DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, AND CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL
METHOD FOR SAME
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to an air conditioning
system, and a control device and a control method for the
same, and more particularly, to control of an air
conditioning system.
Background Art
[0002]
Hitherto, an air conditioning system in which a
plurality of outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units
are connected to each other through common refrigerant
pipes has been known (for example, refer to PTL 1). There
may be cases where an air conditioning system undergoes
autonomous decentralized control such that indoor unit
control parts and outdoor unit control parts control
corresponding indoor units and outdoor units according to
a common control rule for causing a change in refrigerant
pressure to be in an allowable range.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2007-292407
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004]
However, under the autonomous decentralized control
in the related art, the stability and the responsiveness
in the system are incompatible with each other, and it is
difficult to enable the two to be compatible with each
other.
[0005]
The present invention has been made taking the
foregoing circumstances into consideration, and an object
thereof is to provide an air conditioning system in which
the responsiveness and the stability of the system are
enabled to be compatible with each other, and a control
device and a control method for the same.
Solution to Problem
[0006]
According to a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an air conditioning system which
includes a plurality of outdoor units and a plurality of
indoor units connected in parallel and undergoes
autonomous decentralized control such that each of the
indoor units and each of the outdoor units enable a
predetermined state quantity to be constant, the system
including: a plurality of indoor unit control parts
provided to respectively correspond to the indoor units;
and a plurality of outdoor unit control parts provided to
respectively correspond to the outdoor units, in which the
indoor unit control parts and the outdoor unit control
parts enable intercommunication, in a case where a target
value in any of the indoor units is changed, the outdoor
unit which operates to correspond to the corresponding
indoor unit is determined through communication between
the outdoor unit control parts, and the determined outdoor
unit and the indoor unit in which the target value is
changed are virtually grouped together, and the indoor
unit control part and the outdoor unit control part
respectively corresponding to the indoor unit and the
outdoor unit which are grouped together respectively
generate control commands for tracking the target value
and enabling an amount of variation in the state quantity
in the group to be in a predetermined range through
communication therebetween, and transmit the generated
control commands to the corresponding indoor unit and
outdoor unit.
[0007]
According to the aspect, in a case where the target
value of the indoor unit is changed, the outdoor unit
which operates in a pair with the indoor unit is selected,
and the selected outdoor unit and the indoor unit in which
the target value is changed are grouped together. In the
indoor unit and the outdoor unit which are grouped
together, the control commands for suppressing variation
in the state quantity caused by the change in the target
value to be in a predetermined range are generated, and
the control commands are transmitted to the corresponding
to the indoor unit and outdoor unit. Accordingly, the
change in the state quantity caused by the change in the
target value can be kept in the indoor unit and the
outdoor unit which are grouped together, and thus the
system can be stabilized. In addition, control performed
due to the change in the target value is limited only to
the indoor unit and the outdoor unit which are grouped
together, and responsiveness can be enhanced.
[0008]
In the air conditioning system, the indoor units and
the outdoor units which are not grouped may lock operation
amounts while the state quantity is changed according to
the target value in the indoor unit and the outdoor unit
which are grouped together, and may release locking of the
operation amounts when the state quantity is stabilized.
[0009]
Accordingly, even when the effect of the variation
in the state quantity in the indoor unit and the outdoor
unit which are grouped together acts as disturbance in the
indoor units and the outdoor units which are not grouped,
response to the disturbance can be avoided, and a stable
operation can be maintained.
[0010]
In the air conditioning system, each of the indoor
units and the indoor unit control part corresponding to
the indoor unit may communicate in a one-to-one
correspondence with each other, and each of the outdoor
units and the outdoor unit control part corresponding to
the outdoor unit may communicate in a one-to-one
correspondence with each other.
[0011]
As described above, a corresponding device and the
control part thereof communicate in a one-to-one
correspondence with each other, and thus the amount of
data communication can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes
possible to avoid a delay in response due to a delay in
communication.
[0012]
In the air conditioning system, the plurality of
indoor unit control parts and the plurality of outdoor
unit control parts may be integrated and mounted as
virtualized control parts on a single piece or a plurality
of pieces of hardware.
[0013]
As described above, since a plurality of control
parts are integrated and mounted as virtualized control
parts on a single piece or a plurality of pieces of
hardware, it becomes possible to achieve a reduction in
costs and a reduction in the size of the device.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a control device applied to
an air conditioning system which includes a plurality of
outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units connected in
parallel and undergoes autonomous decentralized control
such that each of the indoor units and each of the outdoor
units enable a predetermined state quantity to be constant,
the device including: a plurality of indoor unit control
parts provided to respectively correspond to the indoor
units; and a plurality of outdoor unit control parts
provided to respectively correspond to the outdoor units,
in which the indoor unit control parts and the outdoor
unit control parts enable intercommunication, in a case
where a target value in any of the indoor units is changed,
the outdoor unit which operates to correspond to the
corresponding indoor unit is determined through
communication between the outdoor unit control parts, and
the determined outdoor unit and the indoor unit in which
the target value is changed are virtually grouped together,
and the indoor unit control part and the outdoor unit
control part respectively corresponding to the indoor unit
and the outdoor unit which are grouped together
respectively generate control commands for tracking the
target value and enabling an amount of variation in the
state quantity in the group to be in a predetermined range
through communication therebetween, and transmit the
generated control commands to the corresponding indoor
unit and outdoor unit.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a control method of an air conditioning
system which includes a plurality of outdoor units and a
plurality of indoor units connected in parallel and
undergoes autonomous decentralized control such that each
of the indoor units and each of the outdoor units enable a
predetermined state quantity to be constant, the method
including: forming a configuration in which a plurality of
indoor unit control parts provided to respectively
correspond to the indoor units and a plurality of outdoor
unit control parts provided to respectively correspond to
the outdoor units enable intercommunication; in a case
where a target value in any of the indoor units is changed,
determining the outdoor unit which operates to correspond
to the corresponding indoor unit through communication
between the outdoor unit control parts, and virtually
grouping together the determined outdoor unit and the
indoor unit in which the target value is changed; by the
indoor unit control part and the outdoor unit control part
respectively corresponding to the indoor unit and the
outdoor unit which are grouped together, respectively
generating control commands for tracking the target value
and enabling an amount of variation in the state quantity
in the group to be in a predetermined range through
communication therebetween; and transmitting the generated
control commands to the corresponding indoor unit and
outdoor unit.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0016]
According to the present invention, in a case based
on the premise of autonomous decentralized control, an
effect of enabling the responsiveness and the stability of
the system to be compatible with each other is exhibited.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0017]
Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a schematic
configuration of an air conditioning system according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a control device applied to the air
conditioning system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 3 is a view showing an example of the response
of a high pressure side pressure in a case where the set
temperature of an indoor unit is changed during general
autonomous decentralized control.
Description of Embodiments
[0018]
Hereinafter, an air conditioning system according to
an embodiment of the present invention, and a control
device and a control method for the same will be described
with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a
refrigerant system of an air conditioning system 1
according to the embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 1,
the air conditioning system 1 includes a plurality of
outdoor units 2a and 2b, and a plurality of indoor units
3a and 3b. The outdoor units 2a and 2b and the indoor
units 3a and 3b are connected in parallel. Here, in Fig.
1, a configuration in which two outdoor units and two
indoor units are provided is illustrated. However, the
number of units is not limited to this example, and two or
more units may be provided.
[0019]
Each of the outdoor units 2a and 2b includes, as
main components, a compressor 21 which compresses and
transmits the refrigerant, a four-way valve 22 which
changes the circulation direction of the refrigerant, an
outdoor heat exchanger 23 and an outdoor fan 24 for heat
exchange between the refrigerant and outside air, an
accumulator 25 provided in a suction side pipe of the
compressor 21 for the purpose of vapor-liquid separation
of the refrigerant, and the like. In addition, in each of
the outdoor units 2a and 2b, a high pressure side pressure
sensor 26 which measures the pressure of the refrigerant
on a high pressure side, and a low pressure side pressure
sensor 27 which measures the pressure of the refrigerant
on a low pressure side are provided. Since the outdoor
unit 2b has the same configuration as that of the outdoor
unit 2a, the illustration thereof is omitted.
[0020]
Each of the indoor units 3a and 3b includes, as main
components, an expansion valve 31, an indoor heat
exchanger 32, and indoor fan 33. In addition, in each of
the indoor units 3a and 3b, a high pressure side pressure
sensor 36 which measures the pressure of the refrigerant
on a high pressure side, and a low pressure side pressure
sensor 37 which measures the pressure of the refrigerant
on a low pressure side, and a temperature sensor 38 which
measures an air conditioning temperature are provided.
Since the indoor unit 3b has the same configuration as
that of the indoor unit 3a, the illustration thereof is
omitted.
[0021]
A high pressure side refrigerant pipe 5a of the
outdoor unit 2a, a high pressure side refrigerant pipe 5b
of the outdoor unit 2b, a high pressure side refrigerant
pipe 6a of the indoor unit 3a, and a high pressure side
refrigerant pipe 6b of the indoor unit 3b are connected by
a header 7. In addition, a low pressure side refrigerant
pipe 15a of the outdoor unit 2a, a low pressure side
refrigerant pipe 15b of the outdoor unit 2b, a low
pressure side refrigerant pipe 16a of the indoor unit 3a,
and a low pressure side refrigerant pipe 16b of the indoor
unit 3b are connected by a header 8.
Accordingly, for example, in a case of a cooling
operation, streams of the refrigerant transmitted from the
outdoor units 2a and 2b join in the header 7 and branch
off to be supplied to the indoor units 2a and 2b, and
streams of the refrigerant that return from the indoor
units 2a and 2b join in the header 8 and branch off to be
supplied to the outdoor units 3a and 2b. During a heating
operation, the refrigerant reversely flows.
[0022]
Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the schematic
configuration of a control device of the air conditioning
system 1 according to this embodiment. As illustrated in
Fig. 2, a control device 10 includes an outdoor unit
control part 40a which controls the outdoor unit 2a, an
outdoor unit control part 40b which controls the outdoor
unit 2b, an indoor unit control part 50a which controls
the indoor unit 3a, and an indoor unit control part 50b
which controls the indoor unit 3b. Hereinafter, the
outdoor unit control part 40a and the like which are not
distinguished from each other to mean all control parts
are simply referred to as a "control part".
[0023]
In this embodiment, the outdoor unit control part
40a, the outdoor unit control part 40b, the indoor unit
control part 50a, and the indoor unit control part 50b are
configured to enable intercommunication via a
communication medium 11. As an example of the
communication medium 11, for example, a local area network
such as Ethernet (registered trademark) is employed
regardless of whether it is a wired or wireless medium.
[0024]
In addition, each of the outdoor unit control part
40a and the outdoor unit 2a, the outdoor unit control part
40b and the outdoor unit 2b, the indoor unit control part
50a and the indoor unit 3a, and the indoor unit control
part 50b and the indoor unit 3b communicate in a one-toone
correspondence with each other via a communication
medium 12.
[0025]
As described above, the control parts enable
intercommunication via the communication medium having a
relatively high communication speed (for example, 1 Gbps
or higher), such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and
thus the responsiveness is not degraded by the delay of
data communication. In general, as the communication
medium 12 between the control parts and the units, a
communication medium having a relatively low communication
speed (for example, 19.2 kbps or the like) is used.
However, by reducing the amount of communication data
through communication in a one-to-one correspondence, it
becomes possible to avoid the degradation of the
responsiveness.
[0026]
In addition, regarding the outdoor unit control part
40a, the outdoor unit control part 40b, the indoor unit
control part 50a, and the indoor unit control part 50b, in
addition to the above-described configuration, the control
parts may be formed as virtualized control parts on a
single piece or a plurality of pieces of hardware and may
be configured to enable intercommunication and also their
independent operations. As described above, by forming
the control parts as the virtualized control parts, it
becomes possible to achieve a reduction in the entire size
of the device and a reduction in costs.
[0027]
Otherwise, the outdoor unit control part 40a, the
outdoor unit control part 40b, the indoor unit control
part 50a, and the indoor unit control part 50b may also be
present in a cloud.
As described above, the existence form of the
outdoor unit control part 40a, the outdoor unit control
part 40b, the indoor unit control part 50a, and the indoor
unit control part 50b is not particularly limited, and an
optimal method may be appropriately employed depending on
the CPU resources, costs, the device size, and the like.
[0028]
The outdoor unit control parts 40a and 40b and the
indoor unit control parts 50a and 50b undergo autonomous
decentralized control such that predetermined state
quantities in the air conditioning system 1 are constant
in a normal period.
For example, each of the indoor unit control parts
50a and 50b adjusts the opening degree of the expansion
valve 31 to control the flow rate of the refrigerant such
that the high pressure side pressure (state quantity) of
each of the corresponding indoor units 3a and 3b is in a
predetermined indoor unit high pressure allowable range
set in advance (for example, see Fig. 3) and the low
pressure side pressure (state quantity) thereof is in a
predetermined indoor unit low pressure allowable range set
in advance.
[0029]
In addition, each of the outdoor unit control parts
40a and 40b controls the rotation frequency of the
corresponding compressor 21 such that the high pressure
side pressure (state quantity) of each of the
corresponding outdoor units 2a and 2b is in a
predetermined outdoor unit high pressure allowable range
set in advance (for example, see Fig. 3) and the low
pressure side pressure (state quantity) thereof is in a
predetermined outdoor unit low pressure allowable range
set in advance.
Here, for example, the indoor unit low pressure
allowable range is set to be wider than the outdoor unit
low pressure allowable range, and the indoor unit high
pressure allowable range is set to be wider than the
outdoor unit high pressure allowable range.
[0030]
Next, in the air conditioning system 1 according to
this embodiment, the operation of each of the control
parts in a case where the set temperature of an indoor
unit is changed, for example, by operating a remote
control (referred to as a "transition period" for the
"normal period") will be described. In the following
description, for convenience, a case where the set
temperature of the indoor unit 3a is changed will be
described.
[0031]
In this case, information regarding the change in
the set temperature is transmitted from the indoor unit
control part 50a of the indoor unit 3a to the indoor unit
control part 50b and the outdoor unit control parts 40a
and 40b which are the other control parts. For example,
the indoor unit control part 50a transmits information of
the flow rate of the refrigerant, which is necessary for
changing the set temperature. The outdoor unit control
parts 40a and 40b exchange information and determine an
outdoor unit corresponding to the fluctuation of the flow
rate of the refrigerant of the indoor unit 3a.
[0032]
For example, the operation efficiency (for example,
coefficient of performance) is obtained on the basis of
the fluctuation of a load factor caused by an increase in
the flow rate of the refrigerant, and an outdoor unit
having the highest operation efficiency is determined from
the outdoor units 2a and 2b. As a determination method,
an algorithm may be stored in each of the outdoor unit
control parts 40a and 40b in advance, and any outdoor unit
may be selected according to the algorithm. Hereinafter,
for convenience of description, description will be
provided assuming that the outdoor unit 2a is selected.
[0033]
As described above, when the outdoor unit 2a which
operates to correspond to the indoor unit 3a having a
changed set temperature is determined, the indoor unit
control part 50a corresponding to the indoor unit 3a and
the outdoor unit control part 40a corresponding to the
outdoor unit 2a are virtually grouped together. For
example, a subdomain is formed between the indoor unit
control part 50a and the outdoor unit control part 40a.
In addition, by causing the indoor unit control part 50a
and the outdoor unit control part 40a in the subdomain to
perform intercommunication, a control command for tracking
a set temperature after the change and enabling the amount
of variation in the pressure of the refrigerant in each of
the indoor unit 3a and the outdoor unit 2a which are
grouped together to be in a predetermined range is
generated.
[0034]
Specifically, the indoor unit control part 50a
generates an opening degree command for the expansion
valve 31 to track the set temperature after the change and
the rotation frequency of the indoor fan 33 through feedforward
control, and the outdoor unit control part 40a
estimates the amount of a change in the flow rate of the
refrigerant on the basis of the opening degree command for
the expansion valve 31 generated by the indoor unit
control part 50a and generates a rotation frequency
command for the compressor 21 according to the amount of
the change and a rotation frequency command for the
outdoor fan 24 through feed-forward control.
[0035]
In addition, the indoor unit control part 50a
transmits various commands which are generated to the
indoor unit 3a via the communication medium 12, and the
outdoor unit control part 40a transmits various commands
which are generated to the outdoor unit 2a via the
communication medium 12. Accordingly, in the indoor unit
3a, the opening degree of the expansion valve 31 and the
rotation frequency of the indoor fan 33 are controlled on
the basis of the received control command, and in the
outdoor unit 2a, the rotation frequency of the compressor
21 and the rotation frequency of the outdoor fan 24 are
controlled on the basis of the received control command.
As described above, since the opening degree of the
expansion valve 31 of the indoor unit 3a and the rotation
frequency of the compressor 21 of the outdoor unit 2a are
changed substantially simultaneously, a change in the
pressure of the refrigerant due to a change in the opening
degree of the expansion valve 31 of the indoor unit 3a can
be absorbed by a change in the flow rate of the
refrigerant due to a change in the rotation frequency of
the compressor 21. Therefore, a change in the pressure of
the refrigerant caused by changing the set temperature of
the indoor unit 3a is kept in the domain, in other words,
in the group of the indoor unit 3a and the outdoor unit 2a,
and it becomes possible to enable variation in the
pressure of the refrigerant in the air conditioning system
1 to be suppressed in a predetermined range.
In addition, when the state of the refrigerant in
the air conditioning system is stabilized by causing the
temperature of the indoor unit 3a to be equal to the set
temperature, the grouping of the indoor unit 3a and the
outdoor unit 2a is released. Accordingly, autonomous
decentralized control for a normal period by each of the
control parts is resumed.
[0036]
In addition, regarding the indoor unit 3b and the
outdoor unit 2b which are not grouped, during a period of
time in which the opening degree of the expansion valve 31
of the grouped indoor unit 3a and the rotation frequency
of the compressor 21 of the grouped outdoor unit 2a are
changed, the indoor unit control part 50b and the outdoor
unit control part 40b lock the operation amounts of the
expansion valve, the compressor, and the like of the
indoor unit 3b and the outdoor unit 2b and release the
locking of the operation amounts after the pressure of the
refrigerant in the air conditioning system 1 is stabilized.
Accordingly, even when the effect of the variation
in the pressure of the refrigerant in the indoor unit 3a
and the outdoor unit 2a acts as disturbance in the indoor
unit 3b and the outdoor unit 2b, variation in the
operation amount of the expansion valve (not illustrated)
of the indoor unit 3b or the compressor (not illustrated)
of the outdoor unit 2b in response to the disturbance can
be avoided, and a stable operation can be maintained.
[0037]
As described above, according to the air
conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment, and
the control device 10 and the control method for the same,
in a case where the set temperature of an indoor unit is
changed, an outdoor unit corresponding to the change in
the set temperature of the indoor unit is selected, and
the selected indoor unit and the outdoor unit are grouped
together. In addition, in the indoor unit and the outdoor
unit grouped together, the opening degree of the expansion
valve and the rotation frequency of the compressor are
substantially simultaneously controlled so as to suppress
variation in the pressure of the refrigerant caused by the
change in the set temperature to be in a predetermined
range. Accordingly, the change in the pressure of the
refrigerant caused by the change in the set temperature
can be kept in the indoor unit and the outdoor unit which
are grouped together, and thus the system can be
stabilized. In addition, control performed due to the
change in the set temperature is limited only to the
indoor unit and the outdoor unit which are grouped
together, and responsiveness can be enhanced.
[0038]
Fig. 3 shows an example of the response of a high
pressure side pressure in a case where the set temperature
of an indoor unit is changed during general autonomous
decentralized control. For example, during general
autonomous decentralized control, the following control is
performed.
That is, in a case where the set temperature of any
of the indoor units is changed, the opening degree of the
expansion valve of the indoor unit is controlled according
to the set temperature. When the pressure of the
refrigerant is changed as the opening degree of the
expansion valve is changed, the other indoor units and the
outdoor units which share the refrigerant pipes are
operated to suppress the change in the pressure of the
refrigerant to be in a predetermined range set in advance.
Accordingly, in each of the indoor units, the opening
degree of the expansion valve is adjusted, and the
rotation frequency of the compressor of each of the
outdoor units is controlled. Such control is performed by
each of the indoor units and the outdoor units as feedback
control, and the pressure of the refrigerant gradually
converges to a predetermined value. During the autonomous
decentralized control, when a feedback gain is high, as
indicated by solid line in Fig. 3, overshoot occurs
although responsiveness is enhanced, and the system
becomes unstable. On the other hand, when the feedback
gain is decreased, as indicated by broken line in Fig. 3,
the occurrence of overshoot is suppressed and the system
is stabilized. However, responsiveness is deteriorated.
[0039]
Contrary to this, according to the air conditioning
system 1 according to this embodiment and the control
device and the control method for the same, as described
above, an outdoor unit which operates to correspond to an
indoor unit in which the set temperature is changed is
selected to be grouped with the indoor unit, and control
of the expansion valve and control of the rotation
frequency of the compressor are controlled on the indoor
unit and the outdoor unit which are grouped together so as
to enable the pressure of the refrigerant to become
substantially constant. Therefore, variation in the
pressure of the refrigerant can be suppressed compared to
in the related art, and it becomes possible to enable the
responsiveness and the stability of the system to be
compatible with each other.
[0040]
The present invention is not limited only to the
above-described embodiment, and various modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Reference Signs List
[0041]
1 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
2a, 2b OUTDOOR UNIT
3a, 3b INDOOR UNIT
11, 12 COMMUNICATION MEDIUM
21 COMPRESSOR
24 OUTDOOR FAN
31 EXPANSION VALVE
33 INDOOR FAN
40a, 40b OUTDOOR UNIT CONTROL PART
50a, 50b INDOOR UNIT CONTROL PART
Claims
[Claim 1]
An air conditioning system which includes a
plurality of outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units
connected in parallel and undergoes autonomous
decentralized control such that each of the indoor units
and each of the outdoor units enable a predetermined state
quantity to be constant, the system comprising:
a plurality of indoor unit control parts provided to
respectively correspond to the indoor units; and
a plurality of outdoor unit control parts provided
to respectively correspond to the outdoor units,
wherein the indoor unit control parts and the
outdoor unit control parts enable intercommunication,
in a case where a target value in any of the indoor
units is changed, the outdoor unit which operates to
correspond to the corresponding indoor unit is determined
through communication between the outdoor unit control
parts, and the determined outdoor unit and the indoor unit
in which the target value is changed are virtually grouped
together, and
the indoor unit control part and the outdoor unit
control part respectively corresponding to the indoor unit
and the outdoor unit which are grouped together
respectively generate control commands for tracking the
target value and enabling an amount of variation in the
state quantity in the group to be in a predetermined range
through communication therebetween, and transmit the
generated control commands to the corresponding indoor
unit and outdoor unit.
[Claim 2]
The air conditioning system according to claim 1,
wherein the indoor units and the outdoor units which
are not grouped lock operation amounts while the state
quantity is changed according to the target value in the
indoor unit and the outdoor unit which are grouped
together, and release locking of the operation amounts
when the state quantity is stabilized.
[Claim 3]
The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or
2,
wherein each of the indoor units and the indoor unit
control part corresponding to the indoor unit communicate
in a one-to-one correspondence with each other, and each
of the outdoor units and the outdoor unit control part
corresponding to the outdoor unit communicate in a one-toone
correspondence with each other.
[Claim 4]
The air conditioning system according to any one of
claims 1 to 3,
wherein the plurality of indoor unit control parts
and the plurality of outdoor unit control parts are
integrated and mounted as virtualized control parts on a
single piece or a plurality of pieces of hardware.
[Claim 5]
A control device applied to an air conditioning
system which includes a plurality of outdoor units and a
plurality of indoor units connected in parallel and
undergoes autonomous decentralized control such that each
of the indoor units and each of the outdoor units enable a
predetermined state quantity to be constant, the device
comprising:
a plurality of indoor unit control parts provided to
respectively correspond to the indoor units; and
a plurality of outdoor unit control parts provided
to respectively correspond to the outdoor units,
wherein the indoor unit control parts and the
outdoor unit control parts enable intercommunication,
in a case where a target value in any of the indoor
units is changed, the outdoor unit which operates to
correspond to the corresponding indoor unit is determined
through communication between the outdoor unit control
parts, and the determined outdoor unit and the indoor unit
in which the target value is changed are virtually grouped
together, and
the indoor unit control part and the outdoor unit
control part respectively corresponding to the indoor unit
and outdoor unit which are grouped together respectively
generate control commands for tracking the target value
and enabling an amount of variation in the state quantity
in the group to be in a predetermined range through
communication therebetween, and transmit the generated
control commands to the corresponding indoor unit and
outdoor unit.
[Claim 6]
A control method of an air conditioning system which
includes a plurality of outdoor units and a plurality of
indoor units connected in parallel and undergoes
autonomous decentralized control such that each of the
indoor units and each of the outdoor units enable a
predetermined state quantity to be constant, the method
comprising:
forming a configuration in which a plurality of
indoor unit control parts provided to respectively
correspond to the indoor units and a plurality of outdoor
unit control parts provided to respectively correspond to
the outdoor units enable intercommunication;
in a case where a target value in any of the indoor
units is changed, determining the outdoor unit which
operates to correspond to the corresponding indoor unit
through communication between the outdoor unit control
parts, and virtually grouping together the determined
outdoor unit and the indoor unit in which the target value
is changed;
by the indoor unit control part and the outdoor unit
control part respectively corresponding to the indoor unit
and the outdoor unit which are grouped together,
respectively generating control commands for tracking the
target value and enabling an amount of variation in the
state quantity in the group to be in a predetermined range
through communication therebetween; and
transmitting the generated control commands to the
corresponding indoor unit and outdoor unit.