DE102011117988A1 - Climate cabinet for air conditioning system, has rectangular tower-like housing, where heat exchangers are arranged on two vertical side surfaces of climate cabinet, where heat exchangers are also arranged on fourth side surface of door - Google Patents

Abstract

The climate cabinet (1) has a rectangular tower-like housing, where heat exchangers (8,9,10) are arranged on two vertical side surfaces (2,4) of the climate cabinet. The heat exchangers are also arranged on a fourth side surface of a door. The climate cabinet has a square base. The climatic cabinet is arranged with a ventilator (20), whose diameter corresponds to a side length of the base. An independent claim is included for an air conditioning system with a double floor.

Description

The invention relates to a climate chamber according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an air conditioner with such a climate chamber. Such an air conditioner is from the DE 100 48 877 C2 known.

This known climate chamber is designed to be placed in a room that has a cavity under the floor of the room. A rectangular climate chamber is placed above the room floor. Its interior is in fluid communication with the cavity. Devices to be cooled in the room are also located above the floor and in fluid communication with the cavity. A fan means blows cooled air through openings in the climatic cabinet, these openings respectively producing said flow connections. In the known climate chamber, a heat exchanger is arranged, which extends in a side view substantially along a diagonal and whose width corresponds substantially to the width of the climatic chamber. The fan is located below the floor in the cavity. The climate chamber has on its upper side an opening through which room air to be cooled reaches the heat exchanger.

If the climate chamber has a base area with the dimensions a x b and a height h, then the area for the air inlet and outlet also has the dimensions a × b and the surface of the heat exchanger is a maximum of a × b × √2 × h. The height h of the climatic chamber is usually greater than the edges of the base area a, b. For a sufficient air flow, therefore, the fan must have a relatively high flow rate, which is not desirable in terms of both energy consumption and noise.

In the DE 10 2009 030 114 B4 has proposed an air conditioning system with a heat exchanger which forms at least a portion of a boundary wall of a room. The heat exchanger is arranged to form a cavity parallel to a wall of the room. This cavity is in fluid communication with a second cavity below the bottom. Thus, the effective area of the heat exchanger can be significantly increased.

A similar air conditioner is out of the DE 10 2009 053 527 A1 known, in which the heat exchanger is housing-free and the fan means is arranged and arranged so that exiting the heat exchanger cooling air passes directly into the room. Compared to the aforementioned document so the flow direction is reversed.

The JP 2002122348 A shows an air conditioner similar to the DE 100 48 877 C2 with the difference that in the climatic chamber two V-shaped heat exchanger are arranged, in which case the air to be cooled enters from the top of the cabinet and the heat exchanger extend only about half of the height of the cabinet. The fan is located inside the cabinet and above the floor.

The JP 04335557 A shows a similar air conditioner, in which the fan is located in the upper part of the cabinet. Air to be cooled is sucked from a cavity below the room floor and blown out at the top of the climatic chamber.

The DE 103 25 929 A1 shows an air conditioner for control cabinets with a climatic chamber, in which the heat exchanger similar to DE 100 48 877 C2 is arranged diagonally and the fan is located at the top of the cabinet.

The DE 20 2006 003 919 U1 shows a climatic cabinet, in which a heat exchanger is arranged on a side wall of the cabinet.

A horizontal air flow through computer cabinets or air conditioners is also from the DE 101 28 367 A1 . DE 10 2004 049 487 B4 and FR 2831019 A1 known.

Generally, it should be noted that electrical and electronic equipment, particularly office computers, server rooms, and data centers, generate significant amounts of waste heat that must be dissipated by powerful refrigeration or air conditioning equipment to protect the computers from overheating. The air conditioners used are the highest possible cooling power density, d. H. have a high cooling capacity with the smallest possible footprint.

It is also desirable to have at least essential components of the air conditioner as a compact unit in the form of a cabinet that can be installed without major structural changes of the room. Provided this is only a raised floor, which is usually already available in offices to lay cables and other lines, the actual room floor only needs openings that require access to the lying under the floor space cavity.

An air conditioner in the sense of the present description contains the following components: A climate chamber with air inlet and outlet openings and at least one heat exchanger; at least one fan inside or can be located outside the climate cabinet; a cooling device containing a cooling medium, such. As water, provides for the heat exchanger, said cooling device may also be located inside or outside of the climatic chamber and also outside the room in which the climatic chamber is placed; Finally, a complete air conditioner also includes control devices with sensors, regulators and actuators, which may also be located inside or outside of the air conditioning cabinet. Normally, the room temperature is controlled, for which the parameter temperature of the cooling medium, such as the flow rate of the cooling medium through the heat exchangers and the air flow rate of the fan and the air flow rate of the fan can be controlled.

From the above it is clear that the term climate control cabinet is only a subcomponent of a complete air conditioner and only the air inlet and outlet openings and heat exchangers must contain, while all other mentioned components of a complete air conditioner outside the climatic chamber and sometimes even outside of the room in which the climate chamber is placed, can be arranged.

The object of the invention is to improve the climate chamber of the type mentioned in that based on the volume of the air conditioning cabinet increased cooling capacity is achieved. Furthermore, an air conditioner is to be created with such a climate chamber.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the claims 1 and 9. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide a rectangular climate chamber whose height is greater than the side lengths of its base area, wherein at least two and preferably three or four heat exchangers are arranged in the interior of the climatic chamber, each lying parallel to the side walls of the climatic chamber. Thus, the effective area of the heat exchanger is substantially increased. Based on the dimensions a × b × c of the climate chamber initially defined, an effective heat exchanger area of 3 × a × b × h is obtained with three heat exchangers, which corresponds to an enlargement by a factor of 2.63 compared with the prior art according to the preamble. With four heat exchangers on all four side walls of the climatic chamber, the increase in the effective area of the heat exchangers compared to this prior art corresponds to a factor of 2.82. This can also be used a relatively large fan running at low speed, which reduces fan and flow noise.

Briefly summarized, the invention provides a climatic cabinet with a tower-like in plan view rectangular housing, of which at least two of the side walls have heat exchangers through which room air flows and is discharged through a fan. In one embodiment, the air from the climatic chamber flows into a raised floor and from there through openings in the room and circulates with it. The flow direction of the air in the climatic chamber can be both upwards and downwards. The primary cooling is done by cold water flowing through the heat exchangers. A regulation arranged inside or outside of the climatic chamber can regulate both the flow of the coolant and the speed of the fan. By using at least two, but better three and best with four side walls with heat exchanger to obtain an enlarged cooling surface in contrast to air conditioning cabinets with only one heat exchanger.

In a room to be cooled several such climate cabinets can be set up, each climate cabinet has its own fan.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. It shows:

1 a schematic cross section of a climate cabinet according to the invention;

2 a section along the line AA of 1 ;

3 a room to be air conditioned with four climate cabinets according to the invention;

4 a schematic side view of a room to be cooled with a climatic chamber according to another embodiment of the invention; and

5 a view similar 4 according to another variant of the invention.

The climate cabinet 1 of the 1 has a tower-like in plan view ( 2 ) rectangular housing with four side walls 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 that have a height h that is, for example, 2300 mm. Next, the climate cabinet has a top wall 6 with an area a × b, wherein the top wall is preferably square, with a = b of, for example, 1200 mm. A floor 7 The climate cabinet is essentially open and protected by a grid. At least two of the side walls 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 Heat exchangers are mounted, wherein in the illustrated Embodiment three of the side walls, namely the side walls 2 . 3 and 4 depending largely on the entire surface of a heat exchanger 8th . 9 . 10 exhibit. All heat exchangers are to the outside with a filter 11 . 12 . 13 covered. In the illustrated embodiment, the fourth wall 5 designed as a door for maintenance in the interior of the air conditioning cabinet 1 to get to. Of course it is also possible in the door 5 to arrange another heat exchanger. For most applications, the door is 5 dispensable, so that preferably four heat exchangers are used in all four vertical side walls. It makes sense then a door if, as in the embodiment described below the 5 the air flows from inside to outside through the heat exchanger, because then the filters 10 . 11 . 12 to install on the inside of the heat exchanger and the interior of the air conditioning cabinet 1 to change the filter must be entered.

The heat exchangers 8th . 9 . 10 are through pipeline sections 14 . 15 interconnected and through pipelines 16 and 17 with a cooling device 18 outside the climate cabinet 1 and here even outside the room to be cooled 19 is arranged. The cooling device 18 represents in a known manner a cooling medium, such as. B. Water, ready, through the pipes 16 and 17 and the heat exchangers 8th . 9 . 10 circulated.

In the embodiment of 1 and 2 Warm room air flows in the direction of the arrows through the side walls and thus through the heat exchangers 8th . 9 . 10 through and out of the inside of the climate cabinet 1 down through the grid 7 through a fan 20 in a cavity 21 discharged, which is below a room floor 22 lies. In practice one speaks of a "double bottom" with the two bottom walls 22 and 23 between which the cavity 21 lies.

The ventilator 20 is below the grid 7 and thus below the climate cabinet 1 in the cavity 21 arranged and stands with its own height-adjustable frame 24 on the ground 23 , The ventilator 20 is a radial fan, the air axially in the direction of the arrow 25 sucks and radially in the direction of the arrows 26 blows. The speed and thus the air flow of the fan 20 is adjustable.

The cooled air flows through the cavity 21 and then comes out in the 1 and 2 not shown openings of the room floor 22 back in the room 19 from, flows through there to cooling devices such. As cabinets or computers and circulates back to the climatic chamber 1 ,

The ventilator 20 can be very large, with its diameter in the order of the edge lengths a, b. This also achieves low fan speeds 20 a high air flow. Depending on the structural conditions, the fan 20 also larger or smaller than the edge length a, b be.

For the sake of clarity, all components of the scheme in the 1 and 2 not shown. These components, such as control valves, circulating pump for the cooling medium, regulator, etc. can be stored in the climatic chamber 1 For example, at the door 5 to be appropriate. But you can also in the cooling device 18 be housed.

3 shows a plan view of a room 19 in which four climate cabinets 1 according to the 1 and 2 placed near side walls of the room. Between these climate cabinets 1 are control cabinets 27 and 28 set up in which objects to be cooled, such. B. computers are housed. In the field of control cabinets 27 and 28 has the ground 22 Openings with a grid 29 . 30 are covered, so that between the under the ground 22 located cavity 21 and the interior of the control cabinets 27 and 28 a flow connection for cold air is present, which is in the direction of the arrows 26 from the climate cabinets 1 is conveyed into the cavity. From there it flows through the bars 29 and 30 and through the control cabinets, where they are above the floor 22 in the room 19 exit and according to the arrows to the climate cabinets 1 where it enters through the side walls provided with heat exchangers in its interior, whereby the air circuit is closed.

Below the ground 22 is the cavity through partitions 31 . 32 ; 33 . 34 divided into different sections, these sections are sealed from each other. This will separate cavities 35 to 39 educated. Cold air from the control cabinets 1 flows below the ground 22 thus only through the cavities 36 and 38 , thus forming a "cold aisle". By contrast, the cold air flowing out of the climatic cabinets does not get into the cavities 35 . 37 and 39 , thus forming an "aisle". Through these partitions 31 . 32 . 33 . 34 the cold air becomes more precise to the control cabinets 27 and 28 directed.

Another advantage of the partitions 31 . 32 . 33 . 34 is that even during the cooling operation, the hot aisles are accessible without interference, for example, by receiving raised floor panels to perform maintenance and laying work on cables can.

Optionally, between adjacent cold aisles, so here between the partitions 32 and 33 a transverse to these partitions 32 and 33 extending further partition 40 be provided, where then sections 41 and 42 the partitions 32 and 33 the climate cabinets 1 are facing, either omitted or form switchable flaps or lockable or openable slat walls. This is the cold aisles 36 and 38 connected with each other. This can be beneficial if one of the climate cabinets 1 has failed, so that the remaining arranged on the corresponding side climate chamber both cold aisles can supply with cooling air. Also, a more uniform pressure distribution of the cold air can be achieved in the cold aisles.

In 3 is just one of the additional partitions 40 shown. Of course, this partition on both sides of the cabinets 27 and 28 to be available.

4 shows a schematic side view of a room 19 with a climatic cabinet 1 and a control cabinet 27 , The upper wall 6 of the control cabinet 1 is open and via a supply air duct 43 with outside air 44 connected. The ventilator 20 is in the cavity 21 arranged and thus sucks outside air 44 over the outside air duct 43 and room air over its side walls in the interior of the climate cabinet 1 , which then according to the embodiment of 3 circulated as cold air. Next has the room 19 an exhaust port 45 , about which part of the warm air from the room 19 can be dissipated. At the outside air channel 43 controllable flaps are arranged to control the amount of outside air supplied can.

In the embodiment of 5 is the climatic cabinet 1 with outside air 44 supplied by its upper open wall 6 with an outside air duct 43 connected is. The ventilator 20 is here above the climate cabinet 1 arranged. But he can also within the climate cabinet 1 be arranged near the top. The outside air duct 43 also has one to the room 19 indicative opening 45 so that he has both outside air 44 as well as receiving warm air from the fan 20 into the interior of the climate cabinet 1 is blown. From there it flows over the heat exchangers on the side walls of the climate chamber 1 directly in the room. The flow direction of the flow through the heat exchanger is thus reversed compared to the previously described embodiments. The air to be cooled is inside the climate chamber 1 and the cooled air exits on its side walls. The underside of the climate cabinet 1 is closed, so that the double floor or the cavity 21 not needed. Cold air from the room enters the control cabinet via side walls 27 and flows out at the top. Again, there is an exhaust port 27 in one of the walls of the room 19 attached, can be dissipated via the excess hot air to the outside. Finally, here too, the amount of the supplied outside air can be regulated by corresponding flaps at the inlet or outlet of the outside air duct 43 ,

In connection with 5 It should be noted that the outside air duct 43 omitted and the fan 20 can be arranged above the climatic chamber, allowing warm room air from above into the climatic cabinet 1 can be blown, in which case an axial fan is to be used. Next since noted that in the embodiments of the 4 and 5 On all heat exchangers, shutter valves are to be arranged in order to be able to regulate the admixture of outside air depending on the temperature.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10048877 C2 [0001, 0006, 0008]
• DE 102009030114 B4 [0004]
• DE 102009053527 A1 [0005]
• JP 2002122348 A [0006]
• JP 04335557 A [0007]
• DE 10325929 A1 [0008]
• DE 202006003919 U1 [0009]
• DE 10128367 A1 [0010]
• DE 102004049487 B4 [0010]
• FR 2831019 A1 [0010]

Claims (10)

Climate chamber with a cuboid tower-like housing, characterized in that on at least two vertical side surfaces ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ) of the climatic chamber ( 1 ) Heat exchanger ( 8th . 9 . 10 ) are arranged. Climatic cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that on three side surfaces ( 2 . 3 . 4 ) of the climatic chamber ( 1 ) Heat exchanger ( 8th . 9 . 10 ) are arranged and that on the fourth side surface of a door ( 5 ) is arranged. Climatic cabinet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the climatic cabinet ( 1 ) has a square base. Climatic cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the climatic cabinet ( 1 ) a fan ( 2 ), whose diameter corresponds to a side length of the base area. Climatic cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that the fan ( 20 ) below the climatic chamber ( 1 ) is arranged and that a floor of the climatic chamber is open. Climatic cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that the fan inside the climatic chamber ( 1 ) is arranged. Climatic cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a top wall ( 6 ) of the climate chamber ( 1 ) is open and with an outside air duct ( 43 ) connected is. Climatic cabinet according to claim 7, characterized in that the outside air duct ( 43 ) an opening ( 46 ) for the supply of room air. Air conditioning system with at least one climatic cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the climatic cabinet ( 1 ) above an opening of a double floor ( 22 ) and cold air into a cavity ( 36 . 38 ), wherein the cavity ( 36 . 38 ) by partitions ( 31 . 32 ; 33 . 34 ) and that the control cabinets to be cooled ( 27 . 28 ) via openings of the cavity ( 36 . 38 ) are arranged. Air conditioning system according to claim 9, characterized in that at least two air conditioning cabinets ( 1 ) are placed in a room according to one of claims 1 to 8 and that partitions ( 31 . 32 . 40 . 38 . 39 ) are arranged so that at least two of the climate cabinets ( 1 ) with both cavities ( 36 . 38 ) are in fluid communication.

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