WO2012116726A1

WO2012116726A1 - Cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2012116726A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/052940
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Doerrich; Dirk Hemann; Michael Nicolai; Jens Satzer; Daniel THEIS
Original assignee: Rittal Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2011-02-28
Filing date: 2011-02-28
Publication date: 2012-09-07

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device comprising a receptacle region, in which a heat exchanger and at least one fan unit are arranged, and comprising a supporting structure which, with two vertical frame profiles spaced apart from each other, delimits an installation opening. In order to be able to dissipate high power losses with good operational reliability in such a device, the invention provides for the fan unit to be arranged in a manner facing the receptacle area behind the vertical frame profiles and, in the flow direction, behind the heat exchanger, and for the fan unit to have an installation width extending in a horizontal direction which is larger than the clear distance between the vertical frame profiles.

Description

cooling unit

The invention relates to a cooling device with a receiving area in which a heat exchanger and at least one fan unit are arranged, and with a support structure defining a mounting opening with two spaced apart vertical frame profiles, wherein the fan unit is arranged facing the receiving space behind the vertical frame profiles.

A known from WO 2009/141610 A1 cooling device is used for cooling of electronic components that are housed in racks or cabinets. In this case, for example, the cooling device can be integrated in a series of racks or control cabinets which delimit a cold aisle from a hot aisle in a data center. The cooling unit takes in heated air from the aisle, cools it and then releases it into the cold aisle again. Another design variant is characterized in that the cooling device is mounted laterally on a control cabinet, as shown in DE 1 0 2006 051 904 A1. A closed air circulation system is formed by the control cabinet and the cooling unit. Accordingly, air is sucked from the cabinet, passed through the refrigerator and then the cooled air is returned to the cabinet. In this known construction three fan units are arranged one above the other in a frame. The frame is composed of twelve frame profiles, each four horizontal frame profiles form a floor and a cover frame. The floor is connected to the deck frame via four vertical frame profiles. In this way, results in a rigid support structure, which serves to stably receive the fan units. Depending on the dissipated power loss, one, two or three fan units can be integrated in the receiving space of the cooling unit. The fan units can be easily retrofitted. They only have to be inserted through the front. For this purpose, the frame on the front side, the two vertical frame profiles, the spaced apart parallel define an installation opening.

For cost reasons, the data center increasingly demands that the building units installed in the data center provide high performance in a small space. Thus, there is also the requirement to design refrigerators with the smallest possible footprint.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cooling device of the type mentioned, can be dissipated with the reliable in a small volume high power losses.

This object is achieved in that the fan unit is arranged to the receiving space facing behind the vertical frame profiles and downstream of the heat exchanger in the flow direction. The fact that the fan unit is arranged behind the heat exchanger, the cooled air can also be used to cool the fan motor. Then the fan unit with high reliability and long life can be operated.

According to the invention, the fan unit further has a horizontally extending installation width, which is greater than the clear distance between the vertical frame profiles. Then, a fan can be installed in the fan unit, which can promote large volume flows with maximum fan diameter. Moreover, with such fans also high pressure differences can be overcome, so that for the purpose of high power output and corresponding heat exchanger can be used with high air resistance.

In order to ensure the installation or removal of the fan units in or out of the receiving space in such a configuration of a cooling unit, it is provided that extending in the direction of the receiving chamber depth installation depth of the fan unit is less than the clear opening dimension between the vertical frame profiles. The fan unit can then be rotated in the receiving space so that it can be moved out of the installation opening via the side depicting the installation depth. Then, for example, the fan unit can be easily removed for maintenance or it can be a new fan unit easy to install.

Particularly preferably, it is provided that the fan unit is a radial fan, or has a radial fan, which sucks the air in the direction of its axis of rotation and blows out in the radial direction. With radial fans of this kind, high pressure differences can be overcome with high air delivery volumes. In particular, it may be provided that the conveying blades of the radial fan are arranged such that they are curved counter to the direction of rotation of the radial fan. Then you can achieve an increase in power output for the purpose of high air volume delivery.

For improved access protection it can be provided that the installation opening can be closed by means of a removable cover.

If it is provided that two or more fan units are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction in the receiving space in the vertical direction, then the Kühlgerätbestückung can be made depending on the performance requirements of the user with one or more fan units. The assembly succeeds in the installed state of the refrigerator simply through the front.

In this case, it can be provided, in particular, that the fan unit is assigned a guide which leads to an offset of the fan unit in the depth direction. Thus, a simple assembly and disassembly of the fan unit can be made, the guide allows the insertion and removal of the fan unit reliable and easy to install.

According to a conceivable embodiment of the invention, provision may be made for an electrical control circuit to be arranged in the receiving space downstream of the heat exchanger in the flow direction. With the control circuit, for example, the fan unit can be controlled. The fact that it is located behind the heat exchanger in the flow direction, it is cooled at the same time, so no separate construction effort is required for this.

In order to avoid an air short circuit, provision may be made for an end wall to be provided in the space between two fan units. A modular design is achieved in particular when it is provided that two or more fan mounts are provided in the receiving space, the are vertically stacked, and that in each fan mount a fan unit is interchangeable used.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 in perspective side view of a cooling device; and

Figure 2 is a schematic detail view of the cooling device according to Figure 1 in

Front area and in horizontal section.

Figure 1 shows a refrigerator with a frame 10, which surrounds a receiving space. The frame 10 is composed of eight horizontal and four vertical frame profiles 1 1, 12, 13. In this case, two extending in the direction of the air conditioning depth horizontal frame profiles 1 1 and two extending in air conditioner width direction horizontal frame profiles 12, a floor and a cover frame. The floor frame is connected to the cover frame via the four vertical frame profiles 13 in the corner regions of the frame 10. The receiving space can be closed at the front with a cover 14.1 and at the back with a cover 14.2. In this case, the covers 14.1, 14.2 are preferably hinged so that they form a door which makes the receiving space easily accessible.

In the area of the rear side of the frame 10, a holder 15 is stably fixed to the bottom frame and the two vertical frame profiles 13. The holder 15 carries a connection fitting 1 6, which forms both the flow and the return for a heat exchanger 20. The heat exchanger 20 is cuboid and designed as an air-water heat exchanger. It is supported with a bottom-side and a top-side attachment 21 relative to the frame 10. In this case, the heat exchanger 20 extends in the vertical direction almost over the entire height of the frame 10 in the parallel to the horizontal frame profiles 12 extending frame frame width direction, the heat exchanger 20 also extends almost over the entire installation width of the receiving space. The heat exchanger 20 is designed as a conventional air-water heat exchanger, which forms air ducts between heat exchanger plates. The air ducts form a flow connection between the rear side of the heat exchanger 20 facing the cover 14,2 and the front side of the heat exchanger 20 facing the cover 14.1. The heat exchanger 20 is accordingly perfused with air in the main flow direction HS (see FIG. 2). In the flow direction after the heat exchanger 20, a mist eliminator 30 connects. This is attached via brackets 31 to a condensate collector 40. The condensate collector 40 is designed as a trough which extends in the depth direction both over the heat exchanger 20 and via the mist eliminator 30.

In the front region of the frame 10 six fan mounts are provided. These fan mounts are accessible with the front cover 14.1 open. The two front vertical frame sections 13 and the front horizontal frame sections 1 1, 12 limit an installation opening through which one gets access to the fan mounts. Each fan receptacle has a bottom which forms a guide 65. The floor is fixed by means of fasteners 64 to the vertical frame profiles 12 stable.

In each fan mount a fan unit 60 can be used. In the present case, six fan mounts are arranged vertically one above the other and three fan mounts are occupied by three fan units 60. In this case, between the fan units 60 each have a fan tray is not occupied. In the area of unused fan mounts end walls 63 are used. On the one hand, these serve to seal off the air, on the other hand they support the adjacent guides 65 in vertical direction. tion against each other, so that a stable construction results. In order to avoid a misregistration, locking plates 68 are installed in the unused fan mounts.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a horizontal section through a fan unit 60 in the front region of the air conditioning unit. As this illustration shows, an installation opening 18 is delimited between the two vertical frame profiles 13. The fan units 60 are arranged in the assembled state behind the vertical frame profiles 13. In this case, the installation width B of the fan units 60 running parallel to the front side in the horizontal direction is greater than the clear distance between the vertical frame profiles 13 in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the horizontal installation depth T of the fan unit 60, which runs perpendicular to the front side, is smaller than the clear distance between the vertical frame profiles 13. Accordingly, the fan unit 60 can be mounted in such a way that it is rotated by 90 ° relative to the installation situation shown in FIG. 2 through the installation opening 18 can be pushed through. The insertion of the fan unit 60 is easily achieved on the guide 65. Behind the vertical frame profiles 13 then the fan unit 60 can be rotated so that it reaches the installation state shown in Figure 2. By means of suitable fasteners can then fix the fan unit 60.

As FIG. 2 further shows, the fan units 60 comprise a radial fan 66, which draws in the air along its axis of rotation R and delivers it radially outward. The flow direction is symbolized in Figure 2 with arrows. The radial fan 66 is installed in the fan unit 60 in a fan housing 61, wherein the fan housing 61 has a blow-out opening 62 which is directed to the side of the refrigerator (in this case to the left side). The radial fan 66 conveys air through the heat exchanger 20, thereby resulting in the main flow direction HS, which is directed from the back of the air conditioner to the front of the air conditioner out. The sucked air is laterally by means of the radial fan 66 in an attached control cabinet injected at the front. The injected air flows through the control cabinet in the form of a horizontal air roll and accordingly leaves the control cabinet at the back. There, a corresponding air-conducting connection between the cabinet and the air conditioner is provided. The air is then sucked in the direction of flow in front of the heat exchanger 20 back into the air conditioner and conveyed through the heat exchanger 20. The air cools and is pulled through the mist eliminator 30. Any accumulating condensate is trapped in the droplet 30 and fed in the direction of gravity down to the condensate collector 40. Since the heat exchanger 20 is also set in the condensate collector 40, the condensate possibly arising on the heat exchanger 20 is caught in the condensate collector 40.

As described above, depending on the user's request, the cooling device can be equipped with one or more fan units 60. With the number of fan units 60, the cooling capacity of the refrigerator increases. A user can thus select the number of fan units 60 depending on the desired performance data. If the required cooling capacity increases, then additional fan units 60 can be added.

It is also conceivable that a redundancy can be covered by the number of fan units 60. For example, if three fan units 60 are sufficient for cooling, the user may insert a fourth fan unit 60 so that it receives an n + 1 redundancy.

Furthermore, the operating costs can be reduced by the number of fan units 60 used. For example, if three fan units 60 are sufficient to achieve the desired cooling capacity, then these fan units 60 run at maximum speed and thus with maximum energy consumption. For this reason, it is now possible to further, for example, three other fan units 60 (ie up to a total of six fan units 60). As a result, the total air output per fan unit 60 decreases, whereby the energy consumption is reduced. This results in significant savings in operating costs and extended lifetimes. As described above, the cooling device has six identical fan mounts, in which identical fan units 60 can be used in a modular manner. In addition, the fan units 60 have an electrical connection, which enables activation of the fan units 60 in the plug-and-play method via the device software.

As FIG. 1 shows, an electrical control circuit 50 is integrated in the receiving space of the cooling device. This is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 20 in the flow direction. It is thus cooled by the heat exchanger 20 and there are no other design measures required for this. Furthermore, a spatial separation between the rear water-conducting area and the electrical system is achieved by this arrangement of the heat exchanger 20. In addition, the electrical control circuit 50 is arranged for this purpose in the ceiling region of the frame 10.

Particularly preferably, the cooling device has a width parallel to the front side, ie transverse to the air flow direction through the heat exchanger 20 (main flow direction HS) less than or equal to 300 mm. This corresponds to half the standard unit in common data centers. In order to be able to dissipate power losses in the range of 60 kW, each fan unit 60 is designed such that it conveys an air volume flow in the range between 1 .000 m ³ and 1 .600 m ³ per hour. The water throughput through the heat exchanger 20 should be in the range between 90 and 1 60 l / min in order to obtain a sufficiently uniform utilization of the heat exchanger 20 in the width direction in this narrow width. This is particularly necessary when the receiving space of the refrigerator has a volume in the range of 0.6 to 0.8 m ³ .

Claims

claims

1 . Cooling device with a receiving area, in which a heat exchanger (20) and at least one fan unit (60) are arranged, and with a supporting structure which define a mounting opening (18) with two spaced-apart vertical frame profiles (13),

characterized,

that the fan unit (60) facing the receiving space behind the vertical frame profiles (13) and downstream of the heat exchanger (20) is arranged, and

in that the fan unit (60) has a horizontally extending installation width (B) which is greater than the clear distance between the vertical frame profiles (13).

2. Refrigerator according to claim 1,

characterized,

in that the installation depth of the fan unit (60) extending in the direction of the receiving chamber depth is smaller than the clear opening dimension between the vertical frame profiles (13).

3. Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 or 2,

characterized,

in that the fan unit (60) is a radial fan (66) or has a radial fan (66) which draws in the air in the direction of its axis of rotation (R) and blows it out in the radial direction.

4. Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized,

the installation opening (18) can be closed by means of a removable cover (14.1).

5. Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized,

that two or more fan units (60) are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction in the receiving space.

6. Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized,

in that the fan unit (60) is assigned a guide (65) which leads to an offset of the fan unit (60) in the depth direction.

7. Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized,

that in the flow direction behind the heat exchanger (20), an electrical control circuit (50) is arranged in the receiving space. Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized,

in that a terminating wall (63) is provided in the space between two fan units (60).

Refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 8,

characterized,

that in the receiving space two or more fan mounts are provided, which are arranged vertically one above the other, and

that in each fan mount a fan unit (60) is interchangeable used.