JP2007234941A - Electronic device, rack therefor, humidifier therefor, and humidification method therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rack for electronic device, the electronic device, and a humidifier for the electronic device, wherein a humidity environment is obtained in response to individual electronic devices. <P>SOLUTION: A water absorption member 8 such as urethane, an unwoven cloth or the like, suitable for evaporating water with good water absorption properties, is equipped in a rack 1 for the electronic device having a box shape which receives a server 2 or a case of the server 2 so as to be disposed on the upstream side of ventilation. The water absorption member 8 is impregnated with water to humidify it by evaporation according to heat generation of the server 2. Further, the humidifier for the electronic device is configured to contain a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity, the water absorption member impregnated with water, and a water supplier for supplying water to the water absorption member based on a detection of the humidity sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device rack, an electronic device, a humidifying device for an electronic device, and a humidifying method in the electronic device.

  Management of temperature and humidity is important for safe operation of electronic devices such as servers. However, conventional electronic devices such as servers focus only on temperature management, and various cooling means are available. Proposed.

  For example, a heat exchange unit, at least one cooling interface thermally connected to the heat exchange unit and disposed in a heat transfer interface of the electronic device, and a remote location away from the electronic device for heat from the heat exchange unit There is an electronic device cooling system comprising a heat exhaust pipe thermally connected to the heat exchange unit for exhaust. According to this electronic device cooling system, an electronic device cooling system that can be used without limiting the location of the electronic device can be provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As another example, doors are provided on the front and back of the box body, ventilation fans are provided on the ceiling plate, and at least the front door is connected to the electronic device housed in a plurality of housing portions when the front door is closed. It has an overhang part that forms a space to be a cooling air passage between the door and the cooling fan by driving the ventilation fan to allow the cooling air to flow through the electronic device. There is a storage rack for electronic equipment to be supplied. According to this electronic device storage rack, it is possible to supply cooling air to each mounted electronic device regardless of the depth of the electronic device mounted on the rack (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

  Thus, as described above, conventional electronic devices such as servers and box-shaped racks that store electronic devices focus only on temperature management, that is, cooling. The entire room where the equipment was installed was performed with a dedicated humidifier.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-63434 (first page, FIG. 1) JP 2004-39675 A (first page, FIG. 1)

  However, if the entire room in which electronic devices such as servers are installed is humidified, there is a risk that condensation occurs in an apparatus that generates little heat when electronic devices with different heat generation are installed together.

  On the other hand, in an electronic device that generates a large amount of heat, there is a risk that the amount of saturated water vapor in the device decreases due to temperature rise, and the humidity becomes too low.

  Then, this invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and it aims at providing the humidification method in the rack for electronic devices, the electronic device, the humidifier for electronic devices, and an electronic device which can solve the said problem. To do.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the following technical means have been adopted for the electronic equipment rack, the electronic equipment, the electronic equipment humidifying device, and the humidifying method in the electronic equipment according to the present invention.
That is, the electronic device rack according to claim 1 is an electronic device rack that is formed in a box shape and accommodates the electronic device, and is characterized in that a water-absorbing member impregnated with water is incorporated.
An electronic device rack according to a second aspect is the electronic device rack according to the first aspect, wherein the electronic device is provided with a vent hole communicating with the outside, and the water absorbing member constitutes the electronic device rack in the vicinity of the vent hole. It is arrange | positioned on the wall surface to carry out.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including a housing, wherein a water absorbing member impregnated with water is provided in the housing.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the third aspect, the electronic device is provided with a vent hole communicating with the outside, and the water absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of the vent hole. .
An electronic device humidifier according to claim 5 is an electronic device rack formed in a box shape to store an electronic device or an electronic device humidifier installed in an electronic device, wherein the humidity sensor detects humidity. A water absorbing member impregnated with water, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the water absorbing member based on detection of the humidity sensor.
A humidifying device for an electronic device according to a sixth aspect is the electronic device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the electronic device is provided with a vent hole communicating with the outside, and the water absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of the vent hole. Features.
The humidifying method in the electronic device according to claim 7 is a humidifying method in the electronic device that humidifies the humidity in the electronic device rack or the electronic device that is formed in a box shape and accommodates the electronic device to a desired humidity, Water is vaporized and humidified to a desired humidity.
A humidification method for an electronic device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the method for humidifying an electronic device according to the seventh aspect, wherein the humidity in the electronic device rack or the electronic device is detected and the amount of water to be vaporized is controlled based on the detection result. It is characterized by that.

According to the present invention, the water-absorbing member impregnated with water is installed in a box-shaped electronic device rack or an electronic device housing in which the electronic device is accommodated, and the water-absorbing member is impregnated with water to provide the electronic device. In order to avoid the risk of condensation in devices with low heat generation, the amount of saturated water vapor in the device decreases due to temperature rise in electronic devices with large heat generation. In addition, it is possible to avoid the danger that the humidity becomes too low.
In addition, the temperature in the electronic equipment rack or the electronic equipment can be lowered by the heat of vaporization when the water is vaporized.

  Next, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
The first embodiment exemplifies a box-shaped electronic device rack 1 in which a plurality of servers 2 are installed in the vertical direction.

  That is, the electronic equipment rack 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment is a box in which an opening / closing door 3 is provided on the front surface and a plurality of partition plates 4 on which the server 2 is placed or fixed are provided, as shown in FIG. It is formed in a shape. The opening / closing door 3 is provided with a plurality of intake slits 5 so as to be ventilated in the electronic equipment rack 1. Further, an exhaust slit 6 is provided on a wall surface facing the intake slit 5. In the present embodiment, slit-like air holes are illustrated for ventilation and exhaust, but there is no particular limitation such as circular holes or elliptic holes.

  Then, when the server 2 in which intake air for cooling is performed from the front surface of the housing is arranged with the front surface of the housing facing the open / close door 3 of the electronic equipment rack 1, the server 2 is placed or fixed on the partition plate 4. A water absorbing portion 7 impregnated with water is disposed on the back surface of the open / close door 3 so as to face the server 2 so as to overlap the intake slit 5. As described above, the arrangement of the water absorbing portion 7 is preferably arranged on the intake side for cooling the server 2 as described above, but the arrangement of the water absorbing portion 7 is not particularly limited. Moreover, although the installation direction of this partition plate 4 has illustrated what was installed in the horizontal direction in this Embodiment, you may install in the up-down direction.

  The water-absorbing part 7 includes a water-absorbing member 8 that has good water absorption and is suitable for vaporizing water, such as urethane and nonwoven fabric, and a support part 9 that supports the water-absorbing member 8.

  The water absorbing member 8 is formed in a band-like shape in which a plurality of communication holes 10 penetrating the front and back are provided. The shape of the water-absorbing member 8 is not particularly limited, and may be a strip shape, a lattice shape, or a transparent weave shape such as a ridge or fold, in addition to the above shape. .

  The support portion 9 is formed in a frame shape, fixes the end portion of the water absorbing member 8, and is detachably attached to or engaged with the back surface of the open / close door 3. In addition to the shape described above, the support portion 9 may be formed in a dish shape to fix the end of the water absorbing member 8 or the entire water absorbing member 8, and the shape of the back surface of the open / close door 3 is the end of the water absorbing member 8. The part may be formed so as to be fixed and integrally formed with the open / close door 3. That is, it is only necessary that the water absorbing member 8 is supported in the rack 1 for electronic equipment, and the form thereof is not particularly limited.

  The electronic device rack 1 according to the first embodiment configured as described above is based on the heat generation amount of the server 2 housed in the electronic device rack 1 and the internal volume (gap) of the rack. 8 is impregnated with the required amount of water. When the server 2 generates heat, water is vaporized according to the generated heat to humidify the inside of the electronic equipment rack 1. Simultaneously with humidification, the temperature in the electronic equipment rack 1 is lowered by heat of vaporization when water is vaporized.

  In the first embodiment, the electronic device rack 1 is illustrated, but the above-described water absorbing portion 7 may be disposed in a housing which is a constituent member of the server 2. In this case, it is preferable to dispose the water absorption part 7 (illustrated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) on the wall surface on the side where the intake air for cooling is performed into the server 2 (arranged so as to overlap the intake holes). preferable).

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment exemplifies a humidifier for electronic equipment provided in the server 2 or a box-shaped electronic equipment rack 1 in which the server 2 is installed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the humidifying device for electronic equipment according to the second embodiment absorbs water based on the humidity sensor 11 that detects humidity, the water absorption part 72 that is impregnated with water, and the detection of the humidity sensor 11. A water supply unit 12 for supplying water to the unit 72 is provided.

  The humidity sensor 11 has a known structure that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the humidity, and detects the humidity in the server 2 or the electronic equipment rack 1. The arrangement of the humidity sensor 11 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the exhaust slit 6 for cooling in the server 2 or the rack 1 for electronic equipment.

  In addition, the water absorption part 72 includes the water absorption member 8 and the support part 92 and is arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Since the water absorbing member 8 has the same configuration as the water absorbing member 8 described in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The support portion 92 is formed in a frame shape, like the support portion 92 of the first embodiment, and fixes or engages the end of the water absorbing member 8 detachably on the back surface of the open / close door 3. It has come to be. Furthermore, a water supply tube 13 extending from a water supply unit 12 described later is connected to the upper portion of the support unit 92 so that water can be supplied to the water absorbing member 8 as appropriate. Note that a drainage tube (not shown) for preventing water leakage is connected to the lower portion of the support portion 92 so that when excessive water is supplied, the water transmitted from the water absorbing member 8 can be recovered. It is preferable to make it.

  The water supply unit 12 includes a pump (not shown) and a water tank 14 to which a water supply tube 13 is connected, and a humidity sensor 11 that is connected to the humidity sensor 11 and discharges the pump based on an electrical signal from the humidity sensor 11. And a control unit (not shown) for controlling.

  As described above, the control unit performs the discharge control of the pump based on the electrical signal from the humidity sensor 11, and the water discharge control (water supply control) will be described later.

  In the humidifying apparatus for electronic device according to the second embodiment configured as described above, first, based on the humidity detection of the humidity sensor 11, the control unit determines that the humidity in the electronic device rack 1 or the server 2 is in advance. When it is determined that the humidity is lower than the set humidity, the pump is driven for a predetermined time to supply water to the support portion 92 and the water absorbing member 8 is impregnated with a required amount of water.

  Next, when the server 2 generates heat, water is vaporized according to the generated heat to humidify the inside of the electronic equipment rack 1 or the server 2. Simultaneously with the humidification, the temperature in the electronic equipment rack 1 or the server 2 is lowered by the heat of vaporization when the water is vaporized.

  When the amount of water impregnated in the water absorbing member 8 decreases and the humidity in the server 2 or the electronic equipment rack 1 falls below the set value, the pump is driven for a predetermined time, An amount of water is supplied to the water absorbing member 8.

If the humidity in the server 2 or in the electronic equipment rack 1 has fallen below the set value even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the pump is again driven for a predetermined time to supply a required amount of water to the water absorbing member 8. Supply water. This operation is repeated until a predetermined humidity is reached.
In this way, the humidity in the electronic equipment rack 1 or the server 2 is maintained at a desired humidity.

  As a control other than the water discharge control (water supply control) described above, the pump is driven so that water is always supplied so that the amount of water evaporated by vaporization is replenished (even by adjusting the amount of water using a throttle valve). Good).

  As described above, the electronic device rack 1, the server 2, and the electronic device humidifier according to the present embodiment humidify the air with the intake-side opening / closing door 3, and therefore, in the electronic device rack 1 and the server 2. Only can be efficiently humidified.

  In addition, it is not necessary to excessively humidify the entire server room where the server 2 is installed, and since it is humidified using natural vaporization of water rather than a dedicated humidifier as in the past, running costs are reduced. Yes (power consumption is limited to the power required to turn the fan built in the server or the fan installed in the electronic equipment rack 1).

  Further, in the case of the electronic equipment rack 1, only the server 2 in the electronic equipment rack 1 is locally humidified, so that the intake air temperature becomes lower than the internal temperature of the server 2 and the risk of condensation can be avoided. .

Moreover, since the humidity in the server 2 is increased due to the vaporization of water and the thermal conductivity of the air is increased, the cooling efficiency of the server 2 can be improved and the rotation speed of the cooling fan can be reduced. Can suppress noise.
Further, since the intake air temperature decreases due to the heat of vaporization of water, the server 2 can be cooled.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment concerning this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above shows an example of suitable embodiment of this invention, and this invention is not limited to it, The summary Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, a humidification method in the server 2 may be used in which the humidity in the electronic equipment rack 1 or the server 2 that is formed in a box shape and accommodates the server 2 is vaporized to a desired humidity. In this case, it is preferable to detect the humidity in the electronic equipment rack 1 or the server 2 and control the amount of water to be vaporized based on the detection result.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view of the electronic device rack according to the first exemplary embodiment; FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view of an electronic device rack according to a second exemplary embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic equipment rack 2 Server 3 Opening / closing door 4 Partition plate 5 Intake slit 6 Exhaust slit 7, 72 Water absorption part 8 Water absorption member 9, 92 Support part 10 Communication hole 11 Humidity sensor 12 Water supply part 13 Water supply tube 14 Water tank

Claims (8)

  An electronic device rack that is formed in a box shape and accommodates an electronic device, and includes a water absorbing member that is impregnated with water. The electronic device is provided with a vent hole communicating with the outside,
2. The rack for electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein the water absorbing member is disposed on a wall surface constituting the rack for electronic equipment in the vicinity of the vent hole.   An electronic apparatus comprising a casing, wherein a water absorbing member impregnated with water is housed in the casing. The electronic device is provided with a vent hole communicating with the outside,
The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the water absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of the vent hole. A humidifying device for an electronic device that is formed in a box shape and accommodates an electronic device rack or an electronic device that is housed in an electronic device,
A humidity sensor that detects humidity;
A water absorbing member impregnated with water;
A humidifying device for electronic equipment, comprising: a water supply unit configured to supply water to the water absorbing member based on detection of the humidity sensor. The electronic device is provided with a vent hole communicating with the outside,
The humidifying device for electronic equipment according to claim 5, wherein the water absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of the vent hole.   A humidification method in an electronic device that is formed in a box shape and humidifies the inside of an electronic equipment rack or an electronic equipment in which the electronic equipment is stored to a desired humidity, and vaporizes water to humidify to a desired humidity. A humidifying method in an electronic device.   A humidification method in an electronic device, wherein the humidity in the electronic device rack or the electronic device is detected, and the amount of the water to be vaporized is controlled based on the detection result.

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