WO2015140834A1

WO2015140834A1 - Air-conditioning system

Info

Publication number: WO2015140834A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/001637
Authority: WO
Inventors: 豊大薮田
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2014-03-20
Filing date: 2014-03-20
Publication date: 2015-09-24

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an air-conditioning system which cools a space housing heat-generating bodies capable of moving, and which is equipped with multiple heat generating body detectors that measure the skin temperature or surface temperature of the heat generating bodies and are provided in correspondence with indoor units, and provides individual air-conditioning environments tailored to the persons present in a room. This air-conditioning system, which cools a space housing heat-generating bodies capable of moving, is equipped with: multiple indoor units that cool the heat generating bodies capable of moving; multiple heat generating body detectors provided in correspondence with the indoor units; and an air-conditioning management device that, on the basis of the detection results from the multiple heat generating body detectors, controls the operation of the indoor unit corresponding to the relevant heat generating body.

Description

Air conditioning system

The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for cooling a space containing a movable heating element,
The present invention relates to a system that is provided corresponding to an indoor unit and includes a plurality of heating element detectors for measuring the skin temperature or body surface temperature of a heating element, and that realizes an air conditioning environment suitable for a heating element such as a human body existing indoors.

As an example, an air conditioning system installed in a building air conditioner will be described.
An air conditioning system installed in a building or the like does not use a single air-conditioning indoor unit to control a single space, as in a home air conditioner. The indoor unit is used to control the air conditioner so as to provide a uniform air conditioning environment throughout the space.

On the other hand, when the space to be air-conditioned is large, multiple people can enter or leave the space, and depending on the location in the space and the basic body temperature of each person, Even if a uniform air conditioning environment is provided, people in the same space are often not uniformly comfortable.

For example, as a conventional example of this type, there is one shown in Patent Document 1,
The conventional air conditioning system
An area-specific air conditioning control system for controlling an air conditioner having one or a plurality of air conditioning indoor units (71 to 75) provided as a common air conditioning environment providing means for a plurality of areas,
An area information input unit (12) for receiving area information (20) which is information relating to the air conditioning environment of the area;
A control unit (13) for controlling the air conditioner according to the area information and providing an air conditioning environment corresponding to the area information to each area;
In consideration of the content of the control of the control unit, it is configured to include a calculation unit (14) that apportions the energy consumption of the air conditioner required for providing the air conditioning environment to each of the areas,
The characteristic structure is a control part (13) which controls an air conditioning apparatus according to area information, and provides the air-conditioning environment corresponding to area information with respect to each area.
Thereby, a control part (13) controls the motion of the flap which changes the speed of the air to blow off, or the direction of blowing air according to area information (20), and the flow of the air blown off from an air-conditioning indoor unit is controlled. Control. For this reason, an individual air conditioning environment can be provided for each of a plurality of areas. (See Patent Document 1)

JP 2004-144348 A (0069 paragraph, FIG. 1)

In Patent Document 1 described above, area information related to the air conditioning environment divided for each area is set in advance manually or via another computer, and the air conditioner is controlled according to the area information accordingly. ing. In this way, in order to control the air conditioner based on preset information, control is performed in consideration of information on a person existing in the space and information on a heating element such as a human body surface temperature (skin temperature, etc.). First of all, there was a limit to the degree of appropriateness in terms of executing appropriate air conditioning.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the first object is to
An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system that includes a plurality of heating element detectors and executes an appropriate air-conditioning environment according to the state of the heating elements existing in the room based on the detection results of the heating element detectors.

Also, a second object is to obtain an air conditioning system that can eliminate energy-saving operation of the air conditioner and provide energy saving depending on the state of the heating element existing in the air-conditioning target space.

The air conditioning system of the present invention is
An air conditioning system for cooling a space containing a movable heating element,
The air conditioning system is
A plurality of indoor units that cool the movable heating element;
A plurality of heating element detectors provided corresponding to the indoor unit,
Based on the detection results of the plurality of heating element detectors, an air conditioning management device that controls the operation of the indoor unit in association with the corresponding heating element detector;
Is an air conditioning system.

The air conditioning system according to the invention can implement an air conditioning environment suitable for the state of the heating element by performing air conditioning on the movable heating element existing in the indoor space. Energy saving can be realized by reducing energy consumption by reducing waste of air conditioning for a portion where no heating element is present.

It is a figure which shows the whole air conditioning system 1000 which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioning management device 700 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the indoor unit 300 based on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the air-conditioning process based on the infrared sensors 301 and 311 in the air-conditioning management apparatus 700 based on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure showing details regarding the “initial setting process (step S1)” in FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of indoor units 300a to 300c in an indoor space 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure showing in detail the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)” of FIG. 4. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence regarding the data acquisition of the said indoor unit in "infrared sensor data acquisition processing (step S3)." FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure showing details of the “save operation determination process (step S4)” in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure showing details regarding the “save operation canceling process (step S5)” of FIG. 4; It is a figure which shows the whole air conditioning system 2000 which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of indoor units 320a to 320c and remote controllers 420a to 420c in an indoor space 120 according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of air conditioning processing based on infrared sensors 421a to 421c in the air conditioning management device 700 according to Embodiment 2.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Prior to specific description, an outline of the first embodiment will be described. The first embodiment is an air conditioning system that cools a space containing a movable heating element, and this system connects one or a plurality of outdoor units and two or more indoor units to a refrigerant pipe. An air conditioning system configured by an air conditioning system configured by connecting, an air conditioning management device that is a centralized controller for operating the air conditioning system, and a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller), The outdoor unit, the indoor unit, the air conditioning management device, and the remote controller are connected to each other via a transmission line for communication.
Each indoor unit is provided with a heating element detector composed of an infrared sensor (hereinafter also referred to as a sensor as appropriate), and information on each infrared sensor is collected in an air conditioning management device via a transmission line. The apparatus is configured to collectively perform individual control for a plurality of indoor units arranged in the same space based on the collected information of the infrared sensors.

FIG. 1 shows an entire air conditioning system 1000 showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the heating element will be described as a human body.
Further, in the present specification, the state of the heating element means a broad sense including the presence / absence of the presence of the heating element in the indoor space to be air-conditioned and the temperature distribution due to the presence of the heating element.

Prior to describing a specific detailed configuration, first, the air conditioning system 1000 and main circuits constituting the system will be described. In FIG. 1, when a plurality of indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c are described separately, the suffixes a to c are added to the numbers. In the case where they are not individually distinguished, numbers are simply described, and the same numbers in the drawings indicate that they have the same or corresponding functions.

A specific description will be given below based on the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The air conditioning system 1000 includes indoor units 300a to 300c that cool the indoor space 100 (abbreviated as space as appropriate), an outdoor unit 200 that releases indoor heat absorbed by the indoor units 300a to 300c, A remote control 400 for operating the air conditioner by supplying operation control signals to the outdoor unit 200 and the indoor units 300a to 300c, and sharing various information regarding the operation state between the indoor units 300a to 300c and the outdoor unit 200 Transmission line 500, indoor unit 300a-300c and outdoor unit 200 connected to each other, refrigerant pipe 600 for circulating the refrigerant between indoor units 300a-300c and outdoor unit 200, and air conditioning control for the space The air-conditioning management device 700 that collectively controls the operation of the system.

Similarly, indoor units 310a to 310c that cool an indoor space 110 different from the indoor space 100, an outdoor unit 210 that releases indoor heat absorbed by the indoor units 310a to 310c, and the outdoor unit 210 and A remote control 410 for supplying an operation control signal to the indoor units 310a to 310c to operate these air conditioners, and a transmission line 500 for sharing various information regarding the operation state between the indoor units 310a to 310c and the outdoor unit 210. And a refrigerant pipe 610 that connects the indoor units 310a to 310c and the outdoor unit 210 and circulates and supplies the refrigerant between the indoor units 310a to 310c and the outdoor unit 210.

In FIG. 1, an outdoor unit 200 and three indoor units 300a to 300c are installed in an indoor space 100 in which air conditioning is to be performed, and each is connected to a refrigerant pipe 600 by a communication transmission line 500. A remote controller 400 for operating these air conditioners is connected to the same transmission line 500, and the indoor units 300a to 300c are operated by operating the remote controller 400.

The indoor units 300a to 300c are provided with infrared sensors 301a to 301c, respectively. In addition to the infrared sensors 301a to 301c, the indoor unit includes temperature sensors 302a to 302c for measuring the temperature of the indoor space at the air intake port of the indoor unit.

The indoor units 300a to 300c, 310a to 310c and the

outdoor units

200 and 210, although not shown, have at least one variable capacity compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a user side. The heat exchanger and the heat exchanger are sequentially arranged in an annular shape to form a refrigeration cycle, and indoor cooling is realized.

In addition to the above

remote controllers

400 and 410, there is an air conditioning management device 700 that collectively controls air conditioning control for a plurality of spaces as a centralized controller for operating these air conditioners. The air conditioning management device 700 includes a transmission line 500. Are connected to the indoor units 300a to 300c, 310a to 310c, the

outdoor units

200 and 210, and the

remote controllers

400 and 410. The air conditioning management device 700 includes infrared sensors 301a to 301c and 311a to 311c, which will be described later. It is configured to collect sensor information and control each indoor unit based on the information.

Here, each device connected to the transmission line 500 has, for example, a unique number in communication, an address, etc. (hereinafter referred to as an address) and is distinguished. In addition, when each device performs communication, a signal including data of a signal transmission destination and a transmission source address is transmitted.

For example, one or a plurality of outdoor units 200 (two in FIG. 1) provided in a building such as a building and a plurality of indoor units 300a to 300c, 310a to 310c (six in FIG. 1) are refrigerant pipes. The air conditioning is performed on the indoor space 100 and the indoor space 110 by changing the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the pipe and absorbing and radiating the refrigerant.

Next, a specific configuration in the air conditioning management device 700 included in the air conditioning system 1000 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

As described above, the air conditioning management device 700 is a centralized controller that can individually (ie, collectively) control the plurality of indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c. In addition to the contents such as operation, the device is capable of managing data such as schedule management, indoor unit operation status, and sensor information from the heating element detector.

The air conditioning management device 700 includes a communication unit 701, a management information collection unit 702, a management information storage unit 703, a management information processing unit 704, a management information setting unit 705, a sensor information collection unit 706, a sensor information storage unit 707, Sensor information processing means 708, sensor information setting means 709, processing control means 710, management information changing means 711, and change storage means 712 are provided.

The communication unit 701 is connected to the transmission line 500 externally, receives a signal flowing through the transmission line 500, and extracts data.
Here, extracting the data means that a signal on which the voltage of the pulse signal is superimposed is transmitted to the transmission line 500 in a state in which a constant voltage is applied, so that the communication unit 701 uses the voltage of the superimposed pulse signal. Is converted into a communication signal and recognized as an individual communication signal arranged for each information to realize communication with each air conditioner.

The communication unit 701 performs a role of analyzing a general voltage signal flowing through the transmission line 500 and capturing it as a communication signal, or conversely converting a communication signal into a voltage.

The management information collecting unit 702 collects necessary data from the data extracted by the communication unit 701 as management information and stores it in the management information storage unit 703.

Here, the data related to the management information is information relating to the operation status of the plurality of indoor units 300a to 300c, such as operation mode, wind speed, wind direction, set temperature, and save operation.

Here, the management information collecting means 702 is a means for collecting the operating state of the indoor unit, and collects data such as the operating state of the indoor unit and the set temperature for each indoor unit. To do.

Furthermore, the management information collecting means 702 has a time measuring means such as a timer for performing the collecting process.

The management information storage unit 703 individually stores indoor unit operation information and the like.

The management information processing unit 704 processes the management information stored in the management information storage unit 703 based on the contents of the management information set by the management information setting unit 705 described later, and stores the management information in the management information 703 again.

Next, whether the management information processing unit 704 changes the management information according to the contents set by the management information setting unit 705 and the information of the actual indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c acquired by the management information collection unit 702. Make a judgment.

The management information setting unit 705 is a setting unit for operating each of the indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c, and can change ON / OFF of the operation of each indoor unit, a set temperature, and the like.

Next, collection of sensor information will be described.
Similar to the management information, the sensor information of the infrared sensors 301a to 301c of the indoor units 300a to 300c is collected in the air conditioning management device 700 via the transmission line 500.

The sensor information collecting unit 706 collects data related to sensor information from the data extracted by the communication unit 701 and stores it in the sensor information storage unit 707.

Here, the sensor information collecting means 706 collects sensor information such as the suction temperature attached to the indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c and the sensor attached to the infrared sensor, and stores the information as sensor information. It is stored in the means 707.

Further, the sensor information collecting means 706 has a time measuring means similar to the management information collecting means 702.

Next, the sensor information setting unit 709 determines how to process the sensor information, and the sensor information processing unit 708 processes the sensor information based on the determination by the sensor information setting unit 709. .

Here, the sensor information setting means 709 is a setting means for using / not using sensor information and can finely adjust the sensor information.

Next, the sensor information processing unit 708 determines whether to change the sensor information according to the contents set by the sensor information setting unit 709 and the sensor information data (detection result) acquired by the sensor information collection unit 706.

Finally, the process control unit 710 performs a process for realizing each function.
The processing control means 710 has a procedure of processing contents as a program in advance, and realizes each function by executing this program.

The process control unit 710 changes the management information based on the management information processed by the management information processing unit 704 and the sensor information processed by the sensor information processing unit 708.
Here, based on the result of the management information processing unit 704 and the result of the sensor information processing unit 708, processing for determining how to control the entire function is performed.

In practice, the management information changing unit 711 changes the management content based on the content of the process control unit 710 and stores the changed content in the change storage unit 712.
The management information changing unit 711 finally performs processing for changing the operation information and the like based on the result of the processing control unit 710, and the changed contents are stored in the change storage unit 712.

Then, the contents changed in the change storage means 712 by the management information changing means 711 are transmitted to the transmission line 500 via the communication means 701.

Next, a specific configuration of the indoor unit 300 included in the air conditioning system 1000 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

In addition, regarding the plurality of indoor units 300 in FIG. 1, when distinguishing a plurality of indoor units, suffixes a to c are added to the numbers. In FIG. 3, the same numbers indicate that they have the same or corresponding functions. (That is, the indoor units 300b and 300c have the same configuration as the indoor unit 300a, and the subscripts are omitted here.)

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the indoor unit 300 according to the first embodiment.
The indoor unit 300 is a device that cools the room, and includes at least an infrared sensor 301, a temperature sensor 302, a communication unit 303, an actuator output unit 304, a management information processing unit 305, a management information storage unit 306, and a control information process. Means 307, control information storage means 308, processing control means 309, and sensor data storage means 313 are provided.

The indoor unit 300 is directly arranged with respect to the indoor space 100 that is desired to be air-conditioned, and includes a signal including an operation command from the remote control 400 and the air conditioning management device 700 via the transmission line 500 or a signal received by the indoor unit communication unit 303. Based on this, control for operating each actuator output means 304 is performed.

Here, examples of the actuator include an electric valve that adjusts the refrigerant amount of the refrigerant pipe 600 connected to the outdoor unit 200 (not shown), a wind direction valve that adjusts the air direction with respect to the space, and the like.

The temperature sensor 302 is provided in each indoor unit, and the temperature sensor 302 measures the temperature in the indoor space 100. In the conventional air conditioning system, when the temperature of the air conditioning is measured, the thermo judgment of the indoor unit is performed based on the value of this temperature.
In the first embodiment, basically, the temperature sensor 302 and the infrared sensor 301 are selectively switched for use. In the first embodiment, the temperature value obtained by the temperature sensor 302 is not used, and the thermosensor is determined by measuring the human temperature obtained by each infrared sensor. In this case, the infrared sensor can be switched between valid / invalid, and in the case of invalidity, it can also be determined by the space temperature using the conventional temperature sensor 302.
Hereinafter, thermo determination using only an infrared sensor will be described.

The communication unit 303 is connected to the transmission line 500, receives a signal flowing through the transmission line 500, and extracts data.

Here, like the communication unit 701 in the air conditioning management device 700, the communication unit 303 analyzes a general voltage signal flowing through the transmission line 500 and takes it in as a communication signal. It plays a role such as converting to.

The management information processing unit 305 collects data such as necessary operation commands from the data extracted by the communication unit 303 as management information and stores it in the management information storage unit 306.

By the way, since the indoor unit 300 finally performs control according to the state of the outdoor unit 200, the indoor unit 300 communicates control information with the outdoor unit 200 via the transmission line 500. .

Next, collection of control information will be described.
The control information processing unit 307 performs a collection process on the content related to the control information from the information extracted by the communication unit 303, and the collection result is stored in the control information storage unit 308.

Thereafter, the process control unit 309 controls the actuator output unit 304 based on the management information and the control information obtained by the management information processing unit 305 and the control information processing unit 307.

In addition, detection information obtained by the infrared sensor 301 that measures the temperature of the heating element installed in the indoor unit 300 and the temperature sensor 302 that measures the temperature of the air in the indoor space is processed by the processing control unit 309. After being processed, it is stored in the sensor data storage means 313.

Thereafter, the sensor data and the like processed by the processing control unit 309 is transmitted as control information to the outdoor unit 200, the air conditioning management device 700, and the like via the control information processing unit 307 and the communication unit 303. In addition, it is also used as data for controlling its own actuator in the indoor unit 300.

Next, the operation in the indoor unit 300 will be described.
In the air conditioning system configured as described above, the air conditioning management device 700 collects sensor information of the infrared sensors 301a to 301c connected to the indoor units 300a to 300c, and also operates information on the indoor units 300a to 300c (described above). Management information) is collected, and air conditioning control in accordance with the temperature of the human body in the indoor space 100 is realized.

Here, the cooling operation is started when the operator operates the remote controller 400 that controls the air conditioner 1000. Here, for example, it is assumed that the target temperature (hereinafter, set temperature) in the air-conditioned space is 27 ° C.

In the conventional air conditioning system, the indoor units 300a to 300c judge the air conditioning thermo ON / OFF for each by the temperature sensor 302 provided in the indoor unit 300, and the temperature in the indoor space 100 is uniformly set to 27 ° C. In the first embodiment, the air-conditioning management apparatus 700 uses the infrared sensors 301a to 301c provided in advance in the three indoor units 300a to 300c in the area of the indoor space 100. Execute operational control individually.

The air conditioning control using the infrared sensors 301a to 301c by the air conditioning management device 700 is realized by performing the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter, step S1 to step S5). First, a large flow will be described with reference to FIGS.

After the power supply of the air-conditioning management device 700 is activated, the initial operation is “perform initial setting processing (step S1)”.

After completion of the “initial setting process (step S1)”, the air conditioning management device 700 continues the process of the following step S2.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not the indoor units 300a to 300c in the target indoor space 100 are in operation. If the indoor units 300a to 300c are stopped, the process proceeds to NO, and these indoor units 300a. ˜300c stands by until the operation operation is started by the remote controller 400 or the air conditioning management device 700.

When the corresponding indoor units 300a to 300c are in operation, the process proceeds to YES, and “infrared sensor data acquisition processing” is performed (step S3).
Thereafter, a “save operation determination process” is performed for each of the infrared sensors 301a to 301c (step S4), and a “save operation release process” is performed (step S5).

Here, the operation modes of the plurality of indoor units include a normal operation mode and a save operation mode,
The save operation mode is an operation mode with lower power consumption than the normal operation mode.

After the power is turned on, the air conditioning management device 700 repeatedly performs the processes in steps S2 to S5.

Steps S1, S2, S4, and S5 are all performed by the air conditioning management device 700. However, for step S3, the indoor unit including the air conditioning management device 700 and the infrared sensors 301a to 301c. 300a to 300c are processes executed.

Here, the processing procedure of the “initial setting process (step S1)” described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The air-conditioning control using the infrared sensors 301 and 311 requires the “initial setting process” in the air-conditioning management apparatus 700 as described above, and the infrared sensors 301 and 311 and the indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c This association is the main operation of the “initial setting process”.

FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure (step S1 ') showing details regarding the "initial setting process (step S1)" in FIG.

When the “initial setting process (S1 ′)” is started, the indoor space 100 is associated with the indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c that air-condition the spaces corresponding to the detection areas of the infrared sensors 301 and 311. It is confirmed whether or not (step S110).
If it is determined in step S110 that the association has not been made, the process proceeds to NO to associate each infrared sensor with each indoor unit (step S120).
If the association has been made, the process proceeds to YES, and the “initial setting process (S1 ′)” is terminated (step S130).

In Embodiment 1, since the infrared sensors 301 and 311 provided in advance in each indoor unit are used, the correspondence between them is known, and the indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c and the infrared sensors 301 and 311 are known. Is associated in advance.
In such a case, the process of the “initial setting process (step S1)” is virtually unnecessary.

FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of the indoor units 300a to 300c in the indoor space 100, and three broken-line circles in FIG. 6 indicate the relationship between the positions of the infrared sensors 301a to 301c and the detection areas 800a to 800c. .

In FIG. 6, the detection area 800a corresponds to the infrared sensor 301a portion of the indoor unit 300a, and similarly, the detection area 800b corresponds to the infrared sensor 301b of the indoor unit 300b. The detection area 800c corresponds to the 300c infrared sensor 301c.

These three indoor units 300a to 300c perform air conditioning in the indoor space 100, and the infrared sensors 301a to 301c installed in each indoor unit are responsible for these three areas in the indoor space 100. Yes. Note that the detection areas 800a to 800c partially overlap in adjacent areas.

Next, details of the processing procedure of the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)” will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed processing procedure of the contents related to the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)” of FIG.

In the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)”, the sensor information collection unit 706 starts the infrared sensor data acquisition process from the infrared sensors 301 and 311 and is a fixed time (for example, every 60 seconds) from the previous acquisition of the infrared sensor data. It is determined whether or not elapses (step S310).

Until this fixed time has elapsed, the process proceeds to NO, and returns to step S310 as a loop.
After a predetermined time (for example, every 60 seconds), the process proceeds to YES, where the sensor information collecting means 706 sends infrared sensor data from the infrared sensors 301 and 311 to all the indoor units 300a to 300c and 310a to 310c as transmission lines. Monitoring is started via 500 and the communication means 701 (step S320).

Thereafter, the sensor information collecting unit 706 stores the data acquired from each of the infrared sensors 301 and 311 as infrared sensor data in the sensor information storage unit 707 (step S330), and “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)”. Is completed (step S340).

Next, a processing procedure until the indoor units 300a to 300c including the infrared sensors 301a to 301c acquire data from the infrared sensors 301 and 311 and respond to the air conditioning management apparatus 700 will be described with reference to FIG. .

FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure related to data acquisition of each indoor unit with respect to “infrared sensor data acquisition processing (S3)”.

In the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (S3)”, each of the indoor units is started based on the data obtained by the processing information processing unit 305 by the processing control unit 309 after being activated by the power source of the indoor units 300a to 300c (step S3201) It is determined whether or not is in operation (step S3202).

The processing control unit 309 waits until the operation of the indoor units 300a to 300c is started. After the operation of the indoor units 300a to 300c is started, the processing control unit 309 acquires infrared sensor data from the infrared sensors 301a to 301c. It is determined whether or not a certain time (for example, every 30 seconds) has elapsed since step S3203.

Until this fixed time has elapsed, the process proceeds to NO, and returns to step S3203 as a loop.
After a predetermined time has elapsed (here, every 30 seconds), the process proceeds to YES, and the processing control unit 309 detects the information of the detection areas 800a to 800c in charge of the infrared sensors 301a to 301c owned by itself, and starts analysis ( Step S3204).

If the infrared sensor data acquisition by the infrared sensors 301 and 311 is the first time, the process proceeds to YES (step S3205), and the process control unit 309 calculates the average temperature based on the detected temperature data within the limit range (step S3206). ).

Here, the temperature within the limit range is a temperature that can be taken by a person who is a heating element in calculating an average temperature, or a temperature that falls within data (for example, 30 degrees to 40 degrees) within an assumed temperature range. Therefore, the average temperature is calculated using the temperature data within the limit range as an effective value.

In addition, when obtaining sensor information data (detection results) using a plurality of heating element detectors, in general, measurement is repeatedly performed in time so that the reliability of the detection results is further increased. Multiple detection results are obtained for each heating element detector.

When the data acquisition by the infrared sensors 301 and 311 is performed for the second time or later (that is, when the acquired data has not changed from the previous time), the process proceeds to NO, and the data analysis result of the infrared sensor 301 is detected the previous time. The processing control unit 309 determines whether or not the result has changed (step S3207).

If the acquired data is unchanged from the previous time, the process proceeds to NO, and the process control unit 309 keeps the average temperature acquired last time in the sensor data storage unit 313 as it is (step S3209).
If the acquired data has changed from the previous time, the process proceeds to YES, and the processing control unit 309 extracts data of only the portion where the change has occurred, and calculates the average temperature of only the portion where the change has occurred. Calculate (step S3208).

Next, the process control unit 309 stores the average temperature calculated in steps S3206, S3208, and S3209 in the sensor data storage unit 313 as transmission data when monitoring is requested from the air conditioning management device 700 ( Step S3210).

However, if all of the acquired data is outside the temperature range within the above-mentioned limit range and the average temperature cannot be calculated, the process control unit 309 stores the transmission data in the sensor data storage unit 313 as an invalid value. Let me.

In this manner, after the power of the indoor units 300a to 300c is turned on, these processes (steps S3202 to S3210) are repeated until data is monitored from the infrared sensors 301 and 311 by the air conditioning management device 700 (step S3211), and the monitoring request is made. If the transmission data calculated above is returned to the air conditioning management device 700 (step S3212), the processing of steps S3202 to S3210 is repeated.

By repeatedly performing the processes of steps S3202 to S3210, the temperature of the human body existing in the detection areas 800a to 800c in charge of the infrared sensors 301a to 301c installed in the indoor space 100 (for example, skin temperature, body surface, etc.) Temperature).
In addition, when a human body is present in an area where the detection areas 800a to 800c overlap, the sensors corresponding to the detection areas detect each other.

If there is no infrared sensor data monitoring request in step S3211, the process proceeds to NO and returns to step S3201.

Next, the processing procedure of the “save operation determination process (step S4)” described in FIG. 4 will be described based on FIG.

In brief, when the save operation determination process is started (S400) and the air-conditioning management apparatus 700 can acquire data from the infrared sensors 301 and 311 provided in each of the indoor units 300a to 300c, “save operation” is described. The determination process (step S4) "is performed, and it is determined whether or not each indoor unit is to be subjected to a save operation based on the infrared sensor data acquired from the infrared sensors 301 and 311.
This processing is sequentially performed individually for each of the indoor units 300a to 300c based on the acquired data of the infrared sensors 301 and 311.

Next, this process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
When the save driving determination process is started (step S400),
The air-conditioning management apparatus 700 determines whether the infrared sensor data acquired from the infrared sensors 301 and 311 has changed in the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)” (step S410).

When there is a change in the infrared sensor data acquired in step S410, the sensor information processing unit 708 also determines whether the infrared sensor data is a valid value (that is, not an invalid value) ( Step S420).

In step S420, if the infrared sensor data is not a valid value (invalid value), the process proceeds to NO, whether there is no change in temperature, or whether the invalid value state continues for a certain time (for example, 10 minutes). Is judged by the sensor information processing means 708 (step S460).

The air-conditioning management device 700 continues the operation state in front of the indoor units 300a to 300c until the predetermined time elapses. If this continues for a predetermined time or longer (here, 10 minutes), the process proceeds to YES to enter the indoor space. It is determined that there is no human body, and the process control unit 710 determines to perform demand control on the corresponding indoor units of the infrared sensors 301 and 311 to perform a save operation (step S470).

Based on these results, the management information changing unit 711 transmits a control signal to the corresponding indoor unit via the communication unit 701 and the transmission line 500 so as to perform a save operation.

Next, in step S420, when the sensor information processing means 708 describes a case where the received temperature data is changed and the value is determined to be an effective value, the process proceeds to YES. The comparison temperature data is compared (step S430).

For example, in the case of cooling operation, if the previously calculated average temperature is lower than the comparative temperature data set inside, the process proceeds to YES and the processing control means 710 detects the detection areas of the infrared sensors 301 and 311. It is determined that demand control is performed on the indoor unit corresponding to (1) and a save operation is performed (step S440), and a control signal is transmitted from the management information control means 711 so that the save operation is performed on the corresponding indoor unit.

Conversely, if the received temperature data acquired by each of the infrared sensors 301 and 311 is higher than the temperature data for comparison, the process proceeds to NO, and the indoor unit remains in normal operation (step S450).

After determining whether it is appropriate to normally operate the indoor unit or to perform a save operation, the “save operation determination process (step S4)” is terminated (step S480).

Here, the comparative temperature data set internally is a value determined by the set temperature set for each indoor unit, and is generally set to a different value depending on the operation mode and set temperature. Has been.

For example, when the cooling operation is set to 28 ° C., the internal comparison temperature data is 35 ° C.
When the cooling operation is set to 22 ° C, the comparative temperature data is determined to be 33 ° C, etc.
When the heating operation is set to 25 ° C., the comparative temperature data is determined as 35 ° C. or the like.

The temperature data for comparison set inside can be changed by rewriting the initial setting by the sensor information setting means 709 described above.

Next, the processing procedure of the “save operation canceling process (step S5)” described in FIG. 4 will be described in detail based on FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a detailed processing procedure of the contents related to the “save operation canceling process (step S5)” described in FIG.

In the “save operation determination process (step S4)” described with reference to FIG. 4, when the save operation release process is started (step S500), the management information changing unit 711 performs a save operation on the corresponding indoor unit. When the instruction is transmitted, the management information collecting unit 702 collects the information together, and the management information processing unit 704 determines whether at least one indoor unit is performing a save operation (step S510).

As a result of collecting the information by the management information collecting means 702, if no indoor unit is performing a save operation, the process proceeds to NO, and the “save operation canceling process (S5)” is terminated (step S550). ) If even one unit is performing a save operation, it is also determined whether there is any other indoor unit that is normally operated (step S520).

Similarly, when all the indoor units 300a to 300c are performing the save operation and there is no indoor unit that is normally operated, the process proceeds to NO, and the “save operation canceling process (S5)” is ended ( Step S550).

If at least one indoor unit is operating normally and there are coexisting indoor units that are performing save operation, the process proceeds to YES, and the management information collection means 702 causes the indoor unit that started the save operation to proceed. It is determined whether or not a certain time (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed since the machine started the save operation (step S530).

In addition, when the temperature data of the infrared sensors 301 and 311 received by the indoor unit that is normally operated is not lower than the temperature data for comparison, the management information collecting unit 702 is said to be weak in the effect of air conditioning. A determination is made, the process proceeds to YES, and the process control means 710 determines that the indoor unit that is performing the save operation is returned to the normal operation (step S540).

In step S540, based on the determination by the air conditioning management device 700, the management information changing unit 711 transmits a command to perform the normal operation to the indoor unit that is performing the save operation via the communication unit 701 and the transmission line 500. Then, the “save operation canceling process (step S5)” is terminated (step S550).

When the “save operation canceling process (step S5)” is completed as described above, the process returns to step S2 in FIG. 4 and the processes in steps S2 to S5 described in FIG. 4 are repeatedly performed.

As described above, if there are people in the space, provide a comfortable environment by providing individual air-conditioning environments where there are people. Where it can be provided, save operation can be performed to prevent over-cooling and over-heating, and to save energy.

In addition, the air conditioning management device 700 and the indoor units 300a to 300c arranged in the indoor space 100.
The indoor unit 31 disposed in the indoor space 110, which is another space, is mainly described.
Needless to say, the same thing can be done for 0a to 310c at the same time.

In the above description, an example in which one outdoor unit and three indoor units are connected is used. However, when there are a plurality of outdoor units, or a plurality of indoor units may be three or more.

Furthermore, in the description of the first embodiment, each infrared sensor is attached to the indoor unit and is virtually associated in advance. However, the sensor may be installed at a position away from the indoor unit. And the indoor unit should be associated with each other.

By the way, in the above description, an example using cooling was described, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even when this is replaced with heating.
This system is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this system configuration.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Prior to specific description of the second embodiment, an outline will be described.
In the first embodiment, the case where the air-conditioning control is performed using the infrared sensors 301a to 301c in which the positional relationship with each indoor unit provided in advance in each of the indoor units 300a to 300c is fixed has been described. In Embodiment 2, infrared sensors 321a to 321c (hereinafter referred to as first heating element detectors) having a fixed positional relationship with each indoor unit provided in advance in each of the indoor units 320a to 320c, and further a remote controller 420a Air-conditioning control is performed using in combination with portable infrared sensors 421a to 421c (hereinafter referred to as second heating element detectors) attached to .about.420c.

For this reason, in the second embodiment, since the detection area that could not be captured by the infrared sensor of the indoor unit can be complemented by a person moving in the room with a remote controller, the range that can be detected is naturally limited. Compared with the first embodiment, it is possible to detect a human body more precisely.

Further, in the second embodiment, FIG. 11 is basically the same system configuration as FIG. 1 except that in the figure, an infrared sensor is newly attached to the remote controller. Similarly, FIG.
The detection area shown in FIG. 2 has basically the same configuration as FIG.
Therefore, the system configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as the system configuration of the first embodiment except that the above-described remote controller includes an infrared sensor.

FIG. 13 shows a control operation flow when the remote control according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is used together, and the control flow is partially changed accordingly.
Since the basic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, different points will be mainly described.
Specifically, steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 13 are the same control operation flow as steps S1 to S5 in FIG. Among them, the second embodiment is different in that step S3-2 is added between steps S3 and S4 in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows the entire air conditioning system 2000 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In FIG. 11, an outdoor unit 220, three indoor units 320a to 320c, and three remote controllers 420a to 420c are installed in an indoor space 120 where air conditioning is performed. The transmission line 500 is connected.

Based on FIG. 12, the detection area of the heating element that can be moved by the two types of infrared sensors according to the second embodiment will be described below.

In Embodiment 2, there are three indoor units 320a to 320c and three remote controllers 420a to 420c in the indoor space 120, and their respective infrared sensors 321a to 321c and infrared sensors 421a to 421c. The temperature data in this space is detected by two types of infrared sensors.

In the second embodiment, the infrared sensors 321a to 321c attached to the indoor units 320a to 320c have detection areas 810a to 810c formed by three broken circles around each installed indoor unit. Three broken circles are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In addition, in the infrared sensors 421a to 421c having slight directivity attached to the three remote controllers 420a to 420c, triangular or fan-shaped detection areas 820a to 820c are newly formed in front. Here, the heating element detection area by the first heating element detector and the heating element detection area by the second heating element detector have different detection characteristics.

Note that these infrared sensors are provided in the indoor space 120 by two types of infrared sensors, infrared sensors 321a to 321c installed in each indoor unit and infrared sensors 421a to 421c installed in each remote controller. Is responsible for three areas, and the adjacent areas partially overlap.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for performing air conditioning processing based on the infrared sensors 321a to 321c and the infrared sensors 421a to 421c by the air conditioning management device 700 in the second embodiment.
In FIG. 13, step S3-2 described below is the same as in the first embodiment except that step S3-2 described below is newly added in the second embodiment.

Since the operation up to step S3 for acquiring infrared sensor data is the same as that already described in the first embodiment, step S3-2 and subsequent steps immediately after step S3 will be described.

In the contents (step S3) of the infrared sensor data acquisition processing from the infrared sensors 301a to 301c already described in the first embodiment, the data is monitored by the infrared sensors 301 and 311 only for the indoor units. In mode 2, infrared sensor data is monitored by the infrared sensors 321a to 321c and the infrared sensors 421a to 421c for both the indoor unit and the remote controller.

Thereafter, as already described with reference to FIG. 7, the infrared sensors 321a to 321c included in the indoor units 320a to 320c and the infrared sensors 421a to 421c included in the remote controllers 420a to 420c are provided at regular intervals (for example, 60 seconds). The information acquired from the above is monitored by the sensor information collection unit 706 via the transmission line 500 and the communication unit 701. (Step S320)

Subsequent processing procedures for acquiring sensor information data of the indoor units 320a to 320c having the infrared sensors 321a to 321c and the remote controllers 420a to 420c having the infrared sensors 421a to 421c are shown in FIG. This is the same as steps S3201 to S3212 described above.

Thereafter, the processes in steps S3201 to S3212 (FIG. 8) are repeatedly performed, so that the detection areas 810a to 810c of the infrared sensors 321a to 321c installed in the indoor space 120 and the detection areas 820a of the infrared sensors 421a to 421c are performed. The temperature of the human body existing in ˜820c (for example, skin temperature, body surface temperature, etc.) can be detected.

In addition, when a human body exists in the overlapping area of the respective detection areas 810a to 810c and 820a to 820c, the sensor serving as the detection area shall detect the temperature of the human body.

The air-conditioning management apparatus 700 uses all the infrared sensors 321a to 321c provided in advance in the indoor units 320a to 320c and all the infrared rays provided to the remote controls 420a to 420c in the “infrared sensor data acquisition process (step S3)”. When infrared sensor data can be acquired from both of the sensors 421a to 421c, this data acquisition operation is repeated a plurality of times with time.
In addition to the temporal average performed in the first embodiment, the sensor information processing unit 708 further transmits a plurality of infrared sensor data between the detectors in order to control the indoor units 320a to 320c set in step S1. Averaging is performed (step S3-2), and the data is stored in the sensor information storage unit 707.

Here, the averaging between the detectors in step S3-2 is, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, in the detection area 810a, the infrared sensor 321a as the first heating element detector, This means that the two types of detection data obtained from the two types of sensors with the infrared sensor 421a, which is a heating element detector, are averaged for each corresponding indoor unit.
That is, the averaging operation is performed by the air conditioning management device 700, and the air conditioning management device 700 performs an averaging operation between data obtained by each detector.
Therefore, the air conditioning management device 700 does not average the detection data across the detection areas.

As in the case of the first embodiment, when there is an invalid value in the acquired sensor information data, the detection data is averaged using only the effective value, and all the acquired sensor information data are invalid values. In this case, the average value itself is treated as an invalid value. As described above, the temperature outside the limit range is not used for the calculation of the average value.

After the above two types of infrared sensor data are averaged, “save operation determination process (step S4)” and “save operation release process (step S5)” are performed.

The contents of the “save operation determination process (S4)” and the “save operation release process (S5)” are the same as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. This is omitted from this point onward.

Here, to improve the accuracy of detection of temperature data detected from the human body, the infrared sensors 321a to 321c attached to the indoor units can detect a wide range, but detection is performed from above the space. There are few detection parts per person.

In addition, since infrared sensors 421a to 421c attached to the remote control are detected from the side of the space, a large number of detection portions per person can be obtained, but the number of undetectable portions increases in the detection portion of the entire space. Become.

As described above, in the second embodiment, by combining two types of infrared sensors, both the case where the infrared sensors 321a to 321c are attached to the indoor unit and the case where the infrared sensors 421a to 421c are attached to the remote controller are both used. It is possible to incorporate the excellent points of.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the infrared sensors 321a to 321c provided to the indoor units 320a to 320c and the infrared sensors 421a to 421c provided to the remote controllers 420a to 420c are the above two types of infrared sensors. The acquired temperature data is collected by the air conditioning management device 700 (step S3), and averaged for each infrared sensor corresponding to the indoor unit to be controlled (step S3-2).
For this reason, the human body existing in the indoor space can be detected based on the two types of data of the infrared sensors 321a to 321c attached to the upper part of the space and the infrared sensors 421a to 421c attached to the side of the space. Thus, the accuracy of detection of temperature data acquired from the human body can be improved as compared with the first embodiment.

By the way, in the description in the first and second embodiments so far, the description was made using the cooling device, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even when this is replaced with the heating device.

Of course, even when the infrared sensors 321a to 321c are not attached to the indoor unit, the indoor unit can be controlled using the data of the infrared sensors 421a to 421c attached to the remote controller.

In addition to indoor units and remote controllers, data can be collected by the air-conditioning management device if an infrared sensor is additionally installed at an optional location and connected via an I / F to connect it to the transmission line. Needless to say, it is possible to control the indoor unit with higher accuracy.

As is clear from the above description, the first embodiment describes the detection by the infrared sensors 301 and 311 installed in the indoor unit 300, and the second embodiment describes the infrared sensor 301 in the first embodiment. 311 and the infrared sensors 421a to 421c attached to the remote controllers 420a to 420c have been described.

The movable heating element may be an animal other than a human body, or may be a plant or food that can be carried by a person or animal.
For example, when this air conditioning system is applied to a pet hotel, it may be used as a heating element when applied to a variable temperature animal such as a crocodile or a lizard and when applied to a constant temperature animal such as a dog or a cat. The appropriate temperature varies depending on the indoor space (booth).
Also, if food is selected as the heating element and there is a dish that needs to be cooled and thawed, each table has a different temperature suitable for temperature control. For example, the appropriate temperature is 3 ° C for meat, banana Then, it may be different from 5 ° C.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an appropriate air-conditioned environment according to the state of the heating element with respect to air conditioning the indoor space in which the heating element is accommodated. For example, it is possible to reduce energy consumption and reduce energy consumption by reducing waste of air conditioning for a portion where no heating element exists in the same space.

100, 110, 120 space, 200, 210, 220 outdoor unit, 300a-300c, 310a-310c, 320a-320c indoor unit, 301a-301c, 311a-311c, 321a-321c infrared sensor (indoor unit installation), 302a- 302c, 312a to 312c, 322a to 322c Temperature sensor, 303 communication means, 304 actuator output means, 305 management information processing means, 306 management information storage means, 307 control information processing means, 308 control information storage means, 309 processing control means, 313 Sensor data storage means, 400, 410, 420a to 420c remote control, 421a to 421c infrared sensor (remote control installation), 500 transmission line, 600, 610, 620 refrigerant piping, 700 air conditioning management device, 7 1 communication means, 702 management information collection means, 703 management information storage means, 704 management information processing means, 705 management information setting means, 706 sensor information collection means, 707 sensor information storage means, 708 sensor information processing means, 709 sensor information setting Means, 710 processing control means, 711 management information changing means, 712 change storage means, 800a to 800c, 810a to 810c, 820a to 820c detection area, 1000, 2000 air conditioning system

Claims

An air conditioning system for cooling a space containing a movable heating element,
The air conditioning system is
A plurality of indoor units that cool the movable heating element;
A plurality of heating element detectors provided corresponding to the indoor unit,
Based on the detection results of the plurality of heating element detectors, an air conditioning management device that controls the operation of the indoor unit in association with the corresponding heating element detector;
Air conditioning system with
The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning management device performs overall operation control of the operation of the plurality of indoor units.
The operation control of the plurality of indoor units by the air conditioning management device is as follows:
3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system is executed based on management information related to operating conditions of the plurality of indoor units and sensor information from the heating element detector. 4.
The operation of the indoor unit is as follows:
The normal operation mode and the save operation mode with lower power consumption than the normal operation mode,
The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of operation modes.
The air conditioning management device calculates an average temperature based on a plurality of detection results of the heating element detector, and controls the temperature of the detection area of the corresponding indoor unit based on the average temperature. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The air conditioning management device has temperature data for comparison set in advance in advance,
When calculating the average temperature, the infrared sensor data acquired by the heating element detector is not temperature data within a limited range by comparing the temperature data for comparison with the average temperature,
6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein the infrared sensor data is an invalid value.
The plurality of heating element detectors are
A first heating element detector having a fixed positional relationship with the indoor unit associated with the indoor unit;
A portable second heating element detector associated with the indoor unit,
A detection area of the movable heating element by the first heating element detector;
The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a detection area of the movable heating element by the second heating element detector has a part having different detection characteristics.
The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the movable heating element is a human body or an animal, or a portable plant or food.