Air control system

Abstract

In an air-conditioning control system, a ventilating device performs ventilation between an indoor space and an outdoor space, and an absence detecting unit for detecting absence of a human within the indoor space. An air conditioning controller adapted to operated, when the absence of the human is detected by the absence detecting unit, the ventilating device during at least a part of an absence period to control a thermal environment within the indoor space.

1 . An air-conditioning control system, comprising:
 a ventilating device for performing ventilation between an indoor space and an outdoor space;   an absence detecting unit for detecting absence of a human within the indoor space; and   an air conditioning controller adapted to operate, when the absence of the human is detected by the absence detecting unit, the ventilating device during at least a part of an absence period to control a thermal environment within the indoor space.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air conditioning device for cooling or heating the indoor space,   wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to operate, when the absence of the human is detected by the absence detecting unit, operate the ventilating device during at least a part of the absence period such that, when operating the air conditioning device next time, the thermal environment within the indoor space is controlled in such a way as to reduce a power consumption of the air conditioning device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the absence detecting unit is adapted to, when the absence of the human is detected by the absence detecting unit, make determination whether the absence period is a long period equal to or longer than a threshold or a short period shorter than the threshold, and the air conditioning controller is adapted to control the ventilating device in different control patterns depending on whether the absence period is the long period or the short period. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the threshold is varied with at least one of year, month, day and hour at which the determination is made. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the absence detecting unit determines whether the absence period is the long period or the short period by estimating an end time of the absence period, and the air conditioning controller is adapted to continuously operate the ventilating device throughout the absence period if the absence period is the short period, and start an operation of the ventilating device a specified time earlier than the end time of the absence period if the absence period is the long period. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a photovoltaic power generating device for generating electric power by using sunlight to supply the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device,   
       wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to operate the air conditioning device and the ventilating device throughout the absence period if the absence period is the long period and the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and operate the ventilating device a specified time earlier than the end time of the absence period regardless of the magnitude of the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a photovoltaic power generating device for generating electric power by using sunlight to supply the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device;   a battery for storing the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device and supplying the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device; and   a reverse power flow control unit for reversely supplying the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device to a commercial power supply system,   
       wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to control, if the absence period is the long period, the reverse power flow control unit to reversely supply the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device to the commercial power supply system instead of supplying the electric power to the battery. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a photovoltaic power generating device for generating electric power by using sunlight to supply the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device;   a battery for storing the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device and supplying the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device; and   a reverse power flow control unit for reversely supplying the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device to a commercial power supply system,   wherein the absence detecting unit estimates an end time of the absence period and makes determination whether the absence period is a short period shorter than a first threshold, a first long period equal to or longer than the first threshold but shorter than a second threshold, or a second long period longer than the second threshold, and   wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to continuously operate the ventilating device throughout the absence period if the absence period is the short period, start an operation of the ventilating device a specified time earlier than the end time of the absence period if the absence period is the first long period or the second long period, and control the reverse power flow control unit to reversely supply the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device to the commercial power supply system instead of supplying the electric power to the battery if the absence period is the second long period,   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to control the ventilating device in different control patterns depending on whether the absence period is the short period, the first long period or the second long period. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and the second threshold is varied with at least one of year, month, day and hour at which the determination is made. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second threshold is varied with at least one of year, month, day and hour at which the determination is made. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the absence detecting unit determines whether the absence period is the long period or the short period by estimating an end time of the absence period, and the air conditioning controller is adapted to continuously operate the ventilating device throughout the absence period if the absence period is the short period, and start an operation of the ventilating device a specified time earlier than the end time of the absence period if the absence period is the long period. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a photovoltaic power generating device for generating electric power by using sunlight to supply the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device,   wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to operate the air conditioning device and the ventilating device throughout the absence period if the absence period is the long period and the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and operate the ventilating device a specified time earlier than the end time of the absence period regardless of the magnitude of the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a photovoltaic power generating device for generating electric power by using sunlight to supply the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device;   a battery for storing the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device and supplying the electric power to the air conditioning device and the ventilating device; and   a reverse power flow control unit for reversely supplying the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device to a commercial power supply system,   wherein the air conditioning controller is adapted to control, if the absence period is the long period, the reverse power flow control unit to reversely supply the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generating device to the commercial power supply system instead of supplying the electric power to the battery.