FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
DATA COLLECTING DEVICE, DATA COLLECTING SYSTEM, CONTROL
METHOD AND PROGRAM
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
DATA COLLECTING DEVICE, DATA COLLECTING SYSTEM, CONTROL
METHOD AND PROGRAM
5
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a data collection apparatus, a data collection
system, a control method and a program.
Background Art
10 [0002] Collection of operation data of a facility device and utilization of the
collected data for, for example, management of the facility device or analysis of usage of
the facility device, are performed in recent years. Patent Literature 1 discloses a method
for providing a management device by packaging in a box a plurality of element devices
to be used for management of a facility equipment. According to the management
15 system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the above-described management device collects
operation data of the facility device and transmits the operation data to a higher-level
device.
[0003] Heat permeates the interior of a device in which a plurality of element
devices is packaged and thus may cause erroneous operation. Patent Literature 2
20 discloses a method of controlling operation of a device by installing a temperature sensor
in the device and monitoring air temperature inside the device by use of the temperature
sensor.
Citation List
Patent Literature
25 [0004] Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication
No. 2014-182642
Patent Literature 2: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
3
2003-347993
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] When the method of Patent Literature 2 is applied to the management device
disclosed in Patent Literature 1, there arises a problem that the temperature 5 sensor is
required to be installed in the device, and accordingly, installation of an interface for
connection of the temperature sensor to the element devices is required.
[0006] In view of the above-described circumstances, an objective of the present
disclosure is to provide a data collection apparatus that can control an air temperature
10 inside the apparatus without installation of a temperature sensor in the apparatus.
Solution to Problem
[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objective, a data collection apparatus
according to the present disclosure is a data collection apparatus for collecting operation
data of an air conditioner, and includes:
15 estimation means for estimating an air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus as an estimated air temperature; and
temperature control means for decreasing the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus when the estimated air temperature is higher than a reference value.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
20 [0008] According to the present disclosure, the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus is estimated as an estimated air temperature, and when the estimated
internal air temperature is higher than a reference value, the air temperature inside the
data collection apparatus is decreased. This enables control of the air temperature inside
the data collection apparatus without installation of a temperature sensor in the data
25 collection apparatus.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a data collection system according to an
4
embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates a functional configuration of a management device according to
the embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 illustrates an example hardware configuration of the management device
according to the embodiment of the present 5 disclosure;
FIG. 4 illustrates an example flowchart of processing, performed by the
management device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, for
decreasing an air temperature inside a data collection apparatus;
FIG. 5 illustrates an example flowchart of processing for acquiring an air
10 temperature outside the data collection apparatus according to the embodiment of the
present disclosure; and
FIG. 6 illustrates an example flowchart of processing for estimating a total
penetration heat quantity induced by solar radiation.
Description of Embodiments
15 [0010] Hereinafter, a data collection system according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the
same reference signs are given to the same or equivalent parts.
[0011] Embodiment
A data collection system 1 according to an embodiment is described with reference
20 to FIG. 1. The data collection system 1 includes a data collection apparatus 10, an air
conditioner 20, and a server 30 that is connected to the data collection apparatus 10 via a
network NW.
[0012] In the data collection system 1, the data collection apparatus 10 collects
operation data of the air conditioner 20 and transmits the collected operation data to the
25 server 30. This enables, for example, management of the air conditioner 20 and analysis
of usage of the air conditioner 20.
[0013] The data collection apparatus 10 collects and stores the operation data of the
5
air conditioner 20. The data collection apparatus 10 transmits the stored operation data
to the server 30. The operation data is data relating to the air conditioner, such as room
temperature data indicating a room temperature of a room in which an indoor unit is
installed, temperature data indicating an outside temperature around an installation
position of an outdoor unit, data indicating an operation mode, and 5 data indicating
operating time period. The room temperature data and the outdoor temperature data are
used to perform temperature estimation described later.
[0014] The data collection apparatus 10 includes a management device 100, a
communication device 110, a breaker device 120, and a ventilation device 130. The
10 management device 100 is connected to the communication device 110, the breaker
device 120, and the air conditioner 20. The communication device 110 is connected to
the management device 100 and the breaker device 120, and is connected to the server 30
via the network NW. The ventilation device 130 is connected to the breaker device 120.
Each device included in the data collection apparatus 10 is described later in detail.
15 [0015] The data collection apparatus 10 is configured by housing in a box the
management device 100, the communication device 110, the breaker device 120, and the
ventilation device 130. The box is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped box of 50
cm width, 60 cm depth, and 20 cm height. A solar absorption coefficient "a" of the box
is determined from the material of the box. A surface heat transfer coefficient α of the
20 box and an overall heat transfer coefficient U of the box are determined from the
characteristics of the box and the wind velocity around the box. The sum of maximum
power consumption values of the devices housed in the box is defined as a
devices-heat-generation amount P. Catalog values of the maximum power consumption
described in a catalog of the devices, for example, are employed as the maximum power
25 consumption values of the devices. These parameters are used in performing the
temperature estimation described later.
[0016] The data collection apparatus 10 may be installed indoors or may be
6
installed outdoors. For example, the data collection apparatus 10 may be installed in a
room in which the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 20 is installed or may be installed in
the vicinity of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 20. Further, in the case where the
data collection apparatus 10 is installed outdoors, the sides of the box preferably face
respectively the east, west, south, and north for estimation of a solar-5 radiation-induced
penetration heat quantity described later. In the descriptions below, the sides of the box
face the east, west, south, and north.
[0017] The server 30 receives the operation data of the air conditioner 20 from the
data collection apparatus 10. The server 30 transmits to the data collection apparatus 10
10 meteorological data that is data relating to weather forecasting. The server 30 receives
the meteorological data from, for example, a weather information providing server
installed by a meteorological agency or private company. The meteorological data may
be manually input into the server 30. The meteorological data includes weather data,
wind velocity data, and solar radiation data.
15 [0018] The weather data is data indicating weather in a region in which the data
collection apparatus 10 is installed, such as clear, clouds, rain, and snow. The weather
data is used for determination on whether the data collection apparatus 10 is affected by
rain or snow, as described later. The wind velocity data is data indicating wind velocity
in the region in which the data collection apparatus 10 is installed. The wind velocity
20 data is used to derive the surface heat transfer coefficient α of the box and the overall heat
transfer coefficient U of the box.
[0019] The solar radiation data is data indicating an amount of solar radiation
received by the horizontal plane and the vertical planes each facing the corresponding
direction of the east, west, south, and north in the region where the data collection
25 apparatus 10 is installed. This amount of solar radiation is an amount of global solar
radiation.
[0020] Next, each device included in the data collection apparatus 10 is described.
7
[0021] The management device 100 collects the operation data from the air
conditioner 20. The management device 100 transmits the collected operation data to
the server 30 via the communication device 110. The management device 100 receives
the meteorological data from the server 30 via the communication device 110.
[0022] The management device 100 estimates, based on the operation 5 data and the
meteorological data, an air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 as an
estimated air temperature. The management device 100 transmits a command to the
breaker device 120 in accordance with the estimated air temperature, thereby controlling
running and stopping of the communication device 110 and controlling running and
10 stopping of the ventilation device 130. The command includes a command to run the
communication device 110, a command to stop the communication device 110, a
command to run the ventilation device 130, and a command to stop the ventilation device
130.
[0023] The management device 100 can decrease the air temperature inside the data
15 collection apparatus 10 by stopping the communication device 110. The management
device 100 can decrease the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 by
running the ventilation device 130. The configuration and operation of the management
device 100 are described later in detail.
[0024] The communication device 110 receives the operation data from the
20 management device 100 and transmits the operation data to the server 30. The
communication device 110 receives the meteorological data from the server 30 and
transmits the meteorological data to the management device 100. Running and stopping
of the communication device 110 are controlled by the management device 100 via the
breaker device 120. The communication device 110 and the server 30 communicate
25 with each other, for example, every few hours. The communication device 110 is an
example of the communication means according to the present disclosure.
[0025] The communication device 110 is a device that is configured by, for
8
example, a combination of a virtual private network (VPN) router and a long term
evolution (LTE) router. In this case, a communication channel is established by a VPN
between the communication device 110 and the server 30 via an LTE communication
network, and the established VPN serves as the network NW.
[0026] When the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 5 10 becomes
high, the communication device 110 operates erroneously due to heat. The
communication device 110 operates erroneously at an air temperature higher than, for
example, 50°C. Hereinafter, an upper limit of the air temperature at which no erroneous
operation occurs is referred to as an operable temperature. The operable temperatures of
10 the management device 100, the breaker device 120, and the ventilation device 130 are
higher than the operable temperature of the communication device 110. Further, the
management device 100, the breaker device 120, and the ventilation device 130 do not
operate erroneously at an air temperature when the communication device 110 stops and
does not generate heat.
15 [0027] The breaker device 120, in accordance with the command received from the
management device 100, controls the running and stopping of the communication device
110 and controls the running and stopping of the ventilation device 130. The breaker
device 120 is, for example, a device that interconnects a power wire of the
communication device 110 and a power wire of the ventilation device 130 and is
20 configured to perform ON/OFF control of these power wires in accordance with the
received command. In this case, the breaker device 120 switches the power wires to an
ON state to run the devices to be controlled and switches the power wires to and an OFF
state to stop the devices to be controlled.
[0028] The ventilation device 130 decreases the air temperature in the data
25 collection apparatus 10 by performing ventilation of the data collection apparatus 10.
The ventilation device 130 is, for example, a cooling fan arranged on an inside surface of
the box. The ventilation device 130 may be a combination of a suction fan arranged on
9
one inside surface and an exhaust fan arranged on another inside surface facing the one
inside surface. Further, the ventilation device 130 may be an openable and closable
shutter arranged on an inside surface. In this case, opening of the shutter corresponds to
the running of the ventilation device 130, and closing of the shutter corresponds to the
stopping of the ventilation device 130. In the below descriptions, the 5 ventilation device
130 is a cooling fan. The ventilation device 130 is an example of the ventilation means
according to the present disclosure.
[0029] Next, functional configuration of the management device 100 is described
with reference to FIG. 2. The management device 100 includes a first communicator
10 101, an operation data storage 102, a second communicator 103, a meteorological data
acquirer 104, an indoor/outdoor determiner 105, an estimator 106, a temperature
controller 107, and a third communicator 108.
[0030] The first communicator 101 receives the operation data from the air
conditioner 20 and transmits the received operation data to the operation data storage 102.
15 [0031] The operation data storage 102 stores the operation data received from the
first communicator 101. The operation data storage 102 transmits the stored operation
data to the second communicator 103. The operation data storage 102 transmits the
stored operation data to the estimator 106.
[0032] The second communicator 103 receives the operation data from the
20 operation data storage 102 and transmits the received operation data to the
communication device 110. The second communicator 103 receives the meteorological
data from the communication device 110 and transmits the received meteorological data
to the meteorological data acquirer 104.
[0033] The meteorological data acquirer 104 acquires the meteorological data by
25 receiving the meteorological data from the second communicator 103. The
meteorological data acquirer 104 transmits the acquired meteorological data to the
estimator 106 and the temperature controller 107. The meteorological data acquirer 104
10
is an example of the meteorological data acquisition means and the solar radiation data
acquisition means according to the present disclosure.
[0034] The indoor/outdoor determiner 105 determines whether the data collection
apparatus 10 is installed indoors or is installed outdoors. The indoor/outdoor determiner
105 transmits, to the estimator 106 and the temperature controller 107, 5 indoor/outdoor
data indicating whether the data collection apparatus 10 is installed indoors or is installed
outdoors.
[0035] The indoor/outdoor determiner 105 is connected to, for example, a dip
switch arranged on the outer wall of the management device 100. The indoor/outdoor
10 determiner 105, according to ON/OFF state of the dip switch, determines whether the
data collection apparatus 10 is installed indoors or is installed outdoors. When installing
the data collection apparatus 10, an installer of the data collection apparatus 10 sets the
dip switch to the ON-state or OFF-state according to the installation position of the data
collection apparatus 10.
15 [0036] Furthermore, the indoor/outdoor determiner 105 may make the
determination using indoor/outdoor data that is stored in a memory card inserted into the
management device 100. In this case, when installing the data collection apparatus 10,
the installer of the data collection apparatus 10 inserts into the management device 100 a
memory card storing the indoor/outdoor data corresponding to the installation position.
20 [0037] Furthermore, the indoor/outdoor determiner 105 may make the
determination using the indoor/outdoor data received from the server 30 via the
communication device 110 and the second communicator 103. In this case, the installer
of the data collection apparatus 10, when installing the data collection apparatus 10,
inputs into the server 30 the indoor/outdoor data corresponding to the installation
25 position.
[0038] The estimator 106 receives the operation data from the operation data
storage 102. The estimator 106 receives the meteorological data from the
11
meteorological data acquirer 104. The estimator 106 receives the indoor/outdoor data
from the indoor/outdoor determiner 105. The estimator 106 holds
surface-heat-transfer-coefficient data indicating a relationship between the wind velocity
around the box and the surface heat transfer coefficient α and
overall-heat-transfer-coefficient data indicating a relationship between 5 the wind velocity
around the box and the overall heat transfer coefficient U. The estimator 106 estimates
the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 as an estimated air temperature,
based on the indoor/outdoor data, the operation data, the meteorological data, the
surface-heat-transfer-coefficient data and the overall-heat-transfer-coefficient data.
10 Details of estimation of the air temperature are described later together with descriptions
relating to the operation. The estimator 106 transmits, to the temperature controller 107,
air temperature data indicating the estimated air temperature. The estimator 106 is an
example of the estimation means according to the present disclosure.
[0039] The temperature controller 107 receives the meteorological data from the
15 meteorological data acquirer 104. The temperature controller 107 receives the
indoor/outdoor data from the indoor/outdoor determiner 105. The temperature
controller 107 receives the air temperature data from the estimator 106. The
temperature controller 107 generates the command for the breaker device 120, based on
the indoor/outdoor data, the meteorological data and the air temperature data.
20 Generation of the command is described later together with descriptions relating to the
operation. The temperature controller 107 transmits the generated command to the third
communicator 108. The temperature controller 107 transmits the command to the
breaker device 120 via the third communicator 108, thereby enabling stopping of the
operation of the communication device 110 or running of the ventilation device 130. As
25 a result, the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 can be decreased.
The temperature controller 107 is an example of the temperature control means according
to the present disclosure.
12
[0040] The third communicator 108 receives the command from the temperature
controller 107 and transmits the received command to the breaker device 120.
[0041] Next, an example hardware configuration of the management device 100 is
described with reference to FIG. 3. The management device 100 illustrated in FIG. 3 is
achieved by a computer, such as a micro controller and a 5 personal computer.
[0042] The management device 100 includes a processor 1001, a memory 1002, an
interface 1003, and a secondary storage 1004 that are connected to one another via a bus
1000.
[0043] The processor 1001 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The
10 processor 1001 loads, into the memory 1002, a dedicated program stored in the secondary
storage 1004 and executes the program to achieve each function of the management
device 100.
[0044] The memory 1002 is a main storage that includes, for example, random
access memory (RAM). The memory 1002 stores the dedicated program loaded by the
15 processor 1001 from the secondary storage 1004. Further, the memory 1002 functions
as a working memory to be used in executing by the processor 1001 the dedicated
program.
[0045] The interface 1003 is an input/output (I/O) port, such as a serial port, a
universal serial bus (USB) port, and a network port.
20 [0046] The secondary storage 1004 is, for example, a flash memory, a hard disk
drive (HDD), and a solid state drive (SSD). The secondary storage 1004 stores the
dedicated program to be executed by the processor 1001. The secondary storage 1004
functions as a storage to be used in storing the operation data by the operation data
storage 102.
25 [0047] In the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, the management device
100 includes the secondary storage 1004. However, this configuration is not limiting.
A configuration in which (i) the secondary storage 1004 is provided at the exterior of the
13
management device 100 and (ii) the management device 100 and the secondary storage
1004 are connected via the interface 1003, may be employed. In employing this
configuration, a removable media, such as a USB flash drive and a memory card, may be
used as the secondary storage 1004.
[0048] The management device 100 can be achieved, instead 5 of by the hardware
components illustrated in FIG. 3, by a dedicated circuit including, for example, an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Further, in employing the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, a part of the
functions of the management device 100 may be achieved by, for example, a dedicated
10 circuit connected to the interface 1003.
[0049] Next, operation by the management device 100 that decreases the air
temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 is described with reference to FIG. 4.
First, the management device 100 acquires, using the estimator 106, an air temperature T
outside the data collection apparatus 10 (step S1).
15 [0050] Acquisition of the air temperature T outside the data collection apparatus 10
is described with reference to FIG. 5. The estimator 106 receives the indoor/outdoor
data from the indoor/outdoor determiner 105 and determines whether the data collection
apparatus 10 is installed indoors or installed outdoors (step S101). When a
determination is made that the data collection apparatus 10 is installed indoors ("indoors"
20 in step S101), the estimator 106 receives current operation data from the operation data
storage 102 and acquires a value of the room temperature included in the operation data
as the air temperature T outside the data collection apparatus 10 (step S102). When a
determination is made that the data collection apparatus 10 is installed outdoors
("outdoors" in step S101), the estimator 106 receives current operation data from the
25 operation data storage 102 and acquires, as the air temperature T outside the data
collection apparatus 10, a value of the outdoor temperature included in the operation data
(step S103).
14
[0051] Next, again with reference to FIG. 4, the management device 100 estimates,
using the estimator 106, a total penetration heat quantity ΣPi that is a quantity of heat
induced by solar radiation and penetrating into the data collection apparatus 10 (step S2).
[0052] Estimation of the total penetration heat quantity ΣPi induced by solar
radiation is described with reference to FIG. 6. The estimator 5 106 receives the
indoor/outdoor data from the indoor/outdoor determiner 105 and determines whether the
data collection apparatus 10 is installed indoors or installed outdoors (step S201). When
a determination is made that the data collection apparatus 10 is installed indoors
("indoors" in step S201), the estimator 106 estimates that the total penetration heat
10 quantity ΣPi is zero (step S202).
[0053] When a determination is made that the data collection apparatus 10 is
installed outdoors ("outdoors" in step S201), the estimator 106 receives the
meteorological data from the meteorological data acquirer 104 and acquires, based on the
solar radiation data included in the meteorological data, an amount of solar radiation on
15 each side of the box included in the data collection apparatus 10 (step S203). As the
bottom side of the box does not receive solar radiation, acquisition of the solar radiation
amount is performed for the five sides other than the bottom side.
[0054] As described above, the solar radiation data includes data that indicates, for
the horizontal plane and each of the vertical planes facing respectively the direction of the
20 east, west, south, and north, an amount of direct solar radiation and amount of global
solar radiation. Further, as described above, the various sides of the box face the east,
west, south, and north. Accordingly, an amount of solar radiation on the top side and
each side of the box can be acquired. Hereinafter, the various sides of the box are
termed the east side, west side, south side, or north side in accordance with the direction
25 faced by the side.
[0055] Hereinafter, the amount of solar radiation on the top side is expressed by It,
the amount of solar radiation on the south side is expressed by Is, the amount of solar
15
radiation on the north side is expressed by In, the amount of solar radiation on the east
side is expressed by Ie, and the amount of solar radiation on the west side is expressed by
Iw.
[0056] Then the estimator 106 calculates an increase in a sol-air temperature of
each side (step S204). The increase in the sol-air temperature 5 of the top side is
expressed by ΔTmt, the increase in the sol-air temperature of the south side is expressed
by ΔTms, the increase in the sol-air temperature of the north side is expressed by ΔTmn,
the increase in the sol-air temperature of the east side is expressed by ΔTme, and the
increase in the sol-air temperature of the west side is expressed by ΔTmw. As described
10 above, the solar absorption coefficient "a" of the box is a known value. Further, the estimator
106 refers to the surface-heat-transfer-coefficient data and calculates the surface heat transfer
coefficient α of the box based on the wind velocity data included in the received meteorological
data. The surface heat transfer coefficient α has become a known value, and thus the increase
in the sol-air temperature of each side can be calculated using the formulas below.
15 ΔTmt = It × a/α
ΔTms = Is × a/α
ΔTmn = In × a/α
ΔTme = Ie × a/α
ΔTmw = Iw × a/α
20 [0057] Then the estimator 106 calculates, for each side, the solar-radiation-induced
penetration heat quantity (step S205). The solar-radiation-induced penetration heat
quantity of the top side is expressed by Pit, the solar-radiation-induced penetration heat
quantity of the south side is expressed by Pis, the solar-radiation-induced penetration heat
quantity of the north side is expressed by Pin, the solar-radiation-induced penetration heat
25 quantity of the east side is expressed by Pie, and the solar-radiation-induced penetration
heat quantity of the west side is expressed by Piw. The surface areas of the sides
(expressed by St, Ss, Sn, Se, and Sw, respectively) are each a known value. The estimator
16
106 refers to the heat-transfer-coefficient data and calculates the overall heat transfer coefficient
U of the box based on the wind velocity data included in the received meteorological data.
The overall heat transfer coefficient U has become a known value, and thus the
solar-radiation-induced penetration heat quantity of each side can be calculated using the
5 formulas below.
Pit = U × St × ΔTmt
Pis = U × Ss × ΔTms
Pin = U × Sn × ΔTmn
Pie = U × Se × ΔTme
10 Piw = U × Sw × ΔTmw
[0058] Then the estimator 106 estimates, as the sum of solar-radiation-induced
penetration heat quantities of the sides, the total penetration heat quantity ΣPi induced by
solar radiation (step S206). That is to say, this quantity is expressed as follows:
ΣPi = Pit + Pis + Pin + Pie + Piw
15 [0059] Again with reference to FIG. 4, the management device 100 estimates, using
the estimator 106, an air temperature T1 that is an estimated temperature inside the data
collection apparatus 10 (step S3). First, the estimator 106 calculates an air temperature
increase value ΔT inside the data collection apparatus 10 using the formula below.
ΔT = (P + ΣPi)/(U ×ΣS)
20 In this formula, ΣS is the sum of the surface areas of the sides other than the bottom
side, P corresponds to the devices-heat-generation amount P that indicates the sum of
maximum power consumption values of the devices housed in the box as described
above, and U corresponds to the overall heat transfer coefficient U described above. Then
estimation of the air temperature T1 inside the data collection apparatus 10 is performed by
25 adding the air temperature increase value ΔT to the air temperature T outside the apparatus
that is acquired in step S1. This is expressed by the following formula: T1 = T +ΔT. The air
temperature T1 estimated in this step is an air temperature inside the data collection apparatus
17
10 that is estimated in the case in which each device included in the data collection apparatus
10 operates at maximum power consumption and the ventilation performed by the ventilation
device 130 is not taken into consideration.
[0060] The management device 100 determines, using the temperature controller
107, whether the communication device 110 is operable at the air temperature 5 T1 inside
the data collection apparatus 10 that is estimated in step S3 (step S4). To make this
determination, the temperature controller 107 acquires from the estimator 106 the air
temperature data indicating the air temperature T1 and determines whether the air
temperature T1 is lower than or equal to the operable temperature of the communication
10 device 110. The operable temperature of the communication device 110 is an example
of the reference value according to the present disclosure.
[0061] When a determination is made that the communication device 110 is
operable (YES in step S4), decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus 10 is not required. In such a case, the management device 100, using the
15 temperature controller 107, performs control to run the communication device 110 and to
stop the ventilation device 130 (step S5). To perform this control, the temperature
controller 107 transmits, to the breaker device 120, a command to run the communication
device 110 and a command to stop the ventilation device 130. Then the management
device 100 repeats the operations of step S1 and beyond.
20 [0062] In the case where the temperature controller 107 attempts to control an
already-running device to run or in the case where the temperature controller 107
attempts to control an already-stopped device to stop, the breaker device 120 does not
control such devices at all. However, for simplification, the operations performed in
these cases are also expressed as "running" and "stopping".
25 [0063] When a determination is made that the communication device 110 is not
operable (NO in step S4), decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus 10 is required. First, the management device 100 determines, using the
18
temperature controller 107, whether the data collection apparatus 10 is affected by rain or
snow (step S6). Firstly, the temperature controller 107 receives the indoor/outdoor data
from the indoor/outdoor determiner 105 and determines whether the data collection
apparatus 10 is installed indoors or installed outdoors. Then the temperature controller
107 receives the meteorological data from the meteorological data 5 acquirer 104 and
determines whether the weather data included in the meteorological data indicates rain or
snow. When determining that, as a result of these determinations, the data collection
apparatus 10 is installed outdoors and that the weather is rain or snow, the temperature
controller 107 determines that the data collection apparatus 10 is affected by rain or snow.
10 [0064] When a determination is made that the data collection apparatus 10 is
affected by rain or snow (YES in step S6), running of the ventilation device 130 in this
case may cause intrusion of water into the data collection apparatus 10, and thus the
management device 100 is required to decrease the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus 10 by stopping the communication device 110. In this case, the
15 management device 100, using the temperature controller 107, performs control to stop
the communication device 110 and the ventilation device 130 (step S7). To perform this
control, the temperature controller 107 transmits, to the breaker device 120, a command
to stop the communication device 110 and a command to stop the ventilation device 130.
Then the management device 100 repeats the operations of step S1 and beyond.
20 [0065] When a determination is made that the data collection apparatus 10 is not
affected by rain or snow (NO in step S6), the management device 100 can decrease the
air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 by running the ventilation device
130. In this case, the management device 100, using the estimator 106, estimates an air
temperature T2 that is an air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 after
25 performing running of the ventilation device 130 (step S8). Hereinafter, this air
temperature T2 is referred to as a ventilation-in-progress air temperature T2. The
estimator 106 estimates the ventilation-in-progress air temperature T2 using the formula
19
below.
T2 = T1 - P/(K × QF + U × ΣS)
In this formula, QF is air volume from the ventilation device 130 that is a cooling
fan, and K is a coefficient that is determined according to the ventilation device 130 that
is a cooling fan. An example 5 value of K is 20.
[0066] Then the management device 100 determines, using the temperature
controller 107, whether the communication device 110 is operable at the
ventilation-in-progress air temperature T2 estimated in step S8 (step S9). To make this
determination, the temperature controller 107 acquires from the estimator 106 air
10 temperature data indicating the ventilation-in-progress air temperature T2 and determines
whether the ventilation-in-progress air temperature T2 is lower than or equal to the
operable temperature of the communication device 110.
[0067] When a determination is made that the communication device 110 is
operable (YES in step S9), decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection
15 apparatus 10 by running the ventilation device 130 allows the communication device 110
to operate. In this case, the management device 100, using the temperature controller
107, performs control to run the communication device 110 and the ventilation device
130 (step S10). To perform this control, the temperature controller 107 transmits, to the
breaker device 120, a command to run the communication device 110 and a command to
20 run the ventilation device 130. Then the management device 100 repeats the operations
of step S1 and beyond.
[0068] When a determination is made that the communication device 110 is not
operable (NO in step S9), the communication device 110 is not made operable by
decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 by running the
25 ventilation device 130. Thus, stopping the communication device 110 is required
whereas running the ventilation device 130 is not required. In this case, the
management device 100, using the temperature controller 107, performs control to stop
20
the communication device 110 and the ventilation device 130 (step S7). Then the
management device 100 repeats the operations of step S1 and beyond.
[0069] The operation by the management device 100 of decreasing the air
temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 is described above. In summary, the
management device 100 estimates the air temperature inside the data collection 5 apparatus
10, and when the estimated air temperature is higher than a reference value that is the
operable temperature of the communication device 110, the management device 100
performs control to decrease the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10.
[0070] The data collection system 1 according to an embodiment is described
10 above. According to the data collection system 1, the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus 10 is estimated, and when the estimated air temperature is higher
than a reference value, the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus 10 is
decreased. This enables control of the air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus 10 without installation of a temperature sensor in the data collection apparatus
15 10.
[0071] Modified Example
The embodiment described above is an embodiment in which the sides of the box
preferably face the east, west, south, and north for estimation of the
solar-radiation-induced penetration heat quantities. However, even when the box is
20 oriented freely, estimation of the solar-radiation-induced penetration heat quantities can
be achieved when employing a configuration as in the described below example. The
data collection apparatus 10 includes a geomagnetic sensor. The management device
100 determines the orientation of the box based on a detection result obtained by the
geomagnetic sensor. The server 30 is configured to acquire the solar radiation data
25 using a service that allows acquisition of an amount of solar radiation corresponding to a
freely selected direction. The management device 100 receives, from the server,
meteorological data including solar radiation data corresponding to the orientation of the
21
box.
[0072] The server 30 may transmit meteorological data that does not include solar
radiation data. In employing this configuration, the management device 100 performs
temperature estimation using a known amount of solar radiation assumed in the case of
strong solar radiation. The "amount of solar radiation assumed in 5 the case of strong
solar radiation" is, for example, an amount of solar radiation at 14 o'clock on a clear day
in July. Further, the management device 100 may determine whether to use an amount
of solar radiation according to the current time.
[0073] The server 30 may transmit meteorological data that does not include wind
10 velocity data. In employing this configuration, the estimator 106 may, instead of
referring to the surface-heat-transfer-coefficient data and the heat-transfer-coefficient data,
perform temperature estimation based on the premise that the surface heat transfer
coefficient α is 10 and the overall heat transfer coefficient U is 5.0.
[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the amount of global solar radiation is
15 used as an amount of solar radiation. However, a configuration may be employed in
which an amount of diffuse solar radiation is used when the data collection apparatus 10
is installed in the shade, and an amount of global solar radiation is used as an amount of
solar radiation when the data collection apparatus 10 is installed in a sunny place. Such
a configuration can be employed when employing a configuration in which the
20 management device 100 includes a functional element to determine whether the data
collection apparatus 10 is installed in the shade or installed in a sunny place, and the
server 30 acquires solar radiation data including the amount of diffuse solar radiation.
[0075] Although the weather data is used to determine whether the data collection
apparatus 10 is affected by rain or snow in the above-described embodiment,
25 precipitation probability included in the meteorological data may be used instead of the
weather data, to determine whether the data collection apparatus 10 is affected by rain or
snow. For example, the data collection apparatus 10 determines that the data collection
22
apparatus 10 is affected by rain or snow when the data collection apparatus 10 is installed
outdoors and the precipitation probability is higher than or equal to 30%.
[0076] The program used in the management device 100 can be distributed by
storing the program in a computer-readable recording medium, such as a compact disc
read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a 5 USB flash drive, a
memory card, and HDD. Further, installing such a program in a special-purpose
computer or a general-purpose computer can cause the computer to function as the
management device 100.
[0077] Furthermore, the above-described program may be stored in a storage
10 included in another server on the Internet and may be downloaded from the server.
[0078] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatory
purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specific embodiments,
persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
15 specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive
sense. This detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the
scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims, along with the full range of
equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Industrial Applicability
20 [0079] The present disclosure is suitable for a data collection apparatus that collects
operation data of an air conditioner.
Reference Signs List
[0080] 1 Data collection system
10 Data collection apparatus
25 20 Air conditioner
30 Server
100 Management device
23
101 First communicator
102 Operation data storage
103 Second communicator
104 Meteorological data acquirer
105 Indoor/5 outdoor determiner
106 Estimator
107 Temperature controller
108 Third communicator
110 Communication device
10 120 Breaker device
130 Ventilation device
1000 Bus
1001 Processor
1002 Memory
15 1003 Interface
1004 Secondary storage
NW Network
24
We Claim :
1. A data collection apparatus for collecting operation data of an air
conditioner, comprising:
estimation means for estimating an air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus as an estimated air 5 temperature; and
temperature control means for decreasing the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus when the estimated air temperature is higher than a reference value.
2. The data collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
10 communication means for communicating with a server, wherein
the temperature control means decreases the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus by stopping operation of the communication means.
3. The data collection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
15 ventilation means for performing ventilation of the data collection apparatus,
wherein
the temperature control means decreases the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus by controlling the ventilation means to ventilate.
20 4. The data collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
communication means for communicating with a server; and
ventilation means for performing ventilation of the data collection apparatus,
wherein
the estimation means further estimates a ventilation-in-progress air temperature
25 that is an air temperature inside the data collection apparatus when the ventilation means
performs ventilation, and
the temperature control means (i) decreases the air temperature inside the data
25
collection apparatus by stopping operation of the communication means, when the
ventilation-in-progress air temperature is higher than the reference value, and (ii)
decreases the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus by controlling the
ventilation means to ventilate, when the ventilation-in-progress air temperature is lower
than or equal to the 5 reference value.
5. The data collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
the estimation means estimates the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus
based on the operation data.
10
6. The data collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further
comprising:
meteorological data acquisition means for acquiring meteorological data, wherein
the estimation means estimates the air temperature inside the data collection
15 apparatus based on the meteorological data.
7. The data collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further
comprising:
solar radiation data acquisition means for acquiring solar radiation data, wherein
20 the estimation means estimates the air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus by estimating, based on the solar radiation data, a quantity of heat induced by
solar radiation and penetrating into the data collection apparatus.
8. A data collection system comprising:
25 an air conditioner; and
a data collection apparatus configured to collect operation data of the air
conditioner, wherein
26
the data collection apparatus includes (i) estimation means for estimating an air
temperature inside the data collection apparatus as an estimated air temperature and (ii)
temperature control means for decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus when the estimated air temperature is higher than a reference value.
5
9. The data collection system according to claim 8, further comprising:
a server, wherein
the data collection apparatus further includes communication means for
communicating with the server, and
10 the temperature control means decreases the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus by stopping operation of the communication means.
10. The data collection system according to claim 9, wherein
the data collection apparatus further includes meteorological data acquisition
15 means for acquiring meteorological data from the server, and
the estimation means estimates the air temperature inside the data collection
apparatus based on the meteorological data.
11. A control method for controlling an air temperature inside a data collection
20 apparatus for collecting operation data of an air conditioner, the control method
comprising:
estimating the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus as an estimated
air temperature, and
decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus when the
25 estimated air temperature is higher than a reference value.
12. A program causing a computer to function as:
27
estimation means for estimating an air temperature inside a data collection
apparatus as an estimated air temperature; and
temperature control means for decreasing the air temperature inside the data
collection apparatus when the estimated air temperature is higher than a reference value.