JP2013190119A - Air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the information on the excess degree of air conditioning ability or operation efficiency on the basis of the information on the structure and the operation situation about an air conditioner or IT equipment and the information on the original processing capacity of the air conditioner in a data center.SOLUTION: An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system 5 calculates the information related to an operation efficiency of an operated air conditioner in a data center 1 and has an air conditioning efficiency calculation part 51 calculating total power consumption of all racks included in an area in each of one or more assigned areas and total processing capacity of respective air conditioners corresponding to the area by inputting air conditioner rack structural information 52 about the rack housing each air conditioner and IT equipment including the information of an area where the rack is mounted, a rack power consumption 53 including the information of the power consumption about each rack and air conditioning processing capacity 55 including the information related to the processing capacity of each air conditioner and outputting a value subtracting the value of total power consumption from the total value of the processing capacity as the air conditioning efficiency information 6.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for acquiring information related to the operating efficiency of an air conditioner, and in particular, to acquire information related to the operating efficiency of an air conditioner used for cooling a large number of IT devices in a data center. The present invention relates to a technology that is effective when applied to a system.

  The use of data centers that provide services for managing and managing a large number of IT-related devices such as server devices and network devices is increasing. At the data center, not only IT equipment but also facilities (facilities) such as air conditioning, power supply, wiring, etc. are monitored and managed for stable service operation. In other words, management at a data center generally has two aspects: management from the aspect of facilities (facility) and management from the aspect of an information processing system that provides services by operating IT equipment.

  Management from the aspect of equipment includes management of an air conditioner for cooling waste heat from the IT equipment as described above. As a method for operating and managing the air conditioner, for example, a target temperature is determined in a so-called cold aisle (a space on the intake surface side of an IT device in a space divided by a row of racks that store IT devices) and the target Some control the air conditioner so that the measured temperature is lower than the temperature. In addition, there is a system that sets a target temperature for air that is blown out from the air conditioner, circulates after cooling the IT equipment and returns to the air conditioner, and controls the air conditioner so that the measured temperature is lower than the target temperature. is there.

  However, in these methods, in order to avoid troubles caused by heat such as stoppage or malfunction of IT equipment due to a rise in the temperature of the computer room, it is usually a fairly low temperature (for example, 20 ° C. to 25 ° C.) to be on the safe side. Is set as the target temperature, which tends to result in excessive air conditioning.

  In response to such a problem, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-226737 (Patent Document 1), a straight line representing the relationship between the server operation rate and the server heat generation amount is input in advance, and each server in the rack is operated at the maximum. For each rack, the maximum airflow of the floor fan necessary for cooling to the target temperature by removing the maximum heat generation generated from the rack at the rate is entered and calculated from the operating rate of each server fetched from the management server. By controlling the number of floor fan rotations of each rack based on the required airflow signal obtained by multiplying the average heat generation of the rack obtained from the average operating rate of each rack by the maximum airflow of the rack, the heat generation of the rack Accordingly, there is disclosed a technique for reducing the power for supplying cold air by adjusting the supply amount of cold air blown to the front of the rack.

JP 2011-226737 A

  As described above, the air-conditioner control technique normally performed in a general data center tends to result in excessive air-conditioning. On the other hand, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is used. By using, it becomes possible to control and reduce the power required for air conditioning in accordance with the operating rate of the server.

  However, in the control according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to control and reduce the power required for air conditioning, but as a result, how much the operating efficiency of the air conditioning has improved, It is considered to obtain information that can be used to evaluate and judge the configuration of air conditioners for equipment managers, such as how much surplus processing capacity is available (how much is excessive). Not.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to determine the excess degree and operation of air conditioning capacity based on the information on the configuration and operation status of the air conditioner and IT equipment in the computer room of the data center and information on the original processing capacity of the air conditioner. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system capable of obtaining efficiency information.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  Of the inventions disclosed in this application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system according to a representative embodiment of the present invention is an air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system that calculates information related to the operation efficiency of an air conditioner that operates in a data center. Air conditioning / rack configuration information including information on the area on the computer room floor, rack usage power information including power usage information for each rack, and each air conditioner For the specified one or more areas, for each area, the total power usage of all racks included in the area, and the area Calculate the total processing capacity of each corresponding air conditioner, and subtract the total power consumption value from the total processing capacity value. It is characterized in that it has a cooling efficiency calculation unit for outputting a broadcast.

  In addition, the air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system according to the representative embodiment of the present invention includes an air conditioner that includes information on an area on the floor of a computer room for each air conditioner and a rack that houses IT equipment. -One or more specified by inputting rack configuration information, rack power usage information including power usage information for each rack, and air conditioning power consumption information including power usage information for each air conditioner For each area, for each area, the total power usage of all racks included in the area and the total power usage of each air conditioner corresponding to the area are calculated, and the total power usage is calculated. An air-conditioning efficiency calculation unit that outputs a value obtained by dividing the value by the total power consumption value as air-conditioning efficiency information is provided.

  Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  That is, according to the representative embodiment of the present invention, based on the information on the configuration and operation status of the air conditioner and IT equipment in the computer room of the data center, and the information on the original processing capacity of the air conditioner, It is possible to obtain information on the degree of excess air conditioning capacity and operating efficiency.

It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the structural example of the air conditioning machine efficiency information acquisition system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the floor layout of the computer room of the data center in one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the calculation method of the air-conditioning efficiency information in one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the calculation method of the air-conditioning efficiency information in one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the screen which outputs the air-conditioning efficiency information in one embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

<Overview>
The air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system according to an embodiment of the present invention is the configuration information of the air conditioner and the IT equipment, the operation status information obtained mainly as the information on the power used, and the original processing of the air conditioner. This is a system that calculates information on the degree of excess processing capacity and operating efficiency of the air conditioning equipment based on the information on the capacity. Here, of the input data, the information on the operating status of the air conditioner from the viewpoint of power consumption, the original processing capacity, and the operating status of the IT equipment is obtained as management information on the facilities in the data center. Obtain and use what is available.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of the floor layout of the computer room in the data center according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 2, the situation when the floor is viewed from above is schematically shown. On the floor, a plurality of racks 21 that can accommodate a plurality of IT devices are arranged in a row, and a plurality of air conditioners 31 are arranged in a row at both ends of the rack row. Each of these air conditioners 31 cools IT equipment housed in the rack 21 or removes exhaust heat by supplying cold air in the direction of the rack row (cold aisle).

  Usually, the floor surface of the floor is configured by so-called free access, and a method in which the air conditioner 31 supplies cold air to the space under the floor is the mainstream. The cold air supplied from the air conditioner 31 to the space under the floor flows from the opening (not shown) provided on the free access floor to the floor, is supplied from the front surface of the rack 21, and is exhausted from the rear surface of the rack. The exhausted hot air returns to the air conditioner 31 by flowing from the exhaust grill (not shown) on the ceiling surface to the back of the ceiling.

  For each air conditioner 31, it is assumed that an area of the rack 21 that is covered as a cooling target ("area 1" to "area 5" in the example of FIG. 2) is set. In the present embodiment, information on the degree of excess processing capacity and operating efficiency of the air conditioner 31 is obtained for each area. In the example of FIG. 2, two areas of air conditioners 31 arranged opposite to each other handle one area, that is, 2n of air conditioners 31 are installed for the number n of areas. Of course, the arrangement of the racks 21 and the air conditioners 31 is not limited to that shown in the example of FIG.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of an air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the data center 1 includes, as equipment 3, wiring, physical security equipment, power supply equipment, etc. (not shown) in addition to the air conditioner 31 in FIG. 2 described above. The information processing system 2 includes, for example, the rack 21 in FIG. Each rack 21 and the IT equipment housed in the rack 21 are connected to a power strip or the like (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “power source”) of the facility 3 through an outlet, and supply power from the facility 3. receive.

  Information related to the operation status and operation results of each facility of the facility 3 is measured and aggregated by various known methods and is recorded in, for example, the facility operation information database (DB) 30. The equipment operation information DB 30 includes, for example, information on power consumption equipment that includes total power consumption for a certain period of time for each equipment such as UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), distribution boards, and switchboards. Thus, it is possible to obtain information obtained by tabulating the power consumption in each power supply unit. Further, the information related to the air conditioner 31 includes information such as the processing capacity of each air conditioner 31. Information on the power consumption of each air conditioner 31 may be included.

  On the other hand, information related to the configuration of each IT device of the information processing system 2 is recorded in the configuration management database (DB) 20. These pieces of information are updated to the latest information at the time of system construction or maintenance, and based on this information, for example, which customer each information processing system belongs to, which rack 21 is used, each rack In addition to the information on what devices are stored in the unit 21, configuration information including information on the power source used to indicate which power source each device is connected to can be obtained.

  The power usage status calculation system 4 is configured by an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), for example, and is acquired from the configuration management DB 20 and includes configuration information including information on the power used by each device, and the facility operation information DB 30. In this system, the power consumption per rack 21 is calculated and calculated based on the information obtained by totaling the power consumption per unit time for each power supply unit. As a premise for calculating the power consumption amount in the system, it is assumed that the connection between the power source and the rack 21 is N: 1 (N ≧ 1). Thereby, it is possible to obtain the amount of power used in each rack 21 by adding up the amount of power used in the power supply used for each rack 21. You may make it calculate the electric power consumption about the air conditioner 31 with the same method. In addition, when the electric power consumption in each air conditioner 31 and each rack 21 can be measured directly, you may use the information obtained by this.

  The air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system 5 includes an information processing device such as a PC, and includes an air conditioning efficiency calculation unit 51 implemented by software. In the example of FIG. 1, the air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system 5 is described as a system separate from the power usage status calculation system 4 described above, but the functions of both systems are provided on the same server or the like. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which

  The air conditioning efficiency calculation unit 51 receives, for example, various information such as configuration information about the air conditioner 31 and the rack 21, power usage, and processing capacity of the air conditioner 31 at regular intervals or at a timing designated by a user or the like. Information on the degree of excess processing capacity and operating efficiency of the air conditioner 31 is calculated for one or more designated areas of the computer room, and is output as air conditioning efficiency information 6.

  As a means for designating a target area, for example, a user such as an administrator directly inputs identification information of a target area (for example, a name such as “Area 1”) or designates it by selecting from a list. As shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later, the intuition of selecting the location of the target area (“area 5” in the example of FIG. 5) on the screen schematically showing the floor layout of the computer room. It is also possible to have a typical interface. The output of the air-conditioning efficiency information 6 may be output in a file or print format, or as shown in FIG. 5, the air-conditioning is performed in such a way that the target area can be identified on the screen showing the floor layout. Information related to the efficiency information 6 may be displayed.

  Various types of information to be input to the air conditioning efficiency calculation unit 51 include, for example, air conditioning / rack configuration information 52 acquired from the configuration management DB 20, rack power 53 output from the power usage status calculation system 4, air conditioning power 54, The air conditioning processing capacity 55 acquired from the facility operation information DB 30 is used. The air conditioning / rack configuration information 52 includes, for example, information on which area on which floor layout each air conditioner 31 and rack 21 is installed. The rack power consumption 53 and the air conditioning power consumption 54 include, for example, information on the power usage amount for each rack 21 and each air conditioner 31. The air conditioning processing capacity 55 includes information on the processing capacity obtained by monitoring the status of each air conditioner 31, for example.

<Processing content>
3 and 4 are diagrams showing an outline of an example of a calculation method of the air conditioning efficiency information 6 in the air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system 5 of the present embodiment. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, first, a user such as an administrator designates an area to be calculated for the air conditioning efficiency information 6 in the floor layout (“area 4” is designated in the example of FIG. 3). On the other hand, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 3, the air conditioning efficiency calculation unit 51 corresponds to or includes the air conditioner 31 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to or included in the designated area (“area 4”) from the air conditioning / rack configuration information 52. In the example of FIG. 3, “air conditioner 4” and “air conditioner 9” and rack 21 (“4N-8-16”, “4N-8-17”, “4N-10−” in the example of FIG. 3). 1 ”and“ 4N-10-2 ”). Note that the table or data configuration of the air conditioning / rack configuration information 52 shown in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and other configurations are naturally possible (the same applies to other tables thereafter).

  Next, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, for each rack 21 included in the target area, information on the amount of power used is acquired from the rack power consumption 53 and is totaled to be included in the target area. The total power consumption in the entire rack 21 is calculated (12 kVA in the example of FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, for simplification of processing, the total power consumption (VA) here is treated as if it were treated as active power (W).

  Next, as shown in the upper and middle stages of FIG. 4, information on the processing capacity and the power consumption is acquired from the air conditioning processing capacity 55 and the air conditioning power consumption 54 for each air conditioner 31 corresponding to the target area. The data acquired for each air conditioner 31 is summed up to calculate information on the air conditioning processing capacity and power consumption in the target area (in the example of FIG. 4, air conditioning capacity = 5 kW + 10 kW = 15 kW, air conditioning power consumption = 4 kVA + 8 kVA). = 12 kVA).

  Thereafter, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, based on the information on the calculated air conditioning processing capacity and power used, and the information on the total power consumption (active power) of the entire rack calculated by the process shown in FIG. 3. The excess processing capacity and the air conditioning efficiency of the target area are calculated respectively. Specifically, the difference is calculated by subtracting the value of the active power (12 kW in the example of FIG. 4) of the entire rack from the value of the air conditioning processing capacity (15 kW in the example of FIG. 4), and the air conditioning capacity of the target area is calculated. Excess processing capacity (3 kW in the example of FIG. 4) is assumed. Also, the air conditioning power consumption (12 kVA in the example of FIG. 4) is divided by the total power consumption (12 kVA in the example of FIG. 4) of the entire rack, and the air conditioning efficiency of the target area (1.0 in the example of FIG. 4). ). Thereafter, the calculated information is output as the air conditioning efficiency information 6.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a screen for outputting the air conditioning efficiency information 6 in the air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system 5 of the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 5, the content of the air conditioning efficiency information 6 is the location of the area designated on the screen in which the floor layout of the computer room (arrangement of the rack 21 and the air conditioner 31 and area information) is schematically represented. (In the example of FIG. 5, “area 5”) is displayed in a form that can be specified by a balloon or a pop-up screen.

  Here, as the contents of the air conditioning efficiency information 6, the excess processing capacity and the air conditioning efficiency values calculated by the processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively displayed. For example, these values are set as predetermined threshold values or the like. Information of evaluation (“good” in the example of FIG. 5) determined by comparison or the like is displayed. Moreover, the data which each measured the temperature of the cold wind which blown off from each air conditioner 31, and the air which returned after circulating each rack 21 and returning to the air conditioner 31 are displayed. The contents of the display items are not limited to this, and other information can be appropriately displayed as required for management.

  When the contents of the air conditioning efficiency information 6 are output together with the method for specifying the target area described above, an intuitive interface as shown in FIG. It is possible to grasp the information accurately and accurately.

  As described above, according to the air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system 5 which is an embodiment of the present invention, each air conditioner 31 and each area covered by each air conditioner 31 in the computer room Based on the configuration information about the rack 21, the information on the power used, and the information on the original processing capacity of the air conditioner 31, it is possible to calculate the degree of excess air conditioning processing capacity and information on the air conditioning efficiency. . As a result, the manager of the data center 1, for example, appropriately determines the suitability of the specifications and operation output of the air conditioning equipment, and uses it as useful information when planning the introduction or construction of an information processing system. You can do it. Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the output of each air conditioner 31 is automatically controlled using the output data of the air conditioning efficiency information 6 so that the air conditioning efficiency information falls within an appropriate value range.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention is applicable to an air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system that acquires information related to the operating efficiency of an air conditioner used for cooling a large number of IT devices in a data center.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data center, 2 ... Information processing system, 3 ... Equipment, 4 ... Electric power usage condition calculation system, 5 ... Air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system, 6 ... Air conditioning efficiency information,
20 ... Configuration management database (DB), 21 ... Rack,
30 ... Equipment operation information database (DB), 31 ... Air conditioner,
51: Air-conditioning efficiency calculation unit, 52: Air-conditioning / rack configuration information, 53: Rack power consumption, 54: Air-conditioning power consumption, 55: Air-conditioning processing capacity.

Claims (4)

An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system for calculating information related to the operating efficiency of an air conditioner operating in a data center,
Air conditioning / rack configuration information including information on the area where each air conditioner and IT equipment is stored on the computer room floor;
Rack power usage information including power usage information for each rack;
With the input of air conditioning processing capacity information including information on processing capacity for each air conditioner,
For one or more designated areas, for each area, calculate the total power usage of all racks included in the area and the total processing capacity of each air conditioner corresponding to the area, and An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system comprising: an air conditioning efficiency calculation unit that outputs a value obtained by subtracting the total power consumption value from a total capacity value as air conditioning efficiency information. An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system for calculating information related to the operating efficiency of an air conditioner operating in a data center,
Air conditioning / rack configuration information including information on the area where each air conditioner and IT equipment is stored on the computer room floor;
Rack power usage information including power usage information for each rack;
With air conditioning power consumption information including information on the power consumption for each air conditioner as input,
For one or more designated areas, for each area, calculate the total power usage of all racks included in the area and the total power usage of each air conditioner corresponding to the area, An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system comprising: an air conditioning efficiency calculation unit that outputs a value obtained by dividing a total value of power consumption by a value of the total power consumption as air conditioning efficiency information. In the air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system according to claim 1,
The air conditioning efficiency calculation unit further includes:
Using air conditioning power consumption information including information on power consumption for each air conditioner as input,
For one or more designated areas, for each area, calculate the total power usage of each air conditioner corresponding to the area, and divide the total power usage by the total power usage. An air conditioner efficiency information acquisition system characterized by outputting as air conditioning efficiency information. In the air-conditioner efficiency information acquisition system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The air conditioning efficiency information is displayed in a state in which the target area can be specified on a screen representing the layout of the racks and the air conditioners on the floor of the computer room and the area information. Acquisition system.

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