment control, characterized in that to emit the control command 100% less than a predetermined probability using a random number system.

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