IP Library Granted Patent US 12,392,521
Granted Patent B2
US 12,392,521 · App. 17/794,813 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Air conditioning system

Inventors: Mamoru Hamada (Tokyo, JP); Hayato Horie (Tokyo, JP); Hidekazu Tani (Bassano del Grappa, IT); Guido Dacco (Bassano del Grappa, IT)
Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems S.p.A.
F24F11/84F24D3/18F24F11/85F24D2220/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,392,521
App. No.
17/794,813
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air conditioning system includes: a heat source unit; an indoor unit; a water circuit configured by connecting a supply pipe and a return pipe; a flow rate adjusting valve provided in the water circuit; a supply air temperature control unit configured to adjust a flow rate of the flow rate adjusting valve; a pump provided in the water circuit; a pump controller configured to control a rotation speed of the pump; a return water temperature sensor; a supply water temperature sensor; a supply water temperature control unit; and a target supply water temperature updating unit configured to change a target supply water temperature to which a supply water temperature detected by the supply water temperature sensor is to reach based on a temperature difference between a return water temperature detected by the return water temperature sensor and the supply water temperature.

Claims (36)

1. An air conditioning system, comprising:

a heat source unit capable of adjusting a cooling capacity or a heating capacity for generating cold or hot water;

an indoor unit configured to exchange heat between sucked air and the cold or hot water and blow out the air;

a water circuit configured by connecting a supply pipe and a return pipe so that the cold or hot water circulates to the heat source unit and the indoor unit;

a flow rate adjusting valve provided in the water circuit and capable of adjusting a flow rate of the cold or hot water;

an indoor unit controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the flow rate adjusting valve;

a pump provided in the water circuit, of which rotation speed is adjustable;

a pump controller configured to control the rotation speed of the pump;

a return water temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the cold or hot water flowing through the return pipe;

a supply water temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the cold or hot water flowing through the supply pipe; and

a heat source unit controller configured to

adjust the cooling capacity or the heating capacity of the heat source unit so that the supply water temperature detected by the supply water temperature sensor becomes a target supply water temperature, and

change the target supply water temperature based on a temperature difference between the return water temperature detected by the return water temperature sensor and the supply water temperature,

wherein, when the heat source unit cools the cold or hot water, the heat source unit controller is configured to decrease the target supply water temperature when the temperature difference between the return water temperature and the supply water temperature is smaller than a preset first threshold value,

wherein the heat source unit comprises:

a water-air heat exchanger provided in series with the water circuit so that the cold or hot water flowing from the return pipe flows to the water-air heat exchanger; and

a flow path switching device configured to close an inlet side of the water-air heat exchanger and divert the cold or hot water flowing from the return pipe to an outlet side of the water-air heat exchanger, and

wherein, when the heat source unit cools the cold or hot water, the heat source unit controller is configured to decrease the target supply water temperature when the temperature difference is smaller than a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value when the cold or hot water flows through the water-air heat exchanger.

2. An air conditioning system, comprising:

a heat source unit capable of adjusting a cooling capacity or a heating capacity for generating cold or hot water;

an indoor unit configured to exchange heat between sucked air and the cold or hot water and blow out the air;

a water circuit configured by connecting a supply pipe and a return pipe so that the cold or hot water circulates to the heat source unit and the indoor unit;

a flow rate adjusting valve provided in the water circuit and capable of adjusting a flow rate of the cold or hot water;

an indoor unit controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the flow rate adjusting valve;

a pump provided in the water circuit, of which rotation speed is adjustable;

a pump controller configured to control the rotation speed of the pump;

a return water temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the cold or hot water flowing through the return pipe;

a supply water temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the cold or hot water flowing through the supply pipe; and

a heat source unit controller configured to

adjust the cooling capacity or the heating capacity of the heat source unit so that the supply water temperature detected by the supply water temperature sensor becomes a target supply water temperature, and

change the target supply water temperature based on a temperature difference between the return water temperature detected by the return water temperature sensor and the supply water temperature,

wherein, when the heat source unit cools the cold or hot water, the heat source unit controller is configured to decrease the target supply water temperature when the temperature difference between the return water temperature and the supply water temperature is smaller than a preset first threshold value,

wherein the water circuit includes:

a bypass passage having one end connected to the supply pipe and the other end connected to the return pipe on the inlet side of the pump; and

a bypass valve configured to open or close the bypass passage, and

wherein, when the bypass passage is opened, the heat source unit controller is configured to increase the target supply water temperature when the temperature difference is larger than a third threshold value smaller than the first threshold value.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC HYDRONICS & IT COOLING SYSTEMS S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 073574/0200 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2022
From: HAMADA, MAMORU; HORIE, HAYATO; TANI, HIDEKAZU; DACCO, GUIDO
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION; MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC HYDRONICS & IT COOLING SYSTEMS S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 060596/0482 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20425012 · Mar 16, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230065130A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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