Control device and control method

Abstract

A selection unit selects, from among a plurality of indoor units to each of which an air-conditioned space to be air-conditioned is assigned, an indoor unit to represent the plurality of indoor units, as a representative indoor unit, based on a required air-conditioning capacity being an air conditioning capacity required for each indoor unit. A setting unit sets a target temperature of either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which enables an air conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit, using a learning model obtained by machine learning. A calculation unit calculates, for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree at which an air conditioning capacity of each indoor unit conforms to the required air-conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit when either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature in each indoor unit is made to conform to the target temperature.

1 . A control device comprising:
 processing circuitry   to select from among a plurality of indoor units to each of which an air-conditioned space to be air-conditioned is assigned, an indoor unit to represent the plurality of indoor units, as a representative indoor unit, based on a required air-conditioning capacity being an air conditioning capacity required for each indoor unit;   to set a target temperature of either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which enables an air conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit, using a learning model obtained by machine learning, and   to calculate, for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree at which an air conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit conforms to the required air-conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit when either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature in the each indoor unit is made to conform to the target temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing circuitry estimates the required air-conditioning capacity of each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units, and   the processing circuitry selects an indoor unit with a highest required air-conditioning capacity from among the plurality of indoor units, as the representative indoor unit.   
     
     
         3 . The control device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein
 the processing circuitry sets the target temperature, using a learning model obtained in a learning phase by learning either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which enables an air-conditioning capacity of an indoor unit-for-learning being an indoor unit with a highest required air-conditioning capacity among the plurality of indoor units to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the indoor unit-for-learning.   
     
     
         4 . The control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing circuitry collects a measured temperature which is measured in the air-conditioned space of each indoor unit,   the processing circuitry estimates the required air-conditioning capacity of each indoor unit, and   the processing circuitry calculates, for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree in the each indoor unit, using the required air-conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit, the measured temperature in the air-conditioned space of the each indoor unit, and the target temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing circuitry sets the target temperature by applying to the learning model, a set temperature of an air-conditioned space of the representative indoor unit, a measured temperature which is measured in the air-conditioned space of the representative indoor unit, an operation state value which indicates an operation state of the representative indoor unit, either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which is measured in the representative indoor unit, an outdoor air temperature, and either a superheat degree being a fixed value or a supercooling degree being a fixed value.   
     
     
         6 . The control device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein
 the processing circuitry controls the representative indoor unit, using the target temperature and either the superheat degree being the fixed value or the supercooling degree being the fixed value, and controls, for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, the each indoor unit, using the target temperature and either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree calculated for the each indoor unit.   
     
     
         7 . The control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing circuitry sets a target temperature of either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which enables the air conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit, and which enables an electric power consumption of the representative indoor unit to be minimized, using the learning model.   
     
     
         8 . The control device as defined in  claim 7 , wherein
 the processing circuitry   derives either a combination of an evaporating temperature and a superheat degree, or a combination of a condensing temperature and a supercooling degree, which enables the air conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit, and which enables the electric power consumption of the representative indoor unit to be minimized, using a learning model obtained in a learning phase by learning either a combination of an evaporating temperature and a superheat degree or a combination of a condensing temperature and a supercooling degree which enables an air conditioning capacity of an indoor unit-for-learning being an indoor unit with a highest required air-conditioning capacity among the plurality of indoor units to conform to a required air-conditioning capacity of the indoor unit-for-learning, and which enables an electric power consumption of the indoor unit-for-learning to be minimized,   and sets either the evaporating temperature or the condensing temperature derived, as the target temperature.   
     
     
         9 . The control device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein
 the processing circuitry controls the representative indoor unit, using the target temperature, and either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree derived from the learning model, and controls for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, the each indoor unit, using the target temperature, and either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree calculated for the each indoor unit.   
     
     
         10 . The control device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 when the plurality of indoor units perform a cooling operation for air conditioning of each air-conditioned space, the processing circuitry sets a target temperature of an evaporating temperature which enables a cooling capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to a cooling capacity required for the representative indoor unit,   when the plurality of indoor units perform a heating operation for air conditioning of each air-conditioned space, the processing circuitry sets a target temperature of a condensing temperature which enables a heating capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to a heating capacity required for the representative indoor unit,   when the plurality of indoor units perform a cooling operation for air conditioning of each air-conditioned space, the processing circuitry calculates a superheat degree at which a cooling capacity of each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit conforms to a cooling capacity required for the each indoor unit when an evaporating temperature in the each indoor unit is made to conform to the target temperature for the each indoor unit, and   when the plurality of indoor units perform a heating operation for air conditioning of each air-conditioned space, the processing circuitry calculates a supercooling degree at which a heating capacity of each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit conforms to a heating capacity required for the each indoor unit when a condensing temperature in the each indoor unit is made to conform to the target temperature for the each indoor unit.   
     
     
         11 . A control method comprising:
 selecting, from among a plurality of indoor units to each of which an air-conditioned space to be air-conditioned is assigned, an indoor unit to represent the plurality of indoor units, as a representative indoor unit, based on a required air-conditioning capacity being an air conditioning capacity required for each indoor unit;   setting a target temperature of either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature which enables an air conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit to conform to the required air-conditioning capacity of the representative indoor unit, using a learning model obtained by machine learning, and   calculating, for each indoor unit of the plurality of indoor units other than the representative indoor unit, either a superheat degree or a supercooling degree at which an air conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit conforms to the required air-conditioning capacity of the each indoor unit when either an evaporating temperature or a condensing temperature in the each indoor unit is made to conform to the target temperature.