DE102008002789B4 - Modular arrangement with air conditioning device and method for adjusting the cooling demand - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular structure for heat generating electronic devices (28, 32), such as servers, with at least one air conditioning device, wherein the electronic devices (28, 32) are arranged in racks (20, 22, 24, 26, 30) in the heat releasably mounted, wherein the racks (20, 22, 24, 26, 30) in a row (12, 14, 16, 18) or in a plurality of rows (12, 14, 16, 18) are arranged and the Dimensions of the racks (20, 22, 24, 26, 30) correspond to conventional 19-inch technology, characterized in that the at least one air conditioning device comprises a housing (62, 64) in the heat exchanger (73) and fan (66, 68, 70, 72) are arranged, the dimensions of which correspond to conventional 19-inch technology and which is installed in racks (20, 22, 24, 26, 30), wherein in only one row (12, 14, 16, 18) of racks (20, 22, 24, 26, 30) the series is enclosed by a cover which closes off its sides, and the supply air opening of the at least one air conditioning device is connected to the intermediate space extending between the side and the cover, or in the case of several rows (12, 14, 16, 18) of racks (20, 22, 24, 26, 30) one row (12, 14, 16, 18) between a warm aisle (46, 48, 50) and a cold aisle (40, 42) is arranged and the exhaust port of the at least one air conditioning device with the hot aisle (46, 48, 50) and the air inlet opening of the at least one air conditioning device with the cold aisle (40, 42) is connected.

Description

The invention relates to a modular arrangement for heat generating electronic devices, such as servers, with at least one air conditioning device, wherein the electronic devices are arranged in racks, in which heat generating electronic devices are detachably installed, wherein the racks in a row or in are arranged in several rows and correspond to the dimensions of the racks conventional 19-inch technology. Also, the invention relates to a method for adjusting the cooling requirements of heat generating electronic devices, such as servers, which are modularly mounted in at least one row of 19 "(inch) mounted racks, the surroundings of the racks being at least an air conditioning device is cooled, wherein the air conditioning device comprises a housing in which heat exchangers and fans are arranged.

Typically, components of communications and information technology data assets, such as data center servers, are racked into 19 "(inch) rack space. 19-inch racks installed. The data centers are separate air-conditioned rooms.

Corresponding 19 '' racks are standardized (EIA / ECA 310, IEC 60297, DIN 41494). As a result, the installation of any device is possible, provided that they comply with the standards mentioned. The racks are divided into height units (HU), with a height unit corresponding to 1.75 "(4.45 cm). Standard racks for data center servers typically have a net height of 42U, with different depths.

The racks or shelves typically have front mounting rails to which servers or CPUs are connected and installed vertically one above the other in the rack.

Computer rooms in which corresponding racks are arranged in rows are cooled. For this purpose, the computer room can have a double bottom, introduced via the cooled air and heated air is discharged. There is a subdivision into hot and cold aisles, which run between the rows of racks, so that the cooled air from the cold aisle flows through the racks to be withdrawn through the warm aisle.

However, it is also possible to install in the room air conditioning units that cool immediately without a double floor is used. These are arranged as separate devices next to the racks. Corresponding separately deployable and usually smaller width than the racks having air conditioning units are offered by the American Power Conversion Corp., West Kingston, USA. The installation of the separate air conditioning units, however, the architecture of the shelves is disturbed. Also, there is no possibility to equip rooms later with appropriate equipment, since the required space is not available, unless shelves are removed.

The EP 1 662 851 A2 refers to an air conditioning device, in which, in addition to the arranged in a rack electronic devices, an air conditioning unit is made to flow through the rack with cooling air.

Subject of the DE 10 2004 008 460 A1 is an arrangement for cooling control cabinets.

The DE 22 35 564 C2 proposes a fan tray that is installed under or over other heat generating devices located in the rack. In order to cool the corresponding devices, specifically cooled air is directed into the device above or below it by the fan unit via a pivotable wall.

On the cooling of a computer room refers to the US 2005/0235671 A1 or the US 2003/0 050 003 A1 ,

Of the US 2008/0037217 A1 discloses a rack assembly for heat generating devices, wherein a rack with a cooling device is arranged between the racks containing the devices. The rack contains a heat exchanger. The fan needed to convey the air to be cooled is outside the rack.

The present invention is based on the object, an arrangement and a method of the type mentioned in such a way that a problem-free customization can be made to the heat load occurring, in particular that when installing servers higher power cooling continues to be possible without the Architecture of existing rows of racks or rows must be changed.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a modular arrangement of the type mentioned in that the at least one air conditioning device has a housing in which heat exchangers and fans are arranged, the dimensions of which correspond to conventional 19-inch technology and which is installed in racks, said in only one row of racks, the row is enclosed by a cover closing off its sides, and the inlet air opening of the at least one air conditioning device is connected to the running between the side and the cover gap, or arranged at a plurality of rows of racks a row between a warm aisle and a cold aisle and the exhaust port of the at least one air conditioning device with the hot aisle and the supply air opening of the at least one air conditioning with connected to the cold aisle.

Deviating from the prior art to be taken suggestions in a frame - also called shelf - an air conditioning device - hereinafter also called air conditioning unit - installed on the cooling of the built-in racks, ie in the series or rows electronic devices such as servers or CPU's, without having to change the rack architecture. The air conditioning units are adapted to the 19 "technology so that easy installation is possible. In this case, in particular, the air conditioning unit is received horizontally displaceable by the frame, so that there is a retractable module.

It is preferably provided that the air conditioning unit is installed in a rack of a row, which is arranged in a plurality of rows and in a closed space, which is air conditioned via a double bottom, so that the front and back of the rows are open and an air flow over the Air conditioning unit in the horizontal direction, but it is also possible to make the air conditioning of electronic installations only one row. For this purpose, one side of the row of shelves is housed, so provided with a spaced-apart the side occlusive cover to lead over the thus formed space between the shelves of the series and the cover of the air conditioning unit derived cooling air through the shelves of the series. The cover is basically provided on the front side of the shelf.

As a result of the teaching according to the invention, an individual adaptation of the cooling requirement of heat-generating electronic devices such as servers or CPUs can consequently be carried out, in which case if z. As servers are replaced and replaced by such higher performance, also an increase in the cooling capacity can be done by a further air conditioning device is installed in a frame. For this purpose, it is only necessary that an electronic device such as a server is removed in order to use an air conditioning device in the space thus formed. However, this does not reduce the overall computer performance of a corresponding room if multiple servers are replaced by those of higher performance, so that the computing power of the room can be increased without changing the architecture of the racks or rows, but at the same time increasing the cooling capacity accordingly can.

Although it is known to equip a cabinet with an air conditioning device. The task of the corresponding air conditioning device, however, is to cool only the built-in device above or below the air-conditioning unit. For this purpose, the space between the air conditioning unit and the adjacent device is closed by brush strips ( DE 197 57 911 C2 ). The DE 22 35 564 C2 provides a fan tray for insertion into racks or cabinets which is installed below or above other heat generating devices located in the rack. In order to cool the corresponding devices, cooling air is specifically directed by the fan unit via a pivotable wall into the device located above or below it. Consequently, only immediately adjacent devices are cooled and not the space surrounding the frame.

In particular, it is provided that one or two air conditioning units are installed in a frame over its entire height, wherein in particular an air conditioning unit has a height of 20 U.

The air conditioning unit or the housing itself can be connected to the frame via elbows. In particular, the housing is slidably mounted on a rail system in 19 "technology in the frame.

In order to meet safety requirements, the air conditioning unit should be designed to be redundant, at least in terms of air transport. For this purpose, it is provided that the air conditioning unit has two radial fans, which operate at partial load during normal operation. If one of the fans fails, the other radial fan is operated at a higher power.

To keep the installation effort as low as possible, the air conditioning unit can be operated by water cooling. Operation by direct evaporation is also possible.

In order to carry out air cooling to a sufficient extent, a heat exchanger should be arranged in the air conditioning unit over its height and along a diagonal. This is designed in particular together with the fan and the cooling water such that the air flowing through is cooled by 15 ° to 20 °.

The arrangement of the or the air conditioning units in the racks, a horizontal flow, so that a uniform cooling of the electronic internals takes place.

A method of the type mentioned above is characterized in that at least one of the racks from at least one of the electronic devices is removed and then in the space thus provided a further air conditioning device in 19 '' (inch) technology is installed.

It is provided in particular that the at least one further air conditioning unit in a frame - also called shelf - one of several arranged in a room rows is installed, which are limited by hot and cold aisles, and that supply air opening of the at least one other. Air conditioning unit with a cold aisle and exhaust port of the at least one other air conditioning unit are connected to a warm aisle.

The cooling unit is designed to fit into any EIA 310 IT enclosure. The application relates to the cooling of electronic equipment with racks - hereinafter IT equipment - with horizontal back-to-back air flow in rooms with hot and cold gear arrangement. For rooms in which only a single rack row is possible, an air plenum is provided which connects to the rear of the cabinet housing of the refrigerator and can be extended to include the back of one or more shelves to provide a single row shielding system.

The units are placed as required to ensure complete coverage of, for example, IT equipment exhaust from the hot aisle and to prevent heat leakage into the room in the rows. The heat is drawn through a heat exchanger, d. h., Its coil, and ejected at about 2 ° C below the desired target temperature for the air flowing into the IT equipment in the cold air passage. To prevent plant maintenance engineers from having to go hot, the unit should be 100% maintainable from the cold aisle to prevent unintentional, disruptive interferences in data cable trays. The unit can be replaced without the need for shutdown of the cooled water supply.

The frame should be such that it fits between the vertical mounting rails of a standard EIA 310 IT cabinet. Flanges on the frame should be configured to match the mounting holes on the IT chassis. For easy installation and maintenance dismantling of the frame, a quick-twistlock snap-in fixture should be incorporated. The frame should be mounted on rails so that the complete frame can be pulled out of the front of the IT rack for maintenance or replacement. The side panels of the frame should be easily removable to have maintenance access to all components from all sides. If the frame is removed from the rack, it should include a fold-down support to prevent the rack from tipping forward, depending on where the center of gravity of a fully extended unit is located.

Preferred frame dimensions are 20 U height in a stackable configuration to allow a capacity of about 40 kW per rack. The packaged dimensions should be taken into account in the planning, in order to ensure an optimally filled container load for shipping. The frame height can be sacrificed to optimize container load quantities. The components should be fixed in the frame so that the packaged frame can be shipped in a vertical or horizontal position. Two units can share a regulator and a valve to function as a unit. An option for a single controller is required for use when a single frame is used alone for smaller loads.

The entire bottom of the frame should be installed as a condensate drain pan. For an optional condensate pump in the bottom of the condensate drain pan, gaps should be considered.

The pipe turn or snake should be vertical (not tilted) and located on a diagonal inside of the frame to maximize the outer surface area. For a maximum outer surface, wrap around and turn back valves should be considered. Return curling temperatures can vary between 28 ° C and 45 ° C.

If only one cooling coil is used for a 40 U high cooling unit, it is envisaged that the coil will be split horizontally into two separate coils on common manifolds to function as a cooling loop. The aim is to minimize the water-side pressure drop through the winding. Two separate CW valves should be possible, with each feeding half of the turn. Should one turn fail, the other would provide full relief up to the nominal capacity of the remaining half of the turn. The intention is to provide N + 1 discharge in a single framework.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments.

Show it:

1 a rack with a server,

2 the frame according to 1 in plan view,

3 the frame according to 1 with two superimposed air conditioning or cooling devices,

4 the frame according to 3 in back view,

5 the frame according to 3 in plan view,

6 a first embodiment of a computer room and

7 a second embodiment of a computer room.

The invention will be explained below with reference to data and processing systems installed in rooms without limiting the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used in principle for the same elements.

So are in the 6 and 7 purely exemplary spaces 10 shown in rows 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 arranged shelves or racks, which is manufactured in the standardized 19 '' - technology and in which heat generating electronic devices such as servers or CPUs are installed. By way of example, some of the shelves are denoted by the reference numerals 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 and the electronic internals like server with 28 characterized.

On the shelves, one of which is exemplary in the 1 to 5 with the reference number 30 is characterized, for. For example server 32 built-in. The shelves are constructed in such a way that they provide a standard width of 19 "to the servers 32 on the shelf or frame 30 to mount. The racks 30 Furthermore, they preferably have a net room height of 42 height units. Corresponding racks 30 are standardized (EIA 310-E or EIA 310-IT, IEC 60297, DIN 41494). This allows the installation of any device, provided that they comply with the relevant standards. The electronic devices like the server 32 can from the front 34 of the frame 32 to be served. Corresponding electronic fittings can also be arranged on horizontally extending rails to pull out of the frame 30 to enable.

The rows 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 are therefore from corresponding juxtaposed shelves 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 composed. To a cooling of the rows 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 To allow existing electronic devices, according to the embodiment of the 6 and 7 provided that either a cooling via a raised floor (embodiment of the 7 ) or cooling directly in the room 10 arranged air conditioning facilities takes place. Thus, according to the embodiment of the 6 on a wall air conditioning units 36 . 38 be installed, the the room 10 Cool immediately. Cooled air flows through between the rows 12 . 14 respectively. 16 . 18 running cold aisles 40 . 42 to after flowing through the rows 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 ie the racks 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 and thus the electronic fittings the heated air over hot aisles 46 . 48 . 50 the air conditioning units 36 . 38 feed again.

In the embodiment of the 7 are air intake openings of air conditioning units 52 . 54 . 56 connected to an intermediate floor over the z. B. slots or slats 58 . 60 cooled air the cold aisles 40 . 42 is supplied, of which the air through the shelves 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 and thus the electronic fittings through to the hot aisles 46 . 48 . 50 flows, which is then sucked by the air conditioning units. There is the possibility that the hot and / or cold aisles 40 . 42 . 46 . 48 . 50 are housed. In the embodiment of 7 are the cold aisles 40 . 42 built-in.

If electronic devices on the shelves are to be replaced by such higher power, it is necessary that increased heat dissipation be ensured in order to avoid undue heating. To make this possible without the architecture of the room 10 ie the shelves 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 to change and without the air conditioning equipment 36 . 38 . 52 . 54 . 56 are exchanged, which would often be associated with considerable, in particular structural measures, the invention provides that from at least one shelf, preferably several shelves of the rows 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 electronic installations such as servers 22 . 32 be expanded and in at least one, preferably a plurality, if necessary. All so created free spaces as cooling facilities to be designated air conditioning 58 . 60 to be built in. So is based on the 3 to 5 recognizable from the frame 30 the server 32 expanded and replaced by two superposed air conditioning units, of which in 3 only their case 62 . 64 are shown. The housing 62 . 64 are designed for the 19 '' technology and can have unspecified angles with the rails of the designed in the 19 '' - standard frame 30 to be assembled. In particular, it is provided that the housing 62 . 64 be mounted on horizontally sliding rails to pull out of the rack 30 to enable.

As can be seen from the representations of 4 and 5 results, each cooling device has two fans 66 . 68 respectively. 70 . 72 on, which may be radial fans. Through the two fans 66 . 68 respectively. 70 . 72 per cooling device results in a redundancy. In normal operation, the two fans 66 . 68 respectively. 70 . 72 operated at low load. Should be one of the fans 66 respectively. 68 respectively. 70 respectively. 72 Failure, then the performance of the fan is still in operation 68 respectively. 66 respectively. 72 respectively. 70 increased accordingly.

At the cooling facilities 58 . 60 should in particular be water-cooled devices, the heat exchanger 73 ( 5 ) about the height of the refrigerator 58 . 60 , that is the case 62 . 64 and along the diagonal runs to provide a large cooling surface. The exhaust air opening of the cooling devices 58 . 60 is the respective warm aisle 46 . 48 facing. The supply side, so the fan 66 . 68 . 70 . 72 run on the side of the cold aisle 58 . 60 , This results in an air flow through the arrows 74 . 76 is given purely by way of example. The electronic fixtures like the servers 28 . 32 flowing air, ie their direction, is indicated by the arrows 78 . 80 symbolizes.

By the measures according to the invention is the architecture of the room 10 not changed. In particular, it is not necessary that frames removed or additional housing next to the racks in the room 10 to be built in. The latter, by the way, is due to the shelves 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 Space utilization often not possible.

Due to the teaching of the invention, the cooling capacity for the room 10 grow with the increase in performance of the used electronic devices such as servers. This only requires that devices such as low power servers be replaced and replaced with those of higher performance, being on the shelves 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 to create the necessary extent of free space to install in this then cooling devices previously described type in 19 '' - technology.

Claims (14)

Modular structure for heat generating electronic devices ( 28 . 32 ), such as servers, with at least one air conditioning device, the electronic devices ( 28 . 32 ) in racks ( 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 30 ) in which heat generating electronic devices are detachably installed, wherein the racks ( 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 30 ) in a row ( 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 ) or in several rows ( 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 ) and the dimensions of the racks ( 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 30 ) correspond to conventional 19-inch technology, characterized in that the at least one air conditioning device comprises a housing ( 62 . 64 ), in the heat exchanger ( 73 ) and fans ( 66 . 68 . 70 . 72 ) are arranged, the dimensions of which correspond to conventional 19-inch technology and in racks ( 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 30 ), with only one row ( 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 ) of racks ( 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 30 ) the row is enclosed by a cover which closes off its sides and the supply air opening of the at least one air conditioning unit is connected to the intermediate space extending between the side and the cover, or in the case of several rows ( 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 ) of racks ( 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 30 ) a row ( 12 . 14 . 16 . 18 ) between a warm aisle ( 46 . 48 . 50 ) and a cold aisle ( 40 . 42 ) is arranged and the exhaust port of the at least one air conditioning device with the hot aisle ( 46 . 48 . 50 ) and the supply air opening of the at least one air conditioning device with the cold aisle ( 40 . 42 ) connected is. Modular assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one air conditioning device or more air conditioning devices over the entire height of the frame ( 30 ) are installed. Modular assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the frame ( 30 ) are installed one above the other two air conditioning devices. Modular structure according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device has a height of 20 HE. Modular assembly according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 62 . 64 ) of the air conditioning device via elbows with the frame ( 30 ) connected is. Modular assembly according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 62 . 64 ) on a 19 "(inch) rail system in the rack ( 30 ) is arranged. Modular structure according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device is constructed redundantly with respect to the air conveying. Modular assembly according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device comprises two radial fans ( 66 . 68 . 70 . 72 ) having. Modular structure according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device is operated by water cooling. Modular structure according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device is operated by direct evaporation. Modular assembly according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the air conditioning device extending in the longitudinal direction and along a diagonal heat exchanger ( 73 ) is arranged. Modular structure according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exhaust air-side opening of the air conditioning device is covered with a filter, preferably in the form of a metal mesh. Modular assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the warm aisle ( 46 . 48 . 50 ) and / or the cold aisle ( 40 . 42 ) are housed. A method of adjusting the cooling requirements of heat producing electronic devices, such as servers, modularly installed in 19 "(inch) racks arranged in at least one row, wherein the surroundings of the racks are cooled by at least one air conditioning device; Air conditioning device comprises a housing in which heat exchangers and fans are arranged, characterized in that at least one of the racks of at least one of the electronic devices is removed and then in the space thus provided a further air conditioning device in 19 '' (inch) technology is installed.

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