JP5524756B2 - ICT equipment room - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ICT equipment room in which a plurality of rack rows in which racks on which ICT devices such as communication equipment and computers are mounted are arranged are accommodated .

As an ICT equipment air conditioning system for air conditioning a ICT equipment room in which a rack row in which racks in which ICT equipment such as communication equipment and computers are mounted in the vertical direction is accommodated, for example, ICT equipment such as a conventional data center There is a mainstream ambient air conditioning system in the room.
However, this type of ambient air conditioning system usually installs an air conditioner (CRAC) at the end of the ICT equipment room. For this reason, the distance between the supply air and the exhaust gas is increased, and the conveyance power is increased. Therefore, if an appropriate design plan such as the layout of the air conditioner is not implemented before operation, it is difficult to review the air conditioning system because the layout of the air conditioner after operation cannot be freely changed.

  Therefore, as this type of air conditioning system for ICT equipment, a task method mainly used as a countermeasure for a rack having a high load density, and a capping method in which a cold aisle and a hot aisle are enclosed by a side wall or the like are considered. The capping method is mainly used to improve the cooling / exhaust efficiency, and partitions each space by forcibly dividing the space in the ICT equipment room (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). According to the air conditioning system for ICT equipment in which the task method is introduced, the conveyance power can be reduced because the air conditioning system lays out the air conditioner in the vicinity of the ICT equipment as compared with the conventional ambient air conditioning.

For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the upper portion of the passage space between the opposing rack rows is closed with a top plate or the like, and an opening is provided at a location facing the passage space portion. Then, by providing a blower at the top of the rack, low-temperature conditioned air is taken into the rack from the opening to process exhaust heat from ICT equipment such as a computer.
In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, a panel is provided on the left and right ends of the rack rows, and a partition is provided on the upper front edge of both rack rows to partition the hot zone in the ICT equipment room. Then, an exhaust port is formed in the ceiling in the hot zone, and air conditioning air is introduced from the front to the back of the rack row into the hot zone and exhausted from the exhaust port so that the temperature of the hot zone becomes the set temperature. Control the fan.

  The technique described in Patent Document 3 is an example of a task method, and discloses an air conditioner that can be installed independently of a server rack. The air conditioner is disposed above and in front of the ceiling of the server rack. The server rack includes a suction port for sucking air from the lower rear side of the ceiling of the server rack, a cooling unit for cooling and exhausting the suction air, and a blowout port for exhausting downward from the front of the ceiling portion of the server rack. Thereby, according to this air conditioner, while a hot air is sucked from the back of a server rack, a cold aisle can be formed in the front of a server rack. In addition, since the module type air conditioner is installed in the upper part of the space, the rack space occupied by a conventional task air conditioner (such as a rack type air conditioner) can be used effectively. Therefore, it leads to expansion of the rack installation area.

JP 2009-133617 A JP 2010-72697 A JP 2010-61446 A

However, in an air conditioning system for ICT equipment that employs a task method or a capping method, if the air balance between the air volume of the ICT equipment and the air volume of the air conditioner or air conditioning equipment is insufficient, the cold aisle as shown in FIG. There is a problem that mixing of temperature and hot aisle temperature occurs.
In particular, unless the high-temperature air formed by hot aisle can be appropriately exhausted, various burdens are imposed on the ICT equipment, and the efficiency of both the ICT equipment and the air conditioner cannot be improved. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, if high-temperature air formed in hot aisle due to a shortage of air-conditioning airflow enters the cold aisle, it may cause a failure due to a high-temperature failure of the ICT equipment. Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, if cold air in the cold aisle flows into the hot aisle due to excessive air conditioning airflow, wasteful energy is consumed and the hot air in the hot aisle is heated to the air conditioner. It becomes impossible to return as a return temperature.

  That is, although the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above employ the capping method, the air balance control (the difference between the air volume of the ICT device and the air-conditioning air volume) can be appropriately achieved only by applying the capping method. It will not be done. Therefore, naturally, inflow and outflow of air occurs from the gap between the ICT device and the capping, which is insufficient for solving the above problem. In addition, when the capping method is applied, as a demerit, when performing maintenance on the front and back of the rack, it is necessary to be able to freely go inside and outside the capping, and work such as a simple door is required separately There is also a problem.

  In particular, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which a cold aisle is capped, so that the entire server room becomes hot aisle. Therefore, there is a problem that the temperature rise in the room is accelerated when the air conditioner fails. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the air conditioner fan is controlled so that the temperature of the hot zone becomes the set temperature. However, since the ICT devices mounted on the rack have various operating rates and specifications, ICT If the air volume of the device and the air volume of the air conditioner are different, the air balance with respect to the set temperature is lost. For this reason, inflow and outflow of air occur in the hot zone and the air-conditioning area, there is a problem that the effect of capping becomes insufficient, and the failure of the ICT equipment is caused.

In the technique described in Patent Document 3, the control method is unknown from the disclosed content. Therefore, there is a doubt about the feasibility of a system that can be controlled in consideration of the air balance. Therefore, in solving the above problems, the problem of the air balance between the air volume of the ICT equipment and the air conditioning air volume is solved. It cannot be said that it is.
Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and suppresses the temperature rise in the ICT equipment room as much as possible, and the air balance between the air volume of the ICT equipment and the air volume of the air conditioning equipment. and its object is to provide a ICT equipment room with air conditioning system for ICT devices that Ru can be controlled.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an ICT equipment room according to one embodiment of the present invention is an ICT equipment room in which a plurality of rack rows in which racks on which ICT devices such as communication equipment and computers are mounted are arranged are accommodated. As the air conditioning equipment in the ICT equipment room, air conditioning equipment arranged above the hot aisle by the rack row, necessary air volume management means for managing the conditioned air circulated by the air conditioning equipment, the front side of the rack row, and The ICT equipment room includes only an ICT equipment air conditioning system including a temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature on the back side and a power consumption measuring means for measuring the power consumed by the rack , and the plurality of rack rows are adjacent to each other. The rack rows are arranged so that the space between the opposing portions on the back side of each rack is hot aisle and the front side of each rack row is cold aisle, and the air conditioner is made to correspond to the rack row. The plurality of air conditioners have module-type housings arranged in spaces behind the back of the rack and above the top of the rack and below the ceiling of the ICT equipment room. The air conditioner has a fan provided in the casing so as to face above the hot aisle, a suction port formed in the casing so as to suck air from the hot aisle by the fan, and cools the intake air. A cooling unit using a refrigerant provided in the casing, and air cooled by the cooling unit in the casing so as to form a cold aisle from the front of the ceiling of the rack row to the front of the rack row. and formed outlet, and a control unit for controlling the air volume of the fan, the indispensable air volume management means the aisle by the rack row as a unit, the power consumption measuring means Ri based on the plurality of temperature information of a predetermined position measured by the measured power consumption of the entire rack and said temperature measuring means such that said control temperature difference between the hot aisle and cold aisle each other a predetermined or less, the Ayr each unit Moreover, the air volume of the fans of the plurality of air conditioners is controlled via the control unit of each air conditioner .
According to the ICT equipment room according to one aspect of the present invention , the air conditioning equipment is installed above the hot aisle, and the necessary air volume management means controls the air volume of the air conditioning equipment. Cold air can be circulated to the ICT equipment. For this reason, the ICT equipment is unlikely to deteriorate or malfunction.

Moreover, according to the ICT equipment room which concerns on 1 aspect of this invention, since an air conditioner is installed in the upper part of ICT equipment, it can comprise the cooling system from the upper part in the hot aisle of ICT equipment room space. Therefore, the low-temperature air naturally falls due to the density difference from the surrounding air and is supplied to the ICT equipment. Furthermore, because it is an air conditioning system in the vicinity of the air conditioning target area installed at the top of the ICT equipment, it can quickly collect and process the high-temperature air discharged from the rack, and it has a significant transport power compared to conventional transport power. Can be reduced.

  Here, in the present specification, “refrigerant” means “cooling” which releases or absorbs large latent heat according to its volume by changing phase from liquid to gas or from gas to liquid, in addition to “water”. For example, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, ethyl chloride, methyl chloride, and fluorinated carbon such as Freon, Yucon, and Genetron.

Further, according to the ICT equipment room according to an aspect of the present invention, the necessary air volume management means controls the air volume of each air conditioner by using the aisle by the rack row as a unit and the air volumes of a plurality of air conditioners for each unit. Since it controls via a part , an energy-saving effect can be improved significantly .
That is, in the ICT equipment room according to one aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of the air conditioners corresponding to the rack row, the high-temperature air exhausted from the ICT equipment by each air conditioner is near the ICT equipment. The advantage of individual control is that it can be collected and processed.
However, since actually Accordingly it loads each rack is different, not necessarily with each air conditioner is operating at high efficiency. Therefore, by controlling the air volume so that each air conditioner operates at high efficiency in units of aisles , it is preferable to improve a significant energy saving effect as compared with individual control.

In the case of the ICT equipment room according to one aspect of the present invention , the air conditioner has a module-type housing disposed above the hot aisle by the rack row, and faces the upper side of the hot aisle in the housing. A fan provided, a suction port formed in the housing so as to suck air from the hot aisle by the fan, and a cooling unit using a refrigerant provided in the housing so as to cool the intake air, A blowout port formed in the casing so that air cooled by the cooling unit forms a cold aisle from the front of the ceiling of the rack row to the front of the rack row, and a control unit for controlling the air volume of the fan; Therefore, it is easy to install a plurality of air conditioners corresponding to the rack row.

Therefore, even if one of the air conditioners fails, it can be supplemented by another adjacent air conditioner. Therefore, even when one of the air conditioners fails, it is suitable for suppressing an increase in temperature in the ICT device room and controlling the air balance between the air volume of the ICT device and the air volume of the air conditioner.
Moreover, if it is such a structure, the air conditioner which concerns on this invention will be drainless in a steady state for a high sensible heat cooling design. Therefore, the risk of water leakage to the ICT equipment can be reduced.

Further, according to the ICT equipment room in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, as air-conditioning systems ICT equipment room, since with as long an air conditioning system for ICT device described above, task air, even adaptable to either ambient air conditioning It is. However, an outside air treatment facility is separately required. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of air conditioning equipment in the ICT equipment room and to contribute to low energy. Furthermore, by performing appropriate air volume control according to the present invention, it is possible to cool ICT equipment with high efficiency without adopting a conventional capping method, improving maintainability, and adopting a capping method. There is an especially remarkable effect that the installation of the fire-fighting equipment necessary for the case becomes unnecessary. Further, since the capping method is applied to the hot aisle, the entire ICT equipment room becomes a cold aisle, leading to a longer life of the ICT equipment.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to ensure further energy saving (reduction of conveyance power and optimization of air balance) as compared with the prior art. In addition, cooling efficiency of ICT equipment can be improved. In addition, a configuration without capping can be realized (no installation of fire fighting equipment is required, and maintainability is improved). Furthermore, since the entire room is cold aisle, it is possible to extend the life of ICT equipment. Furthermore, it can be used for both ambient air conditioning and task air conditioning. In addition, because there is no need for an underfloor (two-layer type) for air conditioning, the cost of building elements can be reduced.

It is an example which installed the air conditioning system for ICT equipment concerning the present invention in the rack in a server room, and the figure seen from the side of the rack is shown typically in the figure. It is explanatory drawing of the air-conditioning apparatus for ICT apparatus and air-conditioning system which concern on this invention, Comprising: The same figure (a) is a perspective view of an air-conditioning apparatus, (b) is a typical side view of an air-conditioning apparatus, (c) is several air-conditioning. It is a perspective view of the state which connected the apparatus. In the air-conditioning equipment for ICT equipment according to the present invention, it is a schematic perspective view for explaining the operation in the case of controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant. In this case, emphasizing energy saving and air balance securing by reducing the conveyance power, The control method is described. Therefore, in this case, the specific content of the refrigerant control is omitted, but as an example, the flow rate control of the refrigerant is shown, (a) shows a case where the refrigerant flow rate is high, and (b) shows a case where the flow rate is low. . It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part of the air-conditioning system for ICT equipment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the 1st example of the required air volume management process in the air conditioning system which concerns on this invention. In the example which installed the air-conditioning system for ICT equipment concerning this invention in the rack in a server room, it is a schematic diagram explaining a cold aisle, a hot aisle, and its air balance, The figure (a) is the figure seen from the side of the rack , (B) is a plan view thereof. It is a typical perspective view explaining the ideal state of the air balance in a server room. It is a flowchart explaining the 2nd example of the required air volume management process in the air conditioning system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the modification of the air-conditioning system for ICT apparatus which concerns on this invention, The figure (a) shows the figure seen from the side of the rack typically, (b) is the enlarged view of the principal part. . It is a flowchart explaining the 3rd example of the required air volume management process in the air conditioning system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the 4th example of the required air volume management process in the air conditioning system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the state which the damper opened in the modification (with a damper) of the air-conditioning apparatus for ICT apparatuses which concerns on this invention, The figure (a) is the front view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure explaining the state which the damper closed in the modification (with a damper) of FIG. 12, The figure (a) is the front view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure explaining other examples of composition of a rack row which constructs an air-conditioning system concerning the present invention, and the figure (a) is an example in which the backs of adjacent rack rows are not facing each other. It is a typical perspective view explaining a cold aisle, a hot aisle, and its air balance (conventional state in which balance is lost).

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air conditioning system for an ICT device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is an example of an ICT equipment room provided with an ICT equipment air conditioning system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an air conditioning equipment constituting the ICT equipment air conditioning system according to the present invention is installed in a rack 2 in a server room 1. 10 is an example. The air conditioner 10 is provided corresponding to each rack 2. Here, the air-conditioning equipment of the server room 1 is an example in which an air-conditioning system using the air-conditioning equipment 10 is provided as much as possible. In this example, one air conditioning unit is configured by two air conditioning devices 10 (a set of two cooling coils and two fans).

  In this server room 1, racks 2 are accommodated as an array of racks. In each rack 2, an ICT device 3 such as a communication device or a computer is mounted in the vertical direction. The upper part of each rack 2 is a wiring area 7 in which wiring and the like are laid out. A module type air conditioner 10 is disposed in a space on the back surface 6 side of each rack 2 and above the top surface 4 of the rack 2 and below the ceiling surface 50 of the server room 1. Although not shown in the figure, the air conditioner 10 is fixed at the above-described arrangement position by a supporting angle member or the like. Moreover, the example of this embodiment shows the example installed in the hot aisle upper part formed in the back surface 6 space of the racks 2 which are arranged facing each other by connecting two air conditioners 10 (details will be described later).

Next, the air conditioner 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner 10 includes a hollow box-type housing 11 having a substantially cubic shape. A suction port 12 is opened on the lower surface of the housing 11. A fan 15 is built in the housing 11 facing the suction port 12. The fan 15 sucks air from the suction port 12 and moves the exhaust of the hot aisle in the suction direction A, thereby exhausting the exhaust of the equipment from the hot aisle formed in the back 6 space between the racks 2. To be introduced.

Further, a blowing port 13 is provided on one of the four side surfaces of the housing 11, and a substantially lever frame is fitted into the blowing port 13. Then, the layout is made so that the surface on which the blowout port 13 is provided is fixed toward the front surface 5 side of the rack 2 (see FIG. 1).
And in the housing | casing 11, the cooling unit 14 is arrange | positioned diagonally (about 45 degrees) toward the surface of the side in which this blower outlet 13 was provided. The cooling unit 14 employs a cooling system using a refrigerant. And the refrigerant | coolant piping 18 is pulled out by the upper part of the housing | casing 11, and is connected to the refrigerant | coolant piping 18 of other adjacent air conditioning equipment 10 (refer the figure (c)). As a result, the exhaust gas taken in from the suction port 12 in the suction direction A passes through the cooling unit 14 so that heat is exchanged, and the cooled air is blown out from the blowout port 13 in the blowout direction N. Each air conditioner 10 is provided with a display device 25 for confirming the operating state.

  Each air conditioner 10 incorporates a control unit 20 for controlling the unit itself. The control unit 20 is fixed to the upper part of the internal space of the housing 11 between the air outlet 13 and the cooling unit 14. As shown in FIG. 1, information from temperature sensors 21 and 22 disposed on the front 5 side and the back 6 side of each rack 2 is input to the control unit 20.

Here, as shown in a perspective view of FIG. 3, a valve 24 is attached to the middle portion of the refrigerant pipe 18 in a state where the refrigerant pipe 18 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 18 of another adjacent air conditioner 10. When the outside air of the hot aisle is moved in the suction direction A, the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10 is based on the information from the temperature sensor 22 in the vicinity of its own suction port 12 in the middle part of the refrigerant pipe 18. The valve 24 is controlled to be opened and closed to adjust the refrigerant flow rate. Specifically, when the information from the temperature sensor 22 is higher than a predetermined temperature, the valve 24 is opened to increase the refrigerant flow rate as shown in FIG. Further, when the information from the temperature sensor 22 is lower than the predetermined temperature, the valve 24 is closed as shown in FIG.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, a drain pan 16 arranged in an inclined manner is provided at the lower part of the cooling unit 14, and a drain pipe 17 is connected to the lower side of the drain pan 16. Is drainless in the steady state due to the high sensible heat cooling design. Therefore, the risk of water leakage to the ICT device 3 is reduced.

  Further, when the air conditioner 10 is used by being connected to the adjacent racks 2, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the positions can be fixed by being connected by the connecting bracket 19. . The air conditioner 10 can have various dimensions according to the corresponding rack, but in the example of the present embodiment, the size of the housing 11 is the surface on the side where the air outlet 13 is provided. The width W is 700 mm, the depth D in the direction from the front surface 5 side to the rear surface 6 side of each rack 2 is 1200 to 1800 mm, and the height H is 500 to 1000 mm (see (a) in the figure).

  Here, a central control device 40 can be connected to the control unit 20, and a plurality of air conditioners 10 in the server room 1 can be centrally managed by the central control device 40. In the first example of the necessary air volume management process of the present embodiment, the central control device 40 is connected. Moreover, it is also possible to operate each air conditioner 10 stand-alone without connecting the centralized control device 40 (hereinafter, the same applies to other examples).

Next, the control unit 20 of the air conditioner 10 will be described in more detail.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 20 includes a CPU 39 that controls operations and the entire system based on a predetermined control program, a storage device 35 that stores a control program of the CPU 39 in a predetermined area, and a ROM 36. The RAM 37 for storing the data read from the storage device 35, the ROM 36, and the like and the calculation results required in the calculation process of the CPU 39, the central control device 40, the cooling unit 14 of the air conditioner 10, the fan 15, etc. And an interface 30 that mediates input / output of data necessary for monitoring the operating state with respect to the accompanying devices including them, and these are mutually connected by a bus 32 that is a signal line for transferring data. And it is connected so that data can be exchanged. Then, the CPU 39 activates a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the storage device 35 or the ROM 36, and executes a necessary air volume management process, which will be described later, together with the central control device 40 according to the present air conditioning system according to the program. It is like that. Note that the basic configuration of the central control device 40 is the same as that of the control unit 20, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The necessary air volume management processing in the centralized control device 40 and the air conditioner 10 performs air volume control of the air conditioner 10 corresponding to the air volume of each ICT device 3 in order to maintain the air volume balance of the entire server room 1. And after performing appropriate air volume control by this required air volume management process, in order to adjust the cooling amount required for each ICT equipment 3, according to the example shown in FIG. The cooling unit 14 is individually controlled to control the cooling amount itself. As a result, the air volume / cooling amount of the entire server room 1 can be optimized.

Hereinafter, as a first example of the necessary air volume management processing, a case where the power consumption of the entire rack 2 of the server room 1 is used as a management parameter will be described.
The first example of the necessary air volume management processing is an example of air volume control (no capping method) when the power consumption of the entire rack is measurable, and the control unit 20 of the air conditioner 10 uses the entire rack 2 to consume power. The rotation speed of the fan 15 using an inverter (not shown) so that the required air volume of the rack 2 (= ICT equipment 3) and the air volume of the air conditioner 10 are equal based on the detected values of power and each aisle temperature. Is to control.

  Specifically, the central control device 40 constitutes a power consumption measuring unit that measures the power consumption of the entire rack 2. Various devices can be used for measuring the power consumption, but in the example of this embodiment, the power consumption of the entire rack 2 is measured using a PDU (not shown). That is, the PDU is a device installed in the server room 1 or in the vicinity thereof, and the power consumption of each ICT device can be centrally managed in units of racks 2 in order to distribute power to each ICT device 3. Therefore, the central control device 40 measures the power consumption of the entire rack 2 in the server room 1 using this PDU, and calculates the appropriate air volume of the air conditioner 10 using the detected value as in the following control flow. Based on the necessary air volume management processing to be performed, feedback control of the rotational speed of the fan 15 is performed using an inverter (not shown) in each air conditioner 10. In the example of the present embodiment, the correspondence relationship between the air conditioner 10 and the rack 2 corresponding thereto is one control unit for two racks facing one air conditioner.

  Specifically, when the necessary air volume management process is executed, the central control device 40 first proceeds to step S1, as shown in FIG. 5, to set the space temperatures of the front surface 5 and the rear surface 6 of the rack 2 to the respective temperatures. Acquired from the temperature sensors 21 and 22 of the air conditioner 10 and totalized. Then, a management temperature difference ΔT (= rack back surface temperature−rack front surface temperature) is calculated. In addition, the measurement point of the space temperature of cold aisle and hot aisle by each temperature sensor 21 and 22 is measured at one point or three points. In addition, when the measurement point of the space temperature is one point, measurement is performed in the upper space of each aisle (upper rack), and in the case of three points, the maximum value among the three points measured in each aisle is used as a representative point. .

  In the subsequent step S2, the centralized control device 40 aggregates the power consumption of the entire rack 2 using the PDU. Then, in the following step S3, in this first example, the central control device 40 calculates the virtual air conditioning air volume Qi such that the management temperature difference ΔT = 7 ° C. (within). When the virtual air-conditioning air volume Qi is made equal to the rack air volume, a management temperature difference ΔT≈10 ° C. (within) is required as a condition for calculating the air-conditioning air volume. The central control device 40 (for example, via the Web, SNMP, and Telnet) manages the control of the air conditioner 10, and for example, signals such as analog signals and digital signals are sent from the central control device 40 to the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10. Output to.

In subsequent step S4, each air conditioner 10 that has acquired information from the centralized control device 40 acquires the virtual air conditioning air volume Qi, and each air conditioner 10 calculates the rack air volume Qr using the collected data. The fan 15 is controlled individually.
That is, in step S4, each air conditioner 10 performs a comparison determination between the virtual air conditioning air volume Qi and the rack air volume Qr. If Qi≈Qr, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S <b> 5, each air conditioner 10 individually controls its own fan 15 so that the rotational speed of its own fan 15 becomes a reference rotational speed that is set in advance so that the air volume that satisfies the condition is satisfied.

  If the result of the determination of the virtual air conditioning air volume Qi and the rack air volume Qr in step S4 is Qi> Qr, the process proceeds to step S6. Here, the processing corresponds to the phenomenon when Qi> Qr: ΔT (current time) <ΔT (initial). In step S6, each air conditioner 10 calculates the changed air volume Qv1. Here, the air volume difference (Qi−Qr) is multiplied by the sensitivity coefficient 0.5 to calculate the changed air volume Qv1 (= Qi − {(Qi−Qr) × 0.5}).

In subsequent step S7, in each air conditioner 10, the changed air volume Qv1 and the rack air volume Qr are compared and determined. That is, when Qv1 <(k × Qr), the process proceeds to step S5, and when Qv1> (k × Qr), the process proceeds to step S8. In this step S8, each air conditioner 10 lowers the rotational speed of its own fan 15 by a predetermined amount and returns the process to step S6.
In step S4, when each air conditioner 10 makes a comparison between the virtual air-conditioning air volume Qi and the rack air volume Qr in step S4, if Qi <Qr, the process proceeds to step S9. In this case, the phenomenon when Qi> Qr: ΔT (current time)> ΔT (initial).

  In step S <b> 9, each air conditioner 10 determines the capability of its own fan 15. At this time, if “rated capacity”> “capacity at the present time”, the process proceeds to step S10 to increase the rotational speed of the fan 15 to the maximum value of the rated capacity. Here, as the maximum value of the rotational speed, the modified air volume Qv1 (= 1.2 × Qr) is calculated by multiplying by the correction coefficient k (specifically, in this embodiment, k = 1.2). If “rated capacity” ≦ “capacity at the present time”, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the capacity of the fan 15 is insufficient. Therefore, for example, although not shown in the present embodiment, an auxiliary machine is operated as necessary, whereby each air conditioner 10 individually compensates the air volume and returns the process to step S1 (centralized control device 40). .

Next, the operation and effect of this air conditioning system will be described.
Now, when this air conditioning system is used for the server room 1, the configuration of the rack row is not particularly limited. However, as a preferable configuration for constructing the system effectively, there is a facing arrangement type, which is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, an example in which the rack row is configured as described above will be described as a representative example. As described above, the air conditioning equipment of the server room 1 includes an air conditioning system using the air conditioning equipment 10 as much as possible.

As shown in the figure, in this example, in the server room 1, two racks (also referred to as “rack rows”) 2 are set as one set, and the rear surface 6 side of each rack 2 is opposed to each other. Let the space be a hot aisle. As a result, a cold aisle is formed on the front surface 5 side of the rack 2 relative to the hot aisle. Then, with respect to the set of two rack rows 2 arranged in this way, a space on the back surface 6 side of each rack 2 and above the top surface 4 of the rack 2 and below the ceiling surface 50 of the server room 1. In addition, two modular air conditioners 10 are arranged. This constitutes the smallest control unit.
Thus, according to this air conditioning system, since the module type air conditioner 10 disposed above the hot aisle is provided, an air conditioning system in the vicinity of the air conditioning target area is configured. Therefore, the conveyance power can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional conveyance power.

  Further, according to this air conditioning system, the module type air conditioner 10 includes a fan 15 provided facing the upper side of the hot aisle, a suction port 12 for sucking in air from between the opposing rack rows, and the intake air. Since it has a cooling unit 14 for cooling and exhausting, and a blow-out port 13 for supplying air so as to form a cold aisle from the front of the ceiling of the rack row to the front of the rack row 2, the upper portion of the rack and above the hot aisle By providing a plurality of module-type air conditioners 10 in the rack, the hot air aisle air is taken into each air conditioner 10 from the inlet 12 and the rack row 2 is passed through the cooling unit 14 using the refrigerant from the outlet 13. It is possible to supply air so as to form a cold aisle from the front of the ceiling portion to the front of the rack row 2.

That is, according to this air conditioning system, since the configuration in which the air conditioning device 10 is provided above the hot aisle is adopted, the entire server room becomes a cold aisle. Therefore, when any one of the air conditioners 10 fails, the temperature rise in the room is suppressed, and since the configuration uses a plurality of module type air conditioners 10 in the first place, all of the air conditioners 10 can fail simultaneously. Sex is almost none.
In particular, the air-conditioning equipment of the server room 1 is limited to an air-conditioning system using the air-conditioning equipment 10 and can be used for both task air-conditioning and ambient air-conditioning. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of air conditioning equipment in the ICT equipment room and to contribute to low energy. As in the prior art, an air conditioner for the ICT equipment room may be provided, and an air conditioning system using the air conditioner 10 may be provided. In order to contribute to the above, it is preferable to adopt the configuration of the present embodiment.

  According to the system of the server room 1, since it is a cooling system from the upper part of the server room 1, the low-temperature air naturally falls due to the density difference from the surrounding air and is supplied to the ICT device 3. Therefore, it is suitable for reducing the conveyance power. Further, the cooling unit 14 is drainless in a steady state because of the high sensible heat cooling design. Therefore, the risk of water leakage to the ICT device 3 can be reduced.

  When this air conditioning system is operated, the central control device 40 totals the power consumption of the entire rack 2 to calculate the rack air volume Qr, and outputs necessary information to the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10 ( Steps S1-S3). Next, the individual air conditioners 10 constituting the minimum control unit respectively calculate the rack air volume Qr, and based on the determination of the virtual air-conditioning air volume Qi and the rack air volume Qr, the rotation speed of the fan 15 becomes the reference rotation speed. As such, the fans 15 are individually controlled (a series of processes after step S4).

  That is, in this air conditioning system, the necessary air volume management process (necessary air volume management means) executed by the cooperation of the control unit 20 and the centralized control device 40 is a plurality of temperature information at predetermined positions measured by the temperature sensors 21 and 22. On the basis of the air flow, the fan 15 is controlled in air volume (air volume control means), and the conditioned air is circulated from the hot aisle behind the rack row to the cold aisle in front of the rack row to control the air volume of the fan 15 (air volume control means). Therefore, it is possible to appropriately control the air flow so that the hot aisle temperature becomes the set temperature. Therefore, as shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 7, the cold air around the server room that is made into a cold aisle can be smoothly circulated to the ICT equipment. Therefore, as compared with the conventional example whose conceptual diagram is shown in FIG.

  In particular, according to this air conditioning system, air balance control (difference between the air flow rate of the ICT device and the air flow rate) is appropriate regardless of the inflow / outflow of air from the gap between the ICT device 3 and the rack row. Can be done. In addition, as described above, when the capping method is applied, as a demerit, in order to perform maintenance on the front and back of the rack, it is necessary to be in an environment where the inside and outside of the capping can be freely moved. However, according to this air conditioning system, such a configuration is not necessary.

  Furthermore, since the required air volume management processing for each individual rack is performed by the module type air conditioner 10, it is suitable for controlling the temperature in the vicinity of the hot aisle corresponding to each rack to be the set temperature, and is mounted on the rack 2. The ICT equipment 3 has a wide variety of operating rates and specifications, and even when the air volume of the ICT equipment 3 and the air volume of the air conditioner 10 are different, it is preferable for maintaining the air balance with respect to the set temperature.

As described above, according to this air conditioning system, even when some of the air conditioners 10 fail, the temperature rise in the server room 1 is suppressed, and the air balance between the air volume of the ICT equipment 3 and the air volume of the air conditioner 10. Can be controlled.
In addition, the air-conditioning apparatus for ICT equipment and the air-conditioning system for ICT equipment according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first example of the necessary air volume management process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration that can control the air balance between the air volume of the ICT device 3 and the air volume of the air conditioner 10 is possible. Various modifications are possible. Hereinafter, examples (second to fourth examples) of other necessary air volume management processes will be described in order.

First, as an example of other necessary air volume management processing, a description will be given of air volume control (no capping method) in the case where the power consumption of the entire rack cannot be measured, and the case where the space temperature is used (second example).
In this second example, the temperature sensors 21 and 22 are installed in the cold aisle space and the hot aisle space, respectively, and the detected values of the temperature sensors 21 and 22 are used while being centrally controlled by the central control device 40. In the air conditioner 10, feedback control is performed to calculate an appropriate air volume of each air conditioner 10 based on the following control flow.

  Specifically, when the second example of the necessary air volume management process is executed, the process proceeds to step S21 as shown in FIG. In step S21, the cold aisle temperature Tc and the hot aisle temperature Th are totaled by the central control device 40. Here, ΔT (= rack back surface temperature−rack front surface temperature), cold aisle, and hot aisle space temperature are measured at one or three points. In addition, when the measurement point of space temperature is 1 point: It measures in the space upper part of each aisle (rack upper part), and the case of 3 points | pieces: Let the maximum value in 3 points | pieces measured by each aisle be a representative point.

  In the subsequent step S22, the air conditioning air volume QMAX (rated) is calculated and controlled by the central control device 40, and the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, the central control device 40 determines the cold aisle temperature. That is, when Tc <cold aisle set temperature, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the central control device 40 determines (set temperature−Tc).

  If (set temperature−Tc) ≧ T variable ° C. in step S24, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, (Th−set temperature) / (Th−Tc) is calculated by the central control device 40, In subsequent step S26, the central control device 40 calculates the changed air volume Qv1 (decreases the air volume Qi). Here, the change air volume Qv1 (= Qi × {(Th−set temperature) / (Th−Tc)}) is calculated using the ratio (Th−set temperature) / (Th−Tc). On the other hand, if (set temperature−Tc) <T variable ° C. in step S24, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the rotation speed of the fan 15 is set to the reference rotation speed so as to satisfy the air volume that satisfies the condition. Control.

In the determination of the cold aisle temperature in step S23, if Tc> ≈cold aisle set temperature, the process proceeds to step S28. In step S28, the auxiliary machine is operated or the operation method is re-verified. Return to step S21.
Even if the required air volume management processing is configured as described above, the control unit 20 of the air conditioner 10 causes the fan 2 so that the required air volume of the rack 2 and the air volume of the air conditioner 10 are equal based on the detected values of the aisle temperatures. Since the number of rotations of 15 can be controlled, the temperature rise in the ICT equipment room can be suppressed as much as possible, and the air balance between the air volume of the ICT equipment and the air volume of the air conditioning equipment can be controlled.

Next, as another example of the required air volume management process, when air balance (pressure difference) detection means is used in combination to provide an effect equal to or greater than that of the capping method (third example of the required air volume management process). Will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9, the air conditioner 10 of the third example is different from the above embodiment in that it has an air balance detecting means 29.

  Specifically, as shown in the figure, the air balance detecting means 29 is arranged as a sleeve wall of the air conditioner 10, and a panel 26 that opens and closes due to a pressure difference, and a hinge 28 that rotatably supports the panel 26, A limit switch (proximity switch) 27 is provided near the panel 26 and detects the rotational movement. The panel 26 is provided along the direction of the air outlet 13 at the lower part of the surface of the casing 11 on the side where the air outlet 13 is provided so as to be a boundary between the hot aisle and the cold aisle. Has been. The panel 26 is disposed so as to close the boundary between the hot aisle and the cold aisle, and the upper end portion is pivotally supported by the lower portion of the casing 11 by a hinge 28. And the limit switch 29 is installed in the position which opposes the front-end | tip part when the panel 26 is the attitude | position which hangs down in this example. Therefore, when the balance between the pressure of the hot aisle and the cold aisle is lost, the panel 26 is pushed to the low pressure side by the pressure difference, so that the limit switch 29 detects the position information of the panel 26, thereby detecting the inside and outside of the hot aisle. When the third example of the necessary air volume management process that takes this pressure difference into account is executed, the control unit 20 controls the rotational speed of the fan 15 in the air conditioner 10.

When the third example of the necessary air volume management process is executed, first, the process proceeds to step S31 as shown in FIG. In step S <b> 31, the central control device 40 counts the position of the panel 26, and the central control device 40 outputs the signal to each air conditioner 10.
In subsequent step S32, the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10 that has acquired the position information of the panel 26 determines the opening / closing position of the panel 26 corresponding to itself. That is, when the opening / closing position of the panel 26 is “+” (hot aisle is in a pressurized state), the process proceeds to step S33, and the rotational speed of the fan 15 is increased by a certain value. In step S33, the open / close position of the panel 26 is determined. If the open / close position of the panel 26 is still “+” (the hot aisle is in a pressurized state), the process returns to step S33. If the open / close position of the panel 26 is near “0” (the air balance is not lost), the process returns to step S31.

  In the determination of the opening / closing position of the panel 26 in step S32, when the opening / closing position of the panel 26 is “−” (hot aisle is in a negative pressure state), the process proceeds to step S35, and the rotational speed of the fan is set to a constant value. In step S36, the air conditioner 10 determines the opening / closing position of the panel 26. If the opening / closing position of the panel 26 is "-" (hot aisle is in a negative pressure state), the process proceeds to step S35. If the opening / closing position is near “0” (the air balance is not lost), the process returns to step S31.

In the determination of the opening / closing position in step S32, if the opening / closing position is near “0” (the air balance is not lost), the process proceeds to step S37. In step S37, the rotational speed of the fan 15 is controlled to a predetermined rotational speed in the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10 so as to satisfy the air volume satisfying the condition.
Even if the necessary air volume management process is configured as described above, the control unit 20 of the air conditioner 10 confirms the air balance (pressure difference) inside and outside the capping based on the position information of the panel 26 that opens and closes due to the pressure difference, and the rack 2 Since the fan speed can be controlled so that the required air volume is equal to the air volume of the air conditioner 10, the temperature rise in the ICT apparatus room is suppressed even when the air conditioner fails, and the air volume of the ICT apparatus and the air conditioner The air balance with the air volume can be controlled.

Next, integrated control (group control) of the air conditioning equipment 10 in units of aisles will be described as a fourth example of the required air volume management processing (the above first to third examples are individual control of each air conditioning equipment 10).
In this example, the air conditioner 10 is appropriately changed from individual control to integrated control (group control) so that the energy saving effect is enhanced. Specifically, a total of four temperature sensors 21 (T1, T2, T3, T4) are installed at both ends of each cold aisle of the two racks. Is a necessary air volume management process in units of aisles in which the air volume of the air conditioner 10 is controlled by the central control device 40 (this is also referred to as “integrated control (group control)”). Here, as an installation position of the temperature sensor 21, the upper part of the space (the upper part of the rack) is preferable. When three temperature sensors are installed, it is preferable that the maximum value among the three measured points be the representative value. In this example, temperature measurement is not performed at both ends of the hot aisle.

When the fourth example of the required air volume management processing is executed by the central control device 40 and the air conditioner 10, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the process proceeds to step S40. In this step S40, the control based on the temperature or the control based on the temperature and the power consumption described in the other examples described above can be selected. Here, a case where control based on temperature is selected in advance will be described.
When the control based on the temperature is selected according to the selection menu, the central control device 40 proceeds to the subsequent step S41, and totals the rotation speed (frequency) of the fans of each air conditioner 10 (air conditioning unit). In the subsequent step S42, the average rotation speed (frequency) of the fans of each air conditioner 10 at the present time is calculated. In the subsequent step S43, the central control device 40 operates each air conditioner 10 at the calculated average rotational speed.

Further, in step S44, the centralized control device 40 totals the cold aisle end temperatures T1, T2, T3, T4, and in the subsequent step S45, calculates the average value Tc1 of the cold aisle end temperatures T1, T2, An average value Tc2 of both end temperatures T3 and T4 of the cold aisle is calculated.
In the subsequent step S46, (Tc1orTc2-set temperature) is determined. That is, when (Tc1orTc2-set temperature) ≦ 0 ° C., the process proceeds to step S47, and when (Tc1orTc2-set temperature)> 0 ° C., the process proceeds to step S48. In step S47, the rotation speed (frequency) of the fan of each air conditioner 10 is decreased by a certain value, and the process returns to step S41. Moreover, in step S48, the rotation speed (frequency) of the fan of each air conditioner 10 is increased by a certain value, and the process returns to step S41.

Even if the necessary air volume management processing is configured as described above, the temperature rise in the ICT equipment room can be suppressed as much as possible, and the air balance between the air volume of the ICT equipment and the air volume of the air conditioning equipment can be controlled.
Here, as a common effect by the individual control shown in the first to third examples, in particular, an air-conditioning air volume equivalent to a necessary air volume of two facing racks can be appropriately supplied, and exhausted from the ICT equipment. The advantage of individual control is that high-temperature air can be collected and processed in the vicinity of the ICT equipment.
However, the individual control shown in the first to third examples is controlled as “ICT equipment air volume ≒ air conditioning air volume”, and the load varies depending on each rack 2 in actuality. It is not always in operation.

On the other hand, according to the fourth example of the necessary air volume management process, the air conditioner 10 is controlled so that each air conditioner 10 can efficiently operate the required ICT air volume (= total of each ICT equipment air volume) in units of aisles. Therefore, the leveling operation of each air conditioner 10 increases the energy saving effect as compared with the individual control.
Note that the correspondence between the air conditioner 10 and the rack 2 is one control unit for two racks facing one air conditioner, and if there are 5 or more racks on one side, a total of 10 or more racks 2 are arranged in the aisle. As a result, the first to third examples can further effectively save energy compared to the individual control of each air conditioner 10.

  In addition, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10 controls the cooling amount from the temperature sensor 22 in the vicinity of its own suction port 12 in the above embodiment. Based on the above information, the example of adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant by controlling the opening and closing of the valve 24 in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 18 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a damper 23 that can be opened and closed by the control unit 20 of each air conditioner 10 may be provided between the left and right sides of the cooling unit 14 and the housing 11. Even in such a configuration, when the information from the temperature sensor 22 is higher than a predetermined temperature based on the information from the temperature sensor 22 in the vicinity of its own suction port 12, as shown in FIG. The left and right dampers 23 are closed to increase the amount of air passing through the cooling unit 14. When the information from the temperature sensor 22 is lower than the predetermined temperature, the left and right dampers 23 are opened to reduce the amount of air passing through the cooling unit 14 as shown in FIG.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example in which the rack 2 was accommodated in the server room 1 as a rack row | line | column with which the back was made to oppose, it is not restricted to this, For example, as shown in a modification in FIG. The arrangement of the rack rows can be various. In other words, the back surfaces of the rack rows that contact each other may be arranged in a non-facing manner, or a chamber 60 that surrounds each rack row may be provided. In addition, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, since redundancy is saved, it is needless to say that redundancy design can be performed as necessary.

1 Server room (ICT equipment room)
2 racks 3 ICT equipment 4 upper surface 5 front surface 6 rear surface 7 wiring area 10 air conditioner 11 housing 12 suction port 13 outlet port 14 cooling unit 15 fan 16 drain pan 17 drain pipe 18 refrigerant piping 19 connecting bracket 20 control unit (necessary air volume management means )
21 Temperature sensor (temperature measuring means)
22 Temperature sensor (temperature measurement means)
23 Damper 24 Valve 25 Display device 26 Panel 27 Limit switch 28 Hinge 29 Pressure balance detection means 40 Centralized control device 50 Ceiling surface

Claims (1)

An ICT equipment room that accommodates multiple rows of racks in which racks on which ICT devices such as communication equipment and computers are mounted are arranged,
As air conditioning equipment in the ICT equipment room, air conditioning equipment arranged above the hot aisle by the rack row, necessary air volume management means for managing the conditioned air circulated by the air conditioning equipment, front side and rear side of the rack row The ICT equipment room has only an ICT equipment air conditioning system comprising temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the rack and power consumption measuring means for measuring the power consumed by the rack.
The plurality of rack rows are arranged such that adjacent rack rows are hot aisles between opposing portions on the back side of each other and the front side of each rack row is a cold aisle,
A plurality of air conditioners are provided corresponding to a rack row, and the plurality of air conditioners are in a module-type housing in a space behind the back of the rack and above the top surface of the rack and below the ceiling surface of the ICT equipment room. Each body is placed,
Each air conditioner cools the intake air that is provided in the housing so as to face the hot aisle above, a suction port that is formed in the housing so as to suck air from the hot aisle by the fan, and The cooling unit using the refrigerant provided in the casing as described above, and the casing so that the air cooled by the cooling unit forms a cold aisle from the front of the ceiling of the rack row to the front of the rack row And a control unit that controls the air volume of the fan,
The necessary air volume management means is based on the power consumption of the whole rack measured by the power consumption measurement means and a plurality of temperature information at predetermined positions measured by the temperature measurement means, with the aisle by the rack row as a unit. ICT, wherein the air volume of the fans of the plurality of air conditioners is controlled via the control unit of each air conditioner for each isle unit so that the difference in management temperature between the aisle and cold aisle is not more than a predetermined value. Equipment room.

Images