• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    Ett system (100) för bestämning av ett underhållsbehov av en luftkonditioneringsenhet (112) som innefattar en första sensor (102) som konfigurerats för att mäta en första och en andra energiförbrukning, en andra sensor (104) som konfigurerats för att mäta en temperatur och en fuktighet i omgivande luft i ett rum (110) i vilket luftkonditioneringsenheten (112) används, en tredje sensor (106) som konfigurerats för att mäta en temperatur i luft som produceras av luftkonditioneringsenheten (112) och en processkrets (108). Processkretsen (108) är konfigurerad för att bestämma ett luftflöde hos luftkonditioneringsenheten (112) baserat på den första effektförbrukningen och luftflödesdata och bestämmer, baserat på luftflödet, den andra energiförbrukningen, temperaturen och luftfuktigheten i omgivande luft och temperaturen på den luft som produceras av luftkonditioneringsenheten (112), underhållsbehovet för luftkonditioneringsenheten (112).
    公开号:FI20205333A1
    申请号:FI20205333
    申请日:2020-04-01
    公开日:2021-06-30
    发明作者:Rasmus Relander
    申请人:Rasmus Relander；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    DETERMINING MAINTENANCE NEED OF AIR CONDITIONING UNIT
    TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a field of air conditioning units, especially determining a maintenance need of the air conditioning unit.
    TECHNICAL BACKGROUND Malfunction of the air conditioning unit may be difficult to detect. For example, the malfunction may decrease efficiency of the air conditioning unit but this is not necessarily easy to detect because the air conditioning unit may still operate even though its efficiency is not optimal anymore. In other words, the decreased efficiency may not be visible to a user of the air conditioning unit. The power consumption of the unit and its working time may increase, but these are not easy to detect because a temperature, a humidity and an amount of air vary over time. Hence, the maintenance need of the air conditioning unit may be ignored and the air conditioning unit is not utilized optimally. The air conditioning unit may also get totally broken if the maintenance need is not detected. Therefore, a more sophisticated solution for determining the maintenance need of the air conditioning unit is needed.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION The present invention is defined by the subject matter of the independent claims. Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claim are to be interpreted as S examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.
    O 3 25 — BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS - In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by 7 means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in & which 2 Figures 1, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate systems for determining a maintenance 3 30 need of an air conditioning unit according to embodiments of the invention; O Figure 2 illustrates a power consumption of the air conditioning unit according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a psychrometric chart used in the invention according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates an air flow table according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 illustrates a power consumption measuring according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 9A and 9B illustrate flow charts according to embodiments of the invention; and Figure 10 illustrates an example of a measurement cycle according to an embodiment of the invention.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following embodiments are exemplifying. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations of the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodiment(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single embodiment.
    — Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.
    Malfunction of the air conditioning unit (ACU) may be difficult to detect for a user(s) of the unit because the malfunction may not always be visible. The faulty ACU may seems to operate normally but its efficiency may be remarkably lower compared to a normal operation in the case of malfunction. Hence, the maintenance need may not be detected at all and use of the faulty ACU is just continued. Use of the faulty ACU unit may cause many kind of problems for the user(s). It may cause higher operating cost and may finally even lead to break down of the whole unit. A monitoring of the efficiency of the ACU may be difficult. The ACU may not have a monitoring system that could allow following of a condition of N the unit. Also adding an accessory monitoring device may be challenging because 5 the ACU is often assembled in challenging locations like, for example, on walls of <Q high buildings. Another challenge is that there are a lot of ACU units assembled O which have not any monitoring system as a default. There is a need to have a E 30 solution for monitoring the efficiency and malfunction of these devices such that n the monitoring solution can be set to these devices afterwards for monitoring their O efficiency and possible malfunction situations.
    S The invention provides a solution for monitoring the efficiency of the N ACU and for determining the maintenance need that may alleviate drawbacks — described above.
    According to an aspect, there is provided a system for determining a maintenance need of an air conditioning unit, the system comprising: a first sensor configured to measure a first power consumption of the air conditioning unit when a fan of the air conditioning unit is on and a cooler of the air conditioning unit is off, and a second power consumption of the air conditioning unit when the fan and the cooler of the air conditioning unit are on, a second sensor configured to measure a temperature and a humidity of an ambient air in a room in which the air conditioning unit is used, a third sensor configured to measure a temperature of an air produced by the air conditioning unit and a processing circuitry configured to determine an air flow of the air conditioning unit based on the first power consumption and air flow data, to determine, based on the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient air and the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit, the maintenance need of the air conditioning unit.
    Referring to Figure 1, wherein the system for determining the maintenance need of the ACU is illustrated according to an embodiment. The system for determining the maintenance need of the ACU 100 comprises the first sensor 102 configured to measure the power consumption of the ACU 112, the second sensor 104 configured to measure the temperature and the humidity of the ambient air in the room 110 wherein the ACU is used, the third sensor 106 configured to measure the temperature of the air provided by the ACU 112 and the processing circuitry 108 configured to determine the air flow and the maintenance need of the ACU.
    The ACU may be assembled such that the ACU or the most of the ACU is outside of the room, for example on a wall or on a roof of buildings, but it is o connected into the room, for example via duct, such thatit is capable to provide air AN into the room. A power cable of the ACU may be inside or outside of the room. The 5 ACU may also be a portable device that is placed inside the room. The room refers to a space in which the ACU is used. It may be a room of a residential apartment or O 30 an office room, for example.
    E The first sensor is assembled to the ACU such that it is capable to 0 measure the power consumption of the ACU. In an embodiment, the power O consumption measurement is a continuous process that is running all the time N when the ACU is on. In another embodiment, the power consumption measurement N 35 is performed in predetermined time intervals. An operator of the ACU and/or the system may determine the time intervals for measuring.
    The power consumption measurement comprises the measurement of the first and second power consumptions. The first power consumption may be measured, by the first sensor, when the fan of the ACU is on and the cooler is off. The second power consumption may be measured, by the first sensor, when both the fan and cooler of the ACU are on. Still referring to Figure 1, the ACU 112 comprises the fan 114 and the cooler 116, wherein the fan is configured to produce the air flow and the cooler is configured to cool down the air flow. In an embodiment, the cooler comprises a compressor. The cooler affects remarkably to the power consumption of the ACU, in other words, the power consumption of the ACU is much higher when the cooler is on compared to a situation wherein the fan is on and the cooler is off. Therefore, two different power consumption of the ACU are measured. In addition, the ACU may be capable to operate the fan with different rotating speed. There may be, for example, three different rotating speeds for the fan (level 1, level 2 and level 3) and each of them may have different power consumption and also different air flow due to different rotating speeds. Figure 2, illustrates an example of the power consumption of the ACU in a line graph format according to an embodiment. Figure 2 illustrates how the rotating speed of the fan and the cooler affect the power consumption. In a vertical direction of the graph is illustrated the power consumption and in a horizontal direction time, hence the graph illustrates the power consumption over the time. Before the time 11.25 the fan was operated on the level 1 without the cooler and the power consumption was about 190W. After the time 11.25 the cooler was turned on in addition to the fan and the consumption rises to 1400-1700W. About
    11.30 cooler was turned off and consumption is again about 190W. About 11.35 o therotating speed of fan was changed to the level 2 and the consumption rises from N 190W to 215W. About 11.37 the cooler was turned on, in addition to the fan that 5 was operated on level 2, and the consumption rises to 1700-1800W, about 11.43 the cooler was turned off and consumption returns to 215W. About 11.47 the S 30 rotating speed of the fan was changed to the level 3 and the consumption rises to E 250W. About 11.50 the cooler was turned on, in addition to the fan that was still 0 operated on level 3, and the consumption rises to 1600-1900W. O As shown in the example above, both the rotating speed of the fan and N also if the cooler is turned on or not can be detected by monitoring the power N 35 consumption. Itis sure that the effect of the rotating speed of the fan is smaller than the effect of the cooler.
    The second sensor may be configured to measure the temperature and the humidity of the ambient air in a room in which the ACU is used. Referring to Figure 1, the second sensor 104 is placed such that it is capable to detect the temperature and humidity of the ambient air in the room 114 wherein the ACU 112 5 is used. The temperature and humidity of the ambient air refers to the general temperature and humidity in a space in which the ACU is used. The second sensor may not be placed in a front of the ACU nor too close to the duct that blows air into the room from the ACU because it may distort the results. In other words, it would measure the temperature and the humidity of air flow produced by the ACU, which is not purpose in this case. A type of the second sensor may vary according to the needs, it may be any kind of sensor that is capable to measure the temperature and humidity. For example, it may be a one digital sensor configure to measure both the temperature and humidity. In an embodiment, there may be two different sensors used in the system such that a first is capable to measure the temperature and the second the humidity.
    The third sensor may be configured to measure the temperature of the air produced by the ACU. Referring to Figure 1, the third sensor 106 may be placed such that it is capable to measure the air flow produced by the ACU 112. It may be placed in the front of the ACU unit or duct (proximity of them) that leads the air flow into the room. So the difference between the second and the third sensor is that the second one is configured to measure the ambient air in the room and the third one is configure to measure the (direct) air flow produced by the ACU. This may be achieved by locating the sensors differently in the room as described above. The sensor type itself may be same in the second and third sensor.
    The processing circuitry may be configured determine an air flow o produced by the ACU and further configured to determine the maintenance need AN of the ACU. The air flow may be determined based on the first power consumption 5 and the air flow data. The air flow may be in different units like, for example, cubic meters per second (m3/s) or liters per second (LPS). The first power consumption © 30 refers to the measurement wherein the fan of the ACU is on and the cooler is off. E The power consumption may be used with the air flow data for determining the air 0 flow of the fan and based on the air flow, an operational level (for example 1 - 3) of O the fan can be seen. The operational level refers to a rotating speed of the fan. The N air flow data refers to the reference data that may indicate the air flow and N 35 operational level of the fan based on the power consumption. Still referring to example illustrated in Figure 2, the first sensor may measure that the power consumption of the ACU, when only the fan is running, is for example 215W. Then the reference data may be used to determine the air flow what the fan is capable to provide with that consumption. It may be 0,2 m3/s and the operational level is then 2, for example.
    In an embodiment, the power consumption measurement may be continuous process and the processing circuitry may apply measurement data, for example, from the last 24 hours when determining the power consumption of the ACU when the fan is off. The measurement data may also be taken from a shorter or longer period than 24 hours. Hence, the power consumption may be an average consumption during that time. The same principles may be applied when measuring the second power consumption when both the fan and cooler are on. The maintenance need of the ACU is determined, by the processing circuitry, based on the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient air and the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit. Based on these measured and determined values the processing circuitry may be capable to determine how efficiently the ACU operates. The efficiency may be used to determine is the ACU operating on the optimal level or is the efficiency decreased. The decreased efficiency may indicate that the maintenance of the ACU is needed to get the efficiency back to optimal level. Hence, — the maintenance need of the ACU may be determined by the system described above. In an embodiment, the processing circuitry is configured to determine a current performance of the air conditioning unit by using a psychrometric chart with the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient air and the temperature of the air produced by the air o conditioning unit. Figure 3 illustrates the psychrometric chart used for AN determining the current performance of the ACU. The psychrometric chart is a 3 graphical representation of the psychrometric processes of air. Psychrometric processes include physical and thermodynamic properties such as dry bulb S 30 temperature, wet bulb temperature, humidity, enthalpy and air density. By using E the psychrometric chart it is possible graphically analyse different types of 0 psychometric processes and find solutions for many practical problems without O complex mathematical calculations. N Figure 3 illustrates the psychrometric chart in a graphical form but in N 35 — the system according to the invention the chart may be digitized such that the processing circuitry is capable to use it. The processing circuitry may receive the measurement data from the sensors and apply the digitized chart with the data when calculating the current performance of the ACU.
    There may be an algorithm in the system that is run by the processing circuitry for carrying out the needed calculations.
    In an embodiment, the current performance of the ACU refers to a coefficient of performance (COP) value of the ACU that is calculated based on a cooling power and the second power consumption of the ACU.
    In determination of the COP of the ACU, the psychrometric chart may be used to indicate an enthalpy value that is needed for cooling certain amount of air from one temperature to another temperature value at certain humidity condition.
    The enthalpy is calculated with the temperature and humidity of the ambient air in the room in which the ACU is used and the temperature of the air produced by the ACU.
    The psychrometric chart tells the enthalpy i.e. energy needed for moving from one point to another in the chart.
    The first point is defined by a room — temperature (set on X-axis, dry bulb temperature) and relative humidity of a room (set the curve lines starting from the left and continuing to right up). The second point is the defined by the dry bulb temperature of air directed from the ACU unit and a horizontal line left from the first point.
    When the ACU produces enough cooling, the process takes place by moving the point horizontally to the left until — the dew point is reached, and then following the saturation line (wet bulb line) to the end point.
    The enthalpy difference value can be read from the enthalpy curve line.
    The enthalpy can be in terms of BTU (British thermal unit) in which 1 BTU is energy required to heat/cool one Ib of water one degree in Fahrenheit or in J per kg of air.
    So 1 BTU = 1.055k] = 0.252 Cal.
    The BTU or ]/kg of the cooling process can be calculated for the actual air per Ib or kg.
    And then knowing the volumetric flow o in Ips or m3/s, the energy consumption (J/s = W) can be found.
    O Referring to Fig 3, a starting point (A) can be found by measuring the + starting condition; temperature and humidity in the room.
    In this example it is temperature 25%, and humidity 50% or humidity ratio 10g/kg.
    Now the cooling S 30 reduces the temperature to 15°. The new point is (B) as found by moving E horizontally from point (A) to the temperature 15 degrees.
    If there is no absolute 02 humidity change, the new point is (B). The corresponding enthalpy difference is 2 between E1 and E2, from 50 to 40 k]/kg (in dry air). This part of change is called N sensible heat enthalpy.
    If the cooling process continues once the saturation line is N 35 reached, the new point is (C) with temperature 10°, and relative humidity remains 100%. During that phase condensation occurs.
    This part of change is called latent heat in the table. It means that temperature is not changing but energy is used for changing the energy of water in air. The corresponding enthalpy difference is between E2 and E3, from 40 to 30 k] /kg (in dry air).
    The total energy change when moving from air condition point (a) to point (C) is enthalpy difference between points E1 and E3.
    The more detailed examples how to use of the psychrometric chart can be found from the literature, and for example from the following website: https: //www.buildingenclosureonline.com/blogs/14-the-be-blog/post/87659- the-psychrometric-chart-explained.
    With the enthalpy and the air flow values, the cooling power of the ACU (energy transferred by the ACU) can be determined. The second power consumption, is already known from the power consumption measurement. Hence, the COP of the ACU is calculated by dividing the cooling power by the second power consumption. For example, based on the psychrometric chart, the cooling power may 2790W and the measured second power consumption 1700W, then the COP is 2790/1700=1,64. The operational level of the fan (for example levels 1 - 3) is known based on the air flow produced by the ACU as described above. Each operational level may result in different COP value. In an embodiment, the operational level may also be an average of the operational levels 1 -3. Due to the — practical fact the cooling fan setting is seldom changed hence, it is also fine to use the level 2 as a default and assume that it has not changed and keep it constant.
    In an embodiment, the processing circuitry is configured to determine the maintenance need by comparing the current performance of the air conditioning unit to reference data. As described above, the current performance may refer to the COP value. The processing circuitry may compare the COP value o to the reference data to determine the need for maintenance. The comparison may AN be used to evaluate the how well the ACU is operating. In other words, a relation 5 between the COP and reference data may reveal the maintenance need of the ACU. For example, there may be defined limits for the COP such thatif the COP is within S 30 — the set limits, the ACU is operating normally and the maintenance is not needed. E Respectively, it may indicate that the maintenance is needed if the COP value is, for 0 example, lower than the set limit. The processing circuitry may also be capable to O detect if the performance is going down even though it would still be within the set N limits. Hence, the processing circuity may predict that there is a risk that the N 35 — performance will in future go out of the limits and there will be the maintenance need.
    In an embodiment, the reference data comprises previous performance data from the air conditioning unit. The previous performance data may refer to the previous COP value. For example, there may be defined what the COP should be when the ACU is operating normally and that is used as a reference level when evaluating the maintenance need. The received (current) COP value may be compared to the reference (previous) COP value. For example, if the current COP is clearly lower than the previous COP, it may indicate that the maintenance is needed for the ACU. The previous COP may refer to the optimal performance of the ACU.
    In an embodiment, the processing circuitry is configured to provide an alarm signal if the current performance of the ACU is not good enough and if there is a need for the maintenance. The purpose of the alarm signal is to indicate to operator(s) of the system that the ACU is not operating properly. It may also indicate which ACU is faulty. The processing circuitry may also indicate if the performance is going down but may still be within the limits. Hence, the operator may know that there is the ACU which performance is going down and the maintenance may be needed in near future.
    In an embodiment, the system may further comprise a user interface configured to control the system. The operator(s) of the system may control the system via user interface and, for example, the alarm signals may be shown via the — user interface. The different measurement result, measured by the sensors of the system, and results of the determination, made by the processing circuitry, may also be visible in the user interface. Also a plurality of the ACUs may be connected to the same user interface. In other words, the user(s) may monitor and control several ACUs via one interface.
    In an embodiment, the determination of the maintenance need of the o ACU is ongoing process that is performed predetermined in time intervals. It may O be performed continuously for every cycle (start compressor, cool air, stop s compressor, blow air until compressor is ready to start again), once per day, week or month, for example. In another embodiment, the operator of the ACU may also O 30 order the system do the determination of the maintenance need of the ACU, for E example, based on a suspicion that the ACU is not operating normally. Also 0 combination of two embodiments described above (continuous and non- 3 continuous) is possible. N The system according to the invention provides very simple but N 35 effective solution for monitoring the actual condition of the ACU. Ongoing monitoring of the performance of the ACU enables to detect the maintenance needs in early phase that may otherwise be difficult. Because of the simple structure, it may also be assembled the ACUs that are already in use. Hence, it may solve many challenges of the know solutions.
    In an embodiment, the air flow data comprises an air flow table. The air flow table is used to determine the air flow of the ACU based on the power consumption when only the fan is on (the first power consumption). The air flow table may be provided, for example, by a producer of the ACU or by initial calibration measurements. Referring to Figure 4, wherein the air flow table is illustrated according to an embodiment. The table may show the operational level of the fan (selection 1 - 3), a speed of the air produced by the fan, the air flow produced by the fan (two different units) and the power consumption. For example, if the power consumption is about 218W, then the air flow is 0,20832 m/s, the air speed produced by the fan is 4,96m/s and the operational level is 2. The air flow table is very simple solution to determine the air flow and the operational level of the fan based on the first power consumption of the ACU.
    In an embodiment, the first sensor is configured to measure the firstand the second power consumption from a power cable of the air conditioning unit. The first sensor is coupled with the power cable of the ACU and/or a connector of the power cable such that it is capable to measure the power consumption. When the — power consumption is measured from the power cable, then there is no needs to assemble the first sensor inside the ACU which makes the assembling of the system to the ACU easier.
    In an embodiment, the first sensor is configured to measure the first and the second power consumption from the power cable based on a magnetic field.
    The first sensor may be a magnetic field sensor configured to measure the power o consumption from the magnetic field of the power cable such that the first sensor AN is assembled in proximity of the power cable. The magnetic field sensor may be, for 5 example, Hall sensor. A current (Amp) and a voltage (Volt) are needed when calculating the power consumption. The current is received from the sensor (for S 30 example from Hall sensor) and the voltage is known based on the location of the E ACU (varies in different countries). Figure 5 illustrates an example of a simplified 0 structure of the magnetic based power consumption measurement from the cable. O The power consumption may be measured with the magnetic field sensor 500 N comprising a magnetically permeable core 502 and Hall effect device 504. The N 35 magnetically permeable core is around or partly around the power cable 118 such that it is in the magnetic field generated by the power cable, in other words, close enough to the cable.
    The Hall effect device may be mounted in or to be close to the magnetically permeable core.
    When the Hall effect device is exposed to the magnetic field from the core, it produces a potential difference (voltage) that can be measured.
    The first sensor may measure the currentin the cable and by knowing the used voltage (AC230V, or AC110V) the power consumption can be calculated by using the known formula power = current x voltage.
    For example the sensor measures the current be 10 A, the used common mains voltage in the area is AC110V, the power consumption is 10Ax110V = 1100W.
    Hence, the power consumption may be derived from proximity of cable without breaking shields of the cable.
    One example of such magnetic field sensor that may be used in the system is ACS780 type of sensor made by Allegro Microsystems, which is the Hall magnet sensor and not needed to be in a galvanic contact to a wire or cable in which the current is running.
    In an embodiment, the third sensor is further configured to measure a humidity of the air provided by the air conditioning unit.
    In some cases, humidity of the air produced by the ACU may be needed, in addition to the temperature, when determining the performance or maintenance need of the ACU.
    Therefore, the third sensor may be further configured to measure the temperature and humidity from the air flow produced by the ACU.
    A type of the third sensor may be — same like in the second sensor which is used for measuring the temperature and humidity of the ambient air in the room.
    One example of such sensor is SCC30-DB type of sensor made by Sensirion AG, which is which a combined digital humidity and temperature sensor.
    In an embodiment, the first sensor and the second sensor are integrated — together.
    As described above, the first sensor may be placed in the proximity of the o power cable of the ACU.
    The second sensor, configured to measure the temperature AN and humidity of the ambient air, may be integrated together with the first sensor 5 because the power cable is not normally located in the air flow produced by the ACU.
    Hence, the power cable may be suitable place also for measuring the ambient S 30 air in the room.
    Integration of the first and second sensor makes the structure of E the system simpler.
    Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment, wherein the first sensor 0 102 is in proximity of the power cable 118 and the second sensor 104 is integrated O together with the first sensor 102. N In an embodiment, the first sensor, the second sensor and the N 35 processing circuitry are integrated together.
    As described above, the first and the second sensors may be integrated in proximity of the power cable.
    The processing circuitry may also be integrated together with the fist and the second sensors. Hence, the first sensor, the second sensor and the processing circuitry may form one module that is placed in the proximity of the power cable of the ACU and is configured to measure the power consumption, the temperature and humidity of the ambient air and also processing the data provided by the sensors. Referring to Figure 7, the structure of the system 100 may comprise the module placed in proximity of the power cable 118 comprising the first sensor 102, the second sensor 104 and the processing circuitry 108. The third sensor 106 may still be a separate component from the module placed in the air flow produced by the ACU. In an embodiment, the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and the processing circuitry are integrated together into one module.
    In an embodiment, the processing circuitry comprises a cloud computing. The cloud computing means that the processing of the data in the system is performed in the cloud. Hence, the system may not comprise a processing circuitry assembled near by the ACU, instead the processing circuitry may be the cloud based service. The sensors may measure the data from the ACU and deliver the data to the cloud for processing and storing. Referring to Figure 8, the processing circuitry 108 of the system 100 is in the cloud and the first, second and third sensors are configured to send the measurement data to the cloud based processing circuitry.
    In an embodiment, the processing circuitry is in the cloud and the first and second sensors are integrated together into one module as described above. The processing circuitry and the all sensors may be configured to communicate wirelessly.
    In other embodiment, the processing circuitry is in the cloud and the o first, second and third sensors are integrated together. Hence, there may be one AN measurement module and the cloud based processing circuitry that are configured 5 to communicate wirelessly. In an embodiment, the system further comprises a fourth sensor S 30 configured to detect a person in the room in which the air conditioning unit is used. E There may be also more than one sensor used for detecting person(s) in the room. 0 The fourth sensor is placed such that is capable to detect the persons in the room. O If a layout of the room is complex then more sensors may be used to cover the N whole room. The information about presence of the person in the room may be N 35 used when determining the performance and the maintenance need of the ACU.
    In an embodiment, at least the first, the second and the third sensors are an accessory device connectable to the air conditioning unit. The accessory device refers to the system that can be assembled to the ACU which is already in use. In other words, the ACUs that have already been delivered to end users and assembled to buildings. Hence, the system according to the invention provides a solution that can be retrofitted to the existing ACU. Disassembly of the ACU may not be needed. As described above, all components of the system can be easily assembled without dismantling the structure of the ACU.
    In an embodiment, the accessory device comprises the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and the processing circuitry.
    In another embodiment, the accessory device comprises the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and the processing unit, wherein the processing circuitry is located in a cloud. Hence, the processing circuitry is not a part of the system that is assembled in proximity of the ACU.
    In addition to component mentioned in the embodiments above, the accessory device may also comprise the fourth sensor.
    In an embodiment, the system is integrated into the air conditioning unit. The system may be an integral part of the ACU such that it is integrated into the ACU, for example, already in a manufacturing phase. Hence, the ACU may comprise the system already when it is delivered to the end user(s).
    The sensors and the processing circuitry may communicate wirelessly. In some case, it may also be possible that wires are used instead or in addition to the wireless communication.
    In an embodiment, the system comprises an internal power source like a battery. In another embodiment, the system is coupled to an outer power source, — like for example, an electric network. Also combination of the internal and outer o power source is possible.
    N In an embodiment, the first, the second and/or the third sensor 3 comprises a plurality of sensors. Hence, for example, the first sensor may comprise two or more different sensors configured to measure the power consumption.
    S 30 Figure 9A illustrates a flow chart of a method for the system for E determining the maintenance need of the ACU according to an embodiment. The 0 method comprising: (block 900) measuring, by using a first sensor, a first power O consumption of the air conditioner unit when a fan of the air conditioning unit is N on and a cooler of the air conditioning unitis off, and a second power consumption N 35 —oftheairconditioning unit when the fan and the cooler of the air conditioning unit are on, (block 902) determining, by using a processing circuitry, an air flow of the air conditioning unit based on the first power consumption and air flow data, (block 904) measuring, by using a second sensor, a temperature and a humidity of an ambient air in a room in which the air conditioning unit is used, (block 906) measuring, by using a third sensor, a temperature of an air produced by the air conditioning unit, and (block 908) determining a maintenance need of the air conditioning unit based on the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient air and the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit.
    Figure 9B illustrates a flow chart of the method for the system for determining the maintenance need of the ACU according to another embodiment.
    The method comprising: (block 900) measuring, by using the first sensor, the first power consumption of the air conditioner unit when the fan of the air conditioning unit is on and the cooler of the air conditioning unit is off, and the second power consumption of the air conditioning unit when the fan and the cooler of the air conditioning unit are on, (block 902) determining, by using the processing circuitry, the air flow of the air conditioning unit based on the first power consumption and air flow data, (block 904) measuring, by using the second sensor, the temperature and the humidity of the ambient air in the room in which the air conditioning unit is used, (block 906) measuring, by using the third sensor, the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit, (block 910) determining, by using the processing circuitry, Enthalpy values based on a psychrometric chart for each measurement point in a measurement cycle, (block 912) determining, by using the processing circuitry, a COP value from (1) total produced cooling enthalpy (2) total power consumption for the measurement cycle, and (block 908) determining a maintenance need of the air conditioning unit o based on the COP value of the ACU.
    N In embodiment, the measurement cycle may be, for example, 5-15 5 minutes long.
    Figure 10 illustrates an example of the measurement cycle, wherein the measurement cycle takes about 10 minutes when the needed measurements S 30 are performed.
    E In Figure 10 the signal 1 “Power” refers to the power measured by the 0 first sensor of the system, or power defined by the first sensor based on the O measured current of the ACU and multiplied by used main voltage.
    The signal 2 N “temperature ambient air” and signal 5 “humidity%” are measured by the second N 35 sensor of the system.
    The signal 3 “temperature outgoing air” is the temperature measured by the third sensor of the system.
    The signal 4 “Enthalpy difference” is the enthalpy difference defined by the psychrometric chart using the measured temperature and humidity values from second and third sensors.
    Alternatively, the maintenance need can be determined from the series of COP values calculated throughout a period of 1 day, 1 week or longer.
    Let us now to describe how the invention may be applied for determining the maintenance need of the ACU. An apartment building may comprise a plurality of residential apartments and each of the apartments may have the own ACU or a plurality of the ACUs. Hence, the total number of the ACUs in the apartment building may be very high. The all apartments may be supervised by a housing manager of a housing cooperative who may also be responsible for the function of the ACUs in the building. It may be very big challenge for the housing manager to supervise or to know how the ACUs really operates. Many of the ACUs may be faulty and the housing manager may not be able to see that. Some of the faulty ACUs may still operate and provide air, even though they may not operate optimally. To detect this kind of faulty ACU may be impossible. The faulty ACUs may increase operating cost of the housing cooperative, and also finally the ACU may get broken. Hence, it is very important to find out the possible "hiding issues" in the ACU that may reduce the performance. Therefore, there is a need for the solution according to the invention that may alleviate the problems described above.
    The ACU may have been assembled, for example, to the room of the residential apartment such that the ACU is capable to provide cooled air into the room. The system may be assembled to the ACU such that the first sensor is capable to measure the power consumption of the ACU, the second sensor is capable to measure the temperature and humidity of the ambient air of the room, the third o sensor is capable to measure the temperature of air produced by the ACU and the AN processing circuitry is coupled with the sensors such thatit is capable to processing 5 data provided by the sensors. As described, the system may be the accessory device that is easy to assemble to the ACU without dismantling it. The power consumption S 30 is measured two different ways, a first when the only fan of the ACU is on and a E second when the fan and also the cooler of the ACU are on. The air flow of the ACU 0 is determined, by the processing circuitry, based on the first power consumption. O And based on the air flow, the operational level of the fan can be determined. Based N on the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and humidity of N 35 —theambientairand the temperature of the air produced by the ACU the processing circuitry is capable to determine with the digitized psychrometric chart
    (programmed algorithm in the system) the enthalpy and COP value of the ACU. The COP indicates how well the ACU operates. The processing circuitry is further configured to compare and evaluate the received COP to reference data that may reveal if the ACU is operating properly. If the COP is not good enough, there may be a need for the maintenance. Then the processing circuitry may generate an alarm signal to indicate the maintenance need to the operator of the ACU, for example, to the housing manager. There may be, for example, a digital interface for controlling the system by the operator.
    The invention provides very effective solution for monitoring the operational state of the ACU and revealing immediately if the performance of the ACU is reduced or reducing. A plurality of the ACUs may also be monitored efficiently at the same time with the system. Hence, the system may capable to determine the maintenance need of the ACU immediately when the performance is going down and indicate it to the operator. The invention enables higher utility rate ofthe ACUs because the faulty ACUs, which performances are not optimal anymore, are repaired in the early phase. Then also possible total breakdown of the ACU may be avoided.
    The invention also applies for a heat pump. In the heat pump case, the produced heat is based on the enthalpy produced (heat produced) determined in — the same way as illustrated in Figure 9B. The COP is determined based on the total heat produced in relation to the total power consumed.
    The invention may also be applied for a fan coil unit (FCU) when estimating a power consumption of the FCU. Then invention may be applied slightly differently compared to the ACU. The structure of the system in FCU case may be same, but only one power consumption is measured because the FCU may o not have the cooler, like for example compressor, that affect the consumption. AN Instead of compressor, the FCU comprises a coil having cooled water and the fan of 5 the FCU blows air to a room through the coil which cools down the air flow. Atfirst, a power consumption of the FCU is measured which is used for determining an S 30 operational level of the fan which indicates how fast the fan is rotated. There may E be, for example, levels 1 - 3 for the fan, wherein the speed of the fan or air produced 0 by the fan may increase from level 1 to the level 3. Then, a flow rate of each level 1 O - 3 is calibrated. N The energy consumption of the cooling or heating of room air can be N 35 — defined using the same temperature and humidity measurements as described for the ACU. So measuring the ambient temperature and humidity (the second sensor)
    as well the air temperature directly from the cooling unit (the third sensor), which is in this case FCU instead of the ACU. Using the psychrometric chart as described the enthalpy (energy) for the cooling can be determined. Now the amount the air flow is determined so the total energy needed for cooling air is enthalpy times air flow. This value can be used to estimate how much energy has been taken from the cooled water supply.
    As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.
    The techniques and methods described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a hardware implementation, the apparatus(es) of embodiments may be implemented within one or more — application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), o digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field AN programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), processors, 5 controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to < perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. For firmware or S 30 software, the implementation can be carried out through modules of at least one E chipset (e.g. procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described 0 herein. The software codes may be stored in a memory unit and executed by 3 processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or N externally to the processor. In the latter case, it can be communicatively coupled to N 35 the processor via various means, as is known in the art. Additionally, the components of the systems described herein may be rearranged and/or complemented by additional components in order to facilitate the achievements of the various aspects, etc., described with regard thereto, and they are not limited to the precise configurations set forth in the given figures, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
    It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.
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    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1] 1. A system for determining a maintenance need of an air conditioning unit, the system comprising: a first sensor configured to measure a first power consumption of the air conditioning unit when a fan of the air conditioning unit is on and a cooler of the air conditioning unit is off, and a second power consumption of the air conditioning unit when the fan and the cooler of the air conditioning unit are on; a second sensor configured to measure a temperature and a humidity of an ambient air in a room in which the air conditioning unit is used; a third sensor configured to measure a temperature of an air produced by the air conditioning unit; and a processing circuitry configured to: determine an air flow of the air conditioning unit based on the first power consumption and air flow data, determine, based on the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient air and the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit, the maintenance need of the air conditioning unit.
    [2] 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a current performance of the air conditioning unit by using a psychrometric chart with the air flow, the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient air and the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit.
    [3] 3. The system of claims 1 - 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the maintenance need by comparing the current o performance of the air conditioning unit to reference data.
    [4] AN 4. The system of claims 3, wherein the reference data comprises 5 previous performance data from the air conditioning unit.
    [5] 5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the air flow data S 30 comprises an air flow table.
    [6] E 6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the first sensor is 0 configured to measure the first and the second power consumption from a power O cable of the air conditioning unit.
    [7] N 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first sensor is configured to N 35 measure the first and the second power consumption based on a magnetic field in a proximity of the power cable.
    [8] 8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the third sensor is further configured to measure a humidity of the air provided by the air conditioning unit.
    [9] 9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are integrated together.
    [10] 10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the first sensor, the second sensor and the processing circuitry are integrated together.
    [11] 11. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry comprises a cloud computing.
    [12] 12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the system further comprises a fourth sensor configured to detect a person in the room in which the air conditioning unit is used.
    [13] 13. The system of any preceding claim, wherein at least the first, the second and the third sensors are an accessory device connectable to the air conditioning unit.
    [14] 14. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the system is integrated into the air conditioning unit.
    [15] 15. Amethod for determining a maintenance need of an air conditioning unit, the method comprising: measuring, by using a first sensor, a first power consumption of the air conditioner unit when a fan of the air conditioning unitis on and a cooler of the air conditioning unit is off, and a second power consumption of the air conditioning unit when the fan and the cooler of the air conditioning unit are on; measuring, by using a second sensor, a temperature and a humidity of an ambient air in a room in which the air conditioning unit is used; o measuring, by using a third sensor, a temperature of an air produced by N the air conditioning unit; and 3 determining, by using a processing clreuitry: | an air flow of the air conditioning unit based on the first power O 30 consumption and air flow data, and E a maintenance need of the air conditioning unit based on the air flow, 0 the second power consumption, the temperature and the humidity of an ambient O air and the temperature of the air produced by the air conditioning unit.
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    同族专利:
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    WO2021198566A1|2021-10-07|
    FI129082B|2021-06-30|
    引用文献:
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    US7424343B2|2004-08-11|2008-09-09|Lawrence Kates|Method and apparatus for load reduction in an electric power system|
    EP2786337A4|2011-11-28|2015-08-26|Expanergy Llc|Energy search engine methods and systems|
    US9933320B2|2013-03-12|2018-04-03|Enverid Systems, Inc.|Systems, methods and devices for measurement of rate of heat exchange of airflow systems|
    US20140365017A1|2013-06-05|2014-12-11|Jason Hanna|Methods and systems for optimized hvac operation|
    US9995502B1|2015-05-26|2018-06-12|Alarm.Com Incorporated|Enthalpy measurement and system control|
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