JP7628458B2 - Air Conditioning Control System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioning control system that creates an air conditioned environment that people find comfortable.

As a background technology of the present invention, for example, in an air-conditioning environment monitoring system, an indoor airflow simulation program first acquires boundary condition data such as the airflow in and out of the room, the amount of heat in and out, and the amount of heat generated indoors, then divides the indoor space into meshes based on indoor shape data and spatial grid data in which the fluid in the area to be analyzed is divided at appropriate intervals, and a simulation is performed based on the acquired boundary condition data, and the indoor temperature distribution and airflow velocity distribution are calculated in mesh units, making it possible to reflect the simulation results of the wind speed, air temperature, and sensible temperature arranged on the spatial grid data in the automatic air-conditioning control operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, in an air conditioning control system, there is a technology that uses simulation software to determine the temperature distribution in an air-conditioned room, and for each area, registers multiple countermeasure parameters that specify the control to be performed when a problem occurs, and when there is a change in the environment in a certain area, a simulation is performed adding the countermeasure parameters for that area to determine whether the countermeasure is appropriate, and if the problem cannot be solved, the next countermeasure parameter is added and the simulation is repeated, and if the problem is solved, instruction information is sent to the air conditioning equipment, and if the problem cannot be solved even after all countermeasure parameters have been added, a notification to that effect is sent (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, in an information processing system, there is a technology in which an analysis unit performs a simulation using a simulation model that includes a spatial model, which is an analytical model of a room, and an object model, which is an analytical model of objects present inside the room, and determines at least one of one or more control parameters for controlling an air conditioner, and a central monitoring device controls the air conditioner based on the determined control parameter (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Patent No. 5674193 JP 2010-139119 A JP 2018-151095 A

However, the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 above are insufficient in creating an air-conditioning environment that people find comfortable, and there is room for improvement.

In light of this situation, the main objective of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning control system that can optimally create an environment that people find comfortable.

A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a boundary condition acquisition means for acquiring, as boundary conditions, a supply air temperature of conditioned air supplied to a target space from an air conditioner as an air conditioning facility for conditioning the target space, a supply air volume of the conditioned air, and an exhaust air volume from the target space ;
an environmental information acquisition means for executing a simulation to reproduce and predict the heat and airflow distribution in the air-conditioned space based on the boundary conditions acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means in a virtual space that is divided into a large number of zones by simulating the air-conditioned space, and acquiring information on the heat and airflow for each zone as environmental information;
A thermal sensation index acquiring means for acquiring a thermal sensation index indicating a comfort level felt by a person based on the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquiring means;
The air conditioning equipment is provided with a control means for controlling the air conditioning equipment based on the thermal sensation index in a specific zone that is arbitrarily set from the multiple zones among the thermal sensation index acquired by the thermal sensation index acquisition means.

According to this configuration, even if a specific zone is an area in the real space where the installation of a sensor is restricted due to people, objects or usage, the environmental information acquisition means executes the above-mentioned simulation to acquire environmental information for each zone based on boundary conditions such as the thermal environment and airflow environment in the air-conditioned space acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means, and the thermal sensation index acquisition means acquires a thermal sensation index based on this environmental information, thereby enabling the control means to acquire the thermal sensation index in the specific zone and set the specific zone as a control point for air conditioning control.
The control means controls the air conditioning equipment based on the thermal sensation index in a specific zone that is arbitrarily set as a control point, thereby making it possible to converge the thermal sensation index in the specific zone within an appropriate range while preventing excessive air conditioning energy from being used, which would occur, for example, when the air conditioning equipment is controlled based on temperature and humidity detected by a sensor installed on a wall away from the specific zone (control point).
In other words, it is possible to achieve optimal air conditioning control that is tailored to the load distribution in the space to be air-conditioned. As a result, it is possible to promote energy savings while creating an air-conditioned environment that people find comfortable, even in specific zones where the installation of sensors is restricted.
In particular, with this configuration, a thermal sensation index in a specific zone can be obtained based on environmental information that takes into account the supply air temperature and supply air volume from the air conditioner and the exhaust air volume from the space to be air-conditioned, and the air conditioner can be accurately controlled based on the obtained thermal sensation index, allowing the thermal sensation index in the specific zone to more suitably converge within an appropriate range.
As a result, it is possible to more appropriately create an air-conditioning environment in a specific zone that people find comfortable.

The second characteristic feature of the present invention is that the boundary condition acquisition means acquires, as the boundary condition, the circulating air volume of a circulation fan that circulates conditioned air within the space to be air-conditioned as the air-conditioning equipment.

According to this configuration, a thermal sensation index in a specific zone can be obtained based on environmental information that takes into account the circulating air volume, and the air conditioning equipment can be accurately controlled based on the obtained thermal sensation index, so that the thermal sensation index in the specific zone can be more suitably converged within an appropriate range.
As a result, it is possible to more appropriately create an air-conditioning environment in a specific zone that people find comfortable.

A third characterizing configuration of the present invention lies in that the boundary condition acquisition means acquires a surface temperature of the air conditioned space as the boundary condition.

According to this configuration, a thermal sensation index in a specific zone can be obtained based on environmental information that takes into account the surface temperature of the space to be air-conditioned, and the air conditioning equipment can be accurately controlled based on the obtained thermal sensation index, so that the thermal sensation index in the specific zone can be more suitably converged within an appropriate range.
As a result, it is possible to more appropriately create an air-conditioning environment in a specific zone that people find comfortable.

Schematic diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning control system Block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning control system Air conditioning control flow chart

As an example of a form for implementing the present invention, the following description will be given with reference to the drawings of a case in which the air conditioning control system according to the present invention is applied to an indoor environment such as an event venue or conference hall where an indoor space such as an exhibition hall or conference room is a large space to be air-conditioned.
The air conditioning control system according to the present invention can also be applied to indoor environments and outdoor environments other than those described above.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air conditioning control system illustrated in this embodiment is equipped with an air conditioning equipment 10 that conditions the air conditioned space 1, a central monitoring equipment 20 that monitors and controls the air conditioning equipment 10 and the like, and a simulation server 30 that is an example of a simulation device that performs simulations to reproduce and predict the heat and airflow distribution in the air conditioned space 1.
Incidentally, the air conditioning control system may be one in which the central monitoring facility 20 and the simulation server 30 are integrated.

The air conditioning equipment 10 includes an air conditioner 11 that adjusts the temperature (supply air temperature) and humidity of the conditioned air (supply air SA) supplied to the target space 1 to be air conditioned, a heat source unit 12 that circulates a heat medium such as cold water or hot water to the air conditioner 11, a variable air volume unit 13 that adjusts the volume of the conditioned air (supply air volume) supplied from the air conditioner 11 to the target space 1 to be air conditioned, and a ceiling fan (an example of a circulation fan) 14 that circulates the conditioned air within the target space 1 to be air conditioned.
Furthermore, the number of air conditioners 11, heat source units 12, variable air volume units 13, ceiling fans 14, etc. installed in the air conditioning equipment 10, as well as the equipment configuration installed in the air conditioning equipment 10, can be changed in various ways depending on the characteristics of the space to be air-conditioned 1, such as its purpose and size.

The air conditioning equipment 10 is equipped with a temperature and humidity sensor 15 that detects the supply air temperature and supply air humidity of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 11 to the target space 1 to be air conditioned, an intake air volume sensor 16 that detects the supply air volume of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 11 to the target space 1 to be air conditioned, an exhaust air volume sensor 17 that detects the exhaust air volume from the target space 1 to be air conditioned, a circulation air volume sensor 18 that detects the volume of the conditioned air circulated by the ceiling fan 14, and a thermo camera 19 that detects and visualizes the surface temperature of people and objects present in the target space 1 to be air conditioned. The circulation air volume sensor 18 is a rotation sensor that detects the rotation speed of the ceiling fan 14 as the circulating air volume.
Furthermore, the number of temperature and humidity sensors 15, supply air volume sensors 16, exhaust air volume sensors 17, circulation air volume sensors 18, thermo cameras 19, etc. can be changed in various ways depending on the size of the space 1 to be air-conditioned, and the number of air conditioners 11, variable air volume units 13, etc.
Moreover, instead of the thermo camera 19, an infrared array sensor or the like may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning equipment 10 is provided with air flow paths including an outside air inlet path 10A that introduces outside air OA into the air conditioner 11, an air supply path 10B that guides the supply air SA from the air conditioner 11 to the air-conditioned space 1, a return air path 10C that returns air exhausted from the air-conditioned space 1 to the air conditioner 11, and an exhaust path 10D that exhausts the air returned to the air conditioner 11 to the outdoors as exhaust air EA.

The air conditioner 11 is installed in a machine room or the like adjacent to the air-conditioned space 1. The air conditioner 11 is equipped with a total heat exchanger 11A that exchanges total heat (sensible heat and latent heat) between outside air OA introduced into the air conditioner 11 and exhaust air EA discharged from the air conditioner 11, a sensible heat exchanger 11B that adjusts the temperature of the conditioned air supplied to the air-conditioned space 1 by heat exchange with a heat medium from a heat source unit 12, a supply air fan 11C that supplies the conditioned air to the air-conditioned space 1, and a return air fan 11D that returns the air in the air-conditioned space 1 to the air conditioner 11.
In addition, the air conditioning equipment 10 may be one in which the total heat exchanger 11A is provided in the air conditioner 11, one in which the total heat exchanger 11A is provided separately from the air conditioner 11, or one in which the total heat exchanger 11A itself is not provided.

The air conditioner 11 is provided with air flow paths including an air supply path 11E that generates conditioned air and directs it to the air supply path 10B, an exhaust path 11F that directs air from the air-conditioned space 1 to the exhaust path 10D as exhaust air EA, and a return air path 11G that directs air from the air-conditioned space 1 to the air supply path 11E as return air RA. The return air path 11G is provided with a damper 11H that allows the volume of the return air RA to be adjusted.

In the air conditioning equipment 10, the temperature and humidity sensor 15 and exhaust air volume sensor 17 are provided in the air conditioner 11. The exhaust air volume sensor 17 detects the total air volume of the exhaust air EA and the return air RA as the exhaust air volume from the control amount when the rotation speed of the return air fan 11D is inverter controlled. The supply air volume sensor 16 is provided in the variable air volume unit 13. The circulating air volume sensor 18 is provided in the ceiling fan 14 so as to detect the control amount when the rotation speed of the ceiling fan 14 is inverter controlled as the circulating air volume of the conditioned air.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the central monitoring facility 20 includes a central monitoring device 21 that monitors and controls all the facilities in the building (only air conditioning facility 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 2), and multiple facility controllers that monitor and control each facility (only air conditioning facility controller 22 is shown in Figures 1 and 2). The central monitoring device 21 is connected to the various facility controllers via a communication network 23 such as BACnet (registered trademark) or LONWORKS (registered trademark). Each facility controller is connected to multiple remote stations (only remote stations 24-28 provided in air conditioning facility 10 are shown in Figures 1 and 2) that monitor and control the various devices in each facility for each system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the central monitoring device 21 is equipped with boundary condition acquisition means 21A that acquires in real time, as boundary conditions in the air-conditioned space 1, the supply air temperature detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 15, the supply air volume detected by the supply air volume sensor 16, the exhaust air volume detected by the exhaust air volume sensor 17, the circulating air volume detected by the circulating air volume sensor 18, and the surface temperature in the air-conditioned space 1 detected by the thermal camera 19, via each remote station 24-28 of the air-conditioning equipment 10, the air-conditioning equipment controller 22, etc.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the central monitoring device 21 is connected to the simulation server 30 via a linking server 31, which is an example of a linking device. This makes it possible to exchange data between the simulation servers 30 that have different data storage formats, and to control air conditioning in cooperation with the simulation server 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the simulation server 30 is provided with a virtual space that is subdivided (meshed) into a large number of zones to simulate an air-conditioned space 1 in which a number of booths 2, etc. are installed, and in this virtual space, an environmental information acquisition means 30A is provided that acquires information regarding the heat and airflow for each zone as environmental information by executing a simulation that reproduces and predicts the heat and airflow distribution in the air-conditioned space 1 based on the boundary conditions acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means 21A of the central monitoring device 21.
The number of divisions of the virtual space (number of analysis meshes) can be set to various values, such as 1 million meshes or 10 million meshes, depending on the processing capacity of the simulation server 30 .

The central monitoring device 21 is equipped with a thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B that acquires a PMV (Predicted Mean Vote: thermal environment evaluation index), which is an example of a thermal sensation index that indicates the comfort felt by a person, for each of a number of zones based on the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition means 30A, and a control means 21C that controls the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index at a specific zone (control point) of the control target consisting of a single or multiple zones that is arbitrarily set from the multiple zones among the thermal sensation indexes acquired by the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B.
As the thermal sensation index, SET* (Standard New Effective Temperature) or the like other than PMV can be used.
In addition, a specific zone can be set, for example, at a location where each booth 2 is installed where people gather, and the size of the specific zone can be changed in various ways depending on the size of each booth 2 and the usage status of the room.

The thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B acquires, from the environmental information acquiring means 30A, the temperature and wind speed of the environmental information required for calculating the PMV, calculates the thermal radiation from the surface temperature in the air-conditioned space 1 acquired from the environmental information acquiring means 30A and a preset view factor of the air-conditioned space 1, and acquires the humidity from the temperature and humidity sensor 15. The thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B stores preset constant values as the amount of activity and the amount of clothing, which are human body information required for calculating the PMV. The thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B calculates and acquires the PMV based on the temperature, humidity, wind speed, thermal radiation, amount of activity, and amount of clothing.
In addition, the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B may be configured to acquire information regarding activity level and amount of clothing from a sensing device such as a camera installed in the air-conditioned space 1, and to update the activity level and amount of clothing each time the information is acquired.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the control means 21C calculates a control amount for the return air fan 11D of the air conditioner 11 based on the PMV in a specific zone among the PMVs acquired by the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B, and transmits the calculated control amount to the air conditioner remote station 24 via the air conditioning equipment controller 22 or the like, thereby controlling the rotation speed of the return air fan 11D via the air conditioner remote station 24 to adjust the exhaust air volume from the air conditioned space 1.

The control means 21C calculates the control amount for the heat source unit 12 based on the PMV in the specific zone, and transmits the calculated control amount to the remote station 25 for the heat source unit via the air conditioning equipment controller 22 or the like, thereby controlling the amount and temperature of water sent from the heat source unit 12 to the sensible heat exchanger 11B of the air conditioner 11 via the remote station 25 for the heat source unit, thereby adjusting the temperature and humidity of the supply air from the air conditioner 11 to the space to be air-conditioned 1.

The control means 21C calculates the control amount for the variable air volume unit 13 based on the PMV in a specific zone, and transmits the calculated control amount to the remote station 26 for the variable air volume unit via the air conditioning equipment controller 22 or the like, thereby controlling the damper opening of the variable air volume unit 13 via the remote station 26 for the variable air volume unit, thereby adjusting the supply air volume from the air conditioner 11 to the space to be air-conditioned 1.

The control means 21C calculates the control amount for the ceiling fan 14 based on the PMV in the specific zone, and transmits the calculated control amount to the remote station 27 for the ceiling fan via the air conditioning equipment controller 22 or the like, thereby controlling the rotation speed of the ceiling fan 14 via the remote station 27 for the ceiling fan, and adjusting the circulating air volume of the conditioned air within the air-conditioned space 1.

The control procedure for air conditioning control performed in the air conditioning control system exemplified in this embodiment will be described below based on the flowchart shown in Figure 3.

In this air conditioning control, first, the boundary condition acquisition means 21A of the central monitoring device 21 performs a boundary condition acquisition process to acquire in real time via each remote station 24-28 of the air conditioning equipment 10 and the air conditioning equipment controller 22, etc., the supply air temperature detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 15, the supply air volume detected by the supply air volume sensor 16, the exhaust air volume detected by the exhaust air volume sensor 17, the circulating air volume detected by the circulating air volume sensor 18, and the surface temperature of the air conditioned space 1 detected by the thermal camera 19 as boundary conditions in the air conditioned space 1, and then performs a boundary condition transmission process to transmit the acquired boundary conditions to the linking server 31 in the storage format of the central monitoring device 21 (steps #1-2).

When the boundary conditions are sent to the linking server 31 in the boundary condition sending process, the linking server 31 performs a boundary condition conversion process in which the boundary conditions based on the storage format of the central monitoring device 21 received are converted into boundary conditions in a storage format that can be used by the simulation server 30 and sent to the simulation server 30 (step #3).

When the boundary conditions converted by the boundary condition conversion process are transmitted to the simulation server 30, the environmental information acquisition means 30A of the simulation server 30 executes a simulation to reproduce and predict the heat and airflow distribution in the air-conditioned space 1 based on the boundary conditions acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means 21A of the central monitoring device 21 in a virtual space that is divided into multiple zones to simulate the air-conditioned space 1, and performs an environmental information acquisition process to acquire information on the heat and airflow for each zone as environmental information, and an environmental information transmission process to transmit the acquired environmental information to the linking server 31 in the storage format of the simulation server 30 (steps #4-5).

When the environmental information is sent to the linking server 31 in the environmental information transmission process, the linking server 31 performs an environmental information conversion process in which the environmental information received based on the storage format of the simulation server 30 is converted into environmental information in a storage format usable by the central monitoring device 21 and transmitted to the central monitoring device 21 (step #6).

When the environmental information converted by the environmental information conversion process is transmitted to the central monitoring device 21, the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B of the central monitoring device 21 performs a thermal sensation index acquisition process in which the PMV, which is an example of a thermal sensation index, is acquired for each of a number of zones based on the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition means 30A of the simulation server 30, and the PMV is transmitted to the control means 21C (step #7).

When the PMV is transmitted to the control means 21C in the thermal sensation index acquisition process, the control means 21C performs a control quantity calculation process to calculate control quantities for the return air fan 11D, heat source unit 12, variable air volume unit 13, and ceiling fan 14 of the air conditioner 11 in the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index in the specific zone to be controlled among the thermal sensation indexes acquired by the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B, and an air conditioning equipment control process to control the return air fan 11D, heat source unit 12, variable air volume unit 13, and ceiling fan 14 of the air conditioner 11 in the air conditioning equipment 10 via each remote station 24-27 by transmitting the calculated control quantities to predetermined remote stations 24-27 of the air conditioning equipment 10 via the air conditioning equipment controller 22, etc., so as to obtain a comfortable air-conditioned environment in the specific zone to be controlled (steps #8-9).
Then, the above-mentioned steps #1 to #9 are repeatedly performed until an instruction to end the air conditioning control is issued by manual operation or the passage of a predetermined time.

In other words, according to the air-conditioning control system exemplified in this embodiment, even if the specific zone to be controlled is an area in the real space where the installation of sensors is restricted due to people, objects or usage, the environmental information acquisition means 30A of the simulation server 30 executes the above-mentioned simulation to acquire environmental information for each zone based on the boundary conditions including the supply air temperature and surface temperature as the thermal environment in the air-conditioned space 1 acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means 21A of the central monitoring device 21, and the supply air volume, exhaust air volume and circulating air volume as the airflow environment, and based on this environmental information, the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B of the central monitoring device 21 acquires PMV as a thermal sensation index for each of a number of zones, thereby enabling the control means 21C of the central monitoring device 21 to acquire the PMV in the specific zone, and making it possible to set the specific zone as a control point for air-conditioning control.
The control means 21C controls the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index in a specific zone that is arbitrarily set as a control point, thereby making it possible to converge the thermal sensation index in the specific zone within an appropriate range while preventing excessive air conditioning energy from being used, which would occur, for example, when the air conditioning equipment 10 is controlled based on the temperature and humidity detected by a sensor installed on a wall away from the specific zone (control point).
As a result, it becomes possible to realize optimal air conditioning control that matches the load distribution in the air-conditioned space 1, thereby promoting energy savings and creating an air-conditioned environment that people find comfortable, even in specific zones where sensor installation is restricted.

[Another embodiment]
Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described.
The configurations of the respective alternative embodiments described below are not limited to being applied alone, but may also be applied in combination with the above-described embodiment or other alternative embodiments.

(1) In the above embodiment, the air conditioning control system is configured such that the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B acquires a thermal sensation index based on the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition means 30A, and the control means 21C controls the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index in a specific zone that is arbitrarily set from among multiple zones among the thermal sensation indexes acquired by the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured, for example, such that the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B acquires a thermal sensation index in a specific zone that is arbitrarily set from among multiple zones based on the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition means 30A, and the control means 21C controls the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index in the specific zone.

(2) In the above embodiment, an air conditioning control system is illustrated as being configured to connect the central monitoring device 21 and the simulation server 30 via the link server 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the data format of the central monitoring device 21 and the simulation server 30 is unified, the central monitoring device 21 and the simulation server 30 may be configured to be connected via a communication network 23 such as BACnet (registered trademark) or LONWORKS (registered trademark) without going through the link server 31.

(3) In the above embodiment, the boundary condition acquisition means 21A is configured to acquire the supply air temperature, supply air volume, exhaust air volume, circulating air volume, and surface temperature as boundary conditions in the air-conditioned space 1, but this is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to the supply air temperature, supply air volume, exhaust air volume, circulating air volume, and surface temperature, the boundary condition acquisition means 21A may be configured to acquire the supply air humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 15, the blowing angle of the conditioned air relative to the air-conditioned space 1, the size of the conditioned air outlet relative to the air-conditioned space 1, etc., as boundary conditions in the air-conditioned space 1.

(4) In the above embodiment, the thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B is provided in the central monitoring device 21, but this is not limited thereto and may be provided in, for example, the simulation server 30.
Moreover, instead of acquiring the humidity from the temperature and humidity sensor 15, the thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B may calculate the humidity through a simulation.

(5) In the above embodiment, the temperature and humidity sensor 15 is provided in the air conditioner 11, but this is not limiting. For example, the temperature and humidity sensor 15 may be provided in the air supply path 10B that guides the supply air SA from the air conditioner 11 to the target space 1 to be air-conditioned, or on a wall surface that forms the target space 1 to be air-conditioned.

(6) In the above embodiment, as an air conditioning control system, the environmental information acquisition means 30A executes a simulation to acquire environmental information based on the boundary conditions in the air conditioned space 1 acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means 21A, and each time the thermal sensation index acquisition means 21B acquires a thermal sensation index based on the environmental information, the thermal sensation index is transmitted to the control means 21C, and the control means 21C sets a control amount for the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index, controls the air conditioning equipment 10 with the control amount, and reflects the control amount one by one in the air conditioned space 1, which is a real space, thereby converging the thermal sensation index within an appropriate range. In the above example, however, instead of this, for example, the environmental information acquiring means 30A may set the control amount of the air conditioning equipment 10 based on the thermal sensation index acquired by the thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B, execute a simulation taking into account the control amount to acquire environmental information, and repeat the control operation in which the thermal sensation index acquiring means 21B acquires the thermal sensation index based on the environmental information until the thermal sensation index converges within an appropriate range in the virtual space, and when the thermal sensation index converges within the appropriate range, perform a reverse analysis to transmit the control amount of the air conditioning equipment 10 at that time as an optimal solution to the control means 21C.

1 Air-conditioned space 10 Air-conditioning equipment 11 Air conditioner 14 Circulation fan 19 Thermo camera 21A Boundary condition acquisition means 21B Thermal sensation index acquisition means 21C Control means 30A Environmental information acquisition means

Claims (3)

a boundary condition acquisition means for acquiring, as boundary conditions, a supply air temperature of conditioned air supplied to a target space from an air conditioner as air conditioning equipment for conditioning the target space, a supply air volume of the conditioned air, and an exhaust air volume from the target space ;
an environmental information acquisition means for executing a simulation to reproduce and predict the heat and airflow distribution in the air-conditioned space based on the boundary conditions acquired by the boundary condition acquisition means in a virtual space that is divided into a large number of zones by simulating the air-conditioned space, and acquiring information on the heat and airflow for each zone as environmental information;
A thermal sensation index acquiring means for acquiring a thermal sensation index indicating a comfort level felt by a person based on the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquiring means;
The air conditioning control system is provided with a control means for controlling the air conditioning equipment based on the thermal/cold sensation index in a specific zone that is arbitrarily set from the multiple zones among the thermal/cold sensation index acquired by the thermal/cold sensation index acquisition means. The air conditioning control system according to claim 1, wherein the boundary condition acquisition means acquires, as the boundary condition, the circulating air volume of a circulation fan that circulates conditioned air within the space to be air-conditioned as the air conditioning equipment. The air conditioning control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boundary condition acquisition means acquires the surface temperature of the air-conditioned space as the boundary condition.

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