KR20160080685A - Server rack assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A server rack assembly comprises: a server rack cooling device including a housing which includes a frame with an accommodation space therein and side plates coupled to the frame and including first and second openings, a partition wall which is disposed in the housing and partitions the accommodation space into a cold side corresponding to the first opening and a hot side corresponding to the second opening, a heat exchange unit which includes a heat absorption unit disposed on the cold side and absorbing heat of the cold side and a heat radiation unit disposed on the hot side and radiating the heat absorbed in the absorption unit, an external air introduction unit which is disposed on the cold side in the housing and directly provides the external air of the outside of the housing to the cold side, and an air circulation tube which has the end of one side connected to the second opening and the other side opposed to the side end and penetrating the partition wall to communicate with the cold side; and a server rack including a server rack body which comes in contact with the side plate, has a space for accommodating a server therein, and includes a server rack side opening that communicates with the first opening and a second server rack side opening communicating with the second opening, shelves which are formed in layers between the first and second server rack side openings, and a duct which is formed at a portion corresponding to the second server rack side opening to be opened and closed.

Description

Server Rack Assembly {SERVER RACK ASSEMBLY}

The present invention relates to a server rack assembly, and more particularly, to a server rack assembly that cools a server housed inside a server rack in a closed cooling system and an open cooling system.

In general, a server rack provides an environment in which computer devices such as network devices, communication devices and servers operate smoothly, and protects computer equipment from external shocks and vibrations.

When a large number of computer equipment are housed in a server rack having a limited space, the temperature inside the server rack may rise sharply due to heat generated during operation of each computer equipment, thereby greatly reducing the performance of the computer equipment .

To solve this problem, most server racks include constant temperature and humidity functions to keep the temperature and humidity inside the server rack constant.

In order to keep the temperature and humidity inside the server rack constant, it is widely used to cool the computer equipment placed inside the server rack by providing the cool air generated from the outside of the server rack to the inside of the server rack.

A method for cooling the interior of a server rack by providing cool air generated from the outside of the server rack to the inside of the server rack is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,751,188 entitled "Method and system for providing cooling of components in a data storage system".

U.S. Patent No. 188 discloses a technique in which a tube through which cool air generated from an external air conditioner outside the server rack passes is disposed adjacent to each of the laminated electric elements and the cool air can be discharged from each tube to each of the electric elements have.

However, although the method of introducing the cool air generated from the outside of the server rack into the server rack as in the above-mentioned U.S. '188 is possible in a large data center equipped with an external air conditioner, Which is difficult to apply to a rack.

In addition, the technique of introducing the cool air generated from the outside of the server rack and providing the cool air generated inside the server rack to the inside of the server rack is greatly reduced in the utilization efficiency of the cool air because the cool air generated from the outside is discharged through the outlet immediately after passing through the server inside the server rack Problems.

On the other hand, U.S. Patent No. 7,144,320 entitled " Air distribution arrangement for rack-mounted equipment "includes a plenum formed between a server and a door mounted on a cabinet, and a cool air provided upward from an air box, And a technique of being exhausted to the ceiling or the rear panel through each server while rising along a conduit formed between the doors.

However, although the U.S. Patent No. 320 discloses an air box that introduces outside air into a conduit, U.S. Patent No. 320 is also unlikely to be used alone in a room without external air conditioning facilities, This is because it is inhaled and provided to the conduit but can not generate cold air itself.

1. U.S. Patent No. 7,751,188 entitled "Method and system for providing cooling of components in a data storage system" 2. U.S. Patent No. 7,144,320 entitled "Air distribution arrangement for rack-mounted equipment" (2006.12.05)

The present invention relates to an open cooling method for cooling computer equipment inside a server rack by providing outside air to a server rack for cooling the server rack, or re-cooled and re-cooled air supplied to a server rack Provides a server rack assembly that enables efficient cooling of computer equipment inside a server rack through a closed cooling system that cools computer equipment in a circulating manner.

In one embodiment, the server rack assembly includes a housing having a frame defining a receiving space therein and side plates coupled to the frame, the side plate having first and second spaced apart apertures, A partition wall dividing the storage space into a cold side corresponding to the first opening and a hot side corresponding to the second opening, a heat absorbing unit disposed on the cold side to absorb heat on the cold side, And a heat dissipating unit for dissipating the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing unit, and a heat dissipating unit for dissipating the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing unit, an outside air introducing unit disposed on the cold side of the housing and directly supplying the outside air outside the housing to the cold side, And the other side end opposite to the one side end passes through the partition wall and is connected to the cold side through the air circulation pipe Server rack cooling equipment that contains; And a server rack body having a first server rack side opening communicating with the first opening and a second server rack side opening communicating with the second opening, the server rack body being in contact with the side plate and having a space for receiving a server therein, And a server rack including a shelf having a layered layer formed between the first server rack side openings and a duct formed at a portion corresponding to the second server rack side opening and opened and closed.

The duct of the server rack of the server rack assembly is opened when the second opening is closed, and the duct is closed when the second opening is opened.

A bypass hole is formed at a position adjacent to the first server rack side opening of the server rack assembly for bypassing a part of the air introduced into the first server rack side opening to the cold side of the housing.

The partition of the cooling device for the server rack of the server rack assembly is disposed at a corresponding position between the first and second openings and the partition wall has a partition opening through which the air circulation tube passes.

The cooling apparatus for the server rack of the server rack assembly further includes a blowing unit disposed on the cold side and providing the cooled air through the heat absorbing unit to the first opening.

The air conditioner for the server rack of the server rack assembly further includes an open / close plate disposed at the second opening of the side plate and closing the second opening when the outside air is introduced from the outside air introduction unit to the cold side.

The outside air introduction unit of the cooling device for the server rack of the server rack assembly includes an opening and closing cover for opening or closing an opening formed in the bottom plate of the housing and a turning unit for rotating the opening and closing cover.

The server rack assembly according to the present invention may include a closed cooling mode in which heated air is circulated and circulated in a server rack in which servers are disposed or an open cooling mode in which cold air outside the server rack is introduced for further cooling and provided to a server rack The server inside the server rack can be efficiently cooled according to the temperature of the outside air or the temperature inside the server rack by cooling the servers inside the server rack.

1 is a perspective view of a server rack assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a cooling apparatus for a server rack of the server rack assembly of FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing a cooling apparatus for a server rack in which side plates of the cooling apparatus for the server rack of FIG. 2 are removed.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of a cooling device for a server rack with the air circulation tube removed. Fig.
5 is a side view showing the interior of the server rack of the server rack assembly.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of the server rack when the cooling device for the server rack is in the open cooling mode.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing that a server rack cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention cools a server inside a server rack in a closed cooling system.

In the following description, only parts necessary for understanding the embodiments of the present invention will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted so as not to obscure the gist of the present invention.

The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings and the inventor is not limited to the meaning of the terms in order to describe his invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, so that various equivalents And variations are possible.

1 is a perspective view of a server rack assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a server rack assembly 1000 includes a cooling device 800 for a server rack and a server rack 900.

The cooling device 800 for the server rack generates the cool air through the closed cooling mode or the open cooling mode and the cool air generated through the cooling device 800 for the server rack is supplied to the server rack 900, Thereby cooling the server mounted inside the server 900.

2 is a perspective view of a cooling apparatus for a server rack of the server rack assembly of FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cooling apparatus for a server rack in which side plates of the cooling apparatus for the server rack of FIG. 2 are removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of a cooling device for a server rack with the air circulation tube removed. Fig.

The air conditioner 800 for a server rack includes a housing 100, a partition 200, an air circulation tube 300, a heat exchange unit 400, a blowing unit 500 and an outside air introduction unit 600. In addition, the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack may include a controller 700 and various sensors.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack provides cool air generated by the closed cooling mode or the open cooling mode to a server rack 900 in which the computer equipment is stacked, Cool the mounted servers.

The housing 100 includes a frame 110 and a plurality of side plates 120 coupled to the frame 100.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame 110 is formed, for example, in a hollow rectangular shape. Alternatively, the frame 110 may be formed in various shapes other than the rectangular shape.

The frame 110 serves as a skeleton so that the air conditioner 800 for a server rack can maintain a constant shape.

The side plates 120 may be detachably coupled to the frame 110, and the side plates 120 may be formed in a plate shape.

The partition 200 divides the internal space of the housing 100 constituted by the frame 110 and the side plates 120 into two areas, for example.

The inner space of the housing 100 is divided into a cold side CS and a hot side HS by the partition 200 and the air on the cold side CS has a relatively low temperature, Side HS has a relatively higher temperature than the cold side CS.

The partition wall 200 may be formed in the housing 100 so as to be perpendicular to the bottom plate of the housing 100 in order to divide the internal space of the housing 100 into a cold side CS and a hot side HS. And a partition opening 210 is formed in a part of the partition 200.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the partition 200 is a member that separates the cold side CS and the hot side HS, and the cold side CS and the hot side HS are not heat exchanged through the partition 200 The barrier rib 200 may be made of a synthetic resin material. Alternatively, the barrier rib 200 may be formed by pressing a metal plate. When the barrier rib 200 is made of a metal plate, the barrier rib 200 may be a column The energy efficiency can be further improved by adding the transmission preventing member.

A first opening 122 is formed in the cold side CS of the pair of side plates 120 facing each other among the side plates 120 of the housing 100, And a second opening 124 is formed at a position corresponding to the hot side (HS)

The hot side (HS) of the housing (100) divided by the partition wall (200) is formed with an opening (130) for discharging the air introduced into the hot side (HS) and the air heated in the heat exchanger (130) is coupled to a duct extending outdoors.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a heat exchange unit 400 is disposed inside the housing 100.

The inside of the housing 100 is partitioned into a cold side CS and a hot side HS by partition walls 200 and a hot side HS is provided with a heat exchanger A heat-dissipating unit such as an expansion valve and an evaporator of the heat-exchanging unit 400 for absorbing heat is disposed on the cold side (CS).

One end of the air circulation tube 300 is connected to the second opening 124 and the other end of the air circulation tube 300 is connected to the partition opening 210 To the cold side (CS).

The air introduced through the second opening 124 by the air circulation tube 300 is supplied to the cold side CS through the partition opening 210 without mixing with the air on the hot side HS, The cooling apparatus 900 for a server rack can cool the server rack 900 in a closed cooling system.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the air circulation tube 300 is heat exchanged with the outside air to primarily cool the air passing through the air circulation tube 300.

On the other hand, in order to provide cooling air in the open cooling mode, the opening / closing plate 140 may be disposed in the second opening 124 of the side plate 120.

When the second opening 124 of the side plate 120 is closed by the opening and closing plate 140, the outside air introducing unit 600 disposed at the lower end of the cold side CS of the housing 100 is opened, Side CS so as to cool the outside air at the cold side CS.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchange unit 400 may include a compressor 410, a condenser 420, an expansion unit 420, A valve (not shown) and an evaporator 430.

The compressor 410 and the condenser 420 of the heat exchange unit 400 are disposed on the hot side HS of the housing 100 and the expansion valve and the evaporator 430 of the heat exchange unit 400 are disposed on the cold side of the housing 100, (CS).

A pair of evaporators 430 are disposed on the cold side CS and are hereinafter defined as a pair of evaporators 430 and a first evaporator 432 and a pair of evaporators 430, (432, 434) are arranged in a vertical direction, respectively.

The blowing unit 500 is disposed at the cold side CS of the housing 100 and the blowing unit 500 is disposed at a position adjacent to the evaporator 430 of the heat exchange unit 400.

The blowing unit 500 includes a first blowing unit 510 disposed to face the first evaporator 432 and a second blowing unit 520 disposed facing the second evaporator 434 ).

The first and second air blowing units 510 and 520 pass the first and second evaporators 432 and 434 and provide cooled air to the first opening 122 formed in the side plate 120 so that the cooled air flows through the first opening (Not shown).

The outside air introducing unit 600 is disposed on the cold side CS of the housing 100. The outside air introducing unit 600 includes an opening and closing cover 610 for opening and closing an opening formed in the bottom plate of the housing 100, 610 to rotate.

The controller 700 generates cold air in the cooling apparatus 800 for the server rack corresponding to the temperatures of the outdoor air and the cold air measured from various sensors and provides the generated cool air to the server rack. Controls the operations of the heat exchange unit 400, the air blowing unit 500, and the outside air introduction unit 600 and the like.

Various sensors such as a temperature sensor for controlling the controller 700, a humidity sensor, a coolant temperature sensor, and an ambient temperature sensor may be mounted on the cooling device 800 for the server rack.

5 is a side view showing the interior of the server rack of the server rack assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the server rack 900 of the server rack assembly 100 is formed in a shape suitable for layering a server therein.

The server rack 900 may include a server rack body 910 and a door 920.

The server rack main body 910 is formed, for example, in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped box, and one side thereof can be opened to mount or detach the server 907.

On the upper surface of the server rack body 910, for example, a duct 915 capable of opening and closing is connected.

A portion of the server rack main body 910 connected to the front side of the server rack main body 910 is defined as a server rack side surface 930 when the open side of the server rack main body 910 is a front side.

The shelves 902 are arranged in a layered manner inside the server rack body 910, and a server 907 such as a computer equipment is mounted on each shelf 902.

The server 907 has a passageway 906 through which cool air flows into the front side and air heated to the rear side of the server 907 is discharged. That is, the cool air flows into the front surface of the server 907 and is discharged to the rear surface of the server 907.

The spacing between the shelves 907 is substantially the same as the height of the server 907 so that the cool air introduced into the front of the server 907 is cooled to a portion other than the passageway of the server 907 And is discharged to the rear surface of the server 907 through the passage 906 of the server.

The door 920 is hinged to the open front of the server rack body 910 and the door 920 opens or closes the server rack body 910.

The door 920 may include a glass plate for observing the interior of the server rack body 910. The glass plate may be configured such that electromagnetic waves are introduced into the server rack body 910 from outside the server rack body 910 And metal wires for shielding electromagnetic waves may be embedded in a mesh form in order to prevent electromagnetic waves from flowing out of the server rack body 910 from inside the server rack body 910. [

The server rack side 130 of the server rack main body 910 is disposed to face the side plate 120 of the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack shown in Fig.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the side plate 120 of the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack is arranged to face the server rack body 910. [

The first server rack side opening 932 is formed in the server rack main body 910 corresponding to the first opening 122 disposed on the cold side CS of the side plate 120 of the cooling device 800 for the server rack, The server rack side surface 130 of the server rack main body 900 corresponding to the second opening 124 disposed on the hot side HS of the side plate 120 of the cooling device 800 for the server rack is provided with a second server rack side opening (934) is formed.

On the other hand, when the internal pressure of the server rack body 910 is high at a position adjacent to the first server rack side opening 932 of the server rack body 910, the cool air flowing into the server rack body 910 is guided to the cooling apparatus 800 A bypass hole 936 for bypassing the cold side (CS)

Hereinafter, operation of the server rack assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The server rack assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention operates in two cooling modes, and the server rack assembly 1000 operates in a closed cooling mode and an open cooling mode.

First, the closed cooling mode of the server rack assembly 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of the server rack when the cooling device for the server rack is in the open cooling mode.

4 to 6, in order for the server rack cooling apparatus 800 to cool the air by the open cooling method, the outside air introduction unit 600 is opened and the hot side (HS) of the side plate 120 of the housing 100 The outdoor unit is introduced to the cold side (CS) of the housing 100 by closing the opening / closing plate 140.

At this time, outside air is also supplied to the hot side (HS) of the housing 100 to cool the condenser 420 of the heat exchange unit 400 disposed on the hot side (HS) of the housing 100, Is exhausted to the outside through a duct connected to the housing (100).

The outside air introduced into the cold side CS through the outside air introducing unit 600 is cooled while passing through the evaporator 430 of the heat exchanging unit 400 and the cold air passes through the blowing unit 500, The cold air discharged through the first opening 122 is discharged through the first opening 122 formed in the server rack body 910 through the first server rack side opening 932 of the server rack 900, So as to cool the server 907 accommodated in the server rack body 910.

After the server 907 is cooled, the heated air discharged from the server 907 is discharged to the outside through a duct 915 connected to the server rack body 910. The server rack cooling apparatus 800 Cooling the server 907 disposed in the server rack body 910 of the server rack 900 in an open cooling system.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing that a server rack cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention cools a server inside a server rack in a closed cooling system.

4, 5 and 7, in order for the server rack cooling apparatus 800 to cool the air by the closed cooling system, the outside air introducing unit 600 is closed and the opening and closing plate 140 is opened to the side of the housing 100 And the second opening 124 disposed on the hot side (HS) of the plate 120 is opened.

At this time, outside air is also supplied to the hot side (HS) of the housing 100 to cool the condenser 420 of the heat exchange unit 400 disposed on the hot side (HS) of the housing 100, Is exhausted to the outside through a duct connected to the housing (100).

The server 907 is cooled in the server rack body 910 of the server rack 900 as the outside air does not flow into the cold side CS of the housing 100 and the heated air is supplied to the server rack body 910 2 server rack side opening 934 to the second opening 124 of the side plate 120 of the housing 100. [

The heated air provided in the second opening 124 is provided to the cold side CS through the compartment opening 210 formed in the partition 200 through the air circulation tube 300. At this time, since the heated air passing through the server 907 in the server rack body 910 is supplied to the cold side CS through the air circulation tube 300, air passing through the second opening 124 And is not mixed with the hot side (HS) air of the housing 100.

The air that has passed through the partition opening 210 formed in the partition wall 200 and provided to the cold side CS via the air circulation tube 300 is cooled while passing through the evaporator 430 of the heat exchange unit 400, Is returned to the server (907) through the first opening (122) of the side plate (120) of the air blowing unit (500) and the first server rack side opening (932) of the server rack body Thereby cooling the server 907.

By repeating this process, the server 907 disposed inside the server rack body 910 is cooled by the circulating closed cooling system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the closed cooling system may be applied when there is less heat generation inside the server rack body 910, while an open cooling system may be applied when a large amount of heat is generated within the server rack body 910 can do.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the closed cooling system can be applied when there is less heat generation inside the server rack, while the open cooling system can be applied when a large amount of heat is generated in the server rack.

Although it is shown and described that the inside of the server rack is cooled through the open cooling system and the closed cooling system in an embodiment of the present invention, a part of the outside air introducing unit is opened and a part of the open / The server rack may be cooled by a mixed cooling method in which air in the server rack is introduced into the server rack through the opening and closing plate to provide cool air to the server rack. In the mixed cooling system, the outdoor air introducing unit and the open / The interlocking unit can be mounted on the air conditioner for the server rack.

The interlocking unit may include, for example, a wire connecting the opening / closing plate and the outdoor air introducing unit and an elastic member returning the wire, or a motor mounted on the outdoor air introducing unit and the opening / closing plate.

As described above in detail, in the closed cooling mode in which the heated air circulates in the server rack in which the servers are arranged, or in the open cooling mode in which the cold air outside the server rack is introduced to provide cooling to the server rack The server inside the server rack can be efficiently cooled according to the temperature of the outside air or the temperature inside the server rack by cooling the servers inside the server rack.

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are merely examples of specific examples for the purpose of understanding, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

100 ... housing 200 ... partition wall
300 ... air circulation tube 400 ... heat exchange unit
500 ... air blowing unit 600 ... outside air introduction unit
700 ... controller 800 ... air conditioner for server rack
900 ... server rack

Claims (7)

A housing having a frame defining a receiving space therein and side plates coupled to the frame, the side plate having first and second spaced apart first and second openings, A heat absorbing unit arranged on the cold side for absorbing heat on the cold side and a heat absorbing unit disposed on the hot side for absorbing heat absorbed in the heat absorbing unit, A heat exchange unit including a heat dissipation unit for dissipating heat, an outside air introduction unit disposed at the cold side of the housing, for directly introducing outside air outside the housing to the cold side, and one side end connected to the second opening, A cooling device for a server rack, the opposite side end of the air circulation tube communicating with the cold side through the partition wall; And
A server rack body having a first server rack side opening communicating with the first opening and a second server rack side opening communicating with the second opening, the server rack body being in contact with the side plate and having a space for receiving a server therein, And a server rack including a shelf having a layered layer formed between the second server rack side openings and a duct formed at a portion corresponding to the second server rack side opening and being opened and closed. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the duct of the server rack is open when the second opening is closed and the duct is closed when the second opening is open. The method according to claim 1,
A bypass hole is formed at a position adjacent to the first server rack side opening to bypass a portion of the air introduced into the first server rack side opening to the cold side of the housing. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the partition of the cooling device for the server rack is disposed at a position corresponding to the space between the first and second openings, and the partition wall has a partition opening through which the air circulation tube passes. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the cooling device for the server rack further comprises an air blowing unit disposed on the cold side and providing the cooled air as the first opening while passing through the heat absorbing unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the cooling apparatus for the server rack further comprises an open / close plate disposed at the second opening of the side plate and closing the second opening when the outside air is introduced from the outside air introduction unit to the cold side. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the outside air introduction unit of the cooling device for the server rack includes an opening / closing cover for opening or closing an opening formed in the bottom plate of the housing, and a turning unit for rotating the opening / closing cover.

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