JPH102594A - Air-conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit the optimum control of air conditioning from an existing sensor without inputting any private information previously by a method wherein an air conditioner is controlled in accordance with the amount of control, which is operated based on an index, showing a relation between the request of the whole of inhabitants with respect to an air-conditioning atmosphere and temperature conditions such as the temperature and the like of the air-conditioning atmosphere. SOLUTION: Computer terminals 1 are provided with inputting means for reporting the demands of inhabitants with respect to respective air conditioning atmospheres to transmit the inputted signals to a mail box 7 for receiving the reports through a circuit such as a communication network and the like. A request estimating means 8 estimates a request of the whole of inhabitants with respect to the air-conditioning atmosphere from the transmitted signals. An index operating means 11 operates an index, showing a relation between the operated request and the temperature condition of the air-conditioning atmosphere. A control amount operating means 12 operates the amount of control of the air-conditioning atmosphere based on the operated index. Then, an air conditioning control means 13 controls an air conditioner so as to obtain the amount of control, operated by the control amount operating means 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of reflecting a request of a room occupant in control using a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an air conditioner which performs control based on a comprehensive thermal index such as PMV in order to make a occupant thermally comfortable. PMV is ISO77
As specified by 30, the output is an estimate of the average thermal sensation that a occupant will feel, not the individual's perception of the thermal sensation.

Therefore, in order to grasp the sense of warmth and cold for each individual, means for providing a sensor for each individual and sensing PMV to control air conditioning has been invented. JP 5-2486
The 83 air conditioners use a network to output the information of thermal sensation sensors installed for each computer to the air conditioning controller, and perform air conditioning control based on the thermal sensation information for each computer. The present invention relates to an air conditioner that performs air conditioning control for each individual on a per-unit basis. Hereinafter, this conventional air conditioner will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an operation control device of the air conditioner, and FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram thereof. In FIG. 8, a thermal sensation sensor unit 7 which is mounted on a plurality of computers 1 connected to a network and detects and outputs thermal sensation near the installation part of the computer 1
1, thermal sensation information processing means 11 for taking in and processing thermal sensation information, and air conditioning control means 13 for controlling the air conditioner 4 so that the vicinity of the installation position of each computer 1 becomes a predetermined air conditioning condition. The main components are an installation position storage unit 72 that stores the installation positions of the computers 1 in advance, and the air conditioner 4. Further, when performing control according to personal preference, a personal thermal preference database 73 storing personal information and a personal identification means 75 for identifying the individual.
It is necessary to provide.

Next, the operation of the above-described conventional device will be briefly described. When the power of the computer 1 connected to the network is turned on, electric power is supplied to the thermal sensation sensor unit 71, and the thermal sensation sensor unit 71 detects the environment near the installation part of the computer 1, that is, the temperature and the like. The detected thermal sensation sensor information is transmitted to a thermal sensation information receiving unit 7 via a network.
It is taken in. The thermal sensation information receiving means 7 determines the installation position derived from the installation position storage means 72 in which the installation position information of each computer 1 is stored in advance, and controls the air conditioning control means 12.
Output to Further, the thermal sensation information is output from the thermal sensation information receiving means 7 to the thermal sensation information processing means 11, and the air conditioning conditions near the installation of each computer 1 are calculated.
Then, the control amount such as the amount of air blown in the direction of the computer is derived and the air conditioner 4 is controlled so that the air-conditioning condition near the computer 1 keeps the set value input from the control information input means 16. When air conditioning control is performed according to the occupant's preference, when the thermal sensation information is input, the individual identification means 75 determines the occupant's individual present near the computer 1, and sets the individual information input means in advance. The air-conditioning apparatus 4 performs air-conditioning control by correcting the air-conditioning conditions from the personal thermal sensation preference database 73 input from 74 so that the air-conditioning conditions take into account the individual information of the occupants. For example, when information indicating that the occupant A's preference is higher by 1 ° C. (or prefers a slightly warmer temperature, gets cold, etc.), the occupant A has a higher air conditioning condition than the air conditioning condition calculated by the air conditioning controller. Control such as operation of the air conditioner 5 is performed at the position of the personal computer in use so that the condition is raised by 1 ° C.

[0006]

However, in the operation control device of the conventional air conditioner, in order to perform air conditioning control for each individual, in order to grasp thermal sensation information represented by PMV for each individual, For example, environment sensing information such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed is required, and it is very difficult to accurately grasp the situation unless all sensors are attached to each computer. In addition, installation costs are also required. Furthermore, since a means for performing correction control based on personal information input in advance in a place, that is, personal information input for each computer installation position, is used in a place where occupants frequently move or change, accurate. Unable to identify individuals. Also,
Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to input personal information.

Furthermore, when a remote controller conventionally used as a means for actually sucking up personal dissatisfaction in a home air conditioner is used in a space for a plurality of occupants such as an office, the price of the remote controller itself is high. Users tend to be limited due to the limited number of remote controls installed,
The air conditioning control was changed by the individual who operated the remote controller, and it was difficult to reflect the preferences of all the occupants in the room.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and directly and simply sifts up the subjective report of all persons having an OA terminal and statistically processes the report to obtain a personal information in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that performs optimal air conditioning control from existing sensors without inputting information.

[0009]

An air conditioner which solves the above problems has the following construction. A computer terminal having input means for each of the occupants to declare a request for an air conditioning environment; communication means for transmitting a signal input from the computer terminal by the input means through a communication line such as a network; Request estimating means for estimating the request for the air conditioning environment of the entire occupant from the signal transmitted by the means, and an index indicating the relationship between the request calculated by the request estimating means and the temperature isothermal condition of the air conditioning environment. Exponent calculating means, control amount calculating means for calculating a control amount of the air conditioning environment based on the index calculated by the index calculating means, and air conditioning control for controlling the air conditioner to the control amount calculated by the control amount calculating means Means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram thereof. The control means of the air conditioner of the present embodiment mainly includes a computer terminal 1, a communication means 2 which is a network, an air conditioning control computer 3 capable of communicating with the computer terminal 1 by the communication means 2, and an air conditioner 4. The computer terminal 1 is provided with a report value input means 6. The report value input by the report value input means 6 is input to a report receiving mailbox 7 through the communication means 2 such as an e-mail, and then the air conditioning is performed. It is input to the control computer 3. The air-conditioning control computer 3 mainly includes a report receiving mailbox 7, a request estimating means 8, a data storage means 9, a thermal condition detecting means 10, an index calculating means 11, a control amount calculating means 12, and an air-conditioning controlling means 13. The request estimating means 8 selects and processes valid data from the declarations obtained in the declaration receiving mailbox 7 to calculate the dissatisfaction rate indicating the request for the air-conditioning environment of all the occupants, and calculates the thermal condition detecting means. 10 is input to the data storage means 9 together with the current thermal condition, and the relationship between the thermal condition and the dissatisfaction rate is calculated and held by the index calculating means 11 as a comfort index in the air conditioning environment. The control condition is calculated by the control amount calculating means 12 based on the control value, and the air conditioning control means 13 controls the rotation speed of the fan of the air conditioner 4 and the amount of refrigerant flowing through the cold / hot water coil. And allows control of the air conditioner 4 based on the reported value by performing Le.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. It should be noted that S1,
S2,... Are the step numbers indicating the processing procedures, and correspond to the reference numerals added to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of the declared value input means 6, which is an environment report WINDOW opened on the computer terminal 1.
Is shown. The pictures are drawn from colored and uncomfortable to cold and unpleasant to hot and unpleasant at a glance. In the present embodiment, the form of a five-stage reporting means is adopted, but it is not particularly necessary to stick to this if the means for converting to the percentage of dissatisfied persons is clear. The declaration is made in five stages,
From the left of the figure, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the declared values, and with the mouse,
Clicking on the corresponding thermal sensation automatically sends an e-mail in a file format including the date and time of the declaration, the ID of the declarant (e-mail address in this embodiment) and the declaration value as shown in FIG. It is sent to the declaration receiving mailbox 7. The reception confirmation means 14 constantly monitors the report reception mailbox 7, and if there is mail, outputs a signal for turning on the switch SW1, inputs the report value to the request estimation means 8, and starts the following processing. .

That is, the processing performed by the request estimating means 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is affected by the commuting style and the outside air temperature for 1 to 2 hours after commuting within a day, and there is a large individual difference in the sense of the set temperature of the air-conditioned space, and the setting of the air-conditioned space is really too hot or too cold. It is difficult to judge whether or not the complaint is for the first time, and the same can be said for one hour after the lunch break. Although the following processing has been described in the present embodiment, it is also possible to provide a learning means to learn a time with a large variation and low reliability for each air-conditioned space, and to select data.

When a mail is present in the declaration receiving mailbox 7, the flow of FIG. 5 is started, and the time information of the received mail is read (S1). For example, the office start time is approximately 9 o'clock, and the lunch break is from 12:00. In the case of 13:00, declarations before 10:00 am or between 12:00 and 14:00 are not reliable as described above. Therefore, when a report mail is transmitted from the occupant at that time (S2), information is transmitted only to display the dissatisfaction status on the monitor of the manager (S3), and the feedback is not given to the control itself. To If the report is not for the time (S2), the report information of the received mail is read (S4) and stored in a temporary memory (S5). The temporary memory retains the stored contents while air conditioning is performed with the same settings, but is cleared when the settings are changed.

If the report value of the received mail is 0 (S6), the report information from the same mail address as the received mail is searched in the temporary memory (S7), and the report information with the same mail address (S7). If there is an e-mail) (S8), the result is searched for declaration information with a declared value of 0 (S9), and an e-mail with a declared value of 0 is transmitted after the air conditioning setting is made. If not (S10), a flag indicating cold and dissatisfaction is set in the data storage means 9 together with the filer's ID information (mail address in this case) and date and time information (S11) and output to the data storage means 9 (S11). S12). This is because data on what each of the occupants thinks about the air conditioning setting is stored in the data storage means 9, in order to prevent double recording.

If the report value of the received mail is 1 (S13), the report information from the same mail address as the received mail is searched in the temporary memory (S14), and the report information from the same mail address is retrieved. If (the same sender mail) exists (S15), the search result is searched for declaration information having a declaration value of 1 (S16).
This is because if the sender does not have the same mail, that is, if it is the first report for the air conditioning setting, it is not possible to judge whether the variation is due to an individual difference, so that no feedback is given to control. For this reason, if the same sender contains an e-mail with a different declared value, especially if a report on the opposite side (declared value 3) is included with neutrality, the variation due to individual differences may occur. This is to avoid feedback to control. As a result of the search, if there is report information having a report value of 1 (S17), the mail as the report information is past 90
If it is received before the minute, the process branches to S11 (S11).
18).

If the declaration value is 4 (S19), the declaration information from the same mail address as the received mail is searched in the temporary memory (S20), and the declaration information of the same mail address with the same sender is retrieved. Exists (S2
1) The search result is searched for declaration information having a declaration value of 4 (S22). If a mail having a declaration value of 4 has not been transmitted since the air conditioning was set (S23), data is stored. A flag indicating hot and dissatisfied is set on the means 9 together with the filer's ID information (here, e-mail address) and date and time information (S24) and output to the data storage means 9 (S24).
25). This is because information on what each of the occupants thinks about the air conditioning setting is stored in the data storage means 9 as described above, and is to prevent double recording. .

If the declared value is 3 (S26),
The declaration information from the same mail address as the latest mail is searched in the temporary memory (S27), and if the declaration information with the same mail address exists (S28), the declaration having the same declaration value with respect to the search result. Search for information (S2
9). As a result of the search, when there is report information of the same report value with the same sender (S30), the transmission date and time of the report information is read, and if the latest mail has been received more than 90 minutes before the latest mail, The process branches to S15 (S31).

Steps S12 and S25 involve the operation of turning on the switch SW2, and at the same time, a signal for turning on the switch SW3 is output. The switch SW is automatically turned off when the information passes, but the operation of turning it off will be omitted. When the switch SW2 is turned on, the data storage means 9
When report information including a flag indicating dissatisfaction due to hot weather or a flag indicating dissatisfaction due to cold is input, information on the date and time when the mail was transmitted is output to the thermal condition detecting means 10 by turning on the switch SW3. . Thermal condition detecting means 10
Is composed of a thermal storage means 14 and a thermal sensor 15, and information obtained from time to time by the thermal sensor 15 provided in the air-conditioned space 5 is stored in the thermal storage means 14 together with information on the date and time of sensing. The heating condition detecting means 10 selects a heating condition at a date and time that matches the date and time input through the switch SW3. Switch SW4 when selected
Is output, and the selected heating condition is output to the data storage means 9 through the switch SW4.

FIG. 6 shows a format of information stored in the data storage means 9. As described above, the request estimating means 8 estimates whether the reported values discretely received on the time axis are valid data, accurately grasps the dissatisfaction with the air conditioning for each individual, and stores it in the data storage means 9. This has the effect of preventing erroneous calculation of the comfort index.

In the exponent calculating means 11, the control information input means 1
The information stored in the data storage means 9 is read based on the signal from the memory 6. The control information input means 16 is a means for a user who manages the entire air conditioning, such as a building manager, to input information related to the control. The control information input means 16 is a setting for changing the control conditions and a thermal condition for grasping the dissatisfaction with the air conditioning and controlling the operation. This is a means for inputting the set value of When a signal for changing the setting condition of the air conditioner 4 is input from the control information input means 16 every time the user is dissatisfied, the switch SW5 is always ON, and the data storage means 9 is cold and dissatisfied. Each time new declaration information and heat condition information including a flag indicating hot or unsatisfied are input,
The storage information stored in the data storage means 9 is read from the data storage means 9 to the exponent calculation means 11.

When a signal for examining a change on a daily basis is input, stored information up to the previous day is read from the data storage means 9 to the exponent calculation means 11 at the beginning of the day.

When a signal for examining a change on a weekly basis is input, stored information up to the previous week is read from the data storage means 9 to the exponent calculation means 11 at the beginning of the week.

When the data is read by the index calculating means 11, the unsatisfied person ratio, which is the ratio of the occupants who feel dissatisfied with the air-conditioned space 5 calculated by the request estimating means 8, is detected by the thermal condition detecting means 10. The relationship with the heated temperature condition is calculated.
The heating condition is information obtained from the heating sensor 15 and, unlike the heating sensor 15 installed in the air-conditioned space 5, if sensing, estimation, or input of humidity, wind speed, radiation temperature, activity amount, clothing amount, etc. is possible. , PMV and SET *
There is no problem even with such a thermal index. In the present embodiment, the thermal sensor 15 is assumed to be only a room temperature sensor, and the index calculated by the index calculating means 11 is an index indicating the relationship between the room temperature and the rate of dissatisfied setting. For the rate of dissatisfaction I
The value calculated statistically corresponding to the PMV in the standard of SO7730 is presented by an approximate expression, which is expressed as a PMV value −
It is the ratio of dissatisfied persons when it is assumed that 2, -3, +2, +3 are dissatisfied, and does not reflect the thermal preferences of the occupants. Therefore, here, the PMV standardized by ISO7730 and the ratio of dissatisfied people are used as default values. FIG. 7 shows an index of the default dissatisfaction rate quoted from the base "Thermal Comfort" in order to convert the dissatisfaction rate specified by ISO7730 into the values of cold and dissatisfied and hot and dissatisfied, respectively. When new data is input, an expression that best represents the data so far including that data is approximated and stored as a comfort index. As described above, the exponent calculating means 11 summarizes the dissatisfaction with each thermal condition for each individual stored in the data storage means and performs statistical processing to calculate the comfort index.

The control amount calculating means 12 calculates a temperature based on the comfort index calculated by the index calculating means 11 so as to minimize the number of occupants having dissatisfaction with air conditioning in the air-conditioned space 5. That is, it is t0 in FIG. Alternatively, the temperature corresponding to the allowable dissatisfaction rate input and set by the air conditioning manager from the control information input means 16 is calculated based on the comfort index. That is, it is td when the dissatisfaction rate input from the control information input means 16 in FIG. 7 is Pdd. The set temperature calculated by the control amount calculation means 12 is output to the air conditioning control means 13.

The air conditioning control means 13 adjusts the number of rotations of the fan of the air conditioner 4 and the opening / closing amount of the coil of the cold / hot water coil while inputting the sensing result of the condition of the heating condition of the air conditioning space 5 from the heating sensor 15 to control the air conditioning. The air conditioner is controlled by controlling the space 5 to be kept at the set value.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication means 2 uses e-mail, but the communication means 2 uses LAN, groupware, WWW, or the like.
It is also possible to develop using a browser or the like.

When WWW or the like is used, two-way communication is possible, and when a user who is an occupant declares a request for an air-conditioning environment, how the report is reflected in air-conditioning,
If it is not reflected, it is possible to know for what reason it is not reflected, and this is an air-conditioning control method that is highly psychologically satisfactory for the occupants.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, it is possible to directly and easily obtain reports from all the occupants by obtaining dissatisfaction of the air-conditioned space using the communication line. It is possible to perform efficient air conditioning control by performing control according to the air conditioning unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a WINDOW diagram for reporting in one embodiment of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a data configuration diagram of report information sent through communication means in the air-conditioning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a signal flow in a request estimating unit in the embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data configuration of thermal conditions and declared values stored in data storage means in the air-conditioning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data configuration of thermal conditions and declared values stored in data storage means in the air-conditioning apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a flow of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 computer terminal 2 communication means 4 air conditioner 8 request estimating means 10 thermal condition detecting means 11 index calculating means 12 control amount calculating means 13 air conditioning controlling means 14 reception confirmation means 71 sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hisashi Kodama 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] An input means for each of the occupants to declare a request for an air-conditioning environment, a communication means for transmitting a signal inputted by the input means, and a communication means for transmitting a signal inputted by the communication means. Request estimating means for estimating the request for the air conditioning environment of the entire room, index calculating means for calculating an index indicating the relationship between the request calculated by the request estimating means and the temperature isothermal condition of the air conditioning environment, and the exponent calculation Control amount calculating means for calculating a control amount of the air conditioning environment based on the index calculated by the means, and air conditioning control means for controlling an air conditioner according to the control amount calculated by the control amount calculating means. Air conditioner. 2. A request estimating means for estimating a request for an air-conditioning environment of the entire occupant in consideration of a time zone in which the request is declared for each of the air-conditioning environments. The air conditioner according to claim 1.