JP2010223552A - Air conditioning load reduction system and method of reducing air conditioning load - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce air conditioning load due to heat of a personal computer installed in an office and the like. <P>SOLUTION: This air conditioning load reduction system includes a first space and a second space positioned at an upper part of the first space. The first space is provided with a first intake 33 for sucking the air, and the conditioned air from an air conditioner 30 is supplied thereto. The second space is provided with a second intake 53 for sucking the air, and has a rack 21 for placing a PC body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning load reduction system and an air conditioning load reduction method in which temperature adjustment is performed using an air conditioner in an office where a personal computer is installed.

  The cooling load is increasing due to the heat generated by office automation equipment in the office office. In particular, the PC main body installed in its seat has power consumption of several tens to several hundreds of watts, and the consumed power is directly converted into heat. In recent years, the number of PCs and related devices that are constantly turned on as file servers and WEB servers has increased, and among the cooling loads in the office room (cooling space), the load due to heat generated by OA devices is about 20% of the total. The cooling load is increased.

  In order to reduce the cooling load for energy saving, it is desirable not to bring a PC as a heating element into the office room, but there are few offices that have a server room or the like separately, and most PCs are installed in the office space.

  In recent years, in order to share files, there are many situations where a PC body having a server function for each group is installed in the office and operated for 24 hours. These PC main bodies need to be operated at night and on weekends, and the amount of heat generated during this period is stored in the room, which is a further cooling load during air conditioning. Thus, in the present situation where the PC main body as a heat source is brought into an air-conditioned office room, it is an important issue to save energy by reducing indoor heat generation.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that an electronic device such as a server stored in a rack installed in an electronic device room (server machine room) is cooled with cooling air blown from an air conditioner. As described above, even in the case where an electronic device room in which electronic devices such as servers are gathered and stored is provided, cooling is usually performed in the electronic device room, and the cooling load is significant.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of air conditioning in a conventional office. A plurality of sets of consoles 1 and PC main bodies 2 connected to the console 1 are installed in an air conditioning room where a person works. A ceiling room is formed in the upper part of the air conditioning room with the partition wall 61 interposed therebetween. This air conditioning room is provided with air conditioning means for adjusting the temperature of the air conditioning room and performing ventilation. The air conditioning means includes an air conditioner 30, a room temperature sensor 31, a control means 32, a first air inlet 33, an air outlet 34, an exhaust fan 35, and a damper 36.

  In this air conditioning means, the outside air taken in from the outside is sent to the air conditioner 30 together with the air in the air conditioning room collected from the first air inlet 33 while the amount of air is adjusted by the damper 36. On the other hand, a room temperature sensor 31 for detecting the room temperature is arranged in the air conditioning room, and the detected room temperature is transmitted to the control means 32. The control means 32 controls the air conditioner 30 so that the room temperature of the air conditioning room becomes the set temperature according to the received room temperature.

  The air conditioner 30 cools the air sent from the damper 36 and supplies the conditioned air from the air outlet 34 to the air conditioned room. Air in the air-conditioned room is collected from the first air inlet 33 by the exhaust fan 35, and is divided into an air amount that returns to the air conditioner 30 by a damper 36 and an air amount that is discharged outdoors, and is re-supplied to the air conditioner 30. Or discharged outdoors.

As described above, in the conventional office, the console 1 and the PC main body 2 are arranged in a pair in the air conditioning room, and the amount of heat from the PC main body 2 directly increases the temperature in the office room. This causes a load on the air conditioner 30.

  In addition, even in an office where an electronic device room for collecting and storing electronic devices such as servers as described in Patent Document 1 is provided separately, the set of the console 1 and the PC main body 2 is installed in the office. The calorific value in the office is unchanged.

JP 2003-56882 A

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, a set of the console 1 and the PC main body 2 is installed in a conventional air conditioning room where a person works. The power consumption of about several tens to several hundreds of watts in the PC main body 2 is converted into heat as it is and becomes a cooling load in the air conditioning means. An object of the present invention is to reduce the air conditioning load caused by the heat generated in the PC main body 2.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a first space and a second space located above the first space. The first space is provided with a first air inlet for performing intake air, and air conditioning. Air-conditioned air from the machine is supplied, and the second space is provided with a second intake port for performing intake, and a rack for installing the PC main body is provided.

  According to the present invention, a PC body used in a work space is installed in a space such as the ceiling or near the ceiling, and the temperature in the space where the work is performed by preferentially exhausting the air warmed by the PC body. It is possible to suppress the rise and realize energy saving.

The figure which showed the mode of the office space which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which showed the various connection means which concern on embodiment of this invention. The figure which showed the mode of the office space which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The figure which showed the mode of the conventional office.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an office space according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the office space is divided by a partition wall 61 into an air conditioning room (“first space” in the present invention) serving as a space where people perform business and a ceiling room in which the main components of the air conditioning means are arranged. .

  In the air conditioning room serving as the first space, the internal temperature is maintained at an appropriate temperature by the air conditioning means. In the present embodiment, the air conditioning means includes an air conditioner 30, a room temperature sensor 31, a first air inlet 33, and an air outlet 34.

  In the present embodiment, the air-conditioning means responsible for air-conditioning of the air-conditioning room is arranged adjacent to the air-conditioning room, but the air-conditioning means is not limited to such arrangement, and is a conventional example. It may be arranged in the ceiling room described above. As for the air conditioning method, various types such as a full-floor blow-out air conditioning system, which will be described later, and a central type, a package type, a cold water type, a refrigerant type, and the like can be used.

  Air from the outside is taken into the air conditioner 30. The air conditioner 30 also takes in air in the air-conditioned room via the first air inlet 33. Thus, the air taken into the air conditioner 30 is sent from the air outlet 34 into the air conditioned room as conditioned air. At that time, the temperature, air volume, etc. of the conditioned air are controlled at the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 31 provided in the air conditioned room.

  In this way, the air conditioning room is kept at a comfortable temperature for human work by the air conditioning means. On the other hand, the ceiling room is provided with a vent 62 communicating with the air-conditioning room 5 and a second inlet 53 for sucking air inside the ceiling room. 2 Air is exhausted from the air inlet 53 to the outside.

  The exhaust from the second air inlet 53 in the ceiling room may be natural exhaust, but in this embodiment, the exhaust fan 50 is provided in the path from the second air inlet 53 to the outside, and the air in the ceiling room Is forcibly exhausted to the outside. With this configuration, the conditioned air supplied into the air-conditioned room by the air-conditioning means moves to the ceiling room and is preferentially exhausted from the second air inlet 53. In the present embodiment, the air vent 62 is provided between the ceiling room and the air-conditioning room so that air is taken into the ceiling room. It is good also as a structure to take in.

  Further, in this embodiment, a control means 52 for controlling the exhaust amount of the exhaust fan 50 is provided, and the exhaust amount is controlled by the temperature in the ceiling room detected by the room temperature sensor 51. With this configuration, it is possible to perform exhaust according to the temperature change in the ceiling chamber and to adjust the exhaust amount.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the air conditioning unit is provided in the first space, the exhaust unit is provided in the second space, and each is controlled independently. However, the control unit that controls the air conditioning unit and the exhaust unit in an integrated manner. It is good also as providing. Furthermore, the damper 36 described with reference to FIG. 4 may be provided so that the outside air to be taken in, the amount of exhaust, and the amount of air returned from the exhaust means to the air conditioning means can be adjusted by control from the control unit.

  Next, the console 1 installed in the air conditioning room (first space) and the PC main body 2 installed in the ceiling room (second space) will be described. The console 1 corresponds to various user interfaces for exchanging information with the user, and is roughly divided into presentation means for presenting various information to the user and input means for acquiring various information from the user. be able to. Representative examples of the presenting means include a monitor that displays video, a speaker that outputs audio, and a printer.

  Examples of input means include a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, microphone, scanner, camera, USB memory, and various drive devices. These various user interfaces consume about 10s of watts even though the power consumption is large, and the amount of heat generated is smaller than that of the PC main body 2. These consoles 1 are installed on a desk or the like in an air-conditioned room so that an operator can operate them, and are used for business.

  On the other hand, the PC main body 2 is a device housed in a personal computer case as a so-called desktop personal computer casing, and stores a power source, a CPU, a memory, a hard disk, and the like. The power consumption of the PC main body 2 is about several hundred watts, and the amount of heat generated is large among OA devices used in the office.

In the present embodiment, the PC body 2 is arranged in a ceiling room provided above the air conditioning room. In particular, in the present embodiment, the rack 2 for installing the PC main body 2 in the ceiling room.
1 is provided.

  The rack 21 is suspended from the upper surface of the ceiling room as shown in the figure, for example. By installing the PC main body 2 using such a rack 21, the PC main body 2 can be installed in the ceiling room without being placed on the partition wall 21 having low strength. Further, by providing a fixing means for fixing the PC main body 2 to the rack 21, the PC main body 2 installed at a high place can be safely supported.

  In the present embodiment, the rack 21 is fixed to the upper surface of the ceiling chamber. However, the rack 21 may be fixed to the side surface of the ceiling chamber, and the same effect can be obtained in that case. Further, the rack 21 may be provided with a manual or electric lifting means. By lowering the rack 21 from the ceiling room to the air conditioning room and performing the work on the air conditioning room side, the installation of the PC main body 2 and the maintenance of the PC main body 2 can be easily performed on the air conditioning room side.

  In the case where the partition wall 61 is provided between the ceiling chamber and the air conditioning chamber as in the present embodiment, when the lifting means is provided, the partition wall 61 is provided with an opening / closing portion, or the bottom surface of the rack 21 is placed on the partition wall 61. The rack 21 can be moved up and down by setting it as a part.

  The console 1 and the PC main body 2 described above are connected by the connecting means 4. As shown in FIG. 1, each console 1 and PC body 2 are connected in a one-to-one connection relationship. When the distance between the PC main body 2 is short, an existing cable for connecting the PC main body 2 and the console 1 can be used as the connection means 4, but the distance between them is long and the length is insufficient. In this case, the connection means 4 having an extension function constituted by various cables, relay units, and the like may be used.

  Further, the connection means 4 is not limited to a wired one using a cable, and the console 1 and the PC main body 2 may be connected wirelessly. In this way, by connecting the console 1 and the PC main body 2 with the connection means 4, the user can perform work on the console 1 installed at a position away from the PC main body 2.

  In the present embodiment, the connection means 4 connects the console 1 installed in the air-conditioning room (first space) and the PC main body 2 installed in the ceiling room (second space) located above the console 1. By adopting such an arrangement, a large amount of heat generated in the PC main body 2 is preferentially exhausted to the outside without flowing out into the air conditioning room. Therefore, the amount of heat generated in the PC main body 2 does not become a cooling load of the air conditioner 30, and the power consumption of the air conditioner 30 can be reduced.

Since the power consumption (heat generation amount) of the PC main body 2 is about 100 to 200 W per unit, the occupation rate in the office space is 0.2 / m ² , and one PC main unit 2 with 150 W per person If you have, you can reduce the heat generation of about 30 W / m ^2. General office cooling load is 140
Since it is W / m ² , energy saving of about 20% can be realized by using this embodiment.

  Various embodiments of the connecting means 4 having an extension function used when the distance between the PC main body 2 and the console 1 is long will be described with reference to FIGS. As the various connection means 4 for connecting the PC main body 2 and the console 1, commercially available ones can be used. However, these connection means 4 are originally used in a factory or a laboratory to prevent the PC main body from dust or moisture. It is used to isolate the PC main body 2 and the console 1 for the purpose of protecting personal computers and preventing mischief of personal computers used by an unspecified number of people in public facilities and exhibitions.

By using such a commercially available connection means 4 for connecting the console 1 installed in the air-conditioning room (first space) and the PC body 2 installed in the ceiling room (second space), the PC body 2 and the console 1 are connected. Even when the distance between them is long, the console 1 can be operated. In addition, the degree of freedom of the layout of the PC main body 2 and the console 1 is improved, and in particular, with respect to the PC main body 2, by arranging a plurality of units at a predetermined position in the ceiling room (second space), exhaust processing, Maintenance of 2 becomes easy.

  2A, reference numeral 411 denotes various first terminal groups, 412 denotes a first cable, 413 denotes various second terminal groups, 414 denotes a relay unit, 415 denotes various third terminal groups, and 416 denotes a second cable. Reference numeral 417 denotes various fourth terminal groups. As the console 1, a monitor 11, a keyboard 12, and a mouse 13 are arranged.

  In the first terminal group 411, 411a indicates a first monitor connection terminal, 411b indicates a first keyboard connection terminal, and 411c indicates a first mouse connection terminal. The first terminal group 411 is connected to the PC main body 2 and connected to the second monitor connection terminal 413a, the second keyboard connection terminal 413b, and the second mouse connection terminal 413c via the first cable 412. . The first cable 412 can be used with a length of up to 3 m. The various terminals 413a to 413c are connected to the relay unit 414. The relay unit 414 is configured by an emulator or a CPU switch, and a connection length exceeding the maximum length of 3 m of the first cable can be realized by the second cable 416 connected thereto. Note that the relay unit 414 may not be provided as long as the console 1 and the PC body 2 can be connected within a length of 3 m.

  The relay unit 414 is connected with a third monitor connection terminal 415a, a third keyboard connection terminal 415b, and a third mouse connection terminal 415c. The third terminal group 415 is connected to the fourth monitor connection terminal 417a, the fourth keyboard connection terminal 417b, and the fourth monitor connection terminal 417c via the second cable 416, respectively. This second cable can be used with a length of up to 80 m. By connecting these fourth terminal groups 417 to the console 1 such as the monitor 11, the keyboard 12, and the mouse 13 via a cable as shown in the figure or directly connecting them, the console 1 can operate and control the PC main body 2. .

  A user who starts business can turn on the PC main body 2 by performing a predetermined operation with an input unit in the console 1 such as the keyboard 12 or the mouse 13. The user who has finished the work can turn off the power of the PC main body 2 by operating the input means in the console 1. In this way, the user can work on the console 1 installed in the air conditioning room without directly touching the PC main body 2.

  FIG. 2B is a diagram showing another embodiment of the connecting means 4. Reference numeral 418 denotes various fifth terminal groups, 419 denotes a third cable, 420 denotes various sixth terminal groups, 421 denotes a local unit, 422 denotes a fourth cable, and 423 denotes a remote unit. In addition to the monitor 11, the keyboard 12, and the mouse 13 shown in FIG. 2A, the console 1 further includes a speaker 14 as a presentation unit and a microphone 15 as an input unit.

In the fifth terminal group 418, 418a is a fifth monitor connection terminal, 418b is a fifth keyboard connection terminal, 418c is a fifth mouse connection terminal, 418d is a fifth speaker connection terminal, and 418e is a fifth microphone connection terminal. The fifth terminal group 418 is connected to the PC main body 2 and is connected to the sixth terminal group 420 via the third cable 419. This third cable can be used with a length of up to several meters. The sixth terminal group 420 includes an integrated terminal 420a, a sixth speaker connection terminal 420d, and a sixth microphone connection terminal 420e, and is connected to the local unit 421. A fourth cable 422 extends from the local unit 421. The fourth cable 422 can be used up to several hundred meters long by using a LAN cable or the like. At the other end of the fourth cable 422, a remote unit 423 provided with various terminals for connecting the console 1 is disposed. In the case of FIG. 2B, the monitor 11, the keyboard 12, the mouse 13, the speaker 14, and the microphone. Various terminals for connecting 15 are provided.

  FIG. 2C shows an embodiment of the connection means 4 when the USB device 16 is used for the console 1. 424 is a USB terminal, 425 is a fifth cable, 426 is a USB local unit, 427 is a sixth cable, 428. Indicates a USB remote unit. The USB terminal 424 is connected to the PC main body 2, and a USB local unit 426 is provided on the fifth cable 425 extending from the USB terminal 424. The USB local unit 426 is provided with a USB remote unit 428 via a sixth cable 427 using a LAN cable or the like. The sixth cable 427 can be extended up to 5 m when the USB 2.0 standard is used, and up to 60 m when the USB 1.1 standard. The USB remote unit 428 is connected to various USB devices 16 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a camera, a digital camera, a memory, a hard disk, and a CD / DVD drive as one of the consoles 1. In the embodiment shown in the figure, one USB device 16 is connected, but it is also possible to connect a plurality of USB devices 16 by using a USB hub.

  If such connection means 4 for the USB device 16 is adopted or used together, the USB 16 device can be used as the console 1, and various types of USB devices 16 can be used as the console 1. .

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention that is different from the embodiment described in FIG. The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the following two points.
(1) In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the air-conditioning means supplies the conditioned air through the upper outlet 34, whereas in the present embodiment, the entire-surface floor blowing air-conditioning system that supplies the conditioned air from under the floor ( (See Japanese Patent No. 3317468).
(2) In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the first space and the second space are separated by the partition wall 61 (ceiling), whereas in the present embodiment, the partition wall is provided between the first space and the second space. Is not provided, and the first space and the second space are formed with the intake surface of the first intake port of the air conditioning means as a boundary.

  Now, the point (1) that is different from the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, an air supply chamber 65 is formed below the floor surface 63 of the air conditioning chamber (first space). The air conditioner 30 discharges the conditioned air to the air supply chamber 65 and is supplied so that the conditioned air oozes out from the breathable floor surface 63 into the office room.

  According to such full-surface floor blowing air conditioning, the conditioned air that oozes out from the floor surface 63 forms a forced flow (replacement air conditioning) upward from the floor surface 63. In addition, since the conditioned air is supplied from the floor surface 63, it is not necessary to provide the upper part of the office room or the air outlet 34 described in FIG. 1 or a duct connected to the air outlet in the second space (ceiling room). The degree of freedom in layout of the PC main body 2 to be installed is improved.

  Next, the point (2) that is different from the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, no partition is provided between the first space and the second space, and the first space and the second space are formed with the intake surface of the first intake port 33 of the air conditioning means as a boundary. Yes. The intake surface is a surface parallel to the position where the first intake port 33 is provided, and the PC main body 2 is installed above the intake surface, that is, in the second space.

  Even when such a configuration is adopted, the air warmed by the PC main body 2 tends to rise, so that the air is collected from the second intake port 53 with almost no outflow to the first space, particularly the first intake port 33. And exhausted to the outside. Further, with this configuration, even in an office space in which no ceiling room is provided, it is possible to implement by providing the rack 21 for installing the PC main body 2. The details of the rack 21 are the same as those of the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  As mentioned above, although other embodiment was described using FIG. 3, about the structure of said (1) and (2), it is not necessary to use both together, either implementation demonstrated in FIG. It may be used instead of the form.

  As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to reduce the air conditioning load on the air conditioner 30 by separately arranging the PC 2 as the heat source in the second space, and the console 1 is arranged in the first space. The operation of the PC main body 2 arranged in an isolated manner can be performed as usual.

  Furthermore, it is good also as utilizing the waste heat of the air exhausted from the 2nd chamber space. Since the air heated by the PC body 2 is higher than other room temperatures, for example, desiccant air conditioning (dehumidification) using the exhausted air, use in various hot water supply facilities, etc. to save energy using waste heat. It is possible to do it. Furthermore, in the winter season when the air conditioner 30 is used for heating, it is possible to reduce power consumption used by the air conditioning means by adopting a configuration in which the exhaust from the second space is returned to the air conditioner 30 side.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and embodiments configured by appropriately combining the configurations of the respective embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Console, 11 ... Monitor, 12 ... Keyboard, 13 ... Mouse, 14 ... Speaker, 15 ... Microphone, 16 ... USB device, 2 ... PC main body, 21 ... Rack, 30 ... Air conditioner, 31 ... Room temperature sensor, 33 ... 1st inlet port, 34 ... outlet, 35 ... exhaust fan, 36 ... damper, 4 ... connection means, 411 ... first terminal group, 412 ... first cable, 413 ... second terminal group, 414 ... relay unit, 415 ... 3rd terminal group, 416 ... 2nd cable, 417 ... 4th terminal group, 418 ... 5th terminal group, 419 ... 3rd cable, 420 ... 6th terminal group, 421 ... Local unit, 422 ... 4th cable, 423 ... Remote unit, 424 ... USB terminal, 425 ... 5th cable, 426 ... USB local unit, 427 ... 6th cable, 428 ... USB remote unit, 0 ... exhaust fan, 51 ... temperature sensor, 52 ... control unit, 53 ... second intake port, 61 ... ceiling (bulkhead), 62 ... vent, 63 ... floor Breathable, 65 ... air supply chamber

Claims (7)

A first space and a second space located above the first space;
The first space is provided with a first air inlet for intake air, and conditioned air is supplied from the air conditioner.
An air conditioning load reduction system characterized in that a second air inlet for performing air intake is provided in the second space, and a rack for installing a PC main body is provided. The air conditioning load reduction system according to claim 1, wherein the first space and the second space are formed by being separated by a partition wall. The air conditioning load reduction system according to claim 1, wherein no partition wall is provided between the first space and the second space, and the second space is located above the arrangement surface of the first air inlet. The air conditioning load reduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rack provided in the second space is fixed to an upper surface of the second space or a side surface of the second space. The PC main body installed in the rack provided in the second space is connected to a console installed in the first space by a wired or wireless connection means. Air conditioning load reduction system. The air-conditioning load reduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conditioned air supplied to the first space is supplied from a floor surface of the first space. Forming a first space and a second space located above the first space;
The first space is provided with a first air inlet for intake air, and air conditioned air is supplied from the air conditioner and a console is installed.
In the second space, a second intake port for intake air is provided and a PC body is installed.
An air conditioning load reduction method of connecting a console installed in a first space and a PC main body installed in a second space by a wired or wireless connection means.

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