JP2014146085A - Cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooler which sucks and discharges air in consideration of a direction of outside air.SOLUTION: A cooler comprises: an enclosure including first and second wall parts facing each other; an object to be cooled, which is provided in the enclosure; a fan which blows air to the object so as to circulate air in the enclosure; a forward inlet and a backward outlet which are provided on the first wall part on the upstream side of air flowing in a forward direction in the enclosure and on the downstream side of air flowing in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction respectively; a forward outlet and a backward inlet which are provided on the second wall part on the downstream side in the forward direction and on the upstream side in the backward direction respectively; a detection part which detects at least one of difference between pressures inside and outside the enclosure on the first wall part side and difference between pressures inside and outside the enclosure on the second wall part side; and an opening/closing part which, in accordance with the detection result of the detection part, opens the forward inlet and the forward outlet and closes the backward inlet and the backward outlet, or closes the forward inlet and the forward outlet and opens the backward inlet and the backward outlet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device.

  A cooling device that cools an object to be cooled in a housing by a fan is known. As the fan rotates, air is sucked into the casing from outside and blown to the object to be cooled, and the air is discharged outside. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose devices related to such a device.

JP 2008-244131 A JP 2003-249786 A

  For example, when such a device is placed outdoors and exposed to the external wind, or is exposed to the external wind even if it is indoors due to the effects of air conditioning equipment, etc., sufficient air is sucked into the housing depending on the direction of the external wind There is a possibility that air that has become hot inside the housing cannot be exhausted sufficiently. For example, when the fan rotation speed is controlled to increase in proportion to the temperature inside the casing or the temperature of the object to be cooled, the temperature inside the casing will not be sufficient if air is sucked into or discharged from the casing. May increase and the rotational speed of the fan may increase. As a result, power consumption may increase.

  An object of this invention is to provide the cooling device which takes in and discharge | releases air in consideration of the direction of external wind.

  The cooling device disclosed in the present specification includes a casing including first and second wall portions facing each other, an object to be cooled provided in the casing, and the wind so as to circulate in the casing. A fan for sending wind to the object, and an upstream side of the wind flowing in the forward direction in the casing and a downstream side of the wind flowing in the opposite direction to the forward direction are provided on the first wall portion, respectively. A forward inlet and a backward outlet, a forward outlet and a backward inlet provided in the second wall at the downstream side in the forward direction and the upstream side in the backward direction, respectively, and the first wall side. A detector that detects at least one of the pressure inside and outside the housing and the pressure inside and outside the housing on the second wall side; and the forward entrance and the forward direction according to the detection result of the detector Open the outlet and close the reverse inlet and reverse outlet, or the forward inlet and forward And a, a switching unit for opening the reverse inlet and reverse outlet closed direction outlet.

  A cooling device that sucks and discharges air in consideration of the direction of the outside wind can be provided.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the data center 1 of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control executed by the controller C. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in the case of introducing outside wind into the housing. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in the case of introducing outside wind into the housing. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of a data center as a modification.

  The data center 1 will be described as an example of the cooling device. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the data center 1 of this embodiment. The data center 1 is installed outdoors, for example. The data center 1 has a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a low wall 11, an upper wall 12, side walls 13, 14, 15, and 16. The side walls 13 and 14 are opposed to each other. The side wall 13 is provided with openings 13I and 13E adjacent to each other, and the side wall 14 is provided with openings 14I and 14E adjacent to each other. The opening 13I is provided below the opening 13E. The opening 14E is provided below the opening 14I. The housing 10 is provided with shutters 23I, 23E, 24I, and 24E that open and close the openings 13I, 13E, 14I, and 14E, respectively. The shutters 23I, 23E, 24I, and 24E are examples of opening / closing sections.

  The shutter 23I or the like may be a member that opens and closes like an accordion, for example, may open and close like a roll screen, may be a vertical or horizontal blind, or may be a panel The door may be a sliding door or a double door or a single door.

  In the housing 10, a fan unit F and a plurality of server racks SV disposed to face the fan unit F are provided. As the fan unit F rotates, wind is blown toward the server rack SV. The fan unit F is an example of a fan, and the server rack SV is an example of an object to be cooled. Specifically, the wind passes between the low wall 11, the fan unit F, and the partition plate W provided between the upper part of the server rack SV. The direction of the wind passing through the fan unit F is referred to as the forward direction D1. The wind passing through the server rack SV swirls between the side wall 14 and the server rack SV and flows between the upper part of the server rack SV and between the partition plate W and the upper wall 12. The direction of the wind flowing between the upper portion of the server rack SV and the upper wall 12 is referred to as a reverse direction D2. The reverse direction D2 and the forward direction D1 are reverse directions. The partition plate W prevents merging of winds flowing in the forward direction D1 and the reverse direction D2.

  On the top of the fan unit F, a damper DP that can be opened and closed is provided. Although described in detail later, the damper DP opens and closes an opening provided in the damper DP according to a predetermined condition. The damper DP is an example of a blocking unit. When the damper DP is open, the wind flows in the reverse direction D2 between the upper portion of the server rack SV and the upper wall 12 and turns on the side wall 13 side. The wind swirled on the side wall 13 side flows upstream of the fan unit F. As described above, the air blown by the fan unit F circulates in the housing 10.

  Therefore, the side wall 13 is located on the upstream side in the forward direction D1 and on the downstream side in the reverse direction D2, and is an example of the first wall portion. The side wall 14 is located on the downstream side in the forward direction D1 and on the upstream side in the reverse direction D2, and is an example of a second wall portion. The shutters 23I and 23E are examples of first opening / closing sections, and the shutters 24I and 24E are examples of second opening / closing sections.

  Further, the openings 13I and 14E are located on an extension line in the forward direction D1 of the wind from the fan unit F toward the server rack SV. Similarly, the openings 13E and 14I are located on an extension line in the reverse direction D2 of the wind flowing between the upper portion of the server rack SV and the upper wall 12. For this reason, the opening 13I is located upstream of the forward direction D1, and is an example of a forward entrance. The opening 13E is located on the downstream side in the reverse direction D2, and is an example of a reverse direction outlet. The opening 14E is located on the downstream side of the forward direction D1, and is an example of a forward exit. The opening 14I is located on the upstream side in the reverse direction D2, and is an example of a reverse direction inlet.

  A pressure sensor 33 </ b> A is provided outside the side wall 13. A pressure sensor 33I is provided between the side wall 13 and the fan unit F or inside the side wall 13. Similarly, a pressure sensor 34 </ b> A is provided outside the side wall 14. A pressure sensor 34I is provided between the side wall 14 and the server rack SV. The output values of the pressure sensors 33A and 34A change depending on the wind of the outside air. The outputs of the pressure sensors 33I and 34I change depending on the wind flowing through the housing 10 respectively. The controller C grasps the magnitude of the pressure inside and outside the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side by the pressure sensors 33A and 33I, and the pressure sensors 33A and 33I are an example of a first detection unit. Similarly, the controller C grasps the magnitude of the pressure inside and outside the housing 10 on the side wall 14 side by the pressure sensors 34A and 34I, and the pressure sensors 34A and 34I are an example of a second detection unit. Further, the pressure sensors 33A, 33I, 34A, and 34I are examples of a detection unit.

  A temperature sensor TP and a humidity sensor MP are provided between the fan unit F and the server rack SV, that is, upstream of the server rack SV. The temperature sensor TP and the humidity sensor MP detect the temperature and humidity of the air blown to the server rack SV, respectively. The controller C can grasp the temperature and humidity of the air in the housing 10 by the temperature sensor TP and the humidity sensor MP.

  A controller C is provided in the housing 10. The controller C includes a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU, and controls the rotation of the fan unit F. The controller C controls the opening and closing of the shutters 23I and 23E according to the outputs of the pressure sensors 33A and 33I, and controls the opening and closing of the shutters 24I and 24E according to the outputs of the pressure sensors 34A and 34I. Each of the shutters 23I and the like has a built-in motor, and opens and closes the opening 13I and the like according to a command from the controller C. The controller C controls the opening and closing of the damper DP according to the outputs of the temperature sensor TP and the humidity sensor MP. The controller C is an example of a control unit.

  Next, an example of control executed by the controller C will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control executed by the controller C. The controller C determines whether or not the damper DP is open (step S1). If the determination is negative, this control is terminated. In the case of an affirmative determination, the controller C detects the differential pressure inside and outside the housing 10 on the side wall 13 by the pressure sensors 33A and 33I, and the difference between the inside and outside of the housing 10 on the side wall 14 by the pressure sensors 34A and 34I. The pressure is detected (step S2).

  Next, the controller C determines whether the external pressure of the housing 10 is larger than the differential pressure of the housing 10 based on these differential pressures for the side wall 13 side and the side wall 14 side, respectively (step S3). . For example, when the output value of the pressure sensor 33A is larger than the output value of the pressure sensor 33I and the output value of the pressure sensor 34A is smaller than the output value of the pressure sensor 34I, the side wall 13 side is upwind and the side wall 14 side is downwind. Can determine the direction of the wind. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the controller C controls the shutters 23I and 23E so as to open the opening 13I and close the opening 13E (step S4), and the shutters 24I and 24E to close the opening 14I and open the opening 14E. Control (step S5). Accordingly, outside air flows into the upstream side of the fan unit F through the opening 13I, and a part of the air that has passed through the server rack SV is discharged to the outside through the opening 14E. In FIG. 3, the shutters 23I and 24E that open the openings 13I and 14E are not shown.

  When the output value of the pressure sensor 33A is smaller than the output value of the pressure sensor 33I and the output value of the pressure sensor 34A is larger than the output value of the pressure sensor 34I, it is assumed that the side wall 13 side is leeward and the side wall 14 side is upwind. Can determine the direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller C controls the shutters 23I and 23E so that the opening 13I is opened and the opening 13E is opened (step S5), and the shutters 24I and 24E are opened so as to open the opening 14I and close the opening 14E. Is controlled (step S4). Thus, outside air flows into the upstream side in the reverse direction D2 through the opening 14I, passes through the damper DP, and a part of the air is discharged to the outside through the opening 13E. In FIG. 4, the illustration of the shutters 23E and 24I that open the openings 13E and 14I, respectively, is omitted.

  For example, when the side wall 13 is on the leeward side and the side wall 14 is on the leeward side as shown in FIG. 3, when the openings 14I and 13E are opened and the opening 14E and the opening 13I are closed, they are introduced into the housing 10 from the opening 13E. There is a possibility that the wind and the wind flowing in the reverse direction D2 in the housing 10 interfere with each other and the air cannot be sufficiently taken into the housing 10. In addition, when the side wall 13 is on the leeward side and the side wall 14 is on the upwind side as shown in FIG. 4, when the openings 13I and 14E are opened and the openings 14I and 13E are closed, the wind introduced into the housing 10 from the opening 14E. And the wind flowing in the forward direction D <b> 1 in the housing 10 interfere with each other, and there is a possibility that the air cannot be sufficiently taken into the housing 10. As in this embodiment, the opening to be opened is selected so that the outside air can be appropriately sucked and discharged into the housing 10 in consideration of the direction of the outside air. As a result, the outside air can be appropriately introduced into the housing 10 and the high temperature air passing through the server rack SV can be discharged to the outside, and the cooling efficiency of the server rack SV can be improved regardless of the direction of the wind of the outside air. Can be maintained.

  Next, the controller C detects the temperature and humidity in the housing 10 using the temperature sensor TP and the humidity sensor MP (step S6). Next, it is determined whether or not the detected temperature is less than a preset lower limit value and whether or not the detected humidity is greater than or equal to a preset upper limit value (step S7). Here, the preset lower limit value of the temperature is a lower limit value of a temperature range in which proper operation of the server rack SV can be ensured. The preset upper limit value of humidity is the upper limit value of the humidity range that can ensure proper operation of the server rack SV.

  If a negative determination is made in step S7, the state set in steps S4 and S5 is maintained. If the determination in step S7 is affirmative, the controller C controls the shutters 23I, 23E, 24I, and 24E so as to close all of the openings 13I, 13E, 14I, and 14E regardless of the processing in steps S4 and S5 described above ( Step S8). At this time, the damper DP is kept open. Thereby, for example, when the temperature in the housing 10 is less than the lower limit value, it is assumed that the outside air temperature is low. In this case, all the openings 13I, 13E, 14I, and 14E are closed, the outside air is shut off, and the air that has passed through the server rack SV in the housing 10 is circulated to increase the temperature in the housing 10. For example, when the humidity in the housing 10 is equal to or higher than the upper limit value, the air that has passed through the server rack SV in the housing 10 is circulated to increase the temperature in the housing 10 to decrease the humidity. Thereby, the temperature and humidity in the housing 10 can be controlled within a range in which the operation of the server rack SV is guaranteed.

  Even when outside wind is introduced into the housing, the opening degree of the damper DP is controlled by the controller C based on the output values of the temperature sensor TP and the humidity sensor MP. Specifically, the controller C adjusts the opening degree of the damper DP so that the flow rate of the wind circulating in the housing 10 so that the temperature and humidity in the housing 10 are within the use range of the server rack SV. Is adjusted.

  In the above embodiment, the shutters 23I, 23E, 24I, and 24E that open and close the openings 13I, 13E, 14I, and 14E are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an opening / closing unit that selectively opens and closes the openings 13I and 13E or an opening / closing unit that alternatively opens and closes the openings 14E and 14I may be used. For example, the openings 13I and 13E can be alternatively closed by sliding a plate having a size sufficient to close only one of the openings 13I and 13E.

  In the above embodiment, the damper DP may not be provided. That is, it may be a case where the inside of the housing 10 is always circulated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the differential pressure inside and outside the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to determine the magnitude relationship between the pressure inside and outside the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side. The same applies to the pressure inside and outside the housing 10 on the side wall 14 side.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is determined which of the openings 13E and 13I is opened according to the pressure inside and outside the casing 10 on the side wall 13 side, and the opening is determined according to the pressure inside and outside the casing 10 on the side wall 14 side. Although it is determined which of 14E and 14I is opened, it is not limited to this. For example, not only the opening 13E or the opening 13I but also the opening 14E or 14I may be determined based only on the pressure inside or outside the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side. For example, when the external pressure of the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side is higher than the internal pressure of the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side, the opening 13I may be opened, the opening 13E may be closed, the opening 14E may be opened, and the opening 14I may be closed. When the external pressure of the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side is lower than the internal pressure of the housing 10 on the side wall 13 side, the opening 13I may be closed, the opening 13E may be opened, the opening 14E may be closed, and the opening 14I may be opened. Similarly, not only the opening 14E or 14I but also the opening 13E or 13I may be determined based only on the pressure inside or outside the casing 10 on the side wall 14 side.

  The controller C executes the processes of steps SS2 and S3 with reference to the output values of the pressure sensors 33A, 33I, 34A, and 34I in the steady state. This is because these output values may change transiently.

  Next, a data center 1a according to a modification will be described. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of a data center 1a according to a modification. In addition, about a modification, the code | symbol same as or similar to said Example is attached | subjected, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted. 5A and 5B are views of the data center 1a as viewed from the upper wall 12a of the housing 10. FIG. The fan unit F and the server rack SV are provided on the side wall 15a side. The wind that has passed through the server rack SV turns on the side wall 14a, flows between the side wall 16a and the side of the server rack SV and the fan unit F, turns on the side wall 13a, and flows again to the fan unit F. A partition plate Wa is fixed between the server rack SV and the fan unit F to partition the wind passing through the server rack SV and the wind flowing in the opposite direction without passing through the server rack SV. Thus, the wind circulates up and down in the data center 1 described above, whereas the wind circulates in the left and right directions in the data center 1a. Here, the direction along the side wall 14a of the wind that turns after passing through the server rack SV is referred to as a forward direction D1a. The direction of the wind flowing in the direction opposite to the forward direction D1a of the wind swirling on the side wall 13a is referred to as a reverse direction D2a.

  Openings 15I and 15E are provided in the side wall 15a, and openings 16I and 16E are provided in the side wall 16a. The side walls 15a and 16a are examples of first and second wall portions, respectively. The openings 15I and 16E are located on the upstream side and the downstream side on the extension line of the forward direction D1a, respectively. The openings 16I and 15E are located on the upstream side and the downstream side on the extension line in the reverse direction D2a, respectively. Accordingly, the opening 15I is an example of a forward entrance. The opening 16E is an example of a forward phrase exit. The opening 15E is an example of a reverse direction outlet. The opening 16I is an example of a forward entrance.

  The pressure sensors 35A and 35I are provided on the side wall 15a provided with the openings 15I and 15E. Similarly, the pressure sensors 36A and 36I are provided on the side wall 16a provided with the openings 16I and 16E. The direction of the outside wind is determined based on the detection result of the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the casing 10a on the side wall 15a based on the pressure sensors 35A and 35I, and the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the casing 10 on the side wall 16a based on the pressure sensors 36A and 36I. Is done. When the side wall 15a side is the windward side and the side wall 16a side is the leeward side, the openings 15I and 16E are opened as shown in FIG. 5A. When the side wall 15a side is the leeward side and the side wall 16a side is the leeward side, the openings 16I and 15E are opened as shown in FIG. 5B. In FIG. 5A, the shutters 26E and 25I are omitted, and in FIG. 5B, the shutters 26I and 25E are omitted. Even in such a positional relationship between the openings 15I, 15E, 16I, and 16E and the fan unit F, the data center 1a can suck and discharge air in consideration of the direction of the outside wind.

  In the above embodiment, the data center 1 has been described as an example of the cooling device, but the present invention is not limited to this. The cooling device may be, for example, a server body or a base station itself that stores a plurality of servers. The installation location of the cooling device may be outdoor or indoor. For example, even if it is indoors, it can be considered that the wind is blown by an air conditioner or the like. Further, when the present apparatus is used in an environment where the wind always blows in a certain direction, the present apparatus can be arranged in a desired posture without considering the direction of the wind. For example, the present apparatus can be arranged in the vicinity of air conditioning equipment such as buildings, factories, facilities, and houses.

  In the above embodiment, the cooling object itself is a computer, but the cooling object is not limited to this. The cooling device may be, for example, a computer itself that includes a fan that cools an electronic component as an object to be cooled. As the computer, for example, a stationary computer or a portable computer may be used. The cooling device may be a device including an electronic component that generates heat, such as an audio or a projector.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

1 Data center (cooling device)
10 housing 13 side wall (first side wall)
14 side wall (second side wall)
13I opening (forward entrance)
14E opening (forward exit)
13E opening (reverse exit)
14I opening (reverse entry)
23I, 23E, 24I, 24E Shutter (opening / closing part)
C Controller F Fan unit (fan)
SV server rack (object)
DP damper (blocking part)
TP temperature sensor MP humidity sensor

Claims (7)

A housing including first and second wall portions facing each other;
A cooling object provided in the housing;
A fan that sends wind to the object so that the wind circulates in the housing;
A forward inlet and a backward outlet provided in the first wall portion respectively on the upstream side of the wind flowing in the forward direction in the housing and the downstream side of the wind flowing in the opposite direction to the forward direction;
A forward outlet and a backward inlet provided in the second wall portion respectively on the downstream side in the forward direction and the upstream side in the reverse direction;
A detection unit that detects at least one of the pressure inside and outside the housing on the first wall side and the pressure inside and outside the housing on the second wall side;
Depending on the detection result of the detection unit, the forward inlet and the forward outlet are opened and the backward inlet and the backward outlet are closed, or the forward inlet and the forward outlet are closed, and the backward inlet and the backward outlet are opened. A cooling device having an opening and closing portion.   When the pressure outside the casing is larger than the pressure inside the casing on the first wall side, or when the pressure outside the casing is smaller than the pressure inside the casing on the second wall side, the opening / closing section The cooling device of claim 1, wherein said forward inlet and forward outlet are opened and said reverse inlet and reverse outlet are closed.   When the pressure outside the housing is smaller than the pressure inside the housing on the first wall side, or when the pressure outside the housing is larger than the pressure inside the housing on the second wall side, the opening / closing portion The cooling device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the forward inlet and the forward outlet are closed and the reverse inlet and the backward outlet are opened.   The opening / closing part includes a first opening / closing part that opens one of the forward inlet and the backward outlet and closes the other, and a second opening / closing part that opens one of the forward outlet and the backward inlet and closes the other. The cooling device according to any one of 1 to 3.   The detection unit detects a magnitude of pressure inside and outside the casing on the first wall side, and a second detection unit detects a level of pressure inside and outside the casing on the second wall side. The cooling device according to claim 1, comprising:   The cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising: a blocking unit that allows or prohibits the reverse flow of the wind according to at least one of temperature and humidity in the housing.   When the temperature inside the casing is lower than a predetermined value or when the humidity inside the casing is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the blocking unit allows the reverse flow of the wind, and the opening / closing unit detects the detection result of the detecting unit. 7. The cooling device of claim 6, wherein the cooling device closes the forward inlet, the forward outlet, the reverse inlet, and the reverse outlet.

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