Air Conditioning System Maintenance Automation with Smart Sensors for Energy Efficiency

Abstract

A decrease in the performance of a split unit type air conditioning system can be caused by a number of factors, such as airflow obstruction by foreign matter or component maintenance problems. As a result, the use of electricity becomes inefficient, causing operating costs to increase. This study aims to develop a device that can warn users about the appropriate time for maintenance of split unit air conditioning systems. The two main objectives of this study are: first, design and build a sensor that can tell users the best time to carry out maintenance; second, analyze the capability of this sensor as a tool to measure Coefficient of Performance (COP) for split unit air conditioning. In addition, this study also aims to provide a deeper understanding of COP measurement as well as how the sensor can help improve the energy efficiency of the air conditioning system. The research methodology involves analyzing the performance of the split unit air conditioning system by considering the COP as well as the air flow speed in the condenser and evaporator. The best COP achieved is 5.19, while the lowest COP is 1.98. This study found that optimal maintenance should be done when the COP is in the range of 2 to 4. Using this sensor, electricity can be saved significantly by carrying out maintenance at the right time, simultaneously reducing operating costs and increasing the energy efficiency of the air conditioning system.