{DESCRIPTION}
{Title of Invention}
ENERGY SAVING SUPPORT APPARATUS, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM,
AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK SYSTEM
{Technical Field}
{0001}
The present invention relates to an energy saving support
apparatus, an air conditioning system, and an air conditioning
network system.
{Background Art}
{0002}
PTL 1 discloses an apparatus for controlling electrical
equipment according to an operation pattern corresponding to
an operation mode selected by a user while confirming that the
electrical equipment is reliably controlled. More
specifically, PTL 1 discloses that operation patterns defining
during which period and on which operating condition energy
consumption equipment is to be operated are stored in a
storage section by operation modes, and an operation state of
the energy consumption equipment is controlled according to
the operation pattern corresponding to the operation mode
selected by the user.
{Citation List}
{Patent Literature}
{0003}
3
{PTL 1}
PCT International Publication No. WO2014/049748
{Summary of Invention}
{Technical Problem}
{0004}
In the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned PTL 1,
it has been difficult to determine whether the operation
pattern stored in the storage section is set to the most
appropriate pattern from the viewpoint of energy saving. Even
if an operation pattern capable of more effectively saving
energy than the current operation pattern exists, the pattern
has inconveniently been unable to be actively adopted.
{0005}
The present invention has been made in view of such
circumstances, and is directed to providing an energy saving
support apparatus, an air conditioning system, and an air
conditioning network system capable of providing information
contributing to energy saving.
{Solution to Problem}
{0006}
According to a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an energy saving support apparatus connected
to a plurality of air conditioning systems via a network, the
energy saving support apparatus including a receiving means
that receives data on an installation environment of each of
4
the air conditioning systems, input data and an intermediate
value in control calculation, and power consumption, a group
creation means that groups the air conditioning systems, which
are approximate to one another in installation environment,
using the data on the installation environment received by the
receiving means, a selection means that selects the air
conditioning system having the lowest power consumption or
having the highest coefficient of performance among the air
conditioning systems belonging to the same group, and a
transmission means that transmits an intermediate value of the
air conditioning system selected by the selection means to the
other air conditioning systems belonging to the same group.
{0007}
According to the aforementioned aspect, the receiving
means receives various types of data on each of the air
conditioning systems, the group creation means groups the air
conditioning systems, which are approximate to one another in
installation environment, based on the data, and the selection
means selects the air conditioning system having the lowest
power consumption or having the highest coefficient of
performance in each of the groups. The transmission means
transmits an intermediate value (e.g., a low pressure-side
target pressure value) of the air conditioning system selected
by the selection means as a bench mark to the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group. As a result, each of the
5
air conditioning systems can be given information on the air
conditioning system, which is approximate in installation
environment to the air conditioning system and has achieved
more energy saving than the air conditioning system, i.e.,
information useful to contribute to energy saving.
{0008}
The aforementioned energy saving support apparatus may
further include a data storage means that stores data, in
which the selection means may select the air conditioning
system having the highest power consumption or having the
lowest coefficient of performance among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group, and store all or some
pieces of received data on the selected air conditioning
system in the data storage means.
{0009}
According to this energy saving support apparatus, the
selection means selects the air conditioning system having the
highest power consumption or having the lowest coefficient of
performance in each of the groups, and all or some pieces of
the received data on the selected air conditioning system are
stored in the data storage means. As a result, the data
stored in the data storage means can be expected to be
effectively used to detect abnormality prediction because a
tendency toward the abnormality prediction can be grasped by
being analyzed, for example.
6
{0010}
In the aforementioned energy saving support apparatus,
the data on the installation environment may include at least
one of an external air temperature, an amount of solar
radiation, and a direction of a building.
{0011}
According to the aforementioned energy saving support
apparatus, the air conditioning systems, which are approximate
to one another in installation environment, can be grouped
using at least one of the external air temperature, the amount
of solar radiation, and the direction of the building.
{0012}
According to a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an energy saving support apparatus connected
to a plurality of air conditioning systems via a network, the
energy saving support apparatus including a receiving means
that receives data on a configuration of each of the air
conditioning systems, an intermediate value in control
calculation, and power consumption, a group creation means
that groups the air conditioning systems, which are
approximate to one another in configuration, using the data on
the configuration received by the receiving means, a selection
means that selects the air conditioning system having the
lowest power consumption or having the highest coefficient of
performance among the air conditioning systems belonging to
7
the same group, and a transmission means that transmits an
intermediate control value of the air conditioning system
selected by the selection means to the other air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group.
{0013}
According to the aforementioned aspect, the receiving
means receives various types of data on each of the air
conditioning systems, the group creation means groups the air
conditioning systems, which are approximate to one another in
equipment configuration, based on the data, and the selection
means selects the air conditioning system having the lowest
power consumption or having the highest coefficient of
performance in each of groups. The transmission means
transmits the intermediate value of the air conditioning
system selected by the selection means as a bench mark to the
air conditioning systems belonging to the same group. As a
result, each of the air conditioning systems can be given
information on the air conditioning system, which is
approximate in equipment configuration to the air conditioning
system and has achieved more energy saving than the air
conditioning system, i.e., information useful to contribute to
energy saving.
{0014}
The aforementioned energy saving support apparatus
further includes a data storage means that stores data, in
8
which the selection means may select the air conditioning
system having the highest power consumption or having the
lowest coefficient of performance among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group, and store all or some
pieces of the received data on the selected air conditioning
system in the data storage means.
{0015}
According to this energy saving support apparatus, the
selection means selects the air conditioning system having the
highest power consumption or having the lowest coefficient of
performance in each of the groups, and all or some pieces of
the received data on the selected air conditioning system are
stored in the data storage means. As a result, the data
stored in the data storage means can be expected to be
effectively used to detect abnormality prediction because a
tendency toward the abnormality prediction can be grasped by
being analyzed, for example.
{0016}
In the aforementioned energy saving support apparatus,
the data on the configuration may include at least one of the
capacity of an outdoor unit, the number of indoor units, and a
capacity configuration of the indoor units.
{0017}
According to the aforementioned energy saving support
apparatus, the air conditioning systems, which are approximate
9
to one another in equipment configuration, can be grouped
using at least one of the capacity of the outdoor unit, the
number of the indoor units, and the capacity configuration of
the indoor units.
{0018}
According to a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an air conditioning system connected to an
energy saving support apparatus via a network, the air
conditioning system including an outdoor unit including a
communication means, an indoor unit including a communication
means, and a control device which can communicate with the
outdoor unit and the indoor unit via a communication medium,
in which the control device includes an outdoor unit control
means that controls the outdoor unit, an indoor unit control
means that controls the indoor unit, a power consumption
management means that manages power consumption, and a display
means, the outdoor unit control means acquires equipment
information and a sensor value on the outdoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
equipment connected to the outdoor unit, the indoor unit
control means acquires equipment information and a sensor
value on the indoor unit via the communication medium while
outputting a control instruction to equipment connected to the
indoor unit, and the power consumption management means makes
data on an installation environment of each of the air
10
conditioning systems, data on a configuration, input data and
an intermediate value in control calculation, and power
consumption transmittable to the energy saving support
apparatus, and displays, when it acquires an intermediate
value from the energy saving support apparatus, the
intermediate value as a benchmark value on the display means.
{0019}
According to the aforementioned aspect, the indoor unit
control means and the outdoor unit control means are
consolidated into one control device. Thus, the respective
configurations of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit can be
simplified, enabling reduction in cost. Further, the indoor
unit and the outdoor unit need not install advanced program
respectively(for example, are each 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 can be easily replaced.
Furthermore, the indoor unit control means and the
outdoor unit control means are respectively provided in the
control device independently of the indoor unit and the
outdoor unit. Therefore, when the indoor unit control means
and the outdoor unit control means are placed under control of
a manufacturer of the air conditioning system, for example,
work such as a program update can be easily performed.
{0020}
11
In the aforementioned air conditioning system, the
outdoor unit control means and the indoor unit control means
may be respectively loaded as virtualized control sections
onto the control device.
{0021}
The control means can 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.
{0022}
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an air conditioning network system including
any one of the aforementioned energy saving support
apparatuses and any one of the aforementioned air conditioning
systems.
{Advantageous Effects of Invention}
{0023}
The present invention produces an effect of providing
information contributing to energy saving.
{Brief Description of Drawings}
{0024}
{Fig. 1}
Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an entire
12
configuration of an air conditioning network system according
to a first embodiment of the present invention.
{Fig. 2}
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
refrigerant system of an air conditioning system according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
{Fig. 3}
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an
electrical configuration of the air conditioning system
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
{Fig. 4}
Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of an energy saving
support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
{Fig. 5}
Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of an energy saving
support apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
{Fig. 6}
Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of an energy saving
support apparatus according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
{Fig. 7}
Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram of an energy saving
support apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the
13
present invention.
{Description of Embodiments}
{0025}
An air conditioning network system according to a first
embodiment of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an entire
configuration of the air conditioning network system according
to the present embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 1, an air
conditioning network system 100 includes a plurality of air
conditioning systems 1a, 1b, ..., 1n and an energy saving
support apparatus 10. Each of the air conditioning systems 1a
to 1n and the energy saving support apparatus 10 are connected
to each other via a network 4, and are adapted to be able to
send and receive information to and from each other.
{0026}
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
refrigerant system in the air conditioning system 1a. The
following is an example of a configuration of an air
conditioning system constituting the air conditioning network
system 100, and does not limit respective configurations of
all air conditioning systems. That is, each of the air
conditioning systems can adopt various configurations
depending on the purpose, and may be, as its one example, a
general multi-type air conditioning system or such an air
14
conditioning system that an indoor unit and an outdoor unit
exist in a one-to-one correspondence, like a household air
conditioner in addition to the following configuration.
{0027}
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the air conditioning system 1a
includes one outdoor unit B and a plurality of indoor units A1
and A2 connected to the outdoor unit B via a common
refrigerant piping.
The outdoor unit B includes a compressor 11 that
compresses and sends out a refrigerant, a four-way valve 12
that switches a circulation direction of the refrigerant, an
outdoor heat exchanger 13 that exchanges heat between the
refrigerant and external air, an outdoor fan 15, and an
accumulator 16 provided in an intake-side piping of the
compressor 11 for the purpose of gas-liquid separation of the
refrigerant, for example. The outdoor unit B is provided with
various sensors 20 (see Fig. 3) such as a pressure sensor 21
that measures refrigerant pressure and a temperature sensor 24
that measures refrigerant temperature or the like.
{0028}
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 refrigerant pipings 21A and 21B that
branch from each of a header 22 and a distributor 23 in the
15
outdoor unit B.
{0029}
Fig. 3 is an electrical configuration diagram of the air
conditioning system 1a according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the indoor units A1 and A2, the
outdoor unit B, and the control device 3 are connected to one
another via a common bus 5, and are adapted to be able to send
and receive 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.
{0030}
In the general multi-type air conditioning system,
control devices are respectively provided inside the indoor
units and the outdoor unit. On the other hand, in the present
embodiment, indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and an
outdoor unit control section 43 respectively exist
independently of the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor
unit B, and are consolidated into the control device 3. In
the control device 3, the indoor unit control sections 41 and
42 and the outdoor unit control section 43 may be respectively
provided as individual hardware pieces, or may be virtually
created on one hardware piece. If the control sections are
virtually created, a program for causing the control sections
to virtually exist may be previously prepared. The indoor
unit control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
16
section 43 are adapted to be able to send and receive
information to and from each other.
{0031}
The control device 3 further includes a power consumption
management section 44 and a display section 45.
The power consumption management section 44 is adapted to
send and receive information to and from the indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 and the outdoor unit control
section 43. The power consumption management section 44
manages the power consumption of the air conditioning system
1a not to exceed a demand value previously set, for example.
The power consumption management section 44 compares the power
consumption with the demand value, for example, and outputs an
operation control instruction to the outdoor unit control
section 43 according to a predetermined algorithm. The power
consumption management section 44 acquires equipment
information and input data and an intermediate value in
control calculation on the indoor units A1 and A2, and
equipment information and input data and an intermediate value
in control calculation on the outdoor unit B, respectively,
from the indoor unit control sections 41 and 42 and the
outdoor unit control section 43, and transmits all or some
pieces of the data, together with the power consumption, to
the energy saving support apparatus 10. When the intermediate
value or the like is received from the energy saving support
17
apparatus 10, the intermediate value or the like is displayed
on the display section 45, and thus is presented to a user.
The power consumption management section 44 may virtually
exist on one hardware piece, or may be provided as a separate
hardware piece, like the aforementioned indoor unit control
section 41 or the like. The display section 45 is a liquid
crystal display, for example.
{0032}
In the indoor unit A1, various drivers 52 respectively
provided to correspond to various equipment 51 such as the
indoor fan 32 and the electronic expansion valve 33 (see Fig.
2) are connected to the common bus 5 via a gateway (a
communication means) 53. The indoor unit A2 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 equipment 61 such as the
compressor 11, the four-way valve 12, and the outdoor fan 15
(see Fig. 2) are connected to the common bus 5 via a gateway
(a communication means) 63.
{0033}
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
18
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 and 61, and stores information such as
either an indoor unit or an outdoor unit, a capability, onboard
sensors (e.g., a temperature sensor and a pressure
sensor), equipment information (e.g., fan speed and the number
of pulses of a valve when in full open state).
{0034}
Furthermore, the sensors 20 (e.g., a pressure sensor that
measures refrigerant pressure and a temperature sensor that
measures refrigerant temperature) 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.
{0035}
In this air conditioning system, each of the indoor unit
control sections 41 and 42 in the control device 3 acquires
19
measurement data (input data in control calculation, etc.) 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 equipment (e.g., the indoor fans 32
and the electronic expansion valve 33) provided in the indoor
units A1 and 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 types of
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 instruction is
implemented.
{0036}
Similarly, the outdoor unit control section 43 in the
control device 3 acquires measurement data (input data in
control calculation, etc.) 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
equipment (e.g., the compressor 11, the four-way valve 12, the
outdoor heat exchanger 13, and the outdoor fan 15) 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
20
respectively corresponding equipment based on the received
control instruction.
{0037}
Autonomous decentralized controls may be respectively
performed for the indoor units A1 and A2 and the outdoor unit
B 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 control according to the control rule. For
example, when refrigerant pressure is taken as an example, the
indoor units A1 and A2 respectively determine, if refrigerant
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 the 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 sending and
receiving information to and from each other to cooperate with
each other. The outdoor unit control section 43 determines an
output instruction from the air conditioning system 1 for
maintaining the refrigerant pressure within a predetermined
second allowable variation range, e.g., a control instruction
21
relating to a rotation speed 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.
When the first allowable 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.
{0038}
An energy saving support apparatus 10 will be described
below. Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of the energy
saving support apparatus 10 according to the present
embodiment. The energy saving support apparatus 10 is a
computer, for example, and includes a processor, a main
storage device (e.g., a RAM (Random Access Memory)), a hard
disk, and the like. When the processor loads various types of
programs (e.g., an energy saving support program) stored in
the hard disk into a main storage device and executes the
loaded programs, functions described below are implemented.
{0039}
As illustrated in Fig. 4, the energy saving support
apparatus 10 includes a receiving section 81, a group creation
section 82, a selection section 83, and a transmission section
84.
22
The receiving section 81 receives data transmitted from
each of the air conditioning systems. Specific examples of
the received data include data on an installation environment
of each of the air conditioning systems, input data and an
intermediate value in control calculation (e.g., a low
pressure target value), and power consumption.
Examples of the data on the installation environment
include an external air temperature, an amount of solar
radiation, and a direction of a building. Examples of the
input data in control calculation include an external air
temperature, a set temperature, an indoor suction temperature,
low pressure, high pressure, and an expansion valve opening.
Examples of the intermediate value include a low pressure-side
target pressure value.
{0040}
The group creation section 82 extracts air conditioning
systems, which are approximate to one another in installation
environment, using the data on the installation environment
received by the receiving section 81, to create a group.
The selection section 83 selects the air conditioning
system having the lowest power consumption among the air
conditioning systems belonging to the same group.
The transmission section 84 transmits an intermediate
value (e.g., a low pressure target value) of the air
conditioning system selected by the selection section 83 as a
23
bench mark (a target value) to the other air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group.
{0041}
An operation of the air conditioning network system 100
having the aforementioned configuration will be described
below.
First, in each of the air conditioning systems 1a to 1n
that are being operated, data on an installation environment
(an external air temperature, an amount of solar radiation,
etc.), control input data (an external air temperature, a set
temperature, an indoor suction temperature, low pressure, high
pressure, and an expansion value opening, etc.), and an
intermediate value on control calculation (e.g., a low
pressure target value) are collected by the power consumption
management section 44, and these types of information,
together with power consumption, are transmitted to the energy
saving support apparatus 10 via the communication medium 4.
{0042}
In the energy saving support apparatus 10, the data sent
from each of the air conditioning systems is received in the
receiving section 81 (see Fig. 4), and is output to the group
creation section 82.
The group creation section 82 compares data on respective
installation environments in the air conditioning systems,
extracts the air conditioning systems, among which there are
24
differences within a predetermined approximate range, and
groups the extracted air conditioning systems which are
approximate to one another in installation environment. For
example, the group creation section 82 groups the air
conditioning systems, among which there are differences within
1°C in external air temperature and differences within 300
[W/m2] in amount of solar radiation.
{0043}
Then, the selection section 83 selects, among the air
conditioning systems belonging to the same group, the air
conditioning system having the lowest power consumption. The
transmission section 84 transmits an intermediate value (e.g.,
a low pressure-side target pressure value) of the air
conditioning system selected by the selection section 83 to
the other air conditioning systems belonging to the same
group.
{0044}
As a result, the air conditioning system, which has not
been selected by the selection section 83, can acquire an
intermediate value of the air conditioning system, which is in
an approximate installation environment to that of itself and
is being operated with lower power consumption than that of
itself, as a bench mark (a target). In each of the air
conditioning systems that have received the intermediate
value, the intermediate value serving as the bench mark is
25
displayed on the display section 45. As a result, one method
for further dropping the power consumption can be further
presented to the user. When the intermediate value received
from the energy saving support apparatus 10 is incorporated
into control, the power consumption can be expected to be
further reduced.
{0045}
When the aforementioned processing is repeatedly
performed at predetermined time intervals, in each of the air
conditioning systems, information on the air conditioning
system, which is being more effectively operated from the
viewpoint of energy saving than itself, can be continuously
obtained.
{0046}
As described above, in the energy saving support
apparatus, the air conditioning systems, and the air
conditioning network system according to the present
embodiment, various types of data on each of the air
conditioning systems are collected, the air conditioning
systems, which are approximate to one another in installation
environment, are grouped based on the data, the air
conditioning system having the lowest power consumption in
each of the groups is selected, and an intermediate value
(e.g., a low pressure target value) of the air conditioning
system is transmitted as a bench mark to the air conditioning
26
systems belonging to the same group. As a result, each of the
air conditioning systems can obtain information on the air
conditioning system, which is in an approximate installation
environment to that of itself and has achieved more energy
saving than itself, i.e., control information useful to
contribute to its own energy saving.
{0047}
In the air conditioning systems, which are similar in
operation status, for example, respective methods for
determining low pressure target values set depending on a set
temperature may differ as the reason why the air conditioning
systems differ in power consumption. Therefore, a clue to
saving energy can be given by presenting these values (the
intermediate value) to the other air conditioning systems.
{0048}
A threshold value or the like referred to when protection
control is made to function may also be transmitted in
addition to the aforementioned intermediate value. The power
consumption varies depending on the threshold value referred
to when protection control is made to function, e.g., a low
pressure threshold value and a high pressure threshold value
used for emergency stop and protection control of a
compressor. Thus, a clue to saving energy can also be given
by presenting these values to each of air conditioning
systems.
27
{0049}
Various types of data to be transmitted to the energy
saving support apparatus 10 from each of the air conditioning
systems 1a to 1n may be an instantaneous value or an average
value in a predetermined period (e.g., an average value in one
hour).
{0050}
{Second Embodiment}
An energy saving support apparatus, air conditioning
systems, and an air conditioning network system according to a
second embodiment of the present invention will be described
below.
The air conditioning network system according to the
present embodiment differs from that in the aforementioned
first embodiment in configuration of the energy saving support
apparatus.
A difference between the energy saving support apparatus
according to the present embodiment and that in the air
conditioning network system according to the aforementioned
first embodiment will be mainly described below.
Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of the energy saving
support apparatus according to the present embodiment. As
illustrated in Fig. 5, the energy saving support apparatus 10a
includes a receiving section 81, a group creation section 82,
a selection section 83', and a data storage section 85. The
28
receiving section 81 and the group creation section 82 are
similar to those in the aforementioned first embodiment. The
selection section 83' selects, among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group, the air conditioning
system having the highest power consumption, and stores
received data on the air conditioning system in the data
storage section 85. As a result, the data on the air
conditioning system having the highest power consumption in
each of the groups is stored in the data storage section 85.
The data thus stored is used to detect abnormality
prediction by being handled as abnormality prediction data and
analyzed.
{0051}
As described above, in the energy saving support
apparatus, the air conditioning systems, and the air
conditioning network system according to the present
embodiment, the receiving section 81 collects various types of
data on each of the air conditioning systems, the group
creation section 82 groups the air conditioning systems, which
are approximate to one another in installation environment,
based on the data, the selection section 83' selects the air
conditioning system having the highest power consumption in
each of the groups and stores received data on the selected
air conditioning system as abnormality prediction data in the
data storage section 85. As a result, an enormous amount of
29
data stored in the data storage section 85 can be expected to
be effectively used to detect abnormality prediction because a
tendency toward the abnormality prediction can be grasped by
being analyzed.
{0052}
Furthermore, the received data on the air conditioning
system selected by the selection section 83' may be compared
with respective received data on the other air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group or their average data, and
only the received data, which differs by more than a
predetermined value from the received data on the other air
conditioning systems, may be stored in the data storage
section 85. When only the received data, which apparently
differs from the received data on the other air conditioning
systems, is thus stored, for example, an amount of stored data
can be reduced. Therefore, the data can be easily analyzed
while the capacity of the data storage section 85 can be
inhibited from increasing.
{0053}
The energy saving support apparatus 10a according to the
present embodiment and the energy saving support apparatus 10
according to the aforementioned first embodiment may be
combined with each other. When the selection section 83' and
the data storage section 85 are thus combined with the energy
saving support apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment,
30
information contributing to energy saving can be provided to
each of the air conditioning systems while analysis of
abnormality prediction is enabled.
{0054}
{Third Embodiment}
An energy saving support apparatus, air conditioning
systems, and an air conditioning network system according to a
third embodiment of the present invention will be described
below.
Although the group creation section 82 groups the air
conditioning systems, which are approximate to one another in
installation environment, in the aforementioned first
embodiment, the present embodiment differs from the first
embodiment in that a group creation section groups air
conditioning systems which are approximate to one another in
air conditioning system configuration.
A difference between the energy saving support apparatus
according to the present embodiment and that in the air
conditioning network system according to the aforementioned
first embodiment will be mainly described below.
{0055}
Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of an energy saving
support apparatus 10b according to the present embodiment. As
illustrated in Fig. 6, the energy saving support apparatus 10b
includes a receiving section 81, a group creation section 82',
31
a selection section 83, and a transmission section 84.
In the energy saving support apparatus 10b, the receiving
section 81 receives data on a configuration (e.g., an output
of an outdoor unit (a capability which the outdoor unit
exhibits while being operated) and the number of indoor units
that are being operated and the capacity of the indoor unit
that is being operated), control input data (an external air
temperature, a set temperature, an indoor suction temperature,
low pressure, high pressure, an expansion valve opening,
etc.), and an intermediate value on control calculation (e.g.,
a low pressure target value), which have been transmitted from
each of the air conditioning systems.
{0056}
The group creation section 82' then compares respective
data on configurations received by the receiving section 81,
and groups air conditioning systems which are identical (or
approximate) to one another in configuration. For example,
the air conditioning systems are put in the same group when an
output of the outdoor unit is within a predetermined range and
the sum of the capacities of the indoor units that are being
operated is within a predetermined range in each of the air
conditioning systems. A grouping condition is not limited to
this, and another condition may be used. For example, a case
where air conditioning systems are put in the same group when
an output of an outdoor unit is within a predetermined range,
32
the number of indoor units remains the same, and the
capacities of the indoor units are within a predetermined
range in each of the air conditioning systems is illustrated
as an example.
Then, the selection section 83 selects, among the air
conditioning systems belonging to the same group, the air
conditioning system having the lowest power consumption. The
transmission section 84 transmits an intermediate value (e.g.,
a low pressure target value) of the air conditioning system
selected by the selection section 83 to the other air
conditioning systems belonging to the group.
{0057}
As described above, in the energy saving support
apparatus, the air conditioning systems, and the air
conditioning network system according to the present
embodiment, the air conditioning systems are grouped based on
a system configuration. As a result, each of the air
conditioning systems can obtain information on the air
conditioning system that is on the same scale as that of
itself and has achieved more energy saving than itself, i.e.,
useful control information contributing to its own energy
saving.
{0058}
{Fourth Embodiment}
An energy saving support apparatus, air conditioning
33
systems, and an air conditioning network system according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described
below.
The air conditioning network system according to the
present embodiment differs from that in the aforementioned
third embodiment in a configuration of the energy saving
support apparatus.
A difference between an energy saving support apparatus
10c according to the present embodiment and that in the air
conditioning network system according to the aforementioned
first embodiment will be mainly described below.
Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram of the energy saving
support apparatus 10c according to the present embodiment. As
illustrated in Fig. 7, the energy saving support apparatus 10c
includes a receiving section 81, a group creation section 82',
a selection section 83', and a data storage section 85. The
receiving section 81 and the group creation section 82' are
similar to those in the aforementioned third embodiment. The
selection section 83' selects, among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group, the air conditioning
system having the highest power consumption, and stores
received data on the air conditioning system in the data
storage section 85. As a result, the data on the air
conditioning system having the highest power consumption in
each of the groups is stored in the data storage section 85.
34
The data thus stored is used to detect abnormality prediction
by being handled as abnormality prediction data and analyzed.
As described above, the energy saving support apparatus
according to the fourth embodiment has a configuration in
which the selection section 83' and the data storage section
85 according to the second embodiment and the group creation
section and the like according to the third embodiment are
combined with each other.
{0059}
As described above, in the energy saving support
apparatus, the air conditioning systems, and the air
conditioning network system according to the present
embodiment, the receiving section 81 collects various types of
data on each of the air conditioning systems, the group
creation section 82 groups the air conditioning systems, which
are approximate to one another in equipment configuration,
based on the data, the selection section 83' selects the air
conditioning system having the highest power consumption in
each of groups and stores received data on the selected air
conditioning system as abnormality prediction data in the data
storage section 85. As a result, an enormous amount of data
stored in the data storage section 85 can be expected to be
effectively used to detect abnormality prediction because a
tendency toward the abnormality prediction can be grasped by
being analyzed.
35
{0060}
In the present embodiment, the received data on the air
conditioning system selected by the selection section 83' may
be further compared with respective received data on the other
air conditioning systems belonging to the same group or their
average data, and only the received data, which differs by
more than a predetermined value from the received data on the
other air conditioning systems, may be stored in the data
storage section 85. When only the received data, which
apparently differs from the received data on the other air
conditioning systems, is thus stored, for example, an amount
of stored data can be reduced. Therefore, the data can be
easily analyzed while the capacity of the data storage section
85 can be inhibited from increasing.
{0061}
The energy saving support apparatus 10c according to the
present embodiment and the energy saving support apparatus 10b
according to the aforementioned third embodiment may be
combined with each other. When the selection section 83' and
the data storage section 85 are thus combined with the energy
saving support apparatus 10b according to the third
embodiment, information contributing to energy saving can be
provided to each of the air conditioning systems while
analysis of abnormality prediction is enabled.
{0062}
36
While the embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, the present invention is not limited to only
the aforementioned embodiments, and various modifications are
possible. An example of the modifications will be illustrated
below.
{0063}
While the selection section 83 or 83' selects the air
conditioning system having the highest or lowest power
consumption in each of the aforementioned embodiments, the
selection section may select the air conditioning system
having the highest or lowest coefficient of performance (COP)
instead of this. Even if the air conditioning system is thus
selected based on the coefficient of performance, data
effective to grasp information contributing to energy saving
and a tendency toward abnormality prediction can be obtained.
{0064}
Furthermore, the group creation section 82 or 82' may
group the air conditioning systems, which are approximate to
one another in equipment configuration and installation
environment, or may further group the air conditioning
systems, which are close to one another in difference between
a suction temperature and a set temperature, in addition to
these conditions. Thus, the group creation section can group
the air conditioning systems, which are approximate to one
another in operation state, by adding a condition.
37
{0065}
While a case where an intermediate value (e.g., a low
pressure target value), a threshold value referred to when
protection control is made to function, and the like are
transmitted to each of the air conditioning systems from the
energy saving support apparatus 10 or 10' has been illustrated
as an example in the aforementioned embodiment, input data,
installation environment data, equipment configuration data,
or the like on the air conditioning system having the lowest
power consumption in the group may be transmitted in addition
to this. When more types of data are thus provided, more
specific analysis based on more types of data is enabled in
the air conditioning system that has acquired these types of
information. Which value is to be changed and how the value
is to be changed can be examined to further promote energy
saving.
{Reference Signs List}
{0066}
1a - 1n Air conditioning system
3 Control device
10, 10a, 10b, 10c Energy saving support apparatus
41, 42 Indoor unit control section
43 Outdoor unit control section
44 Power consumption management section
45 Display section
38
81 Receiving section
82, 82' Group creation section
83, 83' Selection section
84 Transmission section
85 Data storage section
100 Air conditioning network system
A1, A2 Indoor unit
B Outdoor unit

{We Claim}
{Claim 1}
An energy saving support apparatus connected to a
plurality of air conditioning systems via a network, the
energy saving support apparatus comprising:
a receiving means that receives data on an installation
environment of each of the air conditioning systems, input
data and an intermediate value in control calculation, and
power consumption;
a group creation means that groups the air conditioning
systems, which are approximate to one another in installation
environment, using the data on the installation environment
received by the receiving means;
a selection means that selects the air conditioning
system having the lowest power consumption or having the
highest coefficient of performance among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group; and
a transmission means that transmits an intermediate value
of the air conditioning system selected by the selection means
to the other air conditioning systems belonging to the same
group.
{Claim 2}
The energy saving support apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising a data storage means that stores data,
40
wherein the selection means selects the air conditioning
system having the highest power consumption or having the
lowest coefficient of performance among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group, and stores all or some
pieces of the received data on the selected air conditioning
system in the data storage means.
{Claim 3}
The energy saving support apparatus according to claim 1
or 2, wherein the data on the installation environment
includes at least one of an external air temperature, an
amount of solar radiation, and a direction of a building.
{Claim 4}
An energy saving support apparatus connected to a
plurality of air conditioning systems via a network, the
energy saving support apparatus comprising:
a receiving means that receives data on a configuration
of each of the air conditioning systems, an intermediate value
in control calculation, and power consumption;
a group creation means that groups the air conditioning
systems, which are approximate to one another in
configuration, using the data on the configuration received by
the receiving means;
a selection means that selects the air conditioning
41
system having the lowest power consumption or having the
highest coefficient of performance among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group; and
a transmission means that transmits an intermediate
control value of the air conditioning system selected by the
selection means to the other air conditioning systems
belonging to the same group.
{Claim 5}
The energy saving support apparatus according to claim 4,
further comprising a data storage means that stores data,
wherein the selection means selects the air conditioning
system having the highest power consumption or having the
lowest coefficient of performance among the air conditioning
systems belonging to the same group, and stores all or some
pieces of the received data on the selected air conditioning
system in the data storage means.
{Claim 6}
The energy saving support apparatus according to claim 4
or 5, wherein the data on the configuration includes at least
one of the capacity of an outdoor unit, the number of indoor
units, and a capacity configuration of the indoor units.
{Claim 7}
42
An air conditioning system connected to an energy saving
support apparatus via a network, the air conditioning system
comprising:
an outdoor unit including a communication means;
an indoor unit including a communication means; and
a control device which can communicate with the outdoor
unit and the indoor unit via a communication medium,
wherein the control device comprises
an outdoor unit control means that controls the outdoor
unit,
an indoor unit control means that controls the indoor
unit,
a power consumption management means that manages power
consumption, and
a display means,
the outdoor unit control means acquires equipment
information and a sensor value on the outdoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
equipment loaded onto the outdoor unit,
the indoor unit control means acquires equipment
information and a sensor value on the indoor unit via the
communication medium while outputting a control instruction to
equipment loaded onto the indoor unit, and
the power consumption management means makes data on an
installation environment of each of the air conditioning
43
systems, data on a configuration, input data and an
intermediate value in control calculation, and power
consumption transmittable to the energy saving support
apparatus, and displays, when it acquires an intermediate
value from the energy saving support apparatus, the
intermediate value as a benchmark value on the display means.
{Claim 8}
The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein
the outdoor unit control means and the indoor unit control
means are respectively loaded as virtualized control sections
onto the control device.
{Claim 9}
An air conditioning network system comprising:
the energy saving support apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 6, and
the air conditioning system according to claim 7 or 8.