JP2010216776A - Local air conditioning system, control device of the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize an influence on temperature distribution in a cold-air space or in a warm-air space while coping with a failure of a local air conditioner, in a local air conditioning system in which a plurality of the local air conditioners are installed in an arbitrary space. <P>SOLUTION: In stead of making all of the plurality of local air conditioners 10 (here, ten air conditioners) in the arbitrary space in operation states, some are made to be in stop states as backups. For example, the local air conditioners 10 with codes 1, 9, 3, 7, 5 are brought into the operation states while the remaining ones are kept in the stop states. When the operating local air conditioner 10 fails, the air conditioner 10 which should be operated in place of the broken one is selected from the backup local air conditioners 10 and is started. For example, when the local air conditioner 10 with a code 1 fails, the local air conditioner 10 with a code 10 is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a local air conditioning system in which a plurality of local air conditioning devices are installed in an arbitrary space.

  For example, for an air conditioning system for cooling a space with a high heat generation density, such as a computer room (server room, etc.) that houses a large number of computers, the air conditioning that cools the entire space (the entire computer room, etc.) In addition to the system (or instead of such an air conditioning system), a plurality of local air conditioners are arranged at various locations in the room (in the vicinity of each computer storage rack, etc.) and each local air conditioner is located in a relatively narrow area. A local air conditioning system that cools the air is known.

For example, conventional techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known.
For example, a local air conditioning system shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is disclosed in the prior art described in Patent Document 1. FIG. 11 is a schematic view (perspective view), and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view.

  In the illustrated example, four rows of racks L in which communication / information processing devices are mounted are installed in the room, and a passage space portion X is formed between the rack rows A and B and between the rack rows C and D, respectively. Yes. Note that a space Y formed between the rack rows is formed between the rack rows B to C.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the rack L itself has a casing 103 for housing a device 102 such as a server or other various communication / information processing devices, and a side surface of the casing 103 facing the passage space X. Each has an opening 104 formed therein. The equipment room R has a double floor structure, and an underfloor chamber 111 is formed under the floor surface F.

  Above each passage space X, a plurality of local cooling devices 121 are installed structurally separated from the rack row. The local cooling device 121 has a blowout port 122 facing the lower floor surface F, a suction port 123 for taking in high-temperature air in the upper space of the equipment room R, and a blower 124, and lower-temperature conditioned air is placed in the lower part. The high-temperature air supplied to the passage space X and exhausted from the rack L is sucked and cooled. The number of installed local cooling devices 121 is determined by the heat generation density of the rack L facing the passage space X.

  Each local cooling device 121 has a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the lower passage space X and a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the refrigerant evaporation temperature. And a controller / power supply box (not shown) for performing the signal processing and adjusting the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 129. Furthermore, the outdoor unit 127 is equipped with a controller (not shown) for controlling and monitoring the operation of each local cooling device 121 as a whole and for determining the operation capacity of the compressor.

  A packaged air conditioner 134 is further installed in the equipment room R, and conditioned air of about 15 ° C. to 20 ° C., for example, is supplied into the underfloor chamber 111. The packaged air conditioner 134 is disposed on the wall surface of the equipment room R, and plays an auxiliary role in air conditioning other than the passage space portion X and cooling of the passage space portion X.

Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a cool air space and a warm air space are separated and a cooling device is built in each rack.
Patent Document 3 proposes an air conditioning system that can solve the local high temperature generation problem for each rack caused by high heat generation and a large air volume. Patent Document 3 discloses dew condensation prevention control.

Japanese Patent No. 3842331 Special table 2008-502082 gazette JP 2006-162248 A

In each of the above prior arts, no countermeasure is considered when an abnormality occurs in the local cooling device.
When an abnormality occurs in any local cooling device, the temperature of the local area that the local cooling device has cooled rises, the cooling of the electronic equipment in this area becomes insufficient, and the electronic equipment fails. There is a risk. There is a possibility that the influence on the temperature distribution in the cold air space or the warm air space (for example, an area having a partially high temperature) may be increased.

  In addition, when a local air conditioner used for local cooling in a computer room or the like (server room or the like) is installed above a rack or the like that houses a computer, when condensation occurs, Drops of water may fall down and wet the computer, leading to serious accidents such as malfunctioning the computer. In this way, it is necessary to consider a method for dealing with the case where condensation occurs, not only when the local cooling device fails.

  In the conventional dew condensation prevention control method in Patent Document 3, dew condensation is avoided by adjusting the output amount of the refrigerant pressure feeding device and the cold heat source based on the temperature difference between the dew point temperature and the refrigerant temperature. However, in such a method, if the refrigerant pump rotation speed of the refrigerant pressure feeding device is lowered, there is a possibility that the pump will stop due to insufficient motor starting torque. Similarly, if the refrigerator output of the cold heat source is lowered, the compressor starting torque is insufficient. There is a possibility that the refrigerator will stop.

Therefore, it is desired that highly reliable dew condensation avoidance control that can reliably prevent the occurrence of dew condensation without causing the pump stop or the like.
An object of the present invention is to provide a spare local air conditioner that is redundantly installed even if a failure occurs in any local air conditioner in a local air conditioner system in which a plurality of local air conditioners are installed in an arbitrary space. In particular, it is possible to prepare a plurality of spare local air conditioners, and select and activate an appropriate spare device, so that even if an abnormality occurs in the local air conditioner, the cold air space or It is to provide a local air conditioning system or the like that can minimize the influence on the temperature distribution in the warm air space.

  The local air-conditioning system of the present invention is a local air-conditioning system having a control device in which local air-conditioning devices are arranged at various locations in an arbitrary space and communicates with the local air-conditioning devices via communication lines. In normal operation, a part of the plurality of local air conditioners is set as a standby device in a stopped state or a standby state, and other local air conditioners are controlled to operate. When an abnormality occurs in any of the local air-conditioning apparatuses, the replacement of the local air-conditioning apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred among the spare devices based on preset registration information or predetermined measurement data Redundant control means for performing control for selecting a unit and starting the alternative unit to shift to an operating state.

  In addition, not only when an abnormality occurs but also when condensation may occur, stop the local air conditioner that may cause condensation, select the replacement unit, and You may make it perform control which starts and transfers to an operation state.

  According to the local air-conditioning system and the like of the present invention, in a local air-conditioning system in which a plurality of local air-conditioning apparatuses are installed in an arbitrary space, even when an abnormality occurs in any local air-conditioning apparatus, the local air-conditioning system is installed redundantly. It becomes possible to respond by activating the spare local air conditioner, and in particular, multiple spare local air conditioners can be prepared and an appropriate spare device can be selected and activated, which causes an abnormality in the local air conditioner Even in this case, the influence on the temperature distribution in the cold air space or the warm air space can be minimized. In addition, it is possible to achieve highly reliable dew condensation avoidance operation, and even if such dew condensation avoidance operation is in a situation where dew condensation cannot be avoided, this local air conditioner is stopped and a spare local air conditioner is activated. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent condensation. In particular, when the local air conditioner is disposed above the electronic device, there is a possibility that the electronic device may break down due to water droplets of condensation falling on the electronic device, but such a problem can also be solved.

It is sectional drawing of the whole structure containing the local air conditioning system of this example. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the local air conditioning system of this example. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of each local air conditioner of the local air conditioning system of this example. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of alternative unit selection processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alternative unit selection table according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of alternative unit selection processing in Embodiment 2. It is a process flowchart figure of the dew condensation avoidance operation control of Example 3 (the 1). It is a figure which shows the detailed structural example of the local air conditioning system in Example 3 (the 2). It is a process flowchart figure of the dew condensation avoidance operation control in Example 3 (the 2). It is a dew point temperature calculation flowchart figure. It is the schematic (perspective view) of the conventional local air conditioning system. It is sectional drawing of the conventional local air conditioning system.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1, 2, and 3 show configuration examples of the local air conditioning system of this example. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the entire configuration including a local air conditioning system, FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the local air conditioning system, and FIG. 3 is an arrangement example of each local air conditioning device of the local air conditioning system.

First, a cross-sectional view of the overall configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
In FIG. 1, a plurality of rows of equipment storage racks 1 are provided in an arbitrary indoor space having a high heat generation density such as a computer room containing a large number of computers. Each device storage rack 1 stores an electronic device 2 and the like. Here, although two rows of equipment storage racks 1a and 1b are shown, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in FIG. The two rows of equipment storage racks 1a and 1b may be considered to correspond to, for example, the rack row A and the rack row B in FIG. The space S sandwiched between the two rows of equipment storage racks 1a and 1b may be considered to correspond to, for example, the passage space X in FIG.

  A local air conditioner 10 is provided above each equipment storage rack 1. The configuration of the local air conditioner 10 itself may be substantially the same as the conventional one, and although not specifically described here, the configuration includes an evaporator 11, a blower 12, and the like as illustrated. The refrigerant sent from the cold heat source unit 20 common to each local air conditioner 10 flows into the evaporator 11 through a pipe. The warm air flowing into the local air conditioner 10 is cooled by the evaporator 11, and the cooling air (cold air) is sent into the space S by the blower 12.

  The space S side of each equipment storage rack 1a, 1b is referred to as the front surface, the opposite side is referred to as the back surface, the front side area (that is, the space portion S) is referred to as the cool air space, and the back side area is referred to as the warm air space. To do. Air in the cool air space flows into the equipment storage rack 1 from the front side, cools the electronic equipment 2 and rises in temperature, and this superheated air (warm air) is discharged to the back side. The local air conditioner 10 is supplied with air (warm air) in a warm air space, and sends out cool air that is cooled to the cool air space.

  In addition, although the structure which supplies a refrigerant | coolant to the several local air conditioner 10 may be sufficient as one cold heat source unit 20, it is not restricted to this example, The cold heat source unit 20 corresponding to each local air conditioner 10 each. There may be. In other words, one cold heat source unit 20 may supply a refrigerant only to one local air conditioner 10.

  In order to prevent failure of the electronic device, it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the cold air space at a predetermined temperature. However, conventionally, when one of the plurality of local air conditioners fails, the temperature in the vicinity of the failed local air conditioner rises and cannot be maintained at a predetermined temperature (the temperature distribution in the cold air space is not improved). There was a problem that the impact was large).

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 2, each local air conditioner 10 is also provided with a local controller 7 that controls the local air conditioner 10. A controller 5 for controlling is provided. Each local controller 7 and controller 5 are connected to a communication line 6, and the controller 5 collects state data (temperature, etc.) from each local controller 7 via the communication line 6 as described later, and some instruction ( Send out blowing temperature instructions, start-up instructions, etc.).

  Here, in the configuration of FIG. 11, one local cooling device is provided for each local area of one passage space portion X, whereas in this configuration example shown in FIG. ) The local air conditioner 10 is provided. In the illustrated example, the local air conditioner 10 is arranged on both sides of the space S (above each of the equipment storage racks 1a and 1b). For example, as shown in FIG. 11, 12 (6 pairs) of local air conditioners 10 are arranged for an example in which 6 local cooling apparatuses are arranged for one passage space X. Will be. However, the configuration is not limited to this example, and for example, a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. However, according to the configuration of FIG. 1, each local air conditioner 10 can reliably suck and cool the warm air in each warm air space.

  In FIG. 3, a total of ten (five pairs) local air conditioners 10 are arranged for each of the equipment storage racks 1a and 1b, and the ten devices 10 are connected to one controller 5. Shows an example of management and control.

  Further, as already described with reference to FIG. 2, the controller 5 manages and controls each local air conditioner 10 via the communication line 6. Each local air conditioner 10 (its local controller 7) is assigned a unique identification number (referred to as a station number here) in advance, and the controller 5 manages and controls each local air conditioner 10 using this station number.

In such a configuration, the feature of this method is redundant operation control of the local air conditioner 10.
That is, first, for example, in the example of FIG. 3 described above, not all the ten local air-conditioning apparatuses 10 shown in the figure are always in an operating state, but at least one unit is in an operation stopped state. That is, a spare local air conditioner 10 is provided. For example, if the number required to maintain the cold air space (space S) in a predetermined temperature state is P, the number of P + α (α; 1 or more) is set in advance. It is. And the controller 5 starts and controls each local air conditioner 10 so that P units (or P units or more) of local air conditioners 10 are always in an operating state. That is, when any abnormality such as a failure occurs in any local air conditioner 10 in operation, the spare local air conditioner 10 is activated.

In this description, a case where a failure occurs in the local air conditioner 10 will be described as an example of a case where some abnormality occurs in the local air conditioner 10, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
In this description, at least one of the plurality of local air conditioners 10 is described as being in an operation stop state (stop state), but is not limited to this example. That is, not only the stop state but also a “standby state”, for example.

  The “standby state” means a state in which the local air conditioner 10 is activated regardless of actual control. The difference from the “stop state” is that the fan is not controlled in the “standby state”, but the refrigerant etc. is operating. Can respond to temperature changes. In other words, the “standby state” corresponds to an idling state.

  In this description, the stop state will be described as an example, but as described above, this may be replaced with a “standby state”. Therefore, although not described step by step, the “stop state” in this description may be considered as a “stop state or standby state”. Alternatively, “standby state” and “stop state” may be mixed. That is, when there are a plurality of local air-conditioning apparatuses 10 other than the operating state, some of them may be “stop state” and the rest may be “standby state”.

  However, although at least one spare local air conditioner 10 is provided in the above description, a typical example of this technique is to provide a plurality of spare local air conditioners 10. When a failure occurs, one of the plurality of spare local air conditioners 10 is selected and activated. However, this method is not appropriately selected, and a cold air space / warm air space (especially cold air due to the occurrence of a failure). Is selected so as to minimize the influence on the change in the temperature distribution of the space), and appropriate redundant operation control is realized, so that even if a failure occurs in the local air conditioner 10, the cold air space or the warm air It is intended to minimize the influence on the temperature distribution in the space (a large unevenness in the temperature distribution occurs; there is a partially hot area, etc.).

  For example, as a specific example, when the air conditioning is started in the example shown in FIG. The apparatus 10 is activated. Which local air conditioner 10 is to be activated, for example, the priority of each local air conditioner 10 is determined and set in advance by a human or the like for each day, and according to this, the number of units determined above in the order of higher priority, Each local air conditioner 10 is started. Of course, it is not limited to this example. Each local air conditioner 10 that does not start becomes a spare local air conditioner 10.

  Here, it is assumed that, for example, five units are activated (P = 5), and thereby, for example, five local air conditioners 10 with station numbers = 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are initially in an operating state. Then, for example, when a failure occurs in the local air conditioner 10 with the station number = 1, the spare local air conditioner 10 with the station number = 10 paired with the local air conditioner 10 is determined to be an alternative unit and is activated. Conceivable. In other words, for each pair, one of them is set as a spare and the other is set in an operating state, and when a failure occurs, the spare local air conditioner 10 is activated. As a result, in the space portion S, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the local area where the local air conditioner 10 with the station number = 1 has been cooled, due to a failure of the local air conditioner 10 with the station number = 1, in the cold air space. The influence on the temperature distribution can be minimized. However, this is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this example. A specific alternative unit determination method according to this method will be described later.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the case of a configuration in which a plurality of local air conditioners 10 are arranged on both sides of one space portion S (that is, above each equipment storage rack 1), For example, as shown in the above example (with station numbers = 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 in the operating state), each device storage rack 1 is always operated to operate at least one local air conditioner 10 to store each device. It is possible to surely suck up the air in the area (warm air space) on the back of the rack 1 and cool it.

Hereinafter, each Example is demonstrated about the said redundant operation control method.
First, Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as a premise, the local air conditioning system has a function of detecting a failure of the local air conditioner 10. Since this is an existing technology, it will not be described in detail. For example, each local air conditioner 10 has a function of detecting its own failure. If a failure is detected, this is communicated via the communication line 6. To the controller 5. Alternatively, for example, the controller 5 periodically makes a predetermined inquiry to each local air conditioner 10 and determines that a failure has occurred in the local air conditioner 10 that has not responded. Alternatively, each local air conditioner 10 periodically transmits a predetermined signal to the controller 5, and the controller 5 determines that a failure has occurred in the local air conditioner 10 in which this signal has been interrupted.

  In any case, when the controller 5 recognizes that a failure has occurred in an arbitrary local air conditioner 10, the controller 5 executes the alternative unit selection process of FIG. At that time, the alternative unit selection table 30 shown in FIG. 5 is referred to.

  The contents of the alternative unit selection table 30 shown in FIG. 5 are registered in advance by, for example, a designer / user arbitrarily judging the contents. In this selection table 30, for each local air conditioner 10 (for each station number (n) 31), the station number of the alternative candidate local air conditioner 10 when the local air conditioner 10 fails is registered. It is. It is desirable to register a plurality of alternative candidates for each local air conditioner 10. This is because the alternative candidate may be operating or malfunctioning. In the illustrated example, five alternative candidates are registered for each local air conditioner 10.

  The plurality of alternative candidates are given priorities. In the illustrated order (i) 32, i = 1 has the highest priority (first candidate), and i = 5 has the lowest priority (fifth candidate). For example, for the local air conditioner 10 with n = 1, station numbers = 10, 2, 9, 3, and 8 are registered, with station number = 10 having the highest priority and station number = 8 having the lowest priority.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the station number (n) 31 has n = 1 to n = 10.
In the alternative unit selection process shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the alternative unit can be used in descending order of priority.

  In FIG. 4, first, the station number of the local air conditioner 10 in which a failure has occurred is substituted for n (step S1). Next, i = 1 is set (step S2) (as described above, the highest priority is set first).

  Until the alternative unit is determined, i is incremented by +1 (step S4), and the processes of steps S3, S5, and S6 are executed for each alternative candidate corresponding to n.

  That is, first, an alternative candidate station number indicated by the selection table [n] [i] is acquired (step S3). For example, if n = 2, since i = 1 at first, alternative candidate station number = '9' is acquired in the example shown in FIG.

  Then, regarding the acquired local air conditioner 10 of the alternative candidate station number, it is determined whether it is currently operating (step S5) and whether it is malfunctioning (step S6). When not in operation (step S5, NO) and not in failure (step S6, NO), the local air conditioner 10 of this alternative candidate station number is selected as an alternative unit, and the selected local air conditioner 10 is selected. Then, an activation instruction is transmitted via the communication line 6 to start operation (step S7).

  On the other hand, if any of steps S5 and S6 is YES, that is, if it is in operation (YES in step S5) or in failure (step S6, YES), i is incremented by +1 in step S4. (I = i + 1), the process returns to step S3. That is, it is determined whether or not an alternative candidate with the next highest priority can be selected as an alternative unit in the same manner as described above.

  Here, the setting contents of the alternative unit selection table are arbitrarily determined by the designer / user or the like as described above. For example, it is desirable to use the setting contents shown in FIG. 5 for the example of FIG. That is, it is desirable that the local air conditioner 10 in the vicinity of the failed local air conditioner 10 be an alternative candidate. Furthermore, it is desirable to set so that a priority closer to the failed local air conditioner 10 has a higher priority.

  In FIG. 5, for example, when station number 1 (n = 1) is taken as an example, alternative candidate station numbers = 10, 2, 9, 3, and 8 are registered in descending order of priority as shown. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the device 10 with the station number = 10 opposite (paired) with the station number = 1 becomes the first candidate, the device 10 with the adjacent station number = 2 becomes the second candidate, and the station number facing diagonally. = 9 apparatus 10 is the third candidate.

  For example, when the device 10 with the station number = 1 breaks down, an increase in the temperature of the nearby area (particularly the area between the device 10 with the station number = 1 and the device 10 with the station number = 10 in the space S) can be considered. By starting the local air conditioner 10 in the vicinity, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise and minimize the influence on the temperature distribution change and the like.

Example 2 will be described below.
In Example 2, first, each local air conditioner 10 is provided with a temperature sensor that detects at least the temperature on either the air outlet side or the suction port side, and the local controller 7 of each local air conditioner 10 includes: The temperature data is acquired and stored from these temperature centers. This temperature sensor is, for example, thermometers 18 and 44 shown in FIG. Moreover, the controller 5 collects the temperature data of each local air conditioner 10, for example regularly, and stores this in the temperature data table not shown (temperature data table update). The temperature data table stores the temperature data in association with the station number of each local air conditioner 10, for example. As in the first embodiment, some failure detection means is also provided.

  In the case of normal operation, the controller 5 determines and activates the local air conditioner 10 to be activated based on the blowing temperature and the air volume instructed from a host device (not shown) (the overall air conditioning system control side), for example, at the start of air conditioning. The blower temperature is instructed and the operation is instructed to each activated local air conditioner 10. Each local air conditioner 10 that has not been activated in the initial process becomes a spare local air conditioner 10.

Then, for example, the process shown in FIG. 6 is executed (of course, an existing general control process other than this process is also executed, but not described here).
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of alternative unit selection processing according to the second embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the alternative unit is selected based on the contents of the table registered in advance. In the second embodiment, the alternative unit is selected based on the actual temperature state at that time.
In FIG. 6, for example, the controller 5 periodically collects the temperature data and updates the temperature data table (step S <b> 11), and determines whether there is a failed local air conditioner 10 (step S <b> 12). If there is no failure (step S12, NO), the process is terminated, and the process of step S11 is performed again after a predetermined time.

  On the other hand, when there is a failed local air conditioner 10 (step S12, YES), referring to the temperature data table (not shown), the local air conditioners 10 having the highest temperature among the local air conditioners 10 are selected as alternative candidates in order. Determine (step S13). That is, the local air conditioner 10 having the highest temperature is set as the first candidate, and the next highest temperature is set as the second candidate. Then, the process of step S14 is performed in order from the first candidate. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the alternative candidate is operating.

  The process of step S14 first determines whether the first candidate is operating. If it is operating, it determines whether the second candidate is operating. If it is operating, the third candidate is operating. In order to determine whether or not the unit can be a substitute unit (stopped unit), it is sequentially determined in descending order of the temperature. And when it determines with not operating (step S14, NO), the said local air conditioner 10 is determined to be an alternative unit, and the process which starts this is performed (step S15).

Note that the process of step S6 may be executed instead of the process of step S14.
Here, the temperature data stored in the temperature data table as described above is obtained by detecting the temperature on either the outlet side or the inlet side of the local air conditioner 10. That is, in the process of FIG. 6 described above, there are two types of alternative unit selection criteria: (1) blowout temperature reference and (2) suction temperature reference. In the case of (1) the blowout temperature reference, for example, measurement data (temperature of air (cold air) blown out from the outlet) in FIG. In this case, the measurement data of the thermometer 18 (temperature of intake warm air) is used. Of course, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this example. The local air conditioner 10 of this example may be different from the configuration shown in FIG. 8 (however, as an example, the three-way valve from the configuration of FIG. 54 may be excluded).
(1) In the case of the blowout temperature reference, alternative candidates are determined in descending order of blowout side temperature (cold air space temperature or the like). Therefore, in the processing of FIG. 6, the local air conditioner 10 that is stopped has the highest blowout side temperature (such as the temperature of the cold air space in the vicinity) selected as an alternative unit and activated, It is possible to prevent the temperature distribution in the cold air space from becoming large due to a failure, and it is possible to maintain the equipment storage rack suction temperature normally.
(2) In the case of the suction temperature reference, alternative candidates are determined in descending order of the suction side temperature (temperature of the warm air space). Therefore, in the process of FIG. 6, among the stopped local air conditioners 10, the one having the highest suction side temperature (the temperature of the warm air space) is selected as the alternative unit and activated, so that the cold air space due to the device failure is generated. In addition to preventing the influence on the temperature distribution of the air from being increased, the operation with the greatest cooling capacity can be achieved (since the cooling capacity of the local air conditioner depends on the suction temperature; The device performs control such that the larger the temperature difference between the temperature of the warm air space and the temperature of the cool air space is, the larger the cooling capacity is, and as a result, the operation with the large cooling capacity is performed. This contributes to cooling of the cool air space and can prevent the temperature distribution of the cool air space from being greatly affected (particularly, an area with a high temperature is generated).

Note that the temperature distribution in the cool air space also affects the temperature distribution in the warm air space, so that it is possible to prevent the temperature distribution in the warm air space from being greatly affected (for example, an area having a high temperature is partially generated).
In any of the first and second embodiments, the controller 5 may perform a process of selecting an alternative unit after performing control to stop the local air conditioner 10 that has been determined to have failed. .

  Further, the search target of the process in step S13 may be limited in advance. That is, for example, a table that is similar to the alternative unit selection table 30 but has no order (priority order) is registered in advance. For example, in association with each local air conditioner 10 in advance, the station numbers of the local air conditioners 10 (for example, about 3 units) in the vicinity of the apparatus 10 are registered without giving priority. In the process of step S13, first, by referring to this table, all the station numbers of the local air conditioners 10 corresponding to the failed local air conditioner 10 are acquired, and for example, priority is given in descending order of temperature as described above. Determine the ranking. Then, the determination in step S14 is performed in descending order of priority, and the apparatus 10 that is initially determined as YES is activated.

Next, Example 3 will be described below.
First, also in the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, there is a spare local air conditioner 10. In other words, the number of α required to cool the cold space + α local air conditioners 10 is installed in advance, and the arbitrary number of local air conditioners 10 corresponding to the “necessary number” are operated, and the remaining local air conditioners Reference numeral 10 denotes a stopped state, which is used as a spare local air conditioner 10. If any problem occurs in the local air conditioner 10 during operation, any of the spare local air conditioners 10 is activated. The “local air conditioner 10 in which the problem has occurred” is the local air conditioner 10 that has failed in the first and second embodiments. However, in this example, the local air conditioner that is determined to have condensation (or is highly likely). This is an air conditioner 10. That is, the switching to the alternative unit according to the present method is performed not only when a failure occurs but also when a condensation problem occurs.

  Hereinafter, Example 3 (part 1) and Example 3 (part 2) will be described. In both Example 3 (Part 1) and Example 3 (Part 2), when there is a risk of condensation (when condensation is likely to occur), switching to an alternative unit is ensured. This is common in that it can prevent the occurrence of condensation and prevent the breakdown of electronic equipment in the rack due to condensation.

First, Example 3 (No. 1) will be described.
FIG. 7 shows a process flowchart of the dew condensation avoidance operation control of the third embodiment (part 1).
This process is executed by the controller 5, for example, but is not limited to this example. For example, as in Example 3 (No. 2) described later, the control device or the like in the local air conditioner 10 may perform a part of this process (however, basically, the alternative unit activation in steps S23 to S25 is started). The controller 5 executes the process relating to the above). However, here, the controller 5 will be described as executing all the processes in FIG.

  First, as a premise, each local air conditioner 10 includes at least a thermometer (referred to as a first thermometer) and a hygrometer for measuring the temperature and humidity of the intake warm air, and the refrigerant temperature at the inlet of the expansion valve. (A second thermometer) is provided (a specific example of these configurations is shown in FIG. 8 in Example 3 (part 2) and will be described later).

  The controller 5 collects the measurement results of the first thermometer, hygrometer, and second thermometer from each local air conditioner 10 via the communication line 6 as needed. That is, the temperature and humidity of the intake warm air and the refrigerant temperature are collected (step S21).

  Then, based on the collected data, it is determined whether or not condensation is likely to occur (whether or not condensation is likely to occur) (step S22). This is to determine whether or not the condition of “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1 (ΔT1; preset predetermined temperature difference)” is satisfied. If this condition is not met, that is, if “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature> ΔT1”, it is determined that there is no possibility of condensation (step S22, NO), and this process is terminated. On the other hand, if this condition is met, that is, if “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1”, it is determined that condensation may occur (step S22, YES), and the process proceeds to step S23 and subsequent steps.

  That is, it is determined whether or not the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the dew point temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined value that is set in advance. If the temperature difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S22, YES), there is a risk of condensation. It is determined that there is.

Note that the determination method itself in step S22 may be an existing technology, and will not be described in detail. ΔT1 may be appropriately determined by a designer or the like, but will be briefly described below.
Usually, the dew point temperature is lower than the refrigerant temperature, and the temperature difference can be increased by increasing the refrigerant temperature. Further, as is well known, in an extreme case, when the refrigerant temperature-dew point temperature = 0 (no temperature difference), dew condensation occurs almost certainly. When the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the dew point temperature is reduced, the possibility of occurrence of condensation is increased. For example, ΔT1 is set to a value at which dew condensation has not occurred yet, but it is considered that dew condensation can occur when the temperature difference becomes smaller than this (determined by humans based on common general knowledge in the technical field). Set).

  The dew point temperature is calculated based on the temperature and humidity of the intake warm air, but this is also an existing technology and will not be particularly described here. Since there is a dew point thermometer that measures the dew point temperature, a dew point thermometer may be installed in place of the first thermometer and the hygrometer, and the dew point temperature measured by the dew point thermometer may be collected. .

  Then, after stopping the local air conditioner 10 that is highly likely to cause dew condensation, first, in the process of step S23, an arbitrary alternative unit is selected and activated for the first time to perform a trial run. This alternative unit selection process may use any of the methods of the first and second embodiments, some other selection method, or may be arbitrarily determined.

  Then, the measurement results of the first thermometer, hygrometer, and second thermometer are collected from the alternative unit during the trial operation, and whether or not condensation may occur (refrigerant) as in the process of step S22. Temperature-dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1) is determined (step S24).

  And when it determines with there being no possibility of dew condensation generation (step S24, NO), this driving | operation of this alternative unit is started (step S25). On the other hand, if it is determined that condensation is likely to occur (step S24, YES), this alternative unit is stopped and another alternative unit is selected and data is collected in the same manner as described above to cause condensation. It is determined whether or not there is. This is repeated until an alternative unit for which the determination in step S24 is NO is found.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment (part 1), when there is a possibility that condensation occurs in any local air conditioner 10 (when condensation is likely to occur), switching to an alternative unit is performed. At that time, the alternative unit is checked for the possibility of condensation, and switching is performed to ensure that condensation is prevented and the electronic equipment in the rack is prevented from being damaged due to condensation. it can. Condensation is likely to occur when the humidity of the intake warm air is high. Therefore, the other local air conditioners 10 adjacent to the local air conditioner 10 that is likely to cause dew condensation are likely to inhale similar warm air. In the method, the possibility that the adjacent local air conditioner 10 becomes an alternative unit is not necessarily high.

  In the third embodiment (part 1), the conventional dew condensation prevention control such as the conventional technique of Patent Document 3 may be executed. If this control cannot prevent condensation, switching to an alternative unit may be performed.

Next, Example 3 (No. 2) will be described below.
In Example 3 (No. 2), it is possible to perform highly reliable dew condensation avoidance operation control without the possibility of a pump stop or a refrigerator stop, and even if such dew condensation avoidance operation control is executed, dew condensation is still caused. If it cannot be prevented, switch to the alternative unit.

FIG. 8 is a detailed configuration example of the local air conditioning system according to the third embodiment (part 2).
This shows a detailed configuration example of the local air conditioner 10 and the cold heat source unit 20 in particular, but these detailed configurations may be basically the same as those in the prior art, and are shown in FIGS. Although not shown, the illustrated cold heat source 50 is shown as a configuration for supplying a refrigerant (for example, cold water or coolant) to the cold heat source unit 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The configuration itself of supplying the refrigerant (cold water, coolant, etc.) from the cold heat source 50 to the condenser 23 of the cold heat source unit 20 through the delivery pipe 51 may be basically the same as that in the past.

  In order to avoid confusion with the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 11, the following description will be made assuming that the refrigerant supplied from the cold heat source 50 to the condenser 23 is a coolant (cold water or the like). This is an example and is not limited to this example. Further, the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 11 may be a cooling liquid (cold water or the like).

  The feature of the present system that is different from that of the conventional system is that the cooling liquid returned from the condenser 23 (the chilled water is warmed because the refrigerant is cooled, hereinafter referred to as “hot water”). In the middle of the return pipe 52 for returning to the cold heat source 50, the illustrated three-way valve 54 and the like are provided, and the control process for the three-way valve 54 is performed, whereby the cooling circuit 43 of the illustrated local air conditioner 10 includes It avoids the occurrence of condensation.

  In this way, since the three-way valve 54 is provided and dew condensation can be avoided by its control, the pump stop due to insufficient motor start torque and the refrigerator stop due to insufficient compressor start torque do not occur as in the past, and reliability is improved. High dew condensation avoidance cooling operation can be performed.

  Hereinafter, the detailed configuration / operation of the local air conditioning system of this example shown in FIG. 8 will be described, but the configuration / operation substantially similar to the conventional one will be briefly described. Of the various arrows shown (thick lines, solid lines, dotted lines), the bold arrows indicate the flow of air, the dotted arrows indicate the signal lines, and the solid arrows indicate the flow of the refrigerant or coolant (and the refrigerant, etc.). Flowing piping).

  In this example, the three-way valve 54 is used as an example, but any mechanism that can branch (or mix) the flow rate and control the flow rate may be used. For example, a plurality of bifurcated pipes with cocks and control valves may be combined. You may comprise. Such devices are collectively referred to as valve devices. In this description, a three-way valve 54 that is an example of a valve device will be described as an example.

First, the detailed configuration and operation of the local air conditioner 10 will be described.
As for the local air conditioner 10, the evaporator 11 and the blower 12 shown in FIG. 8 are already shown in FIG.

  Regarding the local air conditioner 10, first, a configuration substantially similar to that of the conventional case will be briefly described. The local air conditioner 10 performs warm air on the back side of the equipment storage rack 1 having a heating element such as the electronic equipment 2. The suction air 13 is sucked through the air filter 14 and the intake warm air is cooled by a cooling circuit 43 (a portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line in the drawing) composed of the evaporator 11, the expansion valve 42, etc. The heating element is cooled by sending air to the front side of the rack 1 through the air outlet 12 and the air outlet 15. In general, the refrigerant sent from the cold heat source unit 20 flows into the evaporator 11 through the expansion valve 42, and the refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator 11 to generate latent heat of evaporation. The surroundings are cooled by absorbing from the surroundings, and the evaporative refrigerant is returned to the cold heat source unit 20.

  Here, the local air conditioner 10 further includes a control device 16 and an arithmetic communication device 17. The control device 16 and the arithmetic communication device 17 have a configuration corresponding to the local controller 7, for example. The control device 16 includes, for example, a CPU and controls a valve opening degree of the expansion valve 42 and an air flow rate of the blower 12 by executing a predetermined application program stored in advance. Alternatively, communication with the control device 24 and the like is performed via the arithmetic communication device 17.

  The arithmetic communication device 17 is basically a functional unit that communicates with the outside. In the illustrated example, the arithmetic communication device 17 communicates with the control device 17 of the heat source unit 20 via a communication line (shown by a dotted line). Further, the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 9 described later is performed by the control device 24 as an example in the present description. The control device 24 corresponds to, for example, the controller 5 (of course, not limited to this example). Of course, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the control device 16 or the like may execute part of the processing of FIG.

  Further, the local air conditioner 10 further includes a thermometer (indicated by “TC” in the figure) for measuring the temperature of each part in the apparatus 10 and a hygrometer for measuring humidity (indicated by “MC” in the figure). ), And each thermometer / hygrometer and the control device 16 are connected by a communication line (indicated by a dotted line), and the control device 16 has temperature data / measured by each thermometer / hygrometer. Humidity data is collected from time to time.

  Here, among the above thermometers / hygrometers, those related to the present control are given reference numerals, and only those given the reference numerals will be described, and the others will not be particularly described. That is, first, a thermometer 18 and a hygrometer 19 are provided on the air (warm air) suction path between the air filter 14 and the evaporator 11 (upstream of the evaporator 11). These are for determining the dew point temperature of the intake warm air. Therefore, a dew point thermometer may be provided instead of the thermometer 18 and the hygrometer 19. Further, a thermometer 44 that measures the temperature of the air blown from the local air conditioner 10 to the cool air space is provided near the outlet of the blower outlet 15.

  In this description, the above example is used as an example. In this case, the control device 16 simply transmits data collected from the various sensors to the control device 24 via the arithmetic communication device 17. Then, the control device 24 (which corresponds to the controller 5 here) executes the processing of FIG.

  The control device 24 will be described later with reference to FIG. 9. For example, based on the temperature data and humidity data measured by the thermometer 18 and the hygrometer 19, Calculate the dew point temperature. The dew point temperature calculation formula is well known and will not be described here. Moreover, when using a dew point thermometer, the control apparatus 24 only acquires the dew point temperature data measured with the dew point thermometer.

  The illustrated thermometer 41 is a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant (at the inlet of the evaporator 11) immediately before flowing into the evaporator 11. Note that the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the temperature of the surface of the evaporator 11 may be measured, and this may be regarded as a refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator 11.

The control process of the three-way valve 54 based on the dew point temperature and the refrigerant temperature will be described later with reference to FIG.
Hereinafter, the cold heat source unit 20 will be described.

  First, the control device 24 (the controller 5 or the like) controls the entire local air conditioning system, and executes not only the control of each local air conditioning device 10, but also the control of the cold heat source unit 20, the cold heat source 50, and the like. Yes. The control device 24 performs control according to a command from the command device 25, for example. The control device 24 further has a control processing function of the three-way valve 54 in addition to the control processing function of the conventional cold heat source unit 20 and the like. Other than this characteristic portion may be substantially the same as the conventional one, and will be described briefly below.

  First, the control device 24 includes a microcomputer that executes various controls such as the control of the cooling source unit 20 and the like, and the microcomputer performs the control by executing a predetermined application program stored in advance. . Note that the illustrated command device 25 instructs the control device 24, for example, the amount of air blown by the local air conditioner 10 and the cold air temperature. The control device 24 performs a control operation according to this instruction.

  The cold heat source unit 20 includes the condenser 23, the liquid receiver 22 and the refrigerant supply device 21 (for example, a refrigerant pump) already shown in FIG. 2, and is provided with thermometers (indicated by “TC”) at various places. The control device 24 controls the number of revolutions of the pump of the refrigerant supply device 21 based on the temperature data and the like. The evaporative refrigerant from the evaporator 11 flows into the condenser 23, and this is cooled and liquefied by the cooling liquid supplied from the cold heat source 50 and returned to the refrigerant. The refrigerant is temporarily stored in the liquid receiver 22, then sent out to the local air conditioner 10 by the refrigerant supply device 21, and flows into the evaporator 11.

  As described above, the cooling liquid (for example, cold water) from the cold heat source 50 is sent to the condenser 12 via the delivery pipe 51, and the evaporative refrigerant is cooled and liquefied by this cold water. This cools the evaporative refrigerant while warming the cold water (referred to as hot water). This hot water is returned to the cold heat source 50 via the return pipe 52, and is cooled by the cold heat source 50 to be cooled again to be sent to the delivery pipe 51.

However, in this system, a three-way valve 54 is provided in the middle of the return pipe 52.
Hereinafter, the configuration related to the three-way valve 54 and the control process of the three-way valve 54 will be described in detail.

  First, the three-way valve 54 of this example is of a type (a type in which a pipe is divided) having an inlet from one direction and an outlet from two directions. As already described, the three-way valve 54 is provided in the middle of the return pipe 52, the inlet is connected to the return pipe 52 on the condenser 23 side, and one of the two outlets is on the cold heat source 50 side. The other end is connected to a short-circuit tube 53 shown in the figure. The other of the short-circuit tube 53 is connected to the delivery tube 51. That is, it has a structure in which hot water or the like can flow out directly to the delivery pipe 51 via the short-circuit pipe 53.

Naturally, each of the two-way outlets of the three-way valve 54 is provided with a valve, and the control device 24 is configured to adjust and control the valve opening degree of each of these valves.
By providing such a three-way valve 54, the warm water returned from the condenser 23 side can be distributed to the cold heat source 50 side and the delivery pipe 51 side. The distribution ratio can be freely adjusted by the control of the control device 24. That is, the warm water returned from the condenser 23 side is sent to the 100% cold heat source 50 side, sent to the 100% delivery pipe 51 side, or, for example, 50% vs. 50%, 30% vs. 70%, etc. It can be adjusted freely.

  When the distribution ratio to the cold heat source 50 side is 100%, it is the same as the conventional case, and all of the hot water returned from the condenser 23 is cooled by flowing into the cold heat source 50, via the delivery pipe 51. It is sent to the condenser 23. On the other hand, when the distribution ratio to the cold heat source 50 side is less than 100% (however, it is not set to 0%), a part of the hot water returned from the condenser 23 is directly sent through the short-circuit pipe 53. Sent to. That is, in this case, the cold water flowing into the condenser 23 becomes a mixed liquid of the cold water from the cold heat source 50 and the hot water from the three-way valve 54, and naturally, when the distribution ratio to the cold heat source 50 side is 100%. The temperature is higher than that.

  That is, in the above configuration, the temperature of the cold water flowing into the condenser 23 is adjusted by controlling the distribution ratio in the three-way valve 54 (by controlling the valve opening degree of each valve of the two outlets) ( In particular, the temperature of the refrigerant cooled by the cold water can be adjusted (in particular, the temperature can be increased).

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the dew condensation avoidance operation control in the third embodiment (part 2) including such a valve opening degree control process of the three-way valve 54.
In the process shown in FIG. 9, the processes in steps S31 to S33 shown in the figure may be substantially the same as the processes in steps S21 and S22 in FIG. That is, first, the control device 16 takes the temperature data and humidity data of the intake warm air measured by the thermometer 18 and the hygrometer 19 as needed (at predetermined time intervals), and the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator 11 measured by the thermometer 41. Temperature data is collected (step S31).

  For example, as an example, the control device 16 transmits the collected data to the control device 24, and the control device 24 performs processing described below. However, this is merely an example, and for example, the control device 16 or the arithmetic communication device 17 may perform the process of step S32. In this case, the calculated dew point temperature is transmitted to the control device 24 together with the refrigerant temperature. Or the control apparatus 16 or the arithmetic communication apparatus 17 may perform the process of step S32 and step S33. In this case, only when it is determined to be YES in step S33, the control device 24 may be notified to that effect, and the control device 24 may perform the processing after step S34.

However, in the following description, as described above, an example in which the control device 24 executes everything is shown.
That is, the control device 24 first calculates the dew point temperature of the intake warm air based on the intake warm air temperature data and the humidity data among the collected and acquired data (step S32), and collects the refrigerant temperature data and the calculated dew point temperature. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not condensation is likely to occur (whether or not condensation is likely to occur) (step S33). The determination itself in step S33 may be the same as that in step S22, and will be briefly described below.

  The processing in step S33 is to determine whether or not the condition of “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1 (ΔT1; preset predetermined temperature difference)” is satisfied. If “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature> ΔT1”, that is, if the condition is not met, it is determined that there is no condensation (NO in step S33), and the present process is terminated. On the other hand, if the condition is met, that is, if “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1”, it is determined that condensation may occur (step S33, YES), and the process proceeds to step S34 and subsequent steps.

  That is, it is determined whether or not the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the dew point temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined value that is set in advance. If the temperature difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S33, YES), there is a risk of condensation. It is determined that there is.

As already described, the dew point temperature calculation process itself is an existing technique, and a dew point thermometer may be used (in this case, the process of step S32 is not necessary), and thus will not be particularly described.
In the process after step S34, the valve opening adjustment control is first performed to try to avoid condensation. If condensation cannot be avoided even by this control, an alternative unit is selected and changed.

  First, the valve opening adjustment control of the three-way valve 54 is performed (step S34). This is because, for example, normally, the valve on the short-circuit tube 53 side is closed (100%, distributed to the cold heat source 50 side), and if the determination in step S33 is NO, a short circuit is made. The valve on the pipe 53 side is opened by a predetermined amount (the valve opening is increased; here, for example, the valve opening is set to + 10%). At this time, the valve opening degree of the valve on the cold heat source 50 side in the three-way valve 54 may be interlocked (here, for example, the valve opening degree is set to −10%). Based on the next collected data, the same determination as in step S33 is performed again (step S36).

  The processes in steps S34 and S36 are repeated until the determination in step S36 is YES, that is, until it is determined that there is no possibility of occurrence of condensation. In the above example, the valve opening on the short tube 53 side is increased by 10% (10% → 20% → 30% →...). However, it is not 100% (valve opening <100%). For example, when the upper limit is about 80% and condensation cannot be avoided even when the valve opening reaches the upper limit (NO in step S36), the process may proceed to step S37.

  That is, the temperature of the cold water flowing into the condenser 23 is gradually increased by gradually increasing the ratio (amount) of the warm water returned from the condenser 23 directly to the delivery pipe 51 via the short-circuit pipe 53. (The temperature of the mixed liquid of cold water from the cold heat source 50 and hot water from the three-way valve 54), that is, the condenser 23 inlet temperature is gradually increased. Accordingly, naturally, the temperature of the refrigerant output from the condenser 23 also gradually increases, and this refrigerant is sent to the evaporator 11 side by the refrigerant supply device 21 and the like.

  Accordingly, as a matter of course, the refrigerant temperature in the above-described determination formula “refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1” gradually increases and the temperature difference from the dew point temperature increases. The state is not satisfied (refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature> ΔT1). If the condition of the determination formula is not satisfied, no condensation occurs, and the occurrence of condensation can be avoided.

  However, on the other hand, if the refrigerant temperature is increased, the cooling performance of the intake warm air by the evaporator 11 is lowered, and thereby the blowing temperature from the outlet 15 to the cool air space is increased. As a result, if the blowing temperature becomes higher than the set temperature (even if it is somewhat higher), there is a possibility that the electronic equipment in the rack 1 will be insufficiently cooled. I must.

  For this reason, each time the process of step S34 is performed, in the illustrated example, before performing the process of step S36, the outlet 15 outlet temperature (blower temperature) measured by the thermometer 44 and the command device 25, for example, It is determined whether or not “blowing temperature−set temperature ≦ ΔT2 (ΔT2; arbitrarily set temperature difference)” is satisfied based on the sent arbitrary set temperature (step S35).

  And when this condition is no longer satisfied (step S35, NO), it is assumed that the condensation avoidance by the valve opening adjustment control of the three-way valve 54 has failed, and the local air conditioner 10 subject to this condensation avoidance control is stopped. Then, the process proceeds to step S37 and subsequent steps in order to switch to the spare local air conditioner 10.

The processing after step S37, that is, the processing of steps S37 to S41 is substantially the same as the processing of steps S23 to S25, and will be briefly described below.
First, in the process of step 37, an arbitrary alternative unit is selected and started for the first time, and a test run is performed. Then, in the same manner as in steps S31, S32, and S33, the temperature and humidity measurement results of the thermometers 18 and 41 and the hygrometer 19 are collected from the alternative unit during the trial operation (step S38), and the dew point temperature is set. It is calculated (step S39), and it is determined whether or not condensation is likely to occur (refrigerant temperature−dew point temperature ≦ ΔT1) (step S40). The determination itself in step S40 is the same as that in step S33 and the like, and is not specifically described here.

  Then, when it is determined that there is no possibility of occurrence of condensation (step S40, NO), the actual operation of this alternative unit is started (step S41). On the other hand, if it is determined that condensation is likely to occur (step S40, YES), another alternative unit is selected and data is collected in the same manner as described above to determine whether condensation has occurred. This is repeated until an alternative unit for which the determination in step S40 is NO is found.

  Note that the dew point temperature calculation in steps S32 and S29 is an existing technology as described above. However, if it will be briefly described here, as shown in FIG. First, the saturated water vapor pressure is calculated based on the temperature data based on the intake warm air temperature data and the humidity data measured by step 19 (step S51), and further the water vapor partial pressure is calculated based on the humidity data (step S52). Based on this, the dew point temperature is calculated (step S53). Since specific calculation formulas and the like of the processes in steps S21, S22, and S23 are general, they are not specifically described here.

  As described above, in this method, it is possible to avoid condensation by adjusting and controlling the three-way valve 54 having the above configuration. That is, in this method, when the possibility of dew condensation is determined, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 11 can be increased by increasing the inlet temperature of the condenser 23 by adjusting the valve opening degree of the three-way valve 54. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the pump rotation speed of the refrigerant supply device 21 and the output amount of the cold heat source 50, so that dew condensation can be avoided, problems such as pump stop and refrigerator stop do not occur, and reliability is improved. High dew condensation avoidance cooling operation is possible.

  If condensation cannot be avoided even with such a condensation avoiding cooling operation, switching to an alternative unit is performed (in this case, an alternative unit that does not generate condensation is selected), so condensation can be avoided reliably. In particular, in the case of the local air conditioner 10, since it is often installed above the electronic device, a serious problem may occur that water droplets of condensation fall on the electronic device and cause a failure. Can be avoided reliably.

  In addition, the structure using the three-way valve 54 shown in FIG. 8 is an example, and is not limited to this example. Although not shown in particular, as a modified example, for example, a three-way valve (not shown) of a type including an inlet from two directions and an outlet from one direction (a type that joins pipes) is used. A three-way valve may be provided in the middle of the delivery pipe 51. In this case, one of the two inlets of the three-way valve is connected to the delivery pipe 51 on the cold heat source 50 side, and the other is connected in the middle of the return pipe 52 (in this case, the return rod 52 is It is configured to branch in two directions on the way to the cold heat source 50 side and the three-way valve side). Further, the outlet of the three-way valve is connected to a delivery pipe 51 on the condenser 23 side. That is, the three-way valve has a structure in which the hot water from the return pipe 52 and the cold water from the cold heat source 50 are merged and this mixed liquid can flow out to the condenser 23 side. Thereby, substantially the same operation and effect as the configuration using the three-way valve 54 shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained.

  Further, in the configuration using the three-way valve 54 shown in FIG. 8 and the above-described modification, the bypass (branch) of the coolant (cold water or the like) is the return pipe 52 → the delivery pipe 51, but this is not the only example. Instead, the delivery pipe 51 may be replaced by the return pipe 52.

  That is, in the configuration using the three-way valve 54 shown in FIG. 8 and the above-described modification, a part of the cooling liquid returning from the condenser 23 is returned to the condenser 23 without going through the cooling source 50, whereas the cooling source 50 A part of the cooling liquid sent out from the refrigerant may be returned to the cold heat source 50 without being sent to the condenser 23. In other words, a configuration in which a part of the cold water sent from the cold heat source 50 is sent to the return pipe 52 side via the three-way valve (a configuration returning to the cold heat source 50) may be adopted.

  As a result, the flow rate of the refrigerant (coolant) flowing into the condenser 23 can be reduced. That is, the heat exchange flow rate to the condenser 23 can be reduced, and the cooling capacity of the condenser 23 can be reduced (adjusted) even if the output of the cold heat source 50 does not change. As a result, even if the output of the cold heat source 50 does not change, the temperature of the refrigerant to the evaporator 11 can be increased. Thus, also in this example, substantially the same effect as the configuration using the three-way valve 54 shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained.

  The configuration of “delivery pipe 51 → return pipe 52” is not particularly shown or described, but is generally a type having an inlet from two directions and an outlet from one direction (pipe line). A three-way valve with a configuration in which a three-way valve is provided in the middle of the return pipe 52, or a type having an outlet in two directions and an inlet from one direction (a type in which a pipe is divided) Are provided in the middle of the delivery pipe 51.

1 (1a, 1b) Equipment storage rack 2 Electronic equipment 5 Controller 6 Communication line 7 Local controller 10 Local air conditioner 11 Evaporator 12 Blower 13 Air inlet 14 Air filter 15 Air outlet 16 Controller 17 Arithmetic communication device 18 Thermometer 19 Hygrometer 20 Cold source unit 21 Refrigerant supply device 22 Receiver 23 Condenser 24 Control device 25 Command device 30 Alternative unit selection table 31 Station number (n)
32 Order (i)
41 Thermometer 42 Expansion Valve 43 Cooling Circuit 44 Thermometer 50 Cold Heat Source 51 Sending Pipe 52 Return Pipe 53 Shorting Pipe 54 Three-way Valve

Claims (11)

A local air-conditioning system having a control device in which local air-conditioning devices are arranged at various locations in an arbitrary space and communicates with each local air-conditioning device via a communication line,
The control device includes:
During normal operation, a part of the plurality of local air conditioners is set as a standby device in a stopped state or a standby state, and other normal air conditioners are operated to perform normal operation control means,
When an abnormality occurs in any of the local air conditioners in the operating state, the local where the abnormality has occurred from among the spare devices based on preset registration information or predetermined measurement data Redundant control means for selecting an alternative unit of the air conditioner and performing control to activate the alternative unit and shift to an operating state;
A local air conditioning system characterized by comprising: The control device further stores, for each of the local air conditioners, a plurality of local air conditioners that are candidates for the substitute units when the device is abnormal, and registers them as the registration information with priorities. With means,
The redundancy control means refers to the alternative unit selection information storage means when the abnormality occurs, determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied for each alternative candidate in descending order of priority, and satisfies the condition The local air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the alternative candidate determined as is selected as the alternative unit. The control device further includes temperature data collection / storage means for collecting temperature data at a predetermined location from the local air conditioners as needed via the communication line and storing the temperature data as the predetermined measurement data. And
When the abnormality occurs, the redundancy control means determines, based on the stored measurement data, whether each of the local air conditioners satisfies a predetermined condition in descending order of the temperature. The local air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a local air-conditioning apparatus first determined to satisfy the predetermined condition is selected as the alternative unit.   The local air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the temperature data is a temperature of blown cold air in the local air conditioner.   4. The local air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the temperature data is a temperature of intake warm air in the local air conditioner. The control device further includes:
Temperature data collection / storage means for collecting temperature data of a predetermined location from the local air conditioners at any time via the communication line, and storing this as the predetermined measurement data,
For each of the local air conditioners in advance, provided with alternative unit candidate storage means for registering a plurality of local air conditioners that are candidates for the alternative unit when an abnormality occurs in the apparatus,
When the abnormality occurs, the redundancy control unit becomes a replacement unit candidate of the local air conditioner in which the abnormality has occurred, registered in the replacement unit candidate storage unit, based on the stored measurement data. The local air conditioner is determined whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied in descending order of the temperature, and the local air conditioner determined to satisfy the condition is selected as the substitute unit. The local air conditioning system according to 1.   The local air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is not an operation state or an abnormal state. The control device or each local air conditioner further includes a condensation determination means for determining whether or not condensation is likely to occur,
In the case where there is a local air conditioner that has been determined by the dew condensation determination means to be dew condensation instead of the redundant control means, the control device may cause the dew condensation from among the spare local air conditioners. The apparatus further includes a dew condensation-compatible redundant control means for selecting an alternative unit of a certain local air conditioner, stopping the local air conditioner that may cause dew condensation, and starting the substitute unit to shift to an operation state. The local air conditioning system according to claim 1. The local air conditioner is a cooling unit that cools and sends out the incoming warm air,
The local air conditioning system is:
A cooling source unit for supplying refrigerant to the cooling unit;
The refrigerant supply device includes:
A condenser that cools the first refrigerant returned from the cooling unit with the second refrigerant, a refrigerant supply device that sends the first refrigerant cooled by the condenser to the cooling unit, and a delivery pipe to the condenser A cold heat source for delivering the second refrigerant through
The cooling unit is a system having an evaporator that cools the inflowing warm air by the first refrigerant sent by the refrigerant supply device;
A valve device for sending a part of the second refrigerant returned from the condenser to the delivery pipe without passing through the cold heat source;
Each cooling unit in the system includes:
Dew point temperature measuring means for measuring the dew point temperature of the inflowing warm air, and refrigerant temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the first refrigerant flowing into the evaporator,
The control device or each local air conditioner is
Condensation determination means for determining whether or not condensation may occur based on the temperature difference between the measured dew point temperature and the refrigerant temperature,
The control device includes:
When there is a local air conditioner that has been determined to be dew condensation by the dew condensation determination unit instead of the redundancy control unit, the valve device is controlled to control the second refrigerant returned from the condenser. A part of the refrigerant is sent out to the delivery pipe without going through the cold heat source, thereby performing dew condensation generation avoidance control for increasing the temperature of the second refrigerant flowing into the condenser,
If it is determined that condensation cannot be avoided even by the condensation generation avoidance control, an alternative unit of the local air conditioner that may cause condensation is selected from the spare local air conditioners, and the possibility of the occurrence of condensation is determined. The local air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a dew condensation-compatible redundant control unit that performs control to stop a certain local air conditioner and activate the substitute unit to shift to an operating state. The local air-conditioning apparatus is arranged at various places in an arbitrary space, and the control apparatus in the local air-conditioning system having a control device that communicates with each local air-conditioning apparatus via a communication line,
During normal operation, a part of the plurality of local air conditioners is set as a standby device in a stopped state or a standby state, and other normal air conditioners are operated to perform normal operation control means,
When an abnormality occurs in any of the local air conditioners in the operating state, the local where the abnormality has occurred from among the spare devices based on preset registration information or predetermined measurement data Redundant control means for selecting an alternative unit of the air conditioner and performing control to activate the alternative unit and shift to an operating state;
The control apparatus of the local air conditioning system characterized by having. A computer of the control device in a local air conditioning system having a control device in which local air conditioning devices are arranged at various locations in an arbitrary space and communicates with the local air conditioning devices via communication lines.
During normal operation, a part of the plurality of local air conditioners is set as a standby device in a stopped state or a standby state, and other normal air conditioners are operated to perform normal operation control means,
When an abnormality occurs in any of the local air conditioners in the operating state, the local where the abnormality has occurred from among the spare devices based on preset registration information or predetermined measurement data Redundant control means for performing control to select an alternative unit of the air conditioner and activate the alternative unit to shift to an operating state;
Program to function as.