Patent Application
20240011656
The present disclosure relates to a determination system.
As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-215760, there is known a system that determines an appropriate air-conditioning system on the basis of a total cost that is the sum of an initial cost and a running cost of an air-conditioning installation.
A determination system of a first aspect determines an appropriate air-conditioning system. The determination system includes a control unit, a storage unit, and an input unit. The control unit generates a first system that is a candidate for an air-conditioning system to be determined. The control unit acquires first information relating to weighting of an initial cost and a running cost of the first system in a total cost of the first system including the initial cost and the running cost. The control unit calculates the total cost on the basis of the initial cost, the running cost, and the first information. The storage unit stores the first system and the total cost calculated by the control unit in association with each other. The first information acquired by the control unit is input into the input unit. The control unit determines, from the first system stored in the storage unit, the first system the total cost of which satisfies a first criterion as the appropriate air-conditioning system.
A determination system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is used to determine an air-conditioning system 100. The air-conditioning system 100 that is a target of the determination by the determination system 10 is installed in a building (property), and is mainly constituted by outdoor units, indoor units, and ventilation devices. A building in which the air-conditioning system 100 is installed is a relatively large facility, such as an office building, a school, and a hospital.
As shown in
The numbers and connection states of outdoor units, indoor units, and ventilation devices included in the air-conditioning system 100 are not limited. For example, the air-conditioning system 100 may not include a ventilation device. For example, the air-conditioning system 100 may have a configuration in which one outdoor unit and one indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe.
Before installing the air-conditioning system 100 in a building, the configuration of the air-conditioning system 100 to be installed in the building needs to be determined. The builder, the manager, and the like of the building use the determination system 10 to determine, from among candidates (first systems) for an air-conditioning system 100 to be determined, a candidate for an air-conditioning system 100 that satisfies a predetermined criterion (first criterion) as an air-conditioning system 100 appropriate for installment in the building. In the present embodiment, as shown in
The determination system 10 is, for example, a piece of electronic equipment, such as a personal computer (PC) or a mobile terminal. The determination system 10 is constituted by one or a plurality of computers. In a case where the determination system 10 is constituted by a plurality of computers, the plurality of computers may be connected to each other via a network.
As shown in
The control unit 11 is a device for executing arithmetic processing for implementing the function of the determination system 10. Specifically, the control unit 11 is an integrated circuit, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit 11 is connected to the storage unit 12, the input unit 13, and the output unit 14 via a wired or wireless communication line. The control unit 11 executes a program stored in the storage unit 12 to perform predetermined arithmetic processing by using data stored in the storage unit 12 and data received from the input unit 13, and transmits data obtained as a result to the output unit 14.
The storage unit 12 is a device for storing programs and data for implementing the function of the determination system 10. Specifically, the storage unit 12 is a main storage device, such as a read-only memory (ROM) and a random-access memory (RAM), and an auxiliary storage device, such as a hard disk drive and a solid-state drive. The storage unit 12 temporarily stores, for example, data used for arithmetic processing by the control unit 11, data obtained as a result of arithmetic processing by the control unit 11, data received from the input unit 13, and data to be transmitted to the output unit 14.
The input unit 13 is a device for a user of the determination system 10 to input predetermined data. Specifically, the input unit 13 is a keyboard of a PC and a touch panel of a mobile terminal. Predetermined data (first information) necessary for implementing the function of the determination system 10 is input into the input unit 13. Data input into the input unit 13 is transmitted to the control unit 11 and the storage unit 12.
The output unit 14 is a device for notifying a user of the determination system 10 of predetermined data. Specifically, the output unit 14 is displays of a PC and a mobile terminal. The output unit 14 outputs predetermined data relating to the function of the determination system 10. The output unit 14 receives predetermined data from the control unit 11 and the storage unit 12 and outputs the received data.
A process in which the determination system 10 determines an installation system 120 from among candidate systems 110 will be described with reference to the flowchart of
In step S11, candidate systems 110 are generated. Specifically, the control unit 11 generates the candidate systems 110 on the basis of data relating to a plurality of air-conditioning systems 100 (hereinafter referred to as “system-relating data”) stored in advance in the storage unit 12. As the system-relating data, the storage unit 12 stores at least an initial cost and a running cost of each of the air-conditioning systems 100.
The initial cost is a cost required to install the air-conditioning system 100 in a building. Specifically, the initial cost is the cost of equipment (outdoor units, indoor units, and ventilation devices) constituting the air-conditioning system 100, and the cost of the construction for installing the air-conditioning system 100 in a building. The initial cost depends on the structure of a building in which the air-conditioning system 100 is to be installed, the numbers and models of equipment constituting the air-conditioning system 100, the length of a required refrigerant pipe, and the like. The initial cost is a cost incurred only when installing the air-conditioning system 100 in a building.
The running cost is a cost required for using the air-conditioning system 100 installed in a building. Specifically, the running cost is the cost of electric power required to operate equipment constituting the air-conditioning system 100, and the maintenance cost of the air-conditioning system 100. The running cost is a cost that is periodically incurred while the air-conditioning system 100 installed in a building continues to be used. The running cost depends on the numbers and types of equipment constituting the air-conditioning system 100, the length of the refrigerant pipe, the thermal loads of the zones to 40c, and the like. The running cost tends to gradually increase as the use period of the air-conditioning system 100 is longer due to deterioration of equipment constituting the air-conditioning system 100, and the like.
For example, the control unit 11 may set all air-conditioning systems 100 included in the system-relating data as candidate systems 110. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may select some air-conditioning systems 100 from all the air-conditioning systems 100 included in the system-relating data, and set the selected air-conditioning systems 100 as candidate systems 110. For example, a user, a manager, and the like of the determination system 10 may register system-relating data in the determination system 10 in advance and store the system-relating data in the storage unit 12. Alternatively, the determination system 10 may receive system-relating data from an external server or the like via a network and store the system-relating data in the storage unit 12.
In step S12, weighting information (first information) used for calculating the total cost of each of the air-conditioning systems 100 included in the candidate systems 110 is acquired. Specifically, the control unit 11 acquires weighting information input by a user of the determination system 10 using the input unit 13.
The total cost of the air-conditioning system 100 is a cost calculated on the basis of the initial cost and the running cost. The weighting information is information relating to weighting of the initial cost and the running cost in the total cost of the air-conditioning system 100. Specifically, the weighting information is information necessary for acquiring a weighting coefficient of the initial cost (hereinafter referred to as a “first coefficient”) and a weighting coefficient of the running cost (hereinafter referred to as a “second coefficient”). A total cost TC, an initial cost IC, a first coefficient w1, a running cost RC, and a second coefficient w2 satisfy the following Expression (1).
TC=IC·w1+RC·w2 (1)
The first coefficient w1 and the second coefficient w2 are any numerical values equal to or larger than zero. For example, the first coefficient w1 and the second coefficient w2 may be numerical values satisfying a predetermined condition, such as the following Expression (2).
w1+w2=1 (2)
From Expression (1), the total cost TC is affected by the ratio of the first coefficient w1 to the second coefficient w2. Specifically, in a case where the ratio (w1/w2) of the first coefficient w1 to the second coefficient w2 is larger than one, the total cost TC is more affected by the initial cost IC than by the running cost RC. Alternatively, in a case where the ratio (w2/w1) of the second coefficient w2 to the first coefficient w1 is larger than one, the total cost TC is more affected by the running cost RC than by the initial cost IC.
In step S13, the total cost of each of the air-conditioning systems 100 included in the candidate systems 110 is calculated using the weighting information acquired in step S12. Specifically, the control unit 11 calculates the total cost TC of the air-conditioning system 100 on the basis of the initial cost IC, the first coefficient w1, the running cost RC, and the second coefficient w2 of the air-conditioning system 100 by using Expression (1). In order to calculate the total cost, the control unit 11 acquires the initial cost and the running cost stored in the storage unit 12. In order to calculate the total cost, the control unit 11 acquires the first coefficient and the second coefficient on the basis of the weighting information input by the user of the determination system 10 using the input unit 13. A specific example of the weighting information will be described later.
In step S14, each of the air-conditioning systems 100 included in the candidate systems 110 and the total cost calculated in step S13 are stored in association with each other. For example, the control unit 11 stores the total cost of each of the air-conditioning systems 100 in a database stored in the storage unit 12.
In step S15, from the candidate systems 110, an air-conditioning system 100 satisfying a predetermined criterion is determined as an installation system 120. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines, as an installation system 120, an air-conditioning system 100 whose total cost satisfies a predetermined ascertainment criterion (first criterion) from among the air-conditioning systems 100 (candidate systems 110) stored in the storage unit 12 in association with the total costs. For example, the control unit 11 determines, as an installation system 120, an air-conditioning system 100 having the minimum total cost from among all the air-conditioning systems 100 included in the candidate systems 110.
In step S16, the installation system 120 determined in step S15 is output. Specifically, the control unit 11 transmits data relating to the installation system 120 to the output unit 14. The output unit 14 notifies the user of the determination system 10 of the appropriate air-conditioning system 100 determined on the basis of the weighting information input by the user by, for example, displaying data relating to the installation system 120 on the display.
A specific example of the weighting information input by a user of the determination system 10 using the input unit 13 will be described.
In the present example, a user of the determination system 10 inputs weighting information by inputting a value of the first coefficient and a value of the second coefficient. As shown in
For example, a user of the determination system 10 may directly input a value of the first coefficient and a value of the second coefficient into the area Flt and the area F12, respectively. Alternatively, as shown in
In the present example, as shown in
In the present example, a user of the determination system 10 inputs the weighting information by selecting a desired candidate from among candidates for combinations of the first coefficient and the second coefficient (second information). As shown in
As shown in
In the present example, as shown in
In the present example, a user of the determination system 10 inputs the weighting information by inputting information relating to which of the initial cost and the running cost is to be emphasized. As shown in
A user of the determination system 10 selects one of the check boxes F31 and F32. The storage unit 12 stores in advance a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient that is set on the basis of which of the initial cost and the running cost is to be emphasized. For example, a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient such that the first coefficient is higher than the second coefficient in a case where the “initial-cost priority” check box F31 is selected is stored in the storage unit 12. Further, a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient such that the second coefficient is higher than the first coefficient in a case where the “running-cost priority” check box F32 is selected is stored in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 acquires the first coefficient and the second coefficient on the basis of the selected check box F31 or F32, which is input weighting information.
In the present example, as shown in
In the present example, a user of the determination system 10 inputs weighting information by inputting information relating to the operation form of a building in which the air-conditioning system 100 is to be installed. As shown in
A user of the determination system 10 inputs information relating to the type of the building into the area F41. For example, as shown in
In the present example, as shown in
In recent years, customers' requests at a time of determining an air-conditioning system 100 to be installed in a building have been diversified. Therefore, for example, even if an air-conditioning system 100 whose value obtained by simply summing the initial cost and the running cost is low is determined, there is a risk that the customer's request is not satisfied. Specifically, in a case of a customer who plans to install an air-conditioning system 100 in a building and sell the building immediately, it is preferable to more emphasize the initial cost than emphasizing the running cost to determine the air-conditioning system 100 in order to satisfy the customer's request. Alternatively, in a case of a customer who plans to use an air-conditioning system 100 for a period longer than the service life recommended by the manufacturer of the air-conditioning system 100, it is preferable to more emphasize the running cost than emphasizing the initial cost to determine the air-conditioning system 100 in order to satisfy the customer's request.
In order to determine an appropriate air-conditioning system 100 to be installed in a building, the determination system 10 of the present embodiment calculates the total cost of the air-conditioning system 100 on the basis of which of the initial cost and the running cost of the air-conditioning system 100 is emphasized by a customer who is a user of the determination system 10. The total cost of the air-conditioning system 100 calculated by the determination system 10 is a cost optimized on the basis of the customer's request. Therefore, the determination system 10 can determine an appropriate air-conditioning system 100 that reflects the customer's request.
Further, the determination system 10 determines, as an installation system 120, an air-conditioning system 100 whose total cost satisfies a predetermined ascertainment criterion from among candidate systems 110 on the basis of weighting information input by the customer using the input unit 13. The weighting information is selected by the customer, and is information relating to which of the initial cost and the running cost the customer wants to emphasize. Thus, the determination system 10 can determine an appropriate air-conditioning system 100 that reflects the customer's request by proposing an air-conditioning system 100 whose total cost optimized on the basis of the customer's request is lower.
The determination system 10 of the embodiment determines one air-conditioning system 100 as an installation system 120 from among candidate systems 110. However, the determination system 10 may determine a plurality of air-conditioning systems 100 as installation systems 120 from among candidate systems 110.
In this case, the control unit 11 may determine all air-conditioning systems 100 whose total costs satisfy a predetermined assessment criterion (second criterion) as installation systems 120 from among candidate systems 110. The air-conditioning systems 100 satisfying the predetermined assessment criterion are, for example, systems having the first to fifth lowest total costs or systems having total costs equal to or lower than a predetermined value. The output unit 14 notifies a user of the determination system 10 of appropriate air-conditioning systems 100 determined on the basis of weighting information input by the user by displaying data relating to all the installation systems 120 determined by the control unit 11 on the display. The user of the determination system 10 can select an air-conditioning system 100 to be actually installed in a building from among the plurality of installation systems 120 displayed on the output unit 14.
The determination system 10 of the embodiment can also be utilized to determine a system except the air-conditioning system 100.
Further, the determination system 10 of the embodiment can also be utilized to determine equipment. For example, the determination system 10 can also be utilized to determine equipment, such as an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.
After acquiring weighting information input into the input unit 13, for example, the control unit 11 may further acquire a first coefficient and a second coefficient input into the input unit 13. In this case, after inputting weighting information using the input unit 13 to set weighting of the initial cost and the running cost, a user of the determination system 10 can change the weighting of the initial cost and the running cost. Thus, the user of the determination system 10 can later change the weighting of the initial cost and the running cost to more appropriate weighting according to the operation state of a building in which the air-conditioning system 100 is to be installed.
For example, the control unit 11 may acquire a second coefficient based on the use period of a building in which an air-conditioning system 100 included in candidate systems 110 is to be used, on the basis of weighting information input into the input unit 13. Specifically, the control unit 11 may automatically set a second coefficient according to a desired use period of the building desired by a user of the determination system 10. As the desired use period of the building, for example, the total-cost evaluation years input into the displays shown in
The determination system 10 determines an appropriate air-conditioning system 100 as an installation system 120 from among candidate systems 110 constituted by a plurality of candidates for the air-conditioning system 100. The control unit 11 generates the candidate systems 110 on the basis of data relating to a plurality of air-conditioning systems 100 stored in advance in the storage unit 12 (system-relating data).
However, the control unit 11 may generate candidate systems 110 on the basis of data relating to air-conditioning systems 100 (third systems) input by a user of the determination system 10 using the input unit 13. In this case, data relating to the air-conditioning systems 100 included in the candidate systems 110 is further input into the input unit 13 by the user of the determination system 10. Thus, the user of the determination system 10 can set in advance candidates for air-conditioning systems 100 as determination targets.
The control unit 11 may generate candidate systems 110 on the basis of information (third information) relating to the installation state of an air-conditioning system 100 input by a user of the determination system 10 using the input unit 13. In this case, the user of the determination system 10 further inputs information relating to the installation state into the input unit 13. The information relating to the installation state is, for example, information relating to the dimensions of a building in which the air-conditioning system 100 is to be installed, and the dimensions of a space in which indoor units of the air-conditioning system 100 are installed. An appropriate air-conditioning system 100 to be installed in a building preferably satisfies minimum specifications determined on the basis of the information relating to the installation state. Therefore, the determination system 10 generates candidate systems 110 on the basis of the information relating to the installation state, and thus the user of the determination system 10 can appropriately determine an air-conditioning system 100 suitable for the installation state of the air-conditioning system 100.
For example, the control unit 11 may ascertain whether or not the initial cost and the running cost satisfy a predetermined assessment criterion (third criterion), and may not determine, as an installation system 120, an air-conditioning system 100 that is included in candidate systems 110 and does not satisfy the predetermined assessment criterion. The predetermined assessment criterion is, for example, a criterion relating to whether or not each of the initial cost and the running cost is within a predetermined range. For example, a user of the determination system 10 may input information relating to the predetermined assessment criterion using the input unit 13. For example, a user of the determination system 10 may input ranges of the initial cost and the running cost desired by the user.
In the present modification, the control unit 11 does not determine, as an installation system 120, an air-conditioning system 100 whose initial cost and running cost exceed predetermined values before or after calculation of the total cost. Thus, the determination system 10 can exclude an air-conditioning system 100 whose initial cost and running cost are not within the ranges desired by the user from air-conditioning systems 100 as targets of the determination.
In the present modification, before calculation of the total cost, the control unit 11 may generate candidate systems 110 such that an air-conditioning system 100 whose initial cost and running cost do not satisfy the predetermined assessment criterion is not included in the candidate systems 110.
In the present embodiment, as shown in
However, as shown in
In the present modification, as shown in
A user of the determination system 10 selects one of the check boxes F51, F52, and F53. The storage unit 12 stores in advance a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient that is set on the basis of which of the initial cost, the running cost, and the total cost is emphasized. For example, a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient is stored in the storage unit 12 so that the first coefficient is higher than the second coefficient in a case where the “initial-cost priority” check box F51 is selected. Further, a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient is stored in the storage unit 12 so that the second coefficient is higher than the first coefficient in a case where the “running-cost priority” check box F52 is selected. Further, a combination of the first coefficient and the second coefficient is stored in the storage unit 12 so that the first coefficient is equal to the second coefficient in a case where the “total-cost priority” check box F53 is selected. The control unit 11 acquires the first coefficient and the second coefficient on the basis of the selected check box F51, F52, or F53, which is input weighting information.
In the present modification, as shown in
In Modification H, the control unit 11 may calculate the initial cost and the running cost of each of air-conditioning systems 100 included in candidate systems 110, and the output unit 14 may display the calculation result.
In the present modification, a user of the determination system 10 can efficiently select an appropriate air-conditioning system 100 based on the initial cost, the running cost, and the total cost by referring to the cost output display shown in
The control unit 11 may correct the running cost and the like of an air-conditioning system 100 on the basis of a parameter, such as the margin rate of the capacity of the equipment of the air-conditioning system 100. In this case, a user of the determination system 10 may input a parameter that affects the total cost of the air-conditioning system 100, such as the margin rate, using the input unit 13.
For example, the control unit 11 may select some air-conditioning systems 100 from all air-conditioning systems 100 included in system-relating data, and set the selected air-conditioning systems 100 as candidate systems 110. In this case, the control unit 11 may select air-conditioning systems 100 on the basis of a predetermined condition except the initial cost and the running cost to generate candidate systems 110.
For example, the control unit 11 may generate candidate systems 110 such that an air-conditioning system 100 whose pieces of equipment (outdoor units, indoor units, and ventilation devices) have capacity, design, a model number, and a price that satisfy predetermined conditions, or whose refrigerant pipe installed in the building has a length that satisfies a predetermined condition is included in the candidate systems 110. In this case, a user of the determination system 10 may input information relating to the predetermined conditions using the input unit 13.
Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, it will be understood that various changes in the forms and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-053139 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2022/14432 filed on Mar. 25, 2022, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-053139, filed on Mar. 26, 2021. The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2022/014432 | Mar 2022 | US |
| Child | 18371740 | US |
