WO2007102148A2 - System and method for selecting an optimal air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method amenable to be computerized enabling optimal selection of an air conditioning system to be installed in a given structure, comprise the stages of receiving / collecting of user dependent subjective data relating to said structure and receiving / collecting of objective data relating to a market available stock list of air conditioning systems and to accompanying products that might serve for materializing said installation and defining requirements of said air conditioning system in accordance with said subjective and objective data and calculating and ascription of the grades of the adaptations of various parts of said air conditioning system residing in an information data bank, based on their degree of fitting to said requirements and selecting several configurations of a viable air conditioning system and adapting the mode of installation together with the preparation of the lists of quantities and presenting the results in a specifications document.

Description

System and Method for Selecting an Optimal Air Conditioning System

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a system and method meant to provide computerized aided optimum selection of an air conditioner (AC) for defined premises in general, and especially, within the framework of the variety of available systems (wherein all their specifications are known), to use an expert system covering all aspects of selecting the best cost efficient and performance optimized system for a given site and considering all its specific parameters.

Background of the invention

The problem of optimally tailoring an air conditioning system to a structure with a myriad of unique parameters is well known from the early days of the air conditioning era.

The diverse characteristics of the structure intended to be air-conditioned influence the choice of an optimal selection of the system that would eventually be installed. Between the structure's physical properties that are relevant and must be considered, easier to note -

• The volume of the space and its dimensions;

• The construction materials of the walls, the floor and the ceiling (for example, concrete blocks, prefab building items, concrete, wood, steel, marble and so on); • The type of the roof;

• Geographical influence - the exposure directions of the structure's walls (north, east etc.) directions of the walls as per the (four) cardinal points;

• The existence of windows and other large openings — and their dimensions;

• For windows — the type of their glass panels: regular, double plates, triplex, coatings reducing / reflecting sun radiation passage and other kinds;

• Direct exposure to the sun rays (of external walls, upper floors - extra exposure).

In addition, there are also other items to be considered that contribute a marked influence on the selection of an optimal air conditioning system - for example, the contents of the objects, equipment and instruments found in the structure and even also to their intended usage (and operation times). These include, inter alia -

• The type of illumination being used, its amount and intensity (as for example halogen, fluorescent or regular incandescent); • Heat emanating / radiating equipment (ovens, refrigerators and the like);

• Computerizing equipment and equipment that requires low temperatures (for example, room with servers or storage);

• A requirement for changing / changeable outer air environment versus making do with recycled internal air (supply); • Unique and/or dedicated sites such as, for example, wine storage cellars / rooms that specify special temperature and humidity levels, and - as well, such usage attributes as the (habitual) number of persons - and/or fauna envisaged to inhabit the rooms.

To all this vast collection of varying parameters, it is of course necessary to add the prevailing atmosphere and weather conditions of the locale where the air conditioning system would be installed, such as lowest temperatures, maximum and average year round temperatures, relative humidity and the like.

On the other end, the proliferation of different air conditioning systems existing in the market (to mention a few: window air conditioners, split systems, desert coolers, central

(building) systems and more), each one with its different specifications, performance characteristics and prices - which renders the act of selecting "the optimal system" to be a rather difficult task.

Moreover, any professional experienced in this field would understand that installing an air conditioner system is involved in employing many accompanying products, such as hoses and pipes of various materials and diameters - for conducting air and gas, central hubs, supplementary plastic accessories and products (covers, grilles, conduits for power supply lines) and other regular required items. As it is, also of those there exist a large variety of manufacturers offering various products of differing materials (and their properties), prices and quality levels - once more presenting a difficult task of making the right and optimal choice. A wrong match of the air conditioner system to the structure would entail squandering energy (resulting also in harmful effects on the environment), shortening the service life expectancy of the products (both the system itself and its accessories and extras) as a result of exposing them to stress and operation conditions that does not fit their normal operation - harshly differing from their specifications, and thus to spending on expenditures that could have been avoided. In addition, wrong fitting or installation of the air conditioner system might result in a failure of the air conditioner system to an extent of not providing the appropriate air conditioning and/or necessitating purchasing additional or alternative products or accessories. Another problematic aspect of the task of selecting an air conditioner system and having it fit the structure and its contents, arises from the manner of finding the optimal installation way of the system, inter alia while considering the (proper) accompanying products used for actually executing the installation (namely pipes and hoses, bellows, air dispersal units) while giving proper attention to their characteristics, specifications and differing prices.

In order to calculate and execute the optimal manner for the installation process and the preparation of the list of quantities of the accompanying products, it is necessary, inter alia, to perform a calculation of the required amounts of fresh air and of the bellows to provide it, aided by calculations of the required diameters of the air supply hoses (pipes) required for the installation. In order to arrive at the sought for optimal decision, it is also required to be (or become) familiarized with the stock in the market of the above mentioned accompanying products — with all their properties, specifications, quality, prices and what have you.

Naturally, special considerations have to be given to deviating circumstances in the structure, such as the existence of a large number of smokers or a lot of (pet) animals, which dictates the use of bigger/stronger bellows or continuous supply of fresh air into the building (structure).

Small dedicated accounting (computing) units (herein after "calculators") made for providing the requirements of an air conditioner system for a given structure are found nowadays in the market, employing an interactive computer program residing in various WEB sites (generally in sites of commercial air conditioner system manufacturers, that naturally "adapt" the results of the calculations only to systems built on their products). The existing programs provide a match between the given (known) data of the volume of the structure (that is fed into the calculator by the user) to a selected air conditioner system of a certain manufacturer (which, as said, is the system made by the manufacturer providing that specific calculations.

Such calculators can be found, for example, using the following links to their WEB sites - http://www.thermicaircon.com/accalc.htm http://www.angelfire.com/home/jeanac/ http ://www.tadiran-appl . co.il/ http://www.coned.com/athome/custnews/air.htm

The drawbacks of the existing calculators include lack of reference/attention to every individual detail of the specific spaces to be air conditioned within a structure with many separated spaces and levels; there is no relating to the structure of complicated spaces that are not necessarily simple cubes or cases (for example an attic with a slanted roof— or "imperial" or "pitched" irregular roofs, and the like); the calculations of the "match" are not accurate enough - lacking in fine detail as only general items are considered; also only limited attention is given to the materials of which the structure to be air conditioned is built of, as well as only scant attention (if at all) to the materials used in the contents and to the usage and specific functions of the rooms - such as rooms of computers server systems, laboratories, storage (wine cellars - as mentioned earlier), smoking areas, animals, etc; limited specific attention to the geographic location of the structure and its unique year round weather variations that should influence the selection of the sought after optimal air conditioner means; lack of reference to calculations of air masses in the system, diameters of supply and conducting hoses/pipes, dimensions of air dispersal units, fresh air and various required bellows; finally absence of referring to the procedure of the installation of the air conditioner system and its acceptance tests. Moreover, the product of the existing calculators terminates at the instant of providing an output of the required cooling yield capacity for the space as a whole (a single assembly! - without any reference to its separate / separable spaces), and if the potential user is lead to (finding) air conditioning system, they will always be to those of the company supplying that computing service - without any means to perform a comparison between it and units of competing manufacturers. Summary of the Current Invention

The current invention aids its user to solve problems optimization — when designing (planning) an air conditioning system of a structure with given characteristics (to be used as the variable parameters). In a manner amenable to be computerized, the system and the method the subject matter of this invention, implement design rules and perform a quality grading process of systems currently available in the market, referable to a collection of facts, that define the structure by all its characteristics and usages. All this in order to arrive at data and information that would help the user of this invented system to fit an optimal air conditioner system to the structure he desires to be air conditioned. In accordance with the invention, the system receives (actively or passively) lists of stock of air conditioner systems existing in the market (including technical characteristics and quality grading), requirements designated by the manufacturers relating to the usage of accompanying equipment for performing the installation of the air conditioning system (for families of products and/or for some specific products) and stock lists of accompanying equipment serving for performing the installation of the air conditioning system found in the market. The system might be updated continuously) on line) as applied to these stocks.

In addition, a system in accordance with the invention, receives actively or passively, independent data (herein after: objective data) that constitutes directly relevant material needed for accomplishing the optimization procedure. This is, for example, metrological information and also rules - according to which it would be possible to calculate the influence of the structure's characteristics, its contents, the intended functions (usage) for this structure and the materials from which it is constructed as well as its physical location - as per its (the influence) effect on the requirements applying to the air conditioning system that as said - is intended to be installed and operated in the structure. Using an interactive dialogue ("conversation") between the user and the computerized system in accordance with the invention, the system is capable of performing an optimization run and present the best feasible air conditioning computerized systems in accordance with the invention that are fit for the user to materialize. This is accomplished by presenting a quality-graded possibilities based inter alia on the user's personal preferences.

For the sake of performing a learned selection in accordance with the invention, the quality grading governing the air conditioning systems has been established, inter alia, by - • Its technological level / grade (for example, COP energy grading), command quality, Standard Mark;

• The manufacturer's (and/or the installer's) reputation and (known) experience; • The reliability of the products and successfully passing (i.e. e. withstanding) quality tests;

• Level of customers' satisfaction and technical support;

• Noise level.

An additional grading scale that is amenable to be weighted within the results produced by the (computerized) system in accordance with the invention is the level of prices that enable the user, for example, to assign a range of prices and to receive — within the requested range of the prices that he designated — the optimal solution as far as he is interested in.

The products of the (computerized) system in accordance with the invention, include - • Detailing alternative air conditioner systems that constitutes the best fit to the user requirements and needs - from among those system known to the system, wherein they are graded in accordance with the preferences of the user and/or the system;

• Details applying to the optimal method/means for installing the system, including the suggested list of quantities that include all the required accompanying products for implementing the installation of the selected air conditioning system (electricity, drainage, conduction of the gas flow, air flow and conduction, diameters of the hoses and pipes, bellows, air dispersal units, construction chores and so on);

• Detailed data of the items required for performing the quality assurance and control tasks for examining the quality of the installation and of the actual system operation, including air throughput (yield), diameters of the hoses / pipes, dimensions of the air dispersal units and a list of other air conditioning and accompanying items, etc. Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings

The present invention will be described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Identical components, wherein some of them are presented in the same drawing - or in case that a same component appears in several drawings, will carry an identical number.

Figure No. 1 constitutes a flow diagram presentation describing one configuration of an expert system intended to perform and provide an optimal selection of an air conditioning system in accordance with the present invention.

Figure No. 2 constitutes a flow diagram presentation describing one envisaged possibility of collecting subjective data relating to the structure in which the air conditioning system is intended to be installed in accordance with the invention.

Figure No. 3 constitutes a flow diagram presentation describing one possibility of defining the requirements governing an air conditioning (to be installed) in accordance with the invention. Figure No. 4 constitutes a table of subjective data of a structure - as required for presenting a computational example of the optimal adaptation (fitting) of the air conditioning system - a calculation in accordance with the present invention.

Figure No. 5 constitutes an illustration of an output of the components of an air conditioning system intended to be installed in a given structure in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Figure No. 1 constitutes a schematic illustration of a general flow diagram presentation describing one configuration - 10, of an expert system intended to perform and provide an optimal selection of an air conditioning system in accordance with the present invention. System 10 comprises -

Step 20 that constitutes the stage of receiving / collecting user dependent subjective data relating to the structure in which the air conditioning system is intended to be installed. A user wishing to obtain a match between an air conditioning system and a structure whose characteristics are given uses it. One possibility to perform this "collection of data" in accordance with the invention, is to exploit the user interface of the internet (WEB), another option is by using a software operated by the user himself or through a third party.

Any professional experienced in this field would understand that the specific subjective data of the characteristics of the structure intended to be air conditioned has a known influence on the requirements applying to the appropriate air conditioning system for the intended task, and that it can be calculated. For example, the geographical location of the structure determines the climate and related parameters, to which the structure is exposed year round, in tandem with the materials from which the structure and its rooms are built - influencing the required properties and level of the heat insulation. Similarly, electric appliances found in the structure (illumination, kitchen equipment, computers and so on) constitute heat sources that load the air conditioning system. Other influencing entities to be considered are the amount of shading on the walls exposed to the direct sun radiation, the volumes of the various rooms and similar items.

The receiving / collection of the subjective data within the framework of stage 20, can be achieved through a variety of information feeding means, for example - by selecting possibilities from a list of data displayed to the user of the optimization system, and alternatively or in addition — by interfacing to engineering or architectural design programs.

In addition, system 10 comprises stage 30. Stage 30 (see drawing) constitutes the stage of receiving / collecting objective data that arrives from external information sources. Those are information items that relates to a variety of parameters serving later on in the process for computing and grading the results. These objective data items include information relating to the stock list of air conditioning systems and accompanying products found in the market, that might serve for installing an air conditioning system, inclusive of - Technical characteristics; quality level; conforming with standards; average life expectancy; warranty period; prices. In addition, These objective data items include statistical meteorological information covering various zones and given in a high level of detail as much as possible, combined with physical coefficients and physical data concerning heat conduction, shading coefficients and the like, provided for as large a variety as possible - for materials and instruments.

Any experienced professional would understand that for different elements there exist general characteristics linked to their thermodynamic behavior. Thus, for example, for diverse kinds of glass, for materials from which roofs are made or for materials used for constructing the walls, we will provide - in the system that is the subject matter of this invention - heat transfer coefficients. As per the various electrical equipment and appliances, people or animals, we will provide a quantity of heat discharge, whereas for the various illumination means we will include heat emission (radiation) per unit area values. Moreover, when relating to items such as illumination means, persons and faunas and with the existence of fresh air in the structure, we will differentiate as well between heat that is "felt" and the latent heat.

The next stage - stage 40, constitutes the stage of defining the requirement pertaining to our as it relates to the subjective characteristics of the structure and while, simultaneously, considering the weighted value of the relevant objective data prevailing in the system. Within the framework of this stage, the system performs calculations based on the characteristics of the structure, those that were fed into the system by the user in stage 20, executed with due consideration to the influence of the objective data that was fed into the system in stage 30.

For example, if there exist in a room illumination means based on halogen light bulbs, the system would calculate the amount of its heat emission, similarly, if the room has concrete walls, the system would calculate what would be the amount of heat penetrating into the room (taking into consideration their heat transfer coefficients). More examples — if people are regularly smoking in this room, we might prefer outside air to be in the room and if the structure is built in an area exposed to varying temperature (as the large day/night difference in desert areas) - this information would also be available and entered into the requirements calculation.

In this stage, the requirements of the air conditioning system are defined, inter alia by quantitative indexes (indicators) such as the recommended cooling yield (output) from the system and the required air mass in each room of the structure - by defining parts of the system that are required for accomplishing the task - such as diameters of the piping (i.e. e., pipes system), size of air dispersal units and so on.

Any professional experienced in this field knows that in order to perform the calculations within the framework of this stage in a system in accordance with this invention, it is possible to resort to the equations, coefficients and also additional data found in different known sources, such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) handbook or in a commercial publication, e. g., in the "Carrier Handbook".

The next stage, 50, constitutes the stage of calculating and ascription of the grades of the adaptations of various parts of the air conditioning system residing in the information data bank of the system, based on their degree of fitting to (match with) the requirements of the system that were defined in stage 40, and all, while paying due consideration to the preferences of the user (for example, noise level, savings in operation costs, price level, country of manufacturing and the like). Within the framework of this stage, the system weeds out components of air conditioning systems that do not fit to serve the installation task in accordance with the requirements of the defined system and attributes positive match grading to those system's component that optionally fit.

Within the framework of this stage, the system is capable of performing interpolation calculations in order to adapt the air conditioning requirements for each room individually and display it together with the result for the structure as a whole - presenting products that are actually available in the market.

For example, the required cooling yield (throughput) for the entire structure adds to 28,000 BTU/Hr - and there are in the market only two air conditioning systems commensurate with the requirements — one that supplies 25,000 BTU/Hr — and the other that supplies 30,000 BTU/Hr. The system, in accordance with the invention, would select the air conditioning system whose throughput is 30,000 BTU/Hr, and would then, based on this selection, perform the interpolation calculations in order to establish the variations required in the minimal air intake for the different rooms, and the changes needed in the requirements applying to the system requirements and its accompanying products due to the specific selection made.

The next step - stage 60, constitutes the stage of selecting several configurations of a viable air conditioning system and grading them in accordance with the fit mark. Inter alia, these configurations include a standard structure, a low structure, a structure having narrow corridors, an "economical" (thrifty) air conditioning system (a compressor providing variable yield) and combinations between those configurations.

In accordance with the invention, at this stage the system generates a matrix of feasible air conditioning systems alternatives, as per relative grading values and based on the preferences of the user depicted by the various fed parameters. These parameters include inter alia — range of the prices, system operation costs, noise level, comprehensive quality level, duration (time span) of the warranty validity, and so on.

Any experienced professional would understand that the components of the air conditioning system from which the various alternatives selected by the systems are constructed, might vary in accordance with the preferences of the user and the grading of the elative importance of the diverse parameters. For example, it well might be that an air conditioning system that is optimal from the noise level point of view (as "silent" as possible), is not necessarily optimal from its serviceable life attributes. Similarly and as another example, consider an air conditioning system that is optimal from the aspect of its desired intermediate price tag — it might however receive a lower grade when compared to alternative systems at an higher price.

Within the framework of this stage, the invention also enables coupling to external data banks (such as sites for comparing prices or sites of manufacturers etc.), in order to access / retrieve data of prices or availability of components.

The next step - stage 70, constitutes the stage of adapting the mode of installation together with of the preparation of the lists of quantities. For all the offered alternatives of an air conditioning system, that were selected and - as said - already suggested in stage 60, the system fits and presents the manner of its installation, complete with calculating the lists of quantities of the components of the system and of the accompanying items as well.

Any professional experienced in this field knows that in principle — to different air conditioning systems there might possibly be different procedures and techniques for their initial installation (and preliminary testing). Moreover, the characteristics of the structure at which the system would be installed, have direct influence on the manner and methods of executing the installation. For example, the positioning of the components of the system, influences for example the need for and positions of appropriate AC electric power outlets (sockets), drainage and ventilation openings; the distances between the compressors, the condensers and the suction openings - all influence on the lengths and diameters of the of the hoses / pipes for gas and air conduction. Inter alia, at this stage the system also examines additional aspects related to the installation of the system, for example building and electricity jobs.

The next step - stage 80, constitutes the stage of presenting the results in a specification document. In this stage, the results of the calculations and the choices decided upon thus far within the framework of system 10 are presented. These results include display of the most fitting air conditioning systems in accordance with the invention given by accurate models, from those that are known to the system, wherein they are characterized by qualitative grading as said - in accordance with the preferences of the of the user or the "educated" system; detailing the suggested optimized installation / implementation procedure, including the lists of quantities that contain all the accompanying products that are required for installing the selected optimal air conditioning systems, including —

List of quantities that comprise all the accompanying products required for erecting the selected air conditioning systems (electricity, drainage, gas conduction, air conduction / convection, diameters of the hoses and pipes, bellows, air dispersal units, construction works and etc.); detailing the required data that is needed for performing the quality assurance and control tasks covering the initiation and the and operation of the system, inclusive of air suction and throughput (supply), diameters of the hoses and pipes, size (dimensions) of the air dispersal units and a list of air conditioning means with their attendant accompanying means, etc. The level of explicit detailing within the framework of presenting the results of the system is down to the level of each single room or space within the framework of the structure and is presented for each and every room.

This cited display might be executed - inter alia, using a visual display on a screen, by printing its printable output, by inputting into a data bank / database; by a message to be sent as an e-letter and any other immediate display mode. An additional possibility is offered through interlacing into the interface of an external system (e. g., a building design / architectural construction program).

Figure No. 2 constitutes a schematic flow diagram illustration describing one possibility for implementing stage 20 - the stage of receiving / collecting the subjective data in an expert system for performing optimal selection of an air conditioning system in accordance with the present invention.

In accordance with the lustrated example, stage 20 comprises a continuum of stages Stage 205 - a stage of selecting the geographical location of the structure from a list of locations, listing locations for which there exists statistical data (for example - prevailing temperatures, humidity percentages and so on).

An additional stage is stage 210 - in which one chooses the type of the structure from another list - that of structure types possibilities. Optional types of structures might include, inter alia, a light structure - such as a shack, hut (e. g., a sentry box), a building / structure built of pre-fab parts and so on; a medium type structure (such as residential or high rise office buildings, a private house, mansion, school) and heavy structures - such as an underground concrete cellar, an air raid shelter, other heavy concrete structures and so on).

The following stages are 215 - the stages of selecting the number of levels in the structure and stage 220 - the stages of specifying the number of rooms in each level.

Selecting and inserting the number of levels and then of rooms, defines for the system the number of repetitions it has to make in its operation in order to define the specific characteristic of each and every level and room (stages 225 to 255, respectively).

We proceed to stage 225. Stage 225 constitutes the stage of entering the dimensions of each room, one at a time. Within the framework of this stage, the user specifies and inserts the data relating to the length, width and height of the relevant room. Any professional experienced in this field would understand that it is possible that the shape of the room would not necessarily be that of a "crate like" space (such as for example of an attic under a roof of shingles), hence an additional and optional mode for inserting room particulars might be to load the dimensions as required by the invention — to define the exact dimensions of each wall separately (inclusive of its azimuth) and the angles formed between adjacent walls. Another possible subterfuge would be by connecting unto a link of an external designing program (engineering or architectural) from which the data for the room might be extracted.

The next stage (see drawing No. 2) is stage 230. Stage 230 constitutes the stage of specifying the names of the materials used in the construction of the structure. In this stage, the user specifies and inserts the relevant materials by resorting to use a "pop up" list of materials (residing in the data base of the selection system). These characteristics include data for the type of the roof (such as a concrete roof, a wooden roof, a shingles roof with a iron net and plaster in the ceiling bellow it, with insulation, without insulation and so on). Similarly, the type of the floor is treated with another data bank list to choose from, for example: a floor under which there is another, additional level, a concrete floor, with / without sand filling under the floor, type of tiling, parquet, plastic mat and so on, and the materials of the walls: concrete, blocks, glass, wood, various insulation layers, different thickness and so on.

The user proceeds to the next stage, 235. Stage 235 constitutes the stage of selecting and specifying the characteristics of the provided shading. Here the user specifies the number of external walls and their geographic senses, also the degree of shading of the room roof (is it an external roof exposed to the sun or an internal ceiling upon which there is an insulation layer or even additional built rooms).

The next stage (see drawing No. 2) is stage 240. This is the stage of specifying the openings found in the room. For each wall in which there exists an opening (one or more), the user specifies its size and the material used for closing it. Any professional experienced in this field would understand that the dimensions of the openings as well as the sort of material used to close them have direct influence on the cooling yield of the air conditioning system intended to be installed in that room. As per this aspect, in case there is a window there, it is necessary to exactly define the wall at which the window exists, its size, the type of glass of which the glass pane is made of, (for example regular, coated - reflecting or blocking part of sun rays, duplex or triplex and similar items). It is also necessary to note whether shutters or other blinds regularly shadow the window, or not.

An additional stage in the process, 245 - is the stage of defining the contents of the rooms. Once more, the user resorts to using the data bank of the system, in which are listed a myriad of items that constitute the possible contents of a room, and are apt to influence the prevailing cooling yield (BTU' s). These elements include the type of the illumination being used as per its specific sources: incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and the like — and their quantities. Next the system handles the type and power of the electrical appliances operating in the room such a computers, ovens and heating appliances, range (electric or gas), refrigerator, kettle toaster oven and the like. The number of persons usually working/staying in the room and animals - pets or other, are accounted for next. As a rule, any professional knows that operating electrical appliances or other devices emits heat to the environment in their vicinity. The same is true for people and animals found in the room — they generate heat and "radiate" (emit) it. Stage 250 is the next one. Stage 250 is the stage in which the characteristics of the functions and operations carried out in the room are added to the heating and cooling balance of the air conditioning operation. For example, a room that has a dedicated function, such as a computers room, a storage room or any function that calls for heating or 5 cooling to higher / lower temperatures than normal, or in this vein, where special humidity values are required. All those have direct influence on the cooling attributes, and must be carefully attended to - and included in the optimization process as prescribed and treated by the present invention.

As presented in Fig. 2, the final stage within the framework of stage 20 - is stage

10 255 — in which the preferences of the user are fed into the air conditioning optimization system. This information and data would be used later on by system 10, for conducting calculations as per personal preferences, when searching for the optimal air conditioning system suiting the individual user (or group).

Within the framework of this stage, the user can establish rules that would be used 15 later on by the system in the process of defining the requirements of the envisaged optimal system and in order to calculate the fit (adaptation) grading of the components of the optional air conditioning components, in relation to these requirements. These rule may, for example, include a "gauge of importance" - the importance that has to be assigned to the price of the entire system (or alternatively setting a minimum price and / or a maximum 0 price); the level of noise that the system generates when in operation; the average life expectancy span for the components of the system; specific special requirements applying to the country that manufactures the components for the system; conforming with the Standards Mark; duration (length of period) of the provided warranty, and similar items of individual preferences. 5 As said, system 10 would repeat stages 225 up to 255 inclusive, or alternatively up to stage 250 (inclusive) if there exists no "discrimination" within the general preferences applying specifically to selected rooms or levels in the structure within the frame work of stage 20, in accordance with the number of levels and the number of rooms in each level, as they were defined by the user in stages 215 and 220. 0 Figure No. 3 constitutes a schematic flow diagram, describing one possibility of implementing stage 40 — the stage of defining the requirements applying to an air conditioning system in accordance with the subjective characteristics of the structure, and while weighting the relevant objective data existing in the system. In accordance with the illustrated example (and see also drawing No. 1), stage 40 occurs following stage 20 - the stage of receiving - collecting subjective data relating to the structure and stage 30 of receiving - collecting objective data. Stage 40 also comprises — as well, a continuum of stages - The first stage - 315, constitutes the stage of calculating the heat transfer to the floor from the room space. Following this, stage 320 - the stage of calculating the heat transfer to the walls is performed. The next to stages are 325 - calculating the heat transfer to the ceiling and stage 330, stage of calculating the heat transfer to the openings (windows and door). While stages 315, 320, 325 and 330 are executed, the system calculates the influence of the objective data residing in the system data bank following stage 30 on the subjective characteristics of the structure in which the air conditioning system is intended to be installed (those that were received in stage 20).

Any professional experienced in this field knows that objective data that is relevant to performing these calculations include inter alia the heat transfer coefficients and the shading coefficients.

The next stages are stage 335 — which is the calculation of the heat emissions from living creatures - homo sapiens and fauna, and stage 340 - the stage of calculating heat emissions from items in the room - for example, electric appliances. Within the calculation runs of stages 335 and 340, the system uses the objective data found in its information data bank as a result of stage 30. It is used for calculating the heat amounts emission quantities from persons, animals and electrical appliances and illumination sources in the room being considered, giving due attention to the relevant usage coefficients of the electric appliances and illumination, as said, together with "felt" heat amount per person and creature and latent heat amount per person and creature.

The next stage now - stage 345, constitutes the stage of calculating the influence of characteristic, which are unique to a specific room. Within the framework of this stage, the influence of special usage characteristics for that room are calculated, as it applies to the air conditioning system intended to be installed in it. Any professional experienced in this field knows that in a room intended for storing wine, for example - for preserving the quality of the wine stored in it - one needs to have unique temperature and humidity conditions. As another example, a room intended to serve as "a farm" of computer servers mandates to have in it rather low temperature in order to compensate and overcome the large amounts of heat generated by the computers while in operation and to prevent damages to the electronic and mechanical systems located in that room. For performing the required calculations for this task, the system relies on objective 5 data found in its information data bank as a result of stage 30 performances. These serve, well in advance, for defining a "profile" of the air conditioning requirements for rooms with special "missions" (designations).

The next stage — 350, is the stage of computing the energetic yield required for the room (cooling / heating) while relying on data - such as heat transfer of the materials from

10 which the relevant room is built of, and the heat emission of the bodies and instruments found in it, as per the calculations executed within the frameworks of stages 315 to 345, inclusive.

The next stage — 355, is the stage of computing the amount of air per room, based on the data calculated in stages 315 to 345, inclusive, and on the energetic yield of the required 15 cooling / heating amounts needed for the room as calculated in stage 350.

As one proceeds, stage 360 of calculating the diameter of the air supply hose / pipe to the room is executed, together with computing stage 365 - namely the size of the air dispersal unit supplying air to the room, and this — based on the calculations that were computed thus far within the framework of stage 40 (in system 10). These calculations are 20 performed by applying known equations to any professional in the field, for example from the thermodynamic discipline, as done for the specific variables of the room in which the air conditioning system is intended to be installed.

In the next stage, stage 370 - system 10 examines whether there exist additional rooms (see figure - return path) as was defined within the framework of stage 20 in system

25 10. In case the answer is positive, the system would switch over to stage 375 - namely that of examining the subjective characteristic of the "next" room and run through stages 315 to 370 once more — now for is room. On the other hand, once the answer would be negative, the system would switch over to stage 380, the stage of examining the existence (or absence) of additional levels, as was defined within the framework for stage 20 of system

30 10.

Similar to the above, in case the answer to it is positive, the system would switch over to stage 375 - namely that of examining the subjective characteristic of the "next" room and run through the continuum of stages 315 to 380 once more — now for this level. On the other hand, once the answer would be negative, the system would switch over to stage 385 - that is the stage of computing the (total) sum of the cooling / heating yield that is required from the air conditioning system for the structure.

Figure No. 4 constitutes an example of a table of subjective (user dependent) data 5 405 relating to a structure - as required for demonstrating optimal fit (match) of the air conditioning system in accordance with the present invention.

The subjective data of the structure that are given in table 405, are received into system 10 within the framework of stage 20 (see drawing No. 1), and in accordance with stages 205 up to 255, (described in drawing No. 2). 0 In the first - left hand column of table 405, the specific (relevant) stage of the process that is described in drawing No. 2 is specified.

As can be learned from table 405, the structure is located in the center of the city of Jerusalem. Hence a subjective datum is referred to, that relates to stage 205, namely that of selecting the geographic location of the structure. The structure is of the type known as 5 "penthouse", namely "an apartment on the roof, that is to say a subjective datum that refers to stage 210. This apartment has two levels (stage 215) wherein there are four (4) rooms in the first level and in the second level (the roof) there exists one additional room. Within the framework of the example, each room is denotes by a Latin letter A to E, stage 220.

As we continue, the dimensions of each room are inserted to the system, of each 0 room separately (see in the table), inclusive, as explained earlier, the dimensions of the wall, for each one separately (stage 225). As can be learned from the data of the example, room

C on the second level has a slanted ceiling - height of southern wall = 260 cm whereas height of eastern wall =220, so that the shape of the room is not a crate like shape. Any professional experienced in this field knows that the volume of the (air) conditioned space 5 has a marked, direct influence on the required cooling yield and hence there exists immense necessity to insert accurate data about the structure while striving to achieve the adaptation of an optimal air conditioning system.

Table 405 details data relating to the materials from which the structure is built

(roofs, floor and walls) - stage 230. The materials used for constructing the structure, have 0 also direct influence on the required cooling yield, due to the different heat transfer coefficients of the building materials. Any professional in this field knows that employing insulated bricks reduces the heat transfer into the structure and hence reduces the required cooling yield needed from the system. Table 405 continues and details data that affects the shading coefficients of the structure (stage 235). Within the framework of this stage, data about the exposure of external walls and roofs direct sunrays is received and manipulated.

Continuing with table 405 - the table details data about the openings existing in each 5 wall in the structure (windows). Including also data on the sort of the glass and the existence of shades and blinds (stage 240). Any professional in this field knows pretty well that the size of the windows, the glass and the shades influence the heat transfer amounts into the structure. Hence, these data also has direct influence on the cooling yield required from the air conditioning system.

10 Table 405 continues and details data that define the contents of the various rooms of the structure (stage 245), among them the type of the illumination, electric appliances and other electric / electronic instruments, as well as the number of persons in a room and animals if any. As can be learned from the example, in the room denoted by E that is one space and in it there exists the living room and the kitchen, there are many electrical

15 instruments. These electrical instruments emit heat when operating and hence they have a direct and marked influence on the required cooling needed to be supplied by the air conditioning system. In addition, the number of persons (and animals) staying simultaneously in a room also has influence on the cooling and on the requirement of fresh air supply.

20 Finally, table 405 details subjective data related to the specific usage characteristics for each room of the structure individually (stage 250), so that the system can use data of similar rooms / contents that exists in it data bank from former occurrences - having the same attributes.

Receiving / collecting data of the kind described in table 405, by implementing stage 25 20 (see drawings No. 1 and 2) imparts to the system as per the invention, subjective data regarding the structure in which the air conditioning system is intended to operate. In addition, there exist external objective data that are received (collected) within the framework of stage 30, as well as data that reside in the system as a consequent of former calculations.

30 By adding the equations that are known to the experts in this field, inter alia for example taking into consideration the heat transfer and shading coefficients, a system in accordance with the invention computes the cooling yield required from an air conditioning system in order to provide air conditioned atmosphere to the structure described in the example.

For the sake of the example, two different configurations were selected, one without supplying fresh air to the structure and the other with providing a fresh air supply. For the first configuration, the system calculated that the required cooling yield for air conditioning the structure is 56,891 BTU/Hr. Accordingly, the system performed adaptation calculations for possible air conditioning systems to be used (available in the market) and found three probable systems having the highest fit (match) grades: one is an Electra system, Model emdόO with cooling yield of 58,000 BTU/Hr. The second one an Electra company air conditioning model adr90 with cooling yield of 57,500 BTU/Hr. The third is an air conditioning system made by Parag Otzma, model crr65 also with cooling yield of 57,500 BTU/Hr.

As can be learned from the example, there does not exist an air conditioning system with cooling yield identical with the requirement, so the system had to run an interpolation calculation using the requirements applying to accompanying products, relying on the otherwise existing potential units. The accompanying products are described in the following table -

For the second configuration, the system computed that the air yield required for air conditioning the structure is 61,677 BTU/Hr. Accordingly, the system executed adaptation (fit) calculations for existing systems in the market, and found only one unit potentially possible - the Parag Otzma, Model crr70 with 64,000 BTU/Hr cooling yield. Based on the data of the air conditioning system that was selected, the system performed interpolation calculation regarding the requirements applying to accompanying products, relying on the otherwise existing potential units. The accompanying products are described in the following table -

In addition, the system selected a piping bellows for supplying fresh air yield of 143 cubic meter/minute (that is) connected to the air conditioner via an 8" pipe and also a bellows of the VENTA kind for discharging air from the structure, having a throughput (yield) of 100 cubic meter/minute. Any professional in this field knows that by maintaining excess pressure inside the structure — penetration of outside (external) air — warm or cold, to the structure is prevented, thus avoiding the possibility of requiring higher cooling yield supply by the air conditioning system.

Figure No. 5 constitutes an illustration of an output of the components of an air conditioning system meant to be installed in a given structure in accordance with the present invention. By interfacing with engineering / architectural designing computer aided design program, a system as per the invention receives (collects) subjective data of a given structure, adapts an optimal air conditioning system and generates a printable output that describes the required components of the air conditioning system including their technical characteristics. As can be learned from the drawing, the system selected an air conditioning system having a cooling yield of 48,000 BTU/Hr and according to it, it selected the piping, flaps, air dispersion units and additional accompanying products required for fulfilling the installation. As said, any professional in this field would understand that the present invention was described above only in a way of presenting an example, and changes or variants in the structure of the expert system for selecting an optimal air conditioning system - the subject matter of this invention, or in a method that id embodied in the manner it operates, would not render it to be excluded from the invention that is claimed in the following -

Claims

Claims

1. A method amenable to be computerized enabling optimal selection of an air conditioning system to be installed in a given structure, comprise the stages of: receiving / collecting of user dependent subjective data relating to said structure; and receiving / collecting of objective data relating to a market available stock list of air conditioning systems and to accompanying products that might serve for materializing said installation; and defining requirements of said air conditioning system in accordance with said subjective and objective data; and calculating and ascription of the grades of the adaptations of various parts of said air conditioning system residing in an information data bank, based on their degree of fitting to said requirements; and selecting several configurations of a viable air conditioning system; and adapting the mode of installation together with of the preparation of the lists of quantities; and presenting the results in a specifications document; and wherein said method is characterized by: said stock of air conditioning systems and said accompanying products has it sources in a plurality of potential different manufacturers and suppliers; and selecting said several configurations of a viable air-conditioning system are based on quality grading of said listed stock of items in accordance with the fit mark.

2. A method amenable to be computerized enabling optimal selection of an air conditioning system to be installed in a given structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said stage of receiving / collecting said subjective data applying to said structure, comprise the stages of: selecting the geographical location of said structure from among a list of locations unto which data is attributed; and selecting said type of structure from among a list of possibilities; and selecting said number of levels in said structure and specifying said number of rooms in each level (floor); and entering the dimensions of every room in said structure; and specifying the names of the materials used in constructing of said structure; and selecting and specifying the shading characteristics of said rooms; and specifying the openings existing in each of said rooms; and defining the contents of each of said rooms; and adding the characteristics of the functions and operations carried out in said rooms to the heating and cooling balance of the air conditioning operation; and feeding the preferences of the user.

3. A method amenable to be computerized enabling optimal selection of an air conditioning system to be installed in a given structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said stage of defining requirements of said air conditioning system in accordance with said subjective and objective, comprises the stages of- calculating heat transfer to the floor of said room; and calculating heat transfer to the walls of said room; and calculating heat transfer to said ceiling of said room; and calculating heat transfer to the openings existing in said rooms; and calculating heat emission from living creatures habitually found in said room; and calculating heat emission from contents found in said room; and calculating influence of special characteristics found in a said room; and calculating energetic yield required in said room; and calculating the amount of air for said room; and calculating diameter of the air supply hose / pipe to said room; and calculating size of required said air dispersing unit of said room.

4. An air conditioning system specifications for selecting said system to be fit for installation in a given structure, where said specification constitutes a product of implementing said method defined in any of claims No. 1 to No. 3.

5. An air conditioning system specifications in accordance with claim 4, wherein said specifications is expressed through one or more of said following means - visual display on a screen, printing a printable output by a printer, by inputting it into a data bank / database; preferably as a message (e-letter) to be sent through electronic mail, a file that is amenable to interface with an external system.

6. A method amenable to be computerized enabling optimal selection of an air conditioning system to be installed in a given structure in accordance with any of claims 1 to 3, and as exemplified hereinabove with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. An air-conditioning system specifications in accordance with any one of claims 4 and claim 5, and as exemplified hereinabove with reference to the accompanying drawings.