JP2012048548A - Apparatus storage rack, and data center including apparatus storage rack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus storage rack capable of efficiently cooling an electronic apparatus even if the electronic apparatus with a weak fan is stored therein, and to provide a data center including the apparatus storage rack.SOLUTION: In an apparatus storage rack for storing multiple electronic apparatuses 11 each having a fan for drawing and discharging air by laminating the electronic apparatuses 11 in a vertical direction in a rack body 2, the rack body 2 includes a spot cooling mechanism 4. The spot cooling mechanism 4 includes a housing 5 extending in the vertical direction, an air inlet port 6 formed in the housing 5, a fan 7 for drawing air into the housing 5, which is formed in the air inlet port 6, an air discharge port 8 formed in the housing 5, and a guiding member 9 for guiding air in the housing 5 to the electronic apparatuses 11, which is formed in the air discharge port 8.

Description

  The present invention relates to a device storage rack for storing electronic devices such as servers stacked in the vertical direction, and a data center having the device storage rack.

  Electronic devices such as servers are housed in multiple stages in equipment housing racks such as server racks, and are arranged in the air conditioning room.

  In electronic equipment such as servers, heat is generated with power consumption. In order to eliminate the adverse effects of this heat, air conditioning air (cold air) is supplied to electronic equipment housed in equipment housing racks by cooling systems such as air conditioners. It is common to supply and remove the heat generated in the electronic device (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  Electronic devices such as servers generally have a fan for taking in outside air and cooling itself.

JP 2006-526205 A JP 2002-156136 A JP 2010-49330 A JP 2010-72697 A

  However, there are various types of electronic devices housed in the device housing rack, and some of them have weaker fans than other electronic devices housed in the device housing rack.

  If the fan is weaker than other electronic devices housed in the equipment housing rack, the air-conditioned air cannot be sufficiently taken into the equipment, which may prevent cooling. This causes equipment troubles.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even if an electronic device having a weak fan is accommodated, an equipment accommodation rack capable of sufficiently cooling the electronic equipment, and a data center having the equipment accommodation rack. Is to provide.

  The present invention was devised in order to achieve the above object, and in an equipment storage rack for storing a plurality of electronic devices having fans for performing intake and exhaust air by stacking them vertically in a rack body, The rack body has a spot cooling mechanism, and the spot cooling mechanism is provided in a casing extending in the vertical direction, an air inlet formed in the casing, and the air inlet. A device comprising a fan for taking air into the body, an air discharge port formed in the housing, and a guide member provided at the air discharge port for guiding the air in the housing to the electronic device It is a storage rack.

  The spot cooling mechanism may be provided in a corner portion on the front side of the rack body in the rack body.

  The spot cooling mechanism may be detachably provided on the rack body.

  A plurality of the air outlets may be formed in the casing, and the unused air outlet may be covered.

  A partition plate that partitions the space in the housing in the vertical direction may be provided in the housing.

  Also, the present invention provides at least an air conditioning room, a rack row in which a plurality of racks that house electronic devices such as servers on the floor surface of the air conditioning room are arranged in the left-right direction, and the rack is accommodated in the rack. An air conditioner that air-conditions the air-conditioned room in order to remove heat generated in the electronic equipment, and the rear surfaces of the rack rows are arranged on the floor surface of the air-conditioned room facing each other with a space therebetween, A panel extending from the lower edge of the rack row to the ceiling of the air conditioning room is provided on the end side in the left-right direction of the facing rack row, and a partition extending to the ceiling is provided above the front edge of both rack rows, and the air conditioning A hot zone is partitioned in the room, and an exhaust port for exhausting the heat of the hot zone is formed in a ceiling in the hot zone, and the air conditioner is outside the hot zone and in front of the rack rows. Racks constituting the rack row in a data center in which air outlets for blowing conditioned air from the air outlets are respectively formed, and the conditioned air blown from the air outlets is introduced into the hot zone from the front to the back of the rack row Among them, at least one is a data center which is the above-described equipment storage rack.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if an electronic device with a weak fan is accommodated, the data storage center which has an equipment accommodation rack which can fully cool an electronic device, and this equipment accommodation rack can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the apparatus accommodation rack which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view. It is sectional drawing of the data center which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the data center of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view of the data center of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front view of the data center of FIG. 2.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1A and 1B are views showing an equipment storage rack according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view and FIG. 1B is a front view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the equipment storage rack 1 has a rack body 2 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and the rack body 2 includes a server and a switching hub. A plurality of (six in FIG. 1) electronic devices 11 are stacked and accommodated in the vertical direction.

  Although not shown, a front plate that can be opened and closed is provided on the front side of the rack body 2 (on the left front side in FIG. 1A). Further, although not shown, a back plate is provided on the back side of the rack body 2 (the right back side in FIG. 1A) as in the case of the front side. The front plate and the back plate are formed in a mesh shape (see FIG. 5), and the equipment storage rack 1 can be sucked over the entire front surface in the vertical direction and exhausted over the entire back surface in the vertical direction. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, four racks 3a are arranged inside the rack body 2 such that two on the front side and two on the back side, and two on the front side. A plurality of cross beams 3b are provided so as to bridge between the support columns 3a and between the two support columns 3a on the back side, and the electronic device 11 is placed on the cross beam 3b. ing.

  Both ends of the cross beam 3b are fixed to the column 3a with bolts 3c. The columns 3a are formed with holes (not shown) that are screwed with the bolts 3c in stages. The mounting position can be adjusted in the vertical direction according to the height of the electronic device 11 accommodated in the housing.

  The electronic device 11 accommodated in the rack body 2 has a fan (not shown) for performing intake and exhaust. Here, a case where the electronic device 11 is configured to intake air from the front surface side and exhaust air from the back surface side will be described. The electronic device 11 is disposed in the rack body 2 so that the intake side and the exhaust side are aligned with the front side of the rack body 2 as the intake side and the back side as the exhaust side.

  Now, the equipment storage rack 1 according to the present embodiment has a spot cooling mechanism 4 in the rack body 2.

  The spot cooling mechanism 4 is provided in the rack main body 2 so as not to obstruct the intake of air (air conditioned air) in each electronic device 11 and on the corner on the front side of the rack main body 2 (left side in front view in FIG. 1). At the corner).

  The spot cooling mechanism 4 is provided in the casing 5 extending in the vertical direction, the air intake 6 formed in the casing 5, and the air intake 6, and takes in air (conditioned air) into the casing 5. Fan 7, an air discharge port 8 formed in the housing 5, and a guide member 9 that is provided in the air discharge port 8 and guides the air (air-conditioned air) in the housing 5 to the electronic device 11. I have.

  The housing 5 is formed so as to extend from the lower surface to the upper surface in the rack body 2 and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The width of the housing 5 (the width in the left-right direction in FIG. 1B) is such that it does not hinder the intake of air (air-conditioned air) in each electronic device 11 when it is arranged at a corner in the rack body 2. The size of is desirable. That is, it is desirable to have a size that is formed on the front side of each electronic device 11 as viewed from the front side of the rack body 2 and does not cover an air intake port (not shown) that takes in air.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 5 of the spot cooling mechanism 4 is disposed so as not to overlap the electronic device 11 when viewed from the front side of the rack body 2. If the configuration is shown (or the width of the housing 5 is set so that it does not overlap), it does not hinder the intake of air (conditioned air) in each electronic device 11 For example, the spot cooling mechanism 4 may be arranged in an overlapped state (or the width of the casing 5 is set so as to be overlapped). By comprising in this way, the width | variety of the left-right direction of the apparatus accommodation rack 1 can be made small.

  Air intake ports 6 are respectively formed at the upper end and the lower end of the front surface of the housing 5. Note that the position and number of the air intake ports 6 are not limited to this and can be set as appropriate. Both air intake ports 6 are provided with fans 7, and air (conditioned air) is taken into the housing 5 from the front side of the rack body 2 by the fans 7.

  A partition plate 5 a that partitions the space in the housing 5 in the vertical direction is provided in the housing 5. Here, the partition plate 5 a is provided at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the housing 5. Air (conditioned air) is taken into the space above the partition plate 5a from an air intake port 6 provided at the upper end of the housing 5, and the lower end of the housing 5 is placed in the space below the partition plate 5a. Air (air-conditioned air) is taken in from the air intake port 6 provided in the air.

  A plurality of air discharge ports 8 are formed on the front surface of the housing 5. Here, ten air discharge ports 8 (five above and below the partition plate 5a) are formed in the casing 5 between the two air intake ports 6 at equal intervals. Each air outlet 8 is provided with an openable / closable lid 8 a so that the unused air outlet 8 is covered. In addition, although the case where the air exhaust port 8 is formed in the front surface of the housing | casing 5 is demonstrated here, the air exhaust port 8 may be formed in the back surface or side surface of the housing | casing 5. FIG. Here, a case where ten air discharge ports 8 are formed will be described, but the number of air discharge ports 8 is not limited to this.

  The air outlet 8 to be used (for example, the air outlet 8 in the vicinity of the electronic device 11 having a weak fan) is formed with the air (air-conditioned air) in the housing 5 formed on the front side of the electronic device 11. A guiding member 9 is provided for guiding to. The guide member 9 is made of, for example, a plastic or metal pipe. Here, since the electronic device 11 supplies air from the front side, the guide member 9 causes the air (air-conditioned air) in the housing 5 to flow from the front side of the electronic device 11 (the air intake port of the electronic device 11). In the vicinity).

  Note that some electronic devices 11 supply air from the side, but for such an electronic device 11, the guiding member 9 is used, and the air (air-conditioned air) in the housing 5 is used as the side surface of the electronic device 11. It is desirable to be provided so as to supply to the side.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, what set the length of each induction | guidance | derivation member 9 was employ | adopted so that it might match with the air intake opening of the electronic device 11, but with such a structure, When the electronic device 11 is taken out due to failure or maintenance, and replaced with another electronic device 11 having a different air intake opening position, it is necessary to renew the guiding member 9 each time, which is troublesome. . Therefore, instead of the guide member 9 according to the present embodiment, it is extendable and configured by a cylindrical base tube portion and a cylindrical branch tube portion that fits to the base tube portion in an extendable manner. A guide member may be used.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the guide member 9 is provided so as to protrude from the front side of the rack body 2, when the guide member 9 is provided in this way, the front plate can be omitted. When the front plate is provided, the housing 5 is slightly shifted to the back side of the rack body 2 to form a space for housing the guiding member 9 on the front surface side of the housing 5, and the guiding member 9 is housed in the rack body 2. You just have to do it.

  The spot cooling mechanism 4 is detachably provided to the rack body 2. The configuration for detachably attaching the spot cooling mechanism 4 to the rack body 2 is not particularly limited. For example, a hook is provided on the side surface of the housing 5 (the left side surface in FIG. 1B). A configuration in which the spot cooling mechanism 4 is fixed to the rack body 2 by forming an engagement groove for engaging the hook with the rack body 2 and engaging the hook of the housing 5 with the engagement groove of the rack body 2. A configuration in which the spot cooling mechanism 4 is fixed to the rack main body 2 with bolts or the like can be given.

  Next, a data center using the equipment storage rack 1 of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the data center 10 includes a box-shaped air conditioning room 13 formed of at least a ceiling 20, a floor surface 14, and four side walls, and a plurality of racks 12 arranged in the left-right direction. The rack row 15 is provided, and an air conditioner (not shown) that air-conditions the inside of the air-conditioning chamber 13 so as to remove heat generated in the electronic device 11 accommodated in the rack 12.

  In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the equipment accommodating rack 1 of FIG. 1 is used for all the racks 12 constituting the rack row 15, but at least one of the racks 12 constituting the rack row 15 is not shown in FIG. The equipment storage rack 1 may be used.

  In the data center 10, a plurality of racks 12 (12 in the present embodiment) are arranged on the floor surface 14 of the air conditioning room 13 in the left-right direction to form a rack row 15, and the back surfaces R of the rack row 15 are spaced apart from each other. They are placed facing each other. By arranging the rack rows 15 at intervals, work paths 16 are formed between the rack rows 15.

  These rack rows 15 are arranged on the floor surface 14 via a seismic isolation device 17. In the present embodiment, the seismic isolation device 17 is provided with the seismic isolation table 19 on the gantry 18 via a bearing, but is not limited thereto.

  Panels 21 extending from the lower edge of the rack row 15 to the ceiling 20 are provided on the left and right sides of the rack row 15. The panel 21 is provided with a door 22 for entering and exiting the work passage 16. The panel 21 is provided on the seismic isolation device 17.

  A partition 23 extending to the ceiling 20 is provided on the upper front edge of each rack row 15. The upper ends of the partition 23 and the panel 21 are provided so as to be movable with respect to the ceiling 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a ceiling seal member 25 for sealing the hot zone 24 and the air conditioning chamber 13 is provided at the upper ends of the panel 21 and the partition 23. In the present embodiment, a rubber sheet is used as the ceiling seal member 25, and the rubber sheet is fixed to the upper end of the partition 23 on the hot zone 24 side with a bolt or the like so that the upper end portion is curved to the hot zone 24 side.

  As a result, a hot zone 24 partitioned from the air conditioning chamber 13 by the rack rows 15, the partitions 23, and the panel 21 is partitioned.

  At least one exhaust port 26 (three in FIG. 3) for exhausting the heat in the hot zone 24 is formed in the ceiling 20 in the hot zone 24. The exhaust port 26 is connected to a suction port of the air conditioner via an exhaust duct 53 (see FIG. 3).

  On the ceiling 20 of the air conditioning chamber 13 other than the hot zone 24 (the ceiling 20 in front of the rack row 15 in FIG. 1), there is at least one outlet 27 for blowing the conditioned air (cold air) from the air conditioner vertically downward (see FIG. 6 in 3). This blower outlet 27 is connected with the air-conditioning air blower outlet of an air conditioner via the blower duct 52 (refer FIG. 3).

  The air conditioner is provided in a different space from the air conditioning room 13 in which the rack 12 is disposed, for example, in a separate room of the building in which the data center 10 is provided, or outdoors. Thereby, like patent document 1, piping, such as a refrigerant | coolant, is not connected to the rack 12 (rack row | line | column 15), and an air conditioner and the rack 12 (rack row | line | column 15) are completely cut away.

  Further, for example, when the air conditioner is installed in a separate space adjacent to the air conditioning room 13, the floor surface of the separate space is preferably at a lower level than the floor surface of the air conditioning room 13, depending on the method. It can take the form. This is, for example, a device that makes it difficult for the refrigerant or the heat medium to enter the air-conditioning chamber 13 even if the piping such as the refrigerant related to the air conditioner is damaged and the refrigerant or the heat medium flows out.

  In the data center 10, conditioned air (cold air) blown out from the conditioned air outlet of the air conditioner blows out from the outlet 27 through the outlet duct 52 and is introduced into the air-conditioning chamber 13. The temperature of the conditioned air in the air conditioned room 13 is about 23 ° C., for example.

  The conditioned air in the air conditioned room 13 is introduced from the front surface F of the rack row 15, removes (absorbs) heat generated by the electronic equipment 11 in the rack 12, and then enters the hot zone 24 from the rear surface R of the rack row 15. be introduced.

  At this time, in the rack 12, a part of the conditioned air is introduced into the housing 5 by the fan 7 of the spot cooling mechanism 4, and a part of the electronic equipment 11 accommodated in the rack 12 through the guide member 9. (For example, the electronic device 11 having a weak fan) is supplied.

  The air in the hot zone 24 is exhausted from the exhaust port 26 provided in the ceiling 20 in the hot zone 24 and is introduced into the air inlet of the air conditioner through the exhaust duct 53. The temperature in the hot zone 24 is, for example, about 35 to 40 ° C.

  Since the data center 10 uses the property that the specific gravity decreases and rises easily when the air is heated, and the property that the specific gravity increases after cooling, it is possible to improve the fluidity (convection) of the conditioned air using natural convection. It is possible to reduce energy consumed by the air conditioner as blowing power.

  The operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the equipment storage rack 1 according to the present embodiment, a casing 5 extending in the vertical direction, an air intake 6 formed in the casing 5, and an air intake 6 are provided. A fan 7 for taking in air, an air discharge port 8 formed in the housing 5, and a guide member 9 provided in the air discharge port 8 for guiding the air in the housing 5 to the electronic device 11. A spot cooling mechanism 4 is provided in the rack body 2.

  By providing the spot cooling mechanism 4, even when the electronic device 11 having a weak fan is accommodated in the rack body 2, the electronic device 11 can be sufficiently cooled, and the electronic device 11 having a weak fan can be used. It is possible to prevent equipment troubles caused by the generated heat.

  Further, in the equipment housing rack 1, the spot cooling mechanism 4 is provided in the rack body 2 at the corners on the front side of the rack body 2, so that the spot cooling mechanism 4 has air ( Does not impede the intake of conditioned air.

  Further, since the spot cooling mechanism 4 is detachably attached to the rack body 2 in the equipment storage rack 1, the spot cooling mechanism 4 is attached when the electronic equipment 11 having a weak fan is accommodated, and the fan is weak. When the electronic device 11 is not accommodated, a flexible response such as removing the spot cooling mechanism 4 is possible.

  Further, the equipment storage rack 1 is configured such that a plurality of air discharge ports 8 are formed in the housing 5 and the unused air discharge ports 8 are covered. By forming a plurality of air discharge ports 8, the length of the guide member 9 can be shortened using the air discharge port 8 in the vicinity of the electronic device 11 having a weak fan, and the unused air discharge port 8. It is possible to prevent the air (conditioned air) from leaking from the unused air discharge port 8 by covering the surface.

  Furthermore, since the equipment storage rack 1 includes the partition plate 5a that partitions the space in the housing 5 in the vertical direction, for example, when the electronic device 11 having a weak fan is disposed only above the partition plate 5a, Only the fan 7 above the partition plate 5a can be driven to reduce power consumption in the spot cooling mechanism 4 and efficiently supply air (conditioned air) to the electronic device 11 having a weak fan. Is possible.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, regarding the spot cooling mechanism 4, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, there is one casing 5 that is substantially the same height as the rack body 2 (vertical direction) and extends in the vertical direction. In addition, although the partition plate 5a is interposed therebetween, for example, two casings that are approximately half the height of the rack body 2 and extend in the vertical direction are arranged vertically. It may be a configuration. Of course, not only two but also a plurality may be arranged vertically.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the spot cooling mechanism 4 is shown in the rack body 2, but the spot body 2, more precisely, the side surface side of the rack body 2 is in contact with the rack body 2. It may have a cooling mechanism 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Equipment storage rack 2 Rack main body 4 Spot cooling mechanism 5 Case 6 Air intake port 7 Fan 8 Air exhaust port 9 Guidance member 11 Electronic device

Claims (6)

In an equipment storage rack for storing a plurality of electronic devices having fans for performing intake and exhaust, stacked in the vertical direction in the rack body,
The rack body has a spot cooling mechanism,
The spot cooling mechanism is
A casing extending vertically,
An air intake port formed in the housing;
A fan provided in the air intake port for taking air into the housing;
An air outlet formed in the housing;
A device receiving rack, comprising: a guide member provided at the air discharge port for guiding the air in the housing to the electronic device.   The equipment storage rack according to claim 1, wherein the spot cooling mechanism is provided in a corner portion on the front side of the rack body in the rack body.   The equipment storage rack according to claim 1, wherein the spot cooling mechanism is detachably provided to the rack body.   The equipment housing rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the air outlets are formed in the casing, and the unused air outlets are covered.   The equipment storage rack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a partition plate that partitions a space in the housing in a vertical direction is provided in the housing. Generated by at least an air conditioning room, a rack row in which a plurality of racks that house electronic devices such as servers on the floor surface of the air conditioning room are arranged in the left-right direction, and the electronic equipment housed in the rack An air conditioner that air-conditions the air-conditioned room to remove heat
The back surfaces of the rack rows are arranged on the floor surface of the air conditioning room facing each other with a space therebetween, and the left and right ends of the facing rack rows are arranged from the lower edge of the rack row to the air conditioning room. A panel extending to the ceiling is provided, a partition extending to the ceiling is provided above the front edge of both rack rows, a hot zone is defined in the air conditioning chamber, and an exhaust port for exhausting the heat of the hot zone to the ceiling in the hot zone Are formed outside the hot zone and in front of the two rack rows in front of the rack rows, and blown out the conditioned air from the air conditioners. In a data center that is introduced into the hot zone from the front to the back,
6. The data center according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the racks constituting the rack row is the equipment storage rack according to claim 1.

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