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This year's heat wave continues in Thailand. Even though the rainy season has begun, the strong sunlight has not abated at all, and air conditioners continue to operate at full capacity day after day. Meanwhile, electricity costs remain high and businesses are plagued by high bills. In the hope of solving this current situation as much as possible, we have newly started handling the power and energy-saving system "Ai-Glies" developed by the Ai Holdings Group. It is an air conditioning control system linked to the discomfort index, something that had not been available in Thailand until now, and provides optimal comfort in eight levels based on temperature and humidity. This article introduces the features and benefits of implementing this system with Mr. Wake, who is in charge at the manufacturer.
Demonstrates high power and energy-saving effects by reduced operation
It was about two years ago that the Ai Holdings Group, whose main business is handling card issuance system equipment and security businesses such as surveillance cameras, embarked on a decarbonization business in Japan. Air conditioners are more energy-efficient if they continue to operate at a constant load than by switching them on and off frequently, which is more earth-friendly and reduces electricity costs. Ai-Glies' power and energy-saving system focused on this point.
Instead of shutting off the power to the outdoor unit, the air conditioning operation is reduced by resting the compressor inside it for about 3 minutes every half hour to allow it to blow air. The air conditioning is linked to the discomfort index of the outside air obtained from the temperature and humidity sensor, and reduced operation is less on hot days and more on cooler days. In this way, an optimal air-conditioning environment can be achieved with less power consumption.
▲ Determine the optimal conditions from 8 levels and perform automatic control
No need for large capital investment
A solar-powered control box is attached to all outdoor units to control each device without the need for a power supply. Data is exchanged wirelessly with the centralized control unit, eliminating the need for new wiring. The data obtained is collected on a cloud server using LTE lines, etc. In this way, it is possible to visualize the status of power savings and detect malfunctions. Depending on the situation, control settings can be changed remotely.
▲Image of system configuration
Another feature of this system is that it can be easily retrofitted for installation regardless of the shape of the building. It also supports separate control of usage by location and by category. In addition, since no large capital investment is required, installation costs can be recovered in a short period of time, and monthly electricity consumption charges can be significantly reduced. These advantages and the fine-tuned air conditioning performance have been highly evaluated, and more than 700 sets have been sold so far in Japan.
Air conditioning accounts for 48% of office building electricity consumption
In Thailand, where air conditioning is vital all year round, it is essential to save on electricity bills. If the extreme heat continues as it has this year, the impact on business management cannot be ignored. The Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy estimates that as much as 48% of the electricity consumed in office buildings comes from air conditioning. While it is necessary to install various power-saving devices, it would also be beneficial to fundamentally review the air conditioning system.
"In Thailand, interest in global environmental protection and decarbonization is high, and government policies are certain to become more focused in the future. Based on this background, we intend to promote business development in Thailand in cooperation with Nihon Denkei. In Thailand, where electricity costs are expected to remain high in the future, this is a revolutionary system that can demonstrate high energy-saving effects over the medium to long term," said Mr. Wake of Ai-Glies.
▲From left: Mr. Yoshino of Nihon Denkei and Mr. Wake of Ai-Glies
