DESCRIPTION}
{Title of Invention}
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME
{Technical Field}
{0001}
The present invention relates to an air conditioning
system and a method of controlling the same.
{Background Art}
{0002}
Conventionally, an air conditioning system includes an
indoor unit and an outdoor unit. For example, PTL 1 discloses
an air conditioning system in which one outdoor unit and a
plurality of indoor units are connected to each other via a
common cooling medium piping, and the outdoor unit and each of
the indoor units are respectively provided with corresponding
control devices.
{Citation List}
{Patent Literature}
{0003}
{PTL 1}
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No.
2012-198020
{Summary of Invention}
{Technical Problem}
{0004}
3
However, in the aforementioned air conditioning system,
the indoor units and the outdoor unit are respectively
provided with control devices (processors). Therefore, the
respective costs of the indoor units and the outdoor unit
increase. The air conditioning system is controlled while the
indoor units and the outdoor unit communicate with each other.
Therefore, all control programs used for the control need to
have the same control version. Therefore, some of the indoor
units and the outdoor unit constituting the air conditioning
system have not easily been changed to equipment with a new
control specification.
{0005}
The present invention is directed to providing an air
conditioning system, which can implement respective cost
reductions of a single indoor unit and a single outdoor unit,
while easily upgrading the system, and a method of controlling
the same.
{Solution to Problem}
{0006}
According to a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an air conditioning system, including an
outdoor unit including communication means, an indoor unit
including communication means, an outdoor unit control section
that is enabled to communicate with the outdoor unit via a
communication medium while existing independently of the
4
outdoor unit, and an indoor unit control section that is
enabled to communicate with the indoor unit via a
communication medium while existing independently of the
indoor unit, in which the outdoor unit control section and the
indoor unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other, the outdoor unit control section
acquires information on equipment to be loaded onto the
outdoor unit via the communication medium while outputting a
control instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the
outdoor unit, and the indoor unit control section acquires
information on equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit via
the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the indoor
unit.
{0007}
The aforementioned air conditioning system enables
respective configurations of the indoor unit and the outdoor
unit to be simplified because the indoor unit control section
and the outdoor unit control section respectively exist
independently of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit,
enabling reduction in cost. Further, the indoor unit and the
outdoor unit need not be respectively loaded with advanced
programs (e.g., are loaded with only a communication function
and a component actuation function) so that the equipment does
not become obsolete, and the outdoor unit and the indoor unit
5
can be easily replaced. Further, the indoor unit control
section and the outdoor unit control section are respectively
provided independently of the indoor unit and the outdoor
unit. Therefore, when the indoor unit control section and the
outdoor unit control section are placed under control of a
manufacturer of the air conditioning system, for example, a
program update can be easily performed.
{0008}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
outdoor unit control section and the indoor unit control
section may be respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections onto a control device.
{0009}
The aforementioned air conditioning system enables the
control sections to be flexibly created depending on
connection equipment by existing as the virtualized control
sections. Further, hardware resources of the control device
may be determined depending on the scale of the air
conditioning system. Therefore, waste of CPU (Central
Processing Unit) resources can be reduced.
{0010}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
control device may include a master control section, and the
master control section may acquire attribute information on
the indoor unit and the outdoor unit connected to the
6
communication medium at the time of startup, and the
virtualized indoor unit control section and the virtualized
outdoor unit control section may be respectively created based
on the attribute information.
{0011}
The master control section may be created as a
virtualized control section in the control device.
{0012}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the master
control section may assign each of the indoor unit and the
outdoor unit a virtual CPU and a memory region corresponding
thereto based on the attribute information, and the
virtualized outdoor unit control section and the virtualized
indoor unit control section may be created by storing
respective control programs corresponding to the attribute
information acquired from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit
in the respective memory regions.
{0013}
More specifically, the aforementioned air conditioning
system may further include control module storage means
storing a control module corresponding to each of a plurality
of pieces of equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit and a
control module corresponding to each of a plurality of pieces
of equipment to be loaded onto the outdoor unit, and the
master control section may acquire the control module
7
corresponding to the equipment provided in the indoor unit
from the control module storage means to create a custom
control program and store the custom control program in a
memory region corresponding to the indoor unit while acquiring
the control module corresponding to the equipment provided in
the outdoor unit from the control module storage means to
create a custom control program and storing the custom control
program in a memory region corresponding to the outdoor unit.
{0014}
According to the aforementioned air conditioning system,
minimum essential control programs can constitute the custom
control program when the control programs are customized
depending on the equipment to be loaded onto each of the
indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Thus, the useless control
program can be eliminated so that the capacity of the custom
control program can be reduced.
{0015}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the master
control section may store memory images respectively stored in
memory regions of the indoor unit control section and the
outdoor unit control section in a master storage region, and
the virtualized indoor unit control section and the
virtualized outdoor unit control section may be created by
storing the respective memory images stored in the master
storage region in the respective memory regions corresponding
8
thereto at the time of second and subsequent startups. Thus,
processing at the time of second and subsequent startups can
be simplified.
{0016}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
control device may start the master control section when the
control device receives information on a program update, and
the master control section may update the control modules
stored in the control module storage means based on the
information on the program update, and update the respective
custom control programs stored in the memory regions using the
updated control modules. This configuration enables all the
programs in the virtualized control section to be easily
updated by updating the control module used as a base of the
customized control program. Thus, the entire system can be
easily upgraded.
{0017}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
control device may start the master control section when the
control device receives change information on the indoor unit
or the outdoor unit, and the master control section may add
the indoor unit control section or the outdoor unit control
section or update the custom control program in response to
the attribute information on the changed indoor unit or
outdoor unit. Thus, the custom control programs can be
9
respectively easily created in response to the changes of the
indoor unit and the outdoor unit.
{0018}
In the air conditioning system, when the control device
comprises a plurality of control devices, the master control
section in any one of the control devices may operate as a
higher-level master control section while the master control
section in the other control device may operate as a lowerlevel
master control section, the higher-level master control
section may allocate, according to the capability of the
control device including itself and the capability of the
other control device, the indoor unit control section and the
outdoor unit control section to each of the control devices,
and each of the control devices may create the indoor unit
control section and/or the outdoor unit control section
allocated to itself.
{0019}
According to the aforementioned configuration, the
higher-level master control section gives only information on
the control sections (the indoor unit control section and the
outdoor unit control section) to be created for the lowerlevel
master control section in each of the control devices,
and the master control section in each of the control devices
performs processing for creating the indoor unit control
section or the outdoor unit control section in the control
10
device. Therefore, even if the plurality of control devices
exist, the indoor unit control sections and the outdoor unit
control sections can be efficiently created.
{0020}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the master
control section in the control device having the highest
capability is selected as the higher-level master control
section, for example. Thus, the master control section in the
control device having sufficient resources is selected as the
higher-level master control section.
{0021}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
control device may be installed on a cloud. Thus, compression
of the resources of the control device can be avoided.
{0022}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
virtualized indoor unit control section or the virtualized
outdoor unit control section provided in the control device
may receive information from a sensor attached to the indoor
unit or the outdoor unit and the other outdoor unit control
section or the other indoor unit control section, and a
predetermined application may give a control instruction to
the indoor unit or the outdoor unit corresponding thereto
according to a predetermined control rule using the
information as an input.
11
{0023}
The aforementioned configuration enables autonomous
distributed control by the indoor unit control section and the
outdoor unit control section to be implemented.
{0024}
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
outdoor unit may include a plurality of outdoor units, and the
outdoor unit control section may include a plurality of
outdoor unit control sections respectively corresponding to
the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of outdoor unit
control sections are enabled to bidirectionally communicate
with one another, one of the outdoor unit control sections may
acquire information on respective performance coefficient
characteristics and capability available ranges of the
plurality of outdoor units, and the outdoor units may be
assigned higher priorities in descending order of their
maximum coefficients of performance (COPs) based on the
acquired information, the outdoor units may be sequentially
started in descending order of the priorities while each of
the outdoor units may be operated in a capability range in
which the coefficient of performance of the outdoor unit is
higher than the coefficient of performance of the other
outdoor unit that is lower in priority than the outdoor unit.
Thus, when the plurality of outdoor units are connected, each
of the outdoor units can be operated in a highly efficient
12
capability range.
{0025}
According to a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a control device, including an outdoor unit
control section that is enabled to communicate with an outdoor
unit via a communication medium while existing independently
of the outdoor unit, and an indoor unit control section that
is enabled to communicate with an indoor unit via a
communication medium while existing independently of the
indoor unit, in which the outdoor unit control section and the
indoor unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other, the outdoor unit control section
acquires information on equipment to be loaded onto the
outdoor unit via the communication medium while outputting a
control instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the
outdoor unit, and the indoor unit control section acquires
information on equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit via
the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the indoor
unit.
{0026}
The aforementioned indoor unit control section and the
aforementioned outdoor unit control section may be
respectively loaded as virtualized control sections.
{0027}
13
According to a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a heat source system, including a heat
utilization device including communication means, a heat
source unit that includes communication means, and cools or
heats a heating medium utilized in the heat utilization device
and supplies the heating medium to the heat utilization
device, a heat utilization-side control section that is
enabled to communicate with the heat utilization device via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
utilization device, a heat source unit control section that is
enabled to communicate with the heat source unit via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
source unit, and a heat source unit higher-level control
section that outputs a control instruction to the heat source
unit control section in response to a request load from the
heat utilization-side control section, in which the heat
utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
higher-level control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other and the heat source unit higherlevel
control section and the heat source unit control section
are enabled to bidirectionally communicate with each other,
the heat utilization-side control section acquires information
on equipment to be loaded onto the heat utilization device via
the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the heat
14
utilization device, and the heat source unit control section
acquires information on equipment to be loaded onto the
corresponding heat source unit via the communication medium
while outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be
loaded onto the heat source unit.
{0028}
In the aforementioned heat source system, the heat
utilization-side control section, the heat source unit higherlevel
control section, and the heat source unit control
section may be respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections onto a control device.
{0029}
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a heat source system, including a heat
utilization device including communication means, a heat
source unit that includes communication means, and cools or
heats a heating medium utilized in the heat utilization device
and supplies the heating medium to the heat utilization
device, a heat utilization-side control section that is
enabled to communicate with the heat utilization device via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
utilization device, and a heat source unit control section
that is enabled to communicate with the heat source unit via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
source unit, in which the heat utilization-side control
15
section and the heat source unit control section are enabled
to bidirectionally communicate with each other, the heat
utilization-side control section acquires information on
equipment to be loaded onto the heat utilization device via
the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the heat
utilization device, and the heat source unit control section
acquires information on equipment to be loaded onto the
corresponding heat source unit via the communication medium,
and outputs a control instruction to the equipment to be
loaded onto the corresponding heat source unit in response to
the acquired information on the equipment and a request load
from the heat utilization-side control section.
{0030}
In the aforementioned heat source system, the heat
utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
control section may be respectively loaded as virtualized
control sections onto a control device.
{0031}
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a control device, including a heat
utilization-side control section that is enabled to
communicate with a heat utilization device via a communication
medium while existing independently of the heat utilization
device, a heat source unit control section that is enabled to
16
communicate with a heat source unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the heat source unit, and a
heat source unit higher-level control section that outputs a
control instruction to the heat source unit control section in
response to a request load from the heat utilization-side
control section, in which the heat utilization-side control
section and the heat source unit higher-level control section
are enabled to bidirectionally communicate with each other and
the heat source unit higher-level control section and the heat
source unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other, the heat utilization-side control
section acquires information on equipment to be loaded onto
the heat utilization device via the communication medium while
outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be loaded
onto the heat utilization device, and the heat source unit
control section acquires information on equipment to be loaded
onto the corresponding heat source unit via the communication
medium while outputting a control instruction to the equipment
to be loaded onto the heat source unit.
{0032}
In the aforementioned control device, the heat
utilization-side control section, the heat source unit control
section, and the heat source unit higher-level control section
may be respectively loaded as virtualized control sections.
{0033}
17
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a control device, including a heat
utilization-side control section that is enabled to
communicate with a heat utilization device via a communication
medium while existing independently of the heat utilization
device, and a heat source unit control section that is enabled
to communicate with a heat source unit via a communication
medium while existing independently of the heat source unit,
in which the heat utilization-side control section and the
heat source unit control section are enabled to
bidirectionally communicate with each other, the heat
utilization-side control section acquires information on
equipment to be loaded onto the heat utilization device via
the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the heat
utilization device, and the heat source unit control section
acquires information on equipment to be loaded onto the
corresponding heat source unit via the communication medium
while outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be
loaded onto the corresponding heat source unit in response to
the acquired information on the equipment and a request load
from the heat utilization-side control section.
{0034}
In the aforementioned control device, the heat
utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
18
control section may be respectively loaded as virtualized
control sections.
{0035}
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of controlling an air conditioning
system including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the
control method including causing an indoor unit control
section that controls the indoor unit and an outdoor unit
control section that controls the outdoor unit to respectively
exist independently of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit,
and enabling bidirectional communication between the indoor
unit control section and the outdoor unit control section
while enabling bidirectional communication between the indoor
unit control section and the indoor unit and the outdoor unit
control section and the outdoor unit.
{0036}
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of controlling a heat source system
including a heat utilization device, a heat source unit that
cools or heats a heating medium utilized in the heat
utilization device and outputs the heating medium to the heat
utilization device, and a heat source unit higher-level
control section that gives a control instruction to the heat
source unit in response to a request load from the heat
utilization device, the control method including causing a
19
heat utilization-side control section that controls the heat
utilization device and a heat source unit control section that
gives a control instruction to the heat source unit to
respectively exist independently of the heat utilization
device and the heat source unit, and enabling bidirectional
communication between the heat utilization-side control
section and the heat source unit higher-level control section
and bidirectional communication between the heat source unit
higher-level control section and the heat source unit control
section while enabling bidirectional communication between the
heat utilization-side control section and the heat utilization
device and bidirectional communication between the heat source
unit control section and the heat source unit.
{0037}
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of controlling a heat source system
including a heat utilization device, and a heat source unit
that cools or heats a heating medium utilized in the heat
utilization device and outputs the heating medium to the heat
utilization device, the control method including causing a
heat utilization-side control section that controls the heat
utilization device and a heat source unit control section that
gives a control instruction to the heat source unit to
respectively exist independently of the heat utilization
device and the heat source unit, and enabling bidirectional
20
communication between the heat utilization-side control
section and the heat source unit control section while
enabling bidirectional communication between the heat
utilization-side control section and the heat utilization
device and bidirectional communication between the heat source
unit control section and the heat source unit.
{Advantageous Effects of Invention}
{0038}
According to the present invention, respective cost
reductions of a single outdoor unit and a single indoor unit
can be implemented while the system can be easily upgraded.
{Brief Description of Drawings}
{0039}
{Fig. 1}
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cooling medium system
in an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
{Fig. 2}
Fig. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of the air
conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
{Fig. 3}
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
hierarchical structure for communication of the air
conditioning system according to the embodiment of the present
21
invention.
{Fig. 4}
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
at the time of startup of a control device.
{Fig. 5}
Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
at the time of restart of the control device.
{Fig. 6}
Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
performed when a connection equipment has been changed by
adding, changing, and removing an indoor unit or an outdoor
unit.
{Fig. 7}
Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
performed when a control module or the like has been updated.
{Fig. 8}
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating one configuration
example of an air conditioning system when a plurality of
control devices are connected thereto.
{Fig. 9}
Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
at the time of startup when the plurality of control devices
are connected to a common bus.
{Fig. 10}
Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing
22
procedure for a case where an existing control device is
switched to a new control device.
{Fig. 11}
Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating one configuration
example of an air conditioning system when a plurality of
outdoor units are respectively connected as connection
equipment.
{Fig. 12}
Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating the definition of
parameters used for a control rule table.
{Fig. 13}
Fig. 13 is a diagram for illustrating one example of a
control rule table.
{Fig. 14}
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an
operation capability distribution table.
{Fig. 15}
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a cooling medium system
in a heat source system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
{Fig. 16}
Fig. 16 is an electrical configuration diagram of a heat
source system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
{Description of Embodiments}
23
{0040}
An air conditioning system according to an embodiment of
the present invention and a method of controlling the same
will be described below with reference to the drawings.
{0041}
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cooling medium system
in an air conditioning system 1 according to the present
embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the air conditioning
system 1 includes one outdoor unit B and a plurality of indoor
units A1 and A2 connected to the outdoor unit B via a common
cooling medium piping. While a configuration in which two
indoor units A1 and A2 are connected to one outdoor unit B is
illustrated for convenience in Fig. 1, the number of outdoor
units to be installed and the number of indoor units to be
connected thereto are not limited.
{0042}
The outdoor unit B includes a compressor 11 that
compresses and sends out a cooling medium, a four-way valve 12
that switches a circulation direction of the cooling medium,
an outdoor heat exchanger 13 that exchanges heat between the
cooling medium and external air, an outdoor fan 15, an
accumulator 16 provided in an intake-side piping of the
compressor 11 for the purpose of gas-liquid separation of the
cooling medium, for example. Various sensors 20 (see Fig. 2)
such as a pressure sensor 21 that measures cooling medium
24
pressure and a temperature sensor 24 that measures cooling
medium temperature or the like are provided in the outdoor
unit B.
{0043}
Each of the indoor units A1 and A2 includes an indoor
heat exchanger 31, an indoor fan 32, an electronic expansion
valve 33, and the like. The two indoor units A1 and A2 are
respectively connected to cooling medium pipings 21A and 21B
that branch from each of a header 22 and a distributor 23 in
the outdoor unit B.
{0044}
Fig. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of the air
conditioning system 1 according to the present embodiment. As
illustrated in Fig. 2, the indoor units A1 and A2, the outdoor
unit B, and a control device 3 are connected to one another
via a common bus 5, and is adapted to be able to give and
accept information to and from one another. The common bus 5
is one example of a communication medium irrespective of
whether communication is wireless or wired.
{0045}
The control device 3 is connected to a maintenance and
inspection device 6, which performs maintenance and
inspection, via a communication medium 7, and is adapted to be
able to periodically transmit operation data and quickly
notify, when an abnormality has occurred, the occurrence of
25
the abnormality.
{0046}
In the conventional air conditioning system, control
devices are respectively provided inside the indoor unit
control section and the outdoor unit control section, as
illustrated in PTL 1. On the other hand, in the present
embodiment, indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and an
outdoor unit control section 43 are respectively provided
independently of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor
unit B. More specifically, the indoor unit control section 41
that controls the indoor unit A1, the indoor unit control
section 42 that controls the indoor unit A2, and the outdoor
unit control section 43 that controls the outdoor unit B are
respectively mounted as virtualized control sections on the
control device 3.
{0047}
That is, the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and
the outdoor unit control section 43 are consolidated into the
control device 3 having one piece of hardware, and are made
independently operable on the hardware of the control device
3. The control device 3 includes a master control section 40
for causing the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 to virtually exist in the
control device. Processing for creating the indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
26
section 43 by the master control section 40, for example, will
be described below.
{0048}
In the control device 3, the indoor unit control sections
41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 are adapted
to be able to give and accept information to and from each
other. The indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 may respectively perform
autonomous distributed controls to be independently
implemented while sharing information, for example. Here, the
autonomous distributed control means that the control section
receives information from the sensors 20 and the other control
section (e.g., the indoor unit control section 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 correspond to the other
control section if the control section is the indoor unit
control section 41) and a predetermined application follows a
control rule using the information as an input to issue a
control instruction to the corresponding indoor unit or
outdoor unit (e.g., the indoor unit A1 if the control section
is the indoor unit control section 41).
{0049}
In the indoor unit A1, various drivers 52 respectively
provided to correspond to various types of equipment 51 such
as the indoor fan 32 and the electronic expansion valve 33
(see Fig. 1) are connected to the common bus 5 via a gateway
27
(communication means) 53. The indoor unit A2 also has a
similar configuration to that of the indoor unit A1, although
illustration thereof is omitted.
In the outdoor unit B, various drivers 62 respectively
provided to correspond to various types of equipment 61 such
as the compressor 11, the four-way valve 12, and the outdoor
fan 15 (see Fig. 1) are connected to the common bus 5 via a
gateway (communication means) 63.
{0050}
Each of the gateways 53 and 63 is a gathering of
functions including a communication driver, an address storage
region, an equipment attribute storage region, an OS
(Operating System), and a communication framework, for
example. The address storage region is a storage region for
storing a specific address previously allocated to communicate
with the control device 3 or the like. The equipment
attribute storage region is a region for storing its own
attribute information and attribute information on the
retained equipment 51 or 61, and stores information such as
either an indoor unit or an outdoor unit, a capability, onboard
sensors (e.g., a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor,
etc.), and equipment information (e.g., the number of taps of
a fan, a full pulse of a valve, etc.).
{0051}
Furthermore, the sensors 20 (e.g., a pressure sensor that
28
measures cooling medium pressure, a temperature sensor that
measures cooling medium temperature, etc.) provided in each of
the outdoor unit B and the indoor units A1 and A2 are
connected to the common bus 5 via an AD (Analog/Digital) board
71. If the measurement accuracy of the sensors 20 is low, a
node having a correction function for correcting a measurement
value may be provided between the AD board 71 and the sensors
20. Thus, a sensor, which is low in cost and is not so high
in measurement accuracy, can be used as the sensors 20 by
being made to have the correction function.
{0052}
In this air conditioning system, each of the indoor unit
control section 41 and 42 in the control device 3 acquires
measurement data and control information from the sensors 20
and the various drivers 52 and 62 via the common bus 5, and
outputs a control instruction to the various types of
equipment (e.g., the indoor fans 32, the electronic expansion
valves 33, etc.) provided in the indoor unit A1 or A2 by
executing a predetermined indoor unit control program based on
the measurement data, for example. The control instruction is
sent to the various drivers 52 via the common bus 5 and the
gateway 53. The various drivers 52 drive the respectively
corresponding equipment based on the received control
instruction. Thus, control of the indoor units A1 and A2
based on the control instructions is implemented.
29
{0053}
Similarly, the outdoor unit control section 43 in the
control device 3 acquires measurement data and control
information from the sensors 20 and the various drivers 52 and
62 via the common bus 5, and outputs a control instruction to
the various types of equipment (e.g., the compressor 11, the
four-way valve 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 13, the outdoor
fan 15, etc.) provided in the outdoor unit B by executing a
predetermined outdoor unit control program based on the
measurement data. The control instruction is sent to the
various drivers 62 via the common bus 5 and the gateway 63.
The various drivers 62 drive the respectively corresponding
equipment based on the received control instruction.
{0054}
Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a hierarchical structure
for communication of the air conditioning system 1. As
illustrated in Fig. 3, the air conditioning system 1 has a
hardware layer (hereinafter referred to as an "HW layer"), a
driver layer, an operation system layer (hereinafter referred
to as an "OS" layer), a framework layer, and an application
layer.
{0055}
The HW layer has a common bus, a fan motor, a louver
motor, and sensors. The driver layer has a communication
driver for communication via the common bus 5, an equipment
30
driver for driving the fan motor, the louver motor, and the
like, and a sensor driver for driving the sensors.
Particularly, communication among the control device 3, the
indoor units A1 and A2, and the outdoor unit A3 is performed
using a driver layer (information defined by the driver
layer). Therefore, an amount of each information to be
communicated via the common bus 5 can be made smaller than
that when communication is performed using the application
layer or the framework layer.
{0056}
The framework layer has a communication framework, an
equipment operation control framework, and a setting
parameter. The framework layer converts a physical unit and a
control unit of an actual equipment, for example. For
example, the conversion is performed so that a physical unit
such as 1 % valve opening corresponds to 12 pulses of a
stepping motor.
{0057}
The application layer has a function of operating
equipment in the indoor unit A1 according to an instruction
from the common bus 5 and sending out equipment failure
information, and mainly has an equipment operation control
application and a setting application. For example, the
equipment operation control application is a program relating
to control of the various types of equipment (e.g., the indoor
31
heat exchanger 31, the indoor fan 32, the electronic expansion
valve 33, etc.) constituting the indoor unit A1, e.g., a
program for performing control relating to the start and the
stop of the indoor unit A1, and change of a state such as an
operation mode or a set temperature.
{0058}
For the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B,
autonomous distributed controls may be respectively performed
by the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor
unit control section 43. In this case, a control rule is set
between the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B, and
each of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B
performs the control according to this control rule. For
example, when cooling medium pressure is taken as an example,
the indoor units A1 and A2 respectively determine, if cooling
medium pressure acquired from the sensors 20 is within a
predetermined first allowable variation range, control
instructions for matching an actual temperature and an actual
air volume with a set temperature and a set air volume, which
have been set by a user or the like, and output the control
instructions to the indoor units A1 and A2 via the common bus
5. The indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 may
respectively determine control instructions by giving and
accepting information to and from each other to cooperate with
each other. The outdoor unit control section 43 determines an
32
output instruction from the air conditioning system 1 for
maintaining the cooling medium pressure within a predetermined
second allowable variation range, e.g., a control instruction
relating to a rotation number of the compressor 11, a rotation
speed of the outdoor fan 15, and the like, and transmits the
determined output instruction to the outdoor unit B via the
common bus 5.
{0059}
When the first allowable variation range is set wider
than the second allowable variation range, for example, the
outdoor unit control section 43 can grasp output change
information on the indoor units A1 and A2 and determine a
behavior of the outdoor unit B.
{0060}
Various types of processing performed by the control
device 3 will be described below with reference to Figs. 4 to
10.
{0061}
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure
performed by the control device 3 at the time of startup of
the air conditioning system. First, at the time of startup of
the air conditioning system 1, the master control section 40
in the control device 3 is first started. The startup of the
master control section 40 is implemented when the CPU in the
control device 3 executes a program. Here, the master control
33
section 40 is also a control section virtually created in the
control device 3. The master control section 40 transmits a
connection equipment request (step SA1 illustrated in Fig. 4).
Thus, the connection equipment request is transmitted to each
of connection equipment via the common bus 5. The gateway 53
in each of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the gateway 63 in
the outdoor unit B, which have received the connection
equipment request, read out attribute information from an
equipment attribute storage region while reading out address
information from an address storage region, associates the
information, and return the information to the control device
3 (step SA2).
{0062}
Thus, the master control section 40 acquires connection
of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B as the
connection equipment, and the equipment loaded on each of the
indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B and address
information thereon.
{0063}
The master control section 40 grasps the number of pieces
of connection equipment based on the received attribute
information, and arranges virtual CPUs and memory regions
depending on the number of pieces of connection equipment
(step SA3). Thus, in the control device 3, each of the indoor
units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B is assigned the virtual
34
CPU and the memory region corresponding thereto. Then, the
master control section 40 acquires a control module
corresponding to each of the attribute information from a
control module storage section (not illustrated), and creates
custom control programs respectively corresponding to the
indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B (step SA4).
{0064}
Here, the control module is a control program provided to
correspond to each of a plurality of pieces of equipment
(e.g., a fan, an expansion valve, a compressor, etc.) provided
in each of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B.
Thus, when the custom control program is created in a control
module unit, the custom control program can be customized
depending on the equipment to be loaded by each of the indoor
units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B. Thus, the custom
control program can be created with the minimum necessary
number of control modules so that a memory capacity can be
reduced.
{0065}
Instead of creating the custom control program in a
control module unit, as described above, a general-purpose
control program for an indoor unit and a general-purpose
control program for an outdoor unit may be prepared and used
as they are.
{0066}
35
The control module storage section may be provided in the
control device 3, or may be provided on a server connected via
a network. When downloaded from an external server, resources
of the control device 3 can be effectively used.
{0067}
The master control section 40 stores, when it creates the
custom control programs respectively corresponding to the
indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B, the created
custom control programs in the memory regions previously
arranged (step SA5). Then, the master control section 40
stores a memory image and connection equipment information
stored in each of the memory regions in a master storage
region (not illustrated) (step SA6). This is for quickly
performing the second and subsequent startups. Then, the
master control section 40 issues a start instruction to each
of the virtual CPUs (step SA7). Thus, when the virtual CPUs
respectively execute the custom control programs stored in the
corresponding memory regions, the indoor unit control sections
41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 are started
to enter a ready state (step SA8). That is, the indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
section 43 are created in the control device 3 when the
respective virtual CPUs execute the custom control programs
stored in the corresponding storage regions.
{0068}
36
Thus, control of the indoor units A1 and A2 by the indoor
unit control sections 41 and 42 and control of the outdoor
unit B by the outdoor unit control section 43 are implemented.
After the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 are started, the master
control section 40 may be brought into a stop state or
deleted. When the master control section 40 is deleted, the
CPU capability of the master control section 40 can be reduced
to zero so that compression of other resources can be avoided.
{0069}
A processing procedure at the time of restart of the
control device 3 will be described below with reference to
Fig. 5. In this case, the master control section 40 is
started, to start to search for memory images in the master
storage region (step SB1 illustrated in Fig. 5), like in the
foregoing. As a result, if there are no memory images,
processes in step SA2 and the subsequent steps, described
above, are performed so that each of the indoor unit control
sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 is
created. On the other hand, if memory images are stored in
the master storage region, the memory images are read out by
the master control section 40, and are respectively stored in
the memory regions in the virtual CPUs (step SB2). Then, when
start instructions are respectively output to the virtual
CPUs, and the virtual CPUs respectively execute the custom
37
control programs written into the memory regions, the indoor
unit control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
section 43 are started (step SB3).
{0070}
A processing procedure performed when connection
equipment has been changed by adding, changing, or removing an
indoor unit or an outdoor unit, for example, will be described
below with reference to Fig. 6.
{0071}
In this case, an equipment change signal is input to the
control device 3. The equipment change signal may be manually
input, or may be automatically input to the control device 3
via the common bus 5 when any change has occurred. When the
equipment change signal has been received (step SC1
illustrated in Fig. 6), the master control section 40 is
started (step SC2), and the master control section 40
transmits a connection equipment request via the common bus 5
(step SC3). The gateway in the connection equipment, which
has received the connection equipment request, returns
attribute information and address information to the control
device 3 (step SC4). The master control section 40 compares,
when it receives the information, the connection equipment
information stored in the master storage region with
connection equipment information newly received, to extract
difference information (step SC5). A virtual CPU or the like
38
is assigned for the difference information (step SC6). Thus,
when an indoor unit is newly added, for example, an indoor
unit control section corresponding to the added indoor unit is
created. Thus, when processing is performed only for the
difference information, a processing burden and a processing
time can be reduced.
{0072}
A processing procedure performed when a control module or
the like has been updated will be described below with
reference to Fig. 7. When a program update signal for
notifying a program update is input to the control device 3,
the master control section 40 is started (step SD1). Then,
the master control section 40 updates a master program, in
other words, updates each of control modules. If a control
module storage section is provided in the control device 3,
for example, the control module after the update is loaded
from a predetermined server or the like (step SD2), and is
written into the control module storage section, the control
module is updated (step SD3). Then, the custom control
programs respectively corresponding to the indoor unit control
sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 are
re-created using the control module after the update that has
been stored in the control module storage section (step SD4).
Then, the re-created custom control programs corresponding to
the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor
39
unit control section 43 are updated by being respectively
written into the memory regions (step SD5). A memory image in
each of the memory regions is stored in the master storage
section (step SD6), and each of the indoor unit control
sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 is
started (step SD7).
{0073}
When the control module storage section is provided on a
predetermined server, the custom control program corresponding
to each of the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 may be re-created by loading
the desired control module from the control module storage
section that has already been updated.
{0074}
As illustrated in Fig. 8, a processing procedure at the
time of startup performed when a plurality of control devices
3 (3a to 3c) are connected to a common bus 5, as illustrated
in Fig. 8, will be described below with reference to Fig. 9.
The following processing procedure is executed not only at the
time of startup but also when a control device 3 is added.
{0075}
First, when a higher-level setting signal is input to any
one of the control devices, e.g., the control device 3a (step
SE1 illustrated in Fig. 9), a master control section 40a in
the control device 3a, which has received the input, is
40
started (step SE2). Here, the higher-level setting signal is
manually input by operating a predetermined button provided in
the control device 3, for example. Alternatively, the higherlevel
setting signal may be a signal to be transmitted to any
one of the control devices 3 from a predetermined device via a
common bus.
{0076}
The master control section 40a in the control device 3a,
which has received the higher-level setting signal, transmits
a connection control device request via the common bus 5 (step
SE3). Thus, each of the control devices 3b and 3c, which have
received the connection control device request, returns a CPU
type, a memory amount, and a storage capacity to the master
control section 40a (step SE4). The master control section
40a outputs the higher-level control signal to the control
device having the highest capability, e.g., the control device
3c based on the received information (step SE5). Thus, a
master control section 40c in the control device 3c having the
highest capability operates as a higher-level master control
section. The higher-level master control section respectively
sets identification numbers in the respective master control
sections 40a to 40c in the control devices (step SE6).
{0077}
For example, "0", "1", and "2" are respectively set in
the master control section 40c itself serving as the higher41
level master control section, the master control section 40a,
and the master control section 40b. Then, the master control
section 40c transmits a connection equipment request, and
grasps connection equipment (step SE7). This process is
similar to those in steps SA1 and SA2 illustrated in Fig. 4,
described above. The master control section 40c respectively
assigns control sections to the control devices 3a to 3c
depending on the number of pieces of connection equipment and
the capabilities of the control devices 3a to 3c, and
associates and stores respective identification information in
the master control sections and information on the assigned
control sections. A predetermined algorithm is prepared for
the assignment, and the assignment is performed according to
the algorithm.
{0078}
The master control section 40c transmits, to the master
control sections 40a and 40b assigned to the control devices,
attribute information and address information on the assigned
control sections (step SE8). Each of the master control
sections 40a and 40b arranges a virtual CPU and a memory
space, creates an indoor unit control section or an outdoor
unit control section, and starts the created indoor unit
control section or outdoor unit control section based on the
received attribute information and address information (step
SE9). This process is similar to those in steps SA3 to SA8
42
illustrated in Fig. 4.
{0079}
When the plurality of control devices 3 (3a to 3c) are
thus connected, the master control section 40c in the control
device 3c having the highest capability functions as a higherlevel
master control section, and respectively assigns the
control sections to the lower-level master control sections
40a and 40b. Virtual control sections in the control devices
3 are respectively created by the master control sections 40a
to 40c. This enables, even when the plurality of control
devices 3 are connected, the virtual control sections to be
easily and efficiently created.
{0080}
A processing procedure for a case where the existing
control device 3 is switched to a new control device 3 will be
described below with reference to Fig. 10. In this case, when
the new control device 3 is first connected to the common bus
5, and processes in steps SA1 to SA8 illustrated in Fig. 4 are
performed, the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 are created in the new control
device 3 (step SF1 illustrated in Fig. 10). Then, a master
control section in the new control device 3 transmits a
switching signal for the master control section to the
existing control device (step SF2). Then, indoor unit control
sections 41 and 42 and an outdoor unit control section 43 in
43
the new control device 3 respectively access the indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
section 43 on the existing control device 3, and copy
information stored in the respective memory regions, to
succeed information (step SF3). After the information has
been succeeded, the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and
the outdoor unit control section 43 on the new control device
3 continue to perform control while the existing control
device 3 stops operating (step SF4).
{0081}
As illustrated in Fig. 11, a processing procedure
relating to load allocation of a plurality of outdoor units B1
to B3 when the outdoor units B1 to B3 are respectively
connected as connection equipment and outdoor unit control
sections 45 to 47 respectively corresponding to the outdoor
units B1 to B3 are provided in a control device 3' will be
described below with reference to Figs. 11 to 13. While
indoor units, sensors, and the like are connected, like in
Fig. 2, indoor unit control sections respectively
corresponding to the devices and the indoor units are not
illustrated in Fig. 11.
{0082}
The outdoor unit control sections 45 to 47 respectively
retain COP characteristics and capability ranges of the
outdoor units B1 to B3. The information can be retained when
44
information stored in attribute information storage regions of
gateways in the outdoor units B1 to B3 are received.
{0083}
Each of the outdoor unit control sections 45 to 47
transmits and receives information on the COP characteristic
and an outputtable capability to and from the other outdoor
unit control sections, to also share information for
capabilities of the other outdoor units. Then, any one of the
outdoor unit control sections is set as a higher-level outdoor
unit control section. For example, the higher-level outdoor
unit control section may be an outdoor unit control section
first created or may be an outdoor unit control section
corresponding to the outdoor unit having the highest maximum
COP. A case where the outdoor unit control section 45
functions as a higher-level outdoor unit control section will
be herein described for convenience of illustration.
{0084}
The higher-level outdoor unit control section 45 then
creates an operation capability distribution table based on
the COP characteristic and the maximum COP of each of the
outdoor units B1 to B3 and a control rule table previously
registered.
{0085}
The control rule table will be first described with
reference to Fig. 13.
45
The control rule table is a table in which respective
operation rules of the outdoor units B1 to B3 are defined in
descending order of efficiencies of operations of the outdoor
units and in ascending order of numbers of the started outdoor
units, as illustrated in Fig. 13. While a case where three
outdoor units are connected has been herein described, control
rule tables may be respectively previously prepared depending
on the number of outdoor units, e.g., two or four and stored
in predetermined storage regions of the control device 3', and
the control rule tables may be referred to depending on the
number of outdoor units connected from time to time.
{0086}
An operation rule table may be created each time from the
number of outdoor units acquired by communication by not
previously preparing control rule tables but storing an
algorithm for creating the control rule tables in a
predetermined storage region of the control device 3'.
{0087}
When there are three outdoor units α, β, and γ, and the
maximum COP of the outdoor unit α, the maximum COP of the
outdoor unit β, and the maximum COP of the outdoor unit γ are
respectively COP1max, COP2max, and COP3max, for example, the
following inequality expression is considered to hold. The
COP4 is a target minimum COP, and is a lower-limit of a COP
with which the outdoor unit is to operate.
46
{0088}
COP1max > COP2max > COP3max > COP4
{0089}
Capabilities (load factors) are respectively defined as
Q11, Q22, and Q33 when the outdoor units α, β, and β take
COP1max, COP1max, and COP3max.
{0090}
As illustrated in Fig. 12, a capability range QL12 ≤ Q ≤
QU12 in which the COP of the outdoor unit α is larger than the
maximum COP of the outdoor unit β is then specified, as
illustrated in Fig. 12. Among indexes of Q, L indicates a
lower-limit value, and U indicates an upper-limit value. In
Qij, i indicates a number of the outdoor unit serving as a
reference, and j indicates a number of the outdoor unit to be
compared. The outdoor unit α is indicated by a number "1",
the outdoor unit β is indicated by a number "2", and the
outdoor unit γ is indicated by a number "3". That is, QL12
indicates a lower-limit value of a capability range in which a
COP characteristic of the outdoor unit α takes a value higher
than the maximum COP of the outdoor unit β, as illustrated in
Fig. 13.
Parameters QL13, QL14, QL23, QL34, and the like indicated by
the following matrices (1) and (2) are defined in a similar
method:
{0091}
47
{0092}
Capability ranges among the respective maximum COPs of
the outdoor units are defined as below:
ΔQUij = QUij - Qii (3)
ΔQLij = QLij - Qii (4)
{0093}
Here, ΔQUij expressed by the equation (3) is a positive
value, and ΔQLij expressed by the equation (4) is a negative
value. For example, ΔQU12 = QU12 - Q11 and ΔQL12 = QL12 - Q11 are
respectively capability ranges illustrated in Fig. 12.
{0094}
When the capability ranges are defined as above, if
ranges in which the outdoor unit can operate with the COP
higher than that of the other outdoor unit are gradually
extracted, a control rule table as illustrated in Fig. 13 is
obtained.
48
{0095}
A term including an index L given by the foregoing
equation (4) is a negative value. Therefore, the respective
operation rules of the outdoor units α, β, and γ illustrated
in Fig. 13 are not necessarily illustrated in descending order
of their capabilities depending on COP characteristics of the
outdoor units.
{0096}
The higher-level outdoor unit control section 45
replaces, when it acquires information on respective COP
characteristics, maximum COPs, and capabilities of the outdoor
units B1, B2, and B3, the outdoor units B1, B2, and B3 with
outdoor units α, β, and γ in descending order of the maximum
COPs, and calculates respective values of parameters Qii and
Qii, and then respective values of ΔQUij and ΔQLij in the
aforementioned procedure. The respective calculated values of
the parameters are substituted into an arithmetic expression
for each of priorities in the control rule table illustrated
in Fig. 13, to calculate a capability corresponding to the
priority. Thus, an operation capability distribution table
customized to the outdoor units B1, B2, and B3 is created. An
example of the operation capability distribution table
customized to the outdoor units B1, B2, and B3 is illustrated
in Fig. 14. Fig. 14 illustrates an example of a case where
the respective maximum COPs of the outdoor units B1, B2, and
49
B3 decrease in this order, i.e., a case where the outdoor
units B1, B2, and B3 are respectively set as the outdoor units
α, β, and γ.
{0097}
The higher-level outdoor unit control section 45
distributes loads among the outdoor units B1, B2, and B3 using
this operation capability distribution table. When a request
load factor is 100 [%], for example, the highest priority,
which covers the request load factor, is the third priority,
i.e., 115 [%]. Therefore, the higher-level outdoor unit
control section 45 assigns Q11 (e.g., 60 [%]) corresponding to
the maximum COP to the outdoor unit B1 and assigns the
remaining 40 [%] to the outdoor unit B2. The outdoor unit
control section 45 itself controls the outdoor unit B1 with a
load factor of 60 % while outputting information on a load
factor of 40 [%] to the outdoor unit control section 46
corresponding to the outdoor unit B2 and outputting
information on an operation stop to the outdoor unit control
section 47. Thus, the outdoor unit B2 is operated with a load
factor of 40 [%], and the outdoor unit B3 is brought into an
operation stop state.
{0098}
Thus, the outdoor units can be efficiently operated by
being preferentially started in descending order of their
maximum COPs. Each of the outdoor units is operated in a
50
capability range in which the COP thereof is higher than those
of the other outdoor units that are lower in priority than the
outdoor unit. Thus, a highly efficient operation can be
implemented.
{0099}
In an operation according to the aforementioned operation
capability distribution table, an operating time of the
outdoor unit having a high maximum COP tends to be longer than
those of the other outdoor units. Therefore, when respective
accumulated operating times of the outdoor units B1 to B3 are
monitored, and a difference, which is not less than a
predetermined value, has occurred between the accumulated
operating times of the outdoor units, the outdoor unit having
a long accumulated operating time may be forcedly stopped, and
the other outdoor units may be proportionally burdened with
the capability of the stopped outdoor unit. A case where the
outdoor unit having a long accumulated operating time is
forcedly stopped is limited to a case where a request load is
covered by the capabilities of the other outdoor units.
{0100}
While the control rule table and the operation capability
distribution table are created using both the lower-limit
value and the upper-limit value in the aforementioned example,
either one of the lower-limit value and the upper-limit value
may be used. When either one of the lower-limit value and the
51
high-limit value is thus used, the priority and the capability
are not reversed, and the number of calculations is reduced so
that a processing burden is also reduced.
{0101}
While the higher-level outdoor unit control section 45
creates the operation capability distribution table, and the
respective capabilities of the outdoor units are allocated
according to the operation capability distribution table in
the aforementioned example, the outdoor unit control sections
45 to 47 may respectively create operation capability
distribution tables and determine their own load allocations
based on the created operation capability distribution tables
when the outdoor unit control sections 46 and 47 respectively
have similar functions to that of the aforementioned higherlevel
outdoor unit control section 45, for example. In this
case, both the operation capability distribution tables are
creased based on the same algorithm. Therefore, the operation
capability distribution tables respectively created by the
outdoor unit control sections 45 to 37 are made the same.
{0102}
As described above, according to the air conditioning
system 1 according to the present embodiment and a method of
controlling the same, the indoor unit control sections 41 and
42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 are consolidated
into the control device 3 while being respectively created as
52
the virtualized control sections. Thus, each of the indoor
units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B need not be provided
with a control section (excluding a CPU serving as a driver
for driving various types of equipment). Therefore,
respective configurations of the indoor units A1 and A2 and
the outdoor unit B can be simplified. As a result, reduction
in cost can be implemented. Further, the indoor units A1 and
A2 and the outdoor unit B need not be respectively loaded with
advanced programs. Therefore, the equipment does not become
obsolete. Moreover, a partial update (replacement) is
enabled. Further, the control device 3 can reflect, when it
updates a program used as a base of a loaded program, i.e., a
control module, the update on the control section virtualized
and created. Thus, the entire system can be easily upgraded.
Further, hardware resources may be determined depending on the
scale of the air conditioning system 1. Therefore, waste of
CPU resources can be reduced.
{0103}
While the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43 are consolidated into the
control device 3, and respectively exist as virtualized
control sections in the present embodiment, such an aspect
need not necessarily be used. For example, the indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
section 43 may respectively exist independently of the indoor
53
units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit B. The indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
section 43 may be provided on a cloud. While the control
device 3 and each of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the
outdoor unit B2 are connected to each other via the common bus
5 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not
limited to such an aspect. For example, each of the indoor
unit control sections 41 and 42 and the indoor units A1 and A2
respectively corresponding thereto may be in a one-to-one
communication. When the control section (e.g., the indoor
unit control section 41) and the corresponding equipment
(e.g., the indoor unit A1) are thus in a one-to-one
communication, a communication delay caused by an increase in
communication amount can be reduced. For communication
between the control sections within the control device 3,
high-speed communication can be applied. Therefore, an effect
of a decrease in communication speed by an increase in data
amount can be avoided.
{0104}
A heat source system according to an embodiment of the
present invention and a method of controlling the same will be
described below.
{0105}
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a cooling medium system
in the heat source system 2 according to the present
54
embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 15, the heat source system
2 according to the present embodiment includes an air
conditioning equipment (heat utilization device) 50 and a
plurality of heat source units 60a and 60b. The air
conditioning equipment is an example of a device using heat
supplied from the heat source units 60a and 60b, and is not
limited to this example. Examples of the heat source units
60a and 60b include a turbo refrigerator. While a case where
the two heat source units 60a and 60b are installed has been
illustrated as an example in Fig. 15, the number of heat
source units to be installed is not limited. Each of the heat
source units 60a and 60b may function as a cooling device for
cooling a heating medium, or may function as a heating device
that heats a heating medium. Each of the heat source units
60a and 60b may have both functions of heating and cooling. A
configuration of the turbo refrigerator is known, and hence
description thereof is omitted herein.
{0106}
On the upstream side of the heat source units 60a and
60b, as viewed from the flow of cooling water, pumps 65a and
65b, which pressure-feed a heating medium (e.g., cooling
water), are respectively installed. The pumps 65a and 65b
respectively feed heating media from a return header 69 to the
heat source units 60a and 60b. Each of the pumps 65a and 65b
is operated by an inverter motor (not illustrated). Thus, a
55
variable flow rate is controlled by making a rotation number
variable.
{0107}
The heating medium, which has been cooled or heated in
each of the heat source units 60a and 60b, is gathered in a
supply header 68. The heating medium, which has been gathered
in the supply header 68, is supplied to the air conditioning
equipment 50. The heating medium, whose temperature has been
raised or lowered in the air conditioning equipment 50, is fed
to the return header 69, and branches into heating media
herein. The heating media are respectively fed to heat source
units 60a and 60b again.
{0108}
A piping between the air conditioning equipment 50 and
the return header 69 is provided with a flow control valve 85.
When the opening of the flow control valve 85 is adjusted, the
flow rate of the heating medium can be adjusted. A bypass
piping 66 is provided between the supply header 68 and the
return header 69. When the opening of a bypass valve 67
provided in the bypass piping 66 is adjusted, an amount of the
heating medium to be supplied to the air conditioning
equipment 50 can be adjusted.
{0109}
Fig. 16 is an electrical configuration diagram of the
heat source system 2 according to the present embodiment. As
56
illustrated in Fig. 16, an air conditioning equipment 50, heat
source units 60a and 60b, and a control device 8 are connected
to one another via a common bus 5, and are adapted to be able
to give and accept information to and from one another. The
common bus 5 is one example of a communication medium
irrespective of whether communication is wireless or wired.
Further, the control device 8 is connected to a maintenance
and inspection device 6, which performs maintenance and
inspection, via a communication medium 7, and is adapted to be
able to periodically transmit operation data and quickly
notify, when an abnormality has occurred, the occurrence of
the abnormality.
{0110}
In the control device 8, an air conditioning equipment
control section 81, which controls the air conditioning
equipment 50 and the flow control valve 85, a heat source unit
higher-level control section 82 serving as a higher-level
control section of each of the heat source units 60a and 60b,
and heat source unit control sections 83 and 84, which
respectively control the heat source units 60a and 60b, are
provided independently of the air conditioning equipment 50
and the heat source units 60a and 60b. The heat source unit
higher-level control section 82 controls the number of heat
source units 60a and 60b in response to a request load of the
air conditioning equipment 50, controls respective rotation
57
numbers of the pumps 65a and 65b, and controls the opening of
the bypass valve 67, for example.
{0111}
In the control device 8, the air conditioning equipment
control section 81, the heat source unit higher-level control
section 82, and the heat source unit control sections 83 and
84 are respectively created as virtualized control sections in
the control device 8, like the indoor unit control sections 41
and 42 and the outdoor unit control section 43, described
above. That is, the air conditioning equipment control
section 81, the heat source unit higher-level control section
82, and the heat source unit control sections 83 and 84 are
consolidated into the control device 8 having one piece of
hardware, for example, and can respectively perform
independent operations on the hardware of the control device
8. The control device 8 includes a master control section 80
for causing the air conditioning equipment control section 81,
the heat source unit higher-level control section 82, and the
heat source unit control sections 83 and 84 to virtually exist
in the control device.
{0112}
In the control device 8, the air conditioning equipment
control section 81 and the heat source unit higher-level
control section 82, and the heat source unit higher-level
control section 82 and the heat source unit control sections
58
83 and 84 can respectively give and accept information to and
from each other, and the air conditioning equipment control
section 81, the heat source unit higher-level control section
82, and the heat source unit control sections 83 and 84 may
respectively implement independent autonomous distributed
controls while sharing information. Processing to be executed
by the master control section 40, e.g., a method of creating
the virtualized control sections is similar to that in the
aforementioned air conditioning system 1.
{0113}
In the air conditioning equipment 50, various drivers 92
respectively provided to correspond to various types of
equipment 91 such as an indoor fan and an electronic expansion
valve are connected to the common bus 5 via a gateway 93. In
the heat source unit 60a, various drivers 92 respectively
provided to correspond to various devices 101 such as a
compressor motor (specifically, an inverter that controls
power to be supplied to the motor) and an expansion valve are
connected to the common bus 5 via a gateway 103. The heat
source unit 60b is also configured similarly to the heat
source unit 60a, illustration of which is omitted. Pumps 65a
and 65b, a bypass valve 67, a flow control valve 85 (not
illustrated), and the like are connected to the common bus 5
via drivers or gateways respectively provided therein, and are
adapted to be able to communicate with the heat source unit
59
higher-level control section 82 and the air conditioning
equipment control section 81.
{0114}
In this heat source system 2, the air conditioning
equipment control section 81 in the control device 8 acquires
control information from the various drivers 92 in the air
conditioning equipment 50 via the common bus 5, and outputs a
control instruction to the various types of equipment (e.g.,
an indoor fan, an electronic expansion valve, etc.) 91
provided in the air conditioning equipment 50 by executing a
predetermined air conditioning equipment control program based
on the control information. The control instruction is sent
to the various drivers 92 via the common bus 5 and the gateway
93. The various drivers 92 respectively drive corresponding
equipment based on the received control instruction. Thus,
control of the air conditioning equipment 50 based on the
control instruction is implemented.
{0115}
The air conditioning equipment control section 81 creates
an opening instruction for the flow control valve 85, and
outputs the created opening instruction to the common bus 5.
Thus, the opening instruction is output to the driver via the
gateway in the flow control valve 85 through the common bus 5
so that control of opening of the flow control valve 85 is
implemented.
60
{0116}
Similarly, the heat source unit higher-level control
section 82 in the control device 8 receives information such
as request load information from the air conditioning
equipment control section 81 while acquiring respective
information on the heat source units from the heat source unit
control sections 83 and 84, and executes a predetermined heat
source unit higher-level control program based on the
information, to respectively create control instructions such
as load factors for the heat source unit control sections 83
and 84 and output the created control instructions to the heat
source unit control sections 83 and 84. The heat source unit
higher-level control section 82 creates respective rotation
number instructions for the pumps 65a and 65b, an opening
instruction for the bypass valve 67, and the like, and outputs
the control instructions to the common bus 5. The control
instructions are respectively output to the drivers via the
gateways through the common bus 5 so that control of
respective rotation numbers of the pumps 65a and 65b and
control of the opening of the bypass valve are implemented.
{0117}
The heat source unit control section 83 receives
measurement data acquired by a sensor (not illustrated)
installed in the heat source unit 60a via the common bus 5 and
the gateway 103. A predetermined heat source unit control
61
program is executed based on the received measurement data and
the control instructions received from the heat source unit
higher-level control section 82, to create and output control
instructions for the various types of equipment (e.g., a
compressor motor, an electronic expansion valve, etc.) 101
provided in the heat source unit 60a. The control
instructions are sent to the various drivers 102 in the heat
source unit 60a via the common bus 5 and the gateway 103. The
various drivers 102 respectively drive the various types of
equipment (e.g., a compressor, an inlet guide vane, an
expansion valve, etc.) 101 corresponding thereto based on the
received control instructions. Thus, control of the heat
source unit 60a based on the control instructions is
implemented. Similar control is also performed for the heat
source unit 60b.
{0118}
As described above, according to the heat source system 2
according to the present embodiment and a method of
controlling the same, when the air conditioning equipment
control section 81, the heat source unit higher-level control
section 82, and the heat source unit control sections 83 and
84 are consolidated into the control device 8, and perform
respectively independent operations as virtualized control
sections, the function of each of the control sections is
implemented. Thus, the air conditioning equipment 50 and the
62
heat source units 60a and 60b need not be respectively
provided with control sections (excluding drivers for
controlling the equipment) so that respective configurations
of the air conditioning equipment 50 and the heat source units
60a and 60b can be simplified and reduction in cost can be
implemented.
{0119}
The air conditioning equipment 50 and the heat source
units 60a and 60b need not be respectively loaded with
advanced programs. Therefore, the equipment does not become
obsolete, and a partial update (replacement) is enabled.
Further, the control device 8 can easily update the
virtualized control sections by updating the loaded programs.
Thus, the entire system can be easily upgraded. Further,
hardware resources may be determined depending on the scale of
the heat source system 2. Therefore, waste of CPU resources
can be reduced.
{0120}
While the heat source system 2 is adapted so that the
heat source unit higher-level control section 82 is provided,
and the heat source unit higher-level control section 82
relays information between the heat source unit control
sections 83 and 84 and the air conditioning equipment control
section 81 in the present embodiment, the present embodiment
is not limited to this. For example, the heat source system 2
63
may be adapted so that at least one of the heat source unit
control sections 83 and 84 is made to have a function to be
implemented by the heat source unit higher-level control
section 82, the heat source unit control section 83 (84) and
the air conditioning equipment control section 81 are made to
directly give and accept information to and from each other,
to implement various types of controls such as control of the
number of heat source units in response to the request load or
the like. In this case, the heat source unit higher-level
control section 82 can be omitted as a constituent element.
{Reference Signs List}
{0121}
1, 2 Air conditioning system
3, 3', 8 Control device
5 Common bus
20 Sensors
40 Master control section
41, 42 Indoor unit control section
43, 45~47 Outdoor unit control section
50 Air conditioning equipment
53, 63, 93, 103 Gateway
60a, 60b Heat source unit
71 AD board
81 Air conditioning equipment control section
82 Heat source unit higher-level control section
64
83, 84 Heat source unit control section
A1, A2 Indoor unit
B, B1~B3 Outdoor unit
65
{CLAIMS}
{Claim 1}
An air conditioning system comprising:
an outdoor unit including communication means;
an indoor unit including communication means;
an outdoor unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with the outdoor unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the outdoor unit; and
an indoor unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with the indoor unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the indoor unit,
wherein the outdoor unit control section and the indoor
unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other,
the outdoor unit control section acquires information on
equipment to be loaded onto the outdoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
the equipment to be loaded onto the outdoor unit, and
the indoor unit control section acquires information on
equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
the equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit.
{Claim 2}
The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
the outdoor unit control section and the indoor unit control
66
section are respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections onto a control device.
{Claim 3}
The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein
the control device includes a master control section,
the master control section acquires attribute information
on the indoor unit and the outdoor unit connected to the
communication medium at the time of startup, and
the virtualized indoor unit control section and the
virtualized outdoor unit control section are respectively
created based on the attribute information.
{Claim 4}
The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein
the master control section assigns each of the indoor
unit and the outdoor unit a virtual CPU and a memory region
corresponding thereto based on the attribute information, and
the virtualized outdoor unit control section and the
virtualized indoor unit control section are created by storing
respective control programs corresponding to the attribute
information acquired from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit
in the respective memory regions.
{Claim 5}
The air conditioning system according to claim 4, further
comprising
control module storage means storing a control module
67
corresponding to each of a plurality of pieces of equipment to
be loaded onto the indoor unit and a control module
corresponding to each of a plurality of pieces of equipment to
be loaded onto the outdoor unit,
wherein the master control section acquires the control
module corresponding to the equipment provided in the indoor
unit from the control module storage means to create a custom
control program and store the custom control program in a
memory region corresponding to the indoor unit while acquiring
the control module corresponding to the equipment provided in
the outdoor unit from the control module storage means to
create a custom control program and storing the custom control
program in a memory region corresponding to the outdoor unit.
{Claim 6}
The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein
the master control section stores memory images
respectively stored in memory regions of the indoor unit
control section and the outdoor unit control section in a
master storage region, and
the virtualized indoor unit control section and the
virtualized outdoor unit control section are created by
storing the respective memory images stored in the master
storage region in the respective memory regions corresponding
thereto at the time of second and subsequent startups.
{Claim 7}
68
The air conditioning system according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein
the control device starts the master control section when
the control device receives information on a program update,
and
the master control section updates the control modules
stored in the control module storage means based on the
information on the program update, and updates the respective
custom control programs stored in the memory regions using the
updated control modules.
{Claim 8}
The air conditioning system according to any one of
claims 5 to 7, wherein
the control device starts the master control section when
the control device receives change information on the indoor
unit or the outdoor unit, and
the master control section adds the indoor unit control
section or the outdoor unit control section or updates the
custom control program in response to the attribute
information on the changed indoor unit or outdoor unit.
{Claim 9}
The air conditioning system according to any one of
claims 3 to 8, wherein, when the control device comprises a
plurality of control devices,
the master control section in any one of the control
69
devices operates as a higher-level master control section
while the master control section in the other control device
operates as a lower-level master control section,
the higher-level master control section allocates,
according to the capability of the control device including
itself and the capability of the other control device, the
indoor unit control section and the outdoor unit control
section to each of the control devices, and
each of the control devices creates the indoor unit
control section and/or the outdoor unit control section
allocated to itself.
{Claim 10}
The air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein
the master control section in the control device having the
highest capability is selected as the higher-level master
control section.
{Claim 11}
The air conditioning system according to any one of
claims 2 to 10, wherein the control device is installed on a
cloud.
{Claim 12}
The air conditioning system according to claims 2 to 11,
wherein the virtualized indoor unit control section or the
virtualized outdoor unit control section provided in the
control device receives information from a sensor attached to
70
the indoor unit or the outdoor unit and the other outdoor unit
control section or the other indoor unit control section, and
a predetermined application gives a control instruction to the
indoor unit or the outdoor unit corresponding thereto
according to a predetermined control rule using the
information as an input.
{Claim 13}
The air conditioning system according to any one of
claims 1 to 12, wherein
the outdoor unit comprises a plurality of outdoor units,
and
the outdoor unit control section comprises a plurality of
outdoor unit control sections respectively corresponding to
the plurality of outdoor units,
the plurality of outdoor unit control sections are
enabled to bidirectionally communicate with one another,
one of the outdoor unit control sections
acquires information on respective performance
coefficient characteristics and capability available ranges of
the plurality of outdoor units, and
the outdoor units are assigned higher priorities in
descending order of their maximum coefficients of performance
(COPs) based on the acquired information, and the outdoor
units are sequentially started in descending order of the
priorities while each of the outdoor units is operated in a
71
capability range in which the coefficient of performance of
the outdoor unit is higher than the coefficient of performance
of the other outdoor unit that is lower in priority than the
outdoor unit.
{Claim 14}
A control device comprising:
an outdoor unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with an outdoor unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the outdoor unit; and
an indoor unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with an indoor unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the indoor unit,
wherein the outdoor unit control section and the indoor
unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other,
the outdoor unit control section acquires information on
equipment to be loaded onto the outdoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
the equipment to be loaded onto the outdoor unit, and
the indoor unit control section acquires information on
equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
the equipment to be loaded onto the indoor unit.
{Claim 15}
The control device according to claim 14, wherein the
72
indoor unit control section and the outdoor unit control
section are respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections.
{Claim 16}
A heat source system comprising:
a heat utilization device including communication means;
a heat source unit that includes communication means, and
cools or heats a heating medium utilized in the heat
utilization device and supplies the heating medium to the heat
utilization device;
a heat utilization-side control section that is enabled
to communicate with the heat utilization device via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
utilization device;
a heat source unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with the heat source unit via a communication
medium while existing independently of the heat source unit;
and
a heat source unit higher-level control section that
outputs a control instruction to the heat source unit control
section in response to a request load from the heat
utilization-side control section,
wherein the heat utilization-side control section and the
heat source unit higher-level control section are enabled to
bidirectionally communicate with each other and the heat
73
source unit higher-level control section and the heat source
unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other,
the heat utilization-side control section acquires
information on equipment to be loaded onto the heat
utilization device via the communication medium while
outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be loaded
onto the heat utilization device; and
the heat source unit control section acquires information
on equipment to be loaded onto the corresponding heat source
unit via the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the heat source
unit.
{Claim 17}
The heat source system according to claim 16, wherein the
heat utilization-side control section, the heat source unit
higher-level control section, and the heat source unit control
section are respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections onto a control device.
{Claim 18}
A heat source system comprising:
a heat utilization device including communication means;
a heat source unit that includes communication means, and
cools or heats a heating medium utilized in the heat
utilization device and supplies the heating medium to the heat
74
utilization device;
a heat utilization-side control section that is enabled
to communicate with the heat utilization device via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
utilization device; and
a heat source unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with the heat source unit via a communication
medium while existing independently of the heat source unit,
wherein the heat utilization-side control section and the
heat source unit control section are enabled to
bidirectionally communicate with each other,
the heat utilization-side control section acquires
information on equipment to be loaded onto the heat
utilization device via the communication medium while
outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be loaded
onto the heat utilization device, and
the heat source unit control section acquires information
on equipment to be loaded onto the corresponding heat source
unit via the communication medium, and outputs a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the
corresponding heat source unit in response to the acquired
information on the equipment and a request load from the heat
utilization-side control section.
{Claim 19}
The heat source system according to claim 18, wherein the
75
heat utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
control section are respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections onto a control device.
{Claim 20}
A control device comprising:
a heat utilization-side control section that is enabled
to communicate with a heat utilization device via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
utilization device;
a heat source unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with a heat source unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the heat source unit; and
a heat source unit higher-level control section that
outputs a control instruction to the heat source unit control
section in response to a request load from the heat
utilization-side control section,
wherein the heat utilization-side control section and the
heat source unit higher-level control section are enabled to
bidirectionally communicate with each other and the heat
source unit higher-level control section and the heat source
unit control section are enabled to bidirectionally
communicate with each other,
the heat utilization-side control section acquires
information on equipment to be loaded onto the heat
utilization device via the communication medium while
76
outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be loaded
onto the heat utilization device, and
the heat source unit control section acquires information
on equipment to be loaded onto the corresponding heat source
unit via the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the heat source
unit.
{Claim 21}
The control device according to claim 20, wherein the
heat utilization-side control section, the heat source unit
control section, and the heat source unit higher-level control
section are respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections.
{Claim 22}
A control device comprising:
a heat utilization-side control section that is enabled
to communicate with a heat utilization device via a
communication medium while existing independently of the heat
utilization device;
a heat source unit control section that is enabled to
communicate with a heat source unit via a communication medium
while existing independently of the heat source unit,
wherein the heat utilization-side control section and the
heat source unit control section are enabled to
bidirectionally communicate with each other,
77
the heat utilization-side control section acquires
information on equipment to be loaded onto the heat
utilization device via the communication medium while
outputting a control instruction to the equipment to be loaded
onto the heat utilization device, and
the heat source unit control section acquires information
on equipment to be loaded onto the corresponding heat source
unit via the communication medium while outputting a control
instruction to the equipment to be loaded onto the
corresponding heat source unit in response to the acquired
information on the equipment and a request load from the heat
utilization-side control section.
{Claim 23}
The control device according to claim 22, wherein the
heat utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
control section are respectively loaded as virtualized control
sections.
{Claim 24}
A method of controlling an air conditioning system
comprising an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the control
method comprising:
causing an indoor unit control section that controls the
indoor unit and an outdoor unit control section that controls
the outdoor unit to respectively exist independently of the
indoor unit and the outdoor unit; and
78
enabling bidirectional communication between the indoor
unit control section and the outdoor unit control section
while enabling bidirectional communication between the indoor
unit control section and the indoor unit and the outdoor unit
control section and the outdoor unit.
{Claim 25}
A method of controlling a heat source system comprising a
heat utilization device, a heat source unit that cools or
heats a heating medium utilized in the heat utilization device
and outputs the heating medium to the heat utilization device,
and a heat source unit higher-level control section that gives
a control instruction to the heat source unit in response to a
request load from the heat utilization device, the control
method comprising:
causing a heat utilization-side control section that
controls the heat utilization device and a heat source unit
control section that gives a control instruction to the heat
source unit to respectively exist independently of the heat
utilization device and the heat source unit; and
enabling bidirectional communication between the heat
utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
higher-level control section and bidirectional communication
between the heat source unit higher-level control section and
the heat source unit control section while enabling
bidirectional communication between the heat utilization-side
79
control section and the heat utilization device and
bidirectional communication between the heat source unit
control section and the heat source unit.
{Claim 26}
A method of controlling a heat source system comprising a
heat utilization device, and a heat source unit that cools or
heats a heating medium utilized in the heat utilization device
and outputs the heating medium to the heat utilization device,
the control method comprising:
causing a heat utilization-side control section that
controls the heat utilization device and a heat source unit
control section that gives a control instruction to the heat
source unit to respectively exist independently of the heat
utilization device and the heat source unit; and
enabling bidirectional communication between the heat
utilization-side control section and the heat source unit
control section while enabling bidirectional communication
between the heat utilization-side control section and the heat
utilization device and bidirectional communication between the
heat source unit control section and the heat source unit.