JP2014215858A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage device using indoor air as cooling air, which is hardly influenced by temperature of indoor air.SOLUTION: A front panel 5 with cooling function is detachably attached to the front side of each apparatus loading housing 1 correspondingly in which a plurality of storage devices 3 are arranged in a flowing direction of cooling air. The front panel includes a cooling fin 5a cooled by a Peltier element 5c and controls a driving current of the Peltier element according to temperature of intake air or air exhaustion.

Description

  The present invention relates to cooling of storage equipment mounted on a storage apparatus.

  Large storage devices that are configured by placing storage devices side-by-side on the device mounting housing and mounting the device mounting housing in multiple stages in the vertical direction along the rack are aligned with the device mounting housing by a cooling fan. Thus, each storage device is configured to be air-cooled by passing cooling air.

  The cooling air is sucked into the room where the storage device is installed through the front panel, flows through the periphery of the storage device, cools the storage device, and then is exhausted from the back panel and the side panel into the room.

JP 2009-59000 A

  In such storage device cooling, the temperature of indoor air used as cooling air varies depending on the indoor air conditioning state. Although it is convenient for cooling storage devices when the indoor air is at a low temperature, the cooling effect on the storage devices decreases when the air conditioning condition deteriorates and the indoor air temperature rises. It becomes impossible to cool within the range.

  The cooling effect on the storage equipment can be enhanced by increasing the flow rate of the cooling air, but for this purpose, it is necessary to increase the air blowing capacity of the cooling air fan, which increases power consumption and noise generation. become.

  One object of the present invention is to realize cooling that is hardly affected by the temperature of indoor air while suppressing an increase in generated noise in a storage device that uses indoor air as cooling air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device that cools storage devices mounted in multiple stages in a vertical direction in a rack using indoor air as cooling air, and the storage device is not affected by the temperature of the indoor air. It is to efficiently cool and reduce power consumption and noise generated by the cooling means.

The present invention relates to a storage apparatus in which a front panel is installed on the front side of a device mounting housing in which a plurality of storage devices are mounted side by side in a cooling air flow direction.
The front panel includes cooling fins that cool the cooling air flowing in after being cooled by the Peltier element, and the drive current of the Peltier element is configured to be controlled according to the temperature of the intake air or the exhaust gas.

  And the said front panel is set as the structure provided with the heat sink extended in the front-back direction of the said apparatus mounting housing | casing from the thermal radiation surface of the said Peltier element.

  Further, the device mounting housings are mounted in a rack in multiple stages, and the front panel is detachably installed on the front side of each device mounting housing corresponding to each device mounting housing.

  Further, the device mounting case is mounted on a case mounting rail provided in multiple stages in a rack, and the front panel sandwiches the heat sink between the device mounting case and the case mounting rail. And detachably installed on the front side of each device mounting housing.

  The present invention relates to a storage device that uses indoor air as cooling air, in which cooling air that is cooled by a Peltier element and flows into the front side (cooling air inflow side) of a device mounting housing for mounting a plurality of storage devices. By installing a front panel with a cooling function equipped with cooling fins that cool the storage device to a temperature suitable for cooling, cooling that is not easily affected by the temperature of indoor air without increasing the generated noise Can be realized.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to a storage device that cools storage devices mounted in multiple stages in a vertical direction in a rack using indoor air as cooling air, and the front panel with the cooling function mounts a plurality of storage devices. Power storage by cooling means by cooling storage devices efficiently without being affected by indoor air temperature. And the generated noise can be reduced.

An embodiment of the present invention is shown, and is a front view (a) and a perspective view (b) of the storage apparatus. The plane which shows the Example of this invention, and shows the state of the storage apparatus mounted in the expansion apparatus mounting housing | casing, the cooling ventilation fan unit, and the front panel with a cooling function installed in the front side of this expansion apparatus mounting housing | casing It is a figure (a) and a perspective view (b). The Example of this invention is a perspective view (a) which shows the flow state of the cooling air with respect to an expansion equipment mounting housing | casing, and a vertical side view (b) of the front panel with a cooling function. The Example of this invention is shown, The front view (a) and vertical side view (b) of a front panel with a cooling function are shown. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front panel with a cooling function is installed in a rack, and a perspective view of a rack mounting rail of the rack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system in a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a storage apparatus in which a front panel is installed on the front side of a device mounting housing in which a plurality of storage devices are mounted side by side in a cooling air flow direction.
The front panel includes cooling fins that cool the cooling air flowing in and cooled by the Peltier element, and the driving current of the Peltier element is configured to be controlled according to the temperature of the intake air or the exhaust gas,
The front panel includes a heat dissipation plate extending from the heat dissipation surface of the Peltier element in the front-rear direction of the device mounting housing.
The equipment mounting housings are mounted in a rack in multiple stages, and the front panel is detachably installed on the front side of each equipment mounting housing individually corresponding to the equipment mounting housing,
The device mounting housing is mounted on a housing mounting rail provided in multiple stages on a rack, and the front panel sandwiches the heat sink between the device mounting housing and the housing mounting rail. It is set as the structure installed in the front side of each apparatus mounting housing | casing so that attachment or detachment is possible.

  FIG. 1 is a front view (a) and a perspective view (b) of the storage apparatus.

  This storage apparatus has a configuration in which equipment mounting housings 1 (1a, 1b) on which a power source, a computer, a storage device, a cooling fan unit, and the like are placed are mounted on a rack 2 in multiple stages in the vertical direction. The lowermost device mounting housing 1a is a basic device mounting housing on which a power supply, a main control device such as a computer, and a cooling fan are mounted. It is an additional device mounting housing for mounting the storage device, the cooling fan, and the mounting device control device.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the expansion device mounting housing 1b at each stage has a plurality of storage devices 3 in the front area (front and rear direction (cooling air flow direction)) and lateral direction (cooling). The cooling air blowing fan unit 4 which is mounted side by side in a direction crossing the air flow direction and includes a cooling air blowing fan 4a, an exhaust temperature sensor 4b, a placement device control device 4c, and a power source (not shown) in the rear end region. Are placed in one row in a plurality of columns of the storage device 3 (arrangement in the front-rear direction). In this embodiment, the cooling blower fan units 4 are installed in every three rows of the storage devices 3, but the present invention is not limited to this ratio. A front panel 5 with a cooling function is detachably installed on each front side (cooling air inflow side) of each additional equipment mounting housing 1b. The exhaust temperature sensor 4 b provided in the cooling fan unit 4 is configured to transmit a temperature detection signal to the front panel 5 with a cooling function via the wiring 6.

  When the cooling blower fan of the cooling blower fan unit 4 is operated in each stage of the additional equipment mounting housing 1b, the cooling air 7 is sucked from the room through the front panel 5 with a cooling function as shown in FIG. Then, after passing through the periphery of each storage device 3 placed and cooling them, they are exhausted from the cooling fan unit 4 into the room.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the front panel 5 with a cooling function includes a plurality of stages of cooling fins 5a extending in the lateral direction, and the plurality of stages of cooling fins 5a are supported by columns 5b to absorb heat from the Peltier element 5c. The cooling air 7 flowing in is cooled by being coupled to the surface and absorbing heat, and the heat radiation surface of the Peltier element 5c is coupled to the heat radiation plate 5d that is long in the front-rear direction to dissipate heat. It is configured to be inserted into a rail (described later) so as to be positioned on the front side of the additional device mounting housing 1b and to cool the cooling air 7 flowing in from the room.

FIG. 4 is a front view (a) and a side view (b) showing a specific configuration of the front panel 5 with a cooling function. The cooling fins 5a are thin aluminum plates excellent in heat transfer, and both ends thereof are coupled to the aluminum support columns 5b excellent in heat transfer located on both sides in the front panel frame 5e in multiple stages. Each strut 5b is provided with a flange portion 5b ₁ attached to the lower end, coupled to erecting the mounting flange portion 5b1 in the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element 5c. The heat release surface of the Peltier element 5c constitutes an intake air cooling heat exchange unit that is made of aluminum having excellent heat conductivity and is radiated by coupling a heat radiating plate 5d extending in the front-rear direction of the additional device mounting housing 1b. .

  The intake air cooling heat exchanging section configured as described above is mounted with the cooling fins 5a positioned in the front panel frame 5e configured to be aligned with the opening of the additional equipment mounting housing 1b. The front panel frame 5e is further mounted with a Peltier control device (microcomputer) 5f, an intake air temperature sensor 5g, and a start switch 5h, and an exhaust temperature sensor 4b provided on the cooling blower fan unit 4 by wiring 6 and a mounting device. Connect to the control device 4c.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a mounting state of the additional device mounting housing 1b (1a) and the cooling function front panel 5 with respect to the rack 2, wherein FIG. 5A is a perspective view and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the housing mounting rail. It is. The rack 2 has a configuration in which chassis mounting rails 2b are provided in multiple stages on the support 2a to mount the additional equipment mounting chassis 1b and the basic equipment mounting chassis 1a. Each housing mounting rail 2b is configured in an L-shape using the rolled steel sheet excellent in heat conductivity, the upper surface of the portion 2b ₁ mounting housing, insertion and removal of the heat radiating plate 5d of the cooling function front panel 5 A recess 2b ₁₁ is provided to be inserted between the expansion device mounting housing 1b and the basic device mounting housing 1a.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system in this storage apparatus. The mounting device control device 4c mounted on the additional device mounting housing 1b of each stage is expanded on the basis of an instruction from the main control device 8 mounted on the basic device mounting housing 1a. Data reading / writing is controlled with respect to the storage device 3 mounted on the device mounting housing 1b, and the air blowing capability (fan rotation speed) of the cooling fan 4a is controlled based on an instruction signal from the Peltier control device 5f. Configure as follows. The Peltier control device 5f is activated in response to a signal from the activation switch 5h, controls the Peltier drive current of the Peltier element 5c with reference to the temperature detection signals from the exhaust temperature sensor 4b and the intake air temperature sensor 5g, An instruction signal for requesting an increase or a decrease in the speed of the cooling fan 4a is transmitted to the mounting apparatus main controller 4c. The illustration of the power supply system is omitted.

  The storage device having such a configuration basically has a basic device mounting housing 1a on which the main control device 8 and a cooling air fan unit are mounted mounted on the lowest level of the rack 2, and an upper level on the upper level. The expansion device mounting housing 1b on which the storage device 3 and the cooling fan unit 4 are mounted is mounted in multiple stages.

  Then, the storage device 3 is operated by the mounting device control device 4c, and the cooling air blower 4a is operated and controlled at a predetermined fan rotation speed to allow the cooling air 7 to flow and to cool the storage device 3 while cooling the storage device 3. 8 to read / write data from / to the storage device 3.

  However, in an environment where the temperature of the cooling air 7 flowing in from the room where the storage apparatus is installed is unstable and a desirable cooling action cannot be obtained for the storage equipment 3, an additional equipment at a stage where a lack of cooling action is expected The front panel 5 with a cooling function is installed on the front side of the mounting housing 1b, and the Peltier control device 5f is activated by the activation switch 5h.

  The Peltier control device 5f of the front panel 5 with a cooling function installed on the front side of each additional equipment mounting housing 1b receives temperature information of the cooling air 7 flowing from the room by the operation of the cooling fan 4a from the intake air temperature sensor 5g. When the temperature of the inflowing cooling air 7 is higher than a predetermined temperature range in which the desired cooling action can be expected, a drive current is supplied to the Peltier element 5c to By cooling and cooling the cooling fins 5a supported by the support columns 5b, a control process is performed to lower the temperature of the cooling air 7 flowing in between the cooling fins 5a within a predetermined range.

  In this way, when the cooling air 7 flowing in is cooled by operating the Peltier element 5c, the Peltier control device 5f acquires and monitors the temperature detection signal from the exhaust temperature sensor 4b, and the exhaust temperature is a predetermined value. When the temperature does not fall below the set value, it is estimated that the cooling of the storage device 3 is insufficient, and the exhaust temperature sets an instruction signal for instructing to increase the flow rate of the cooling air 7 by accelerating the cooling fan 4a. It transmits to the mounting apparatus control apparatus 4c of the cooling ventilation fan unit 4 which does not fall below a value. Upon receiving this instruction signal, the mounting device control device 4c controls the speed of the cooling fan 4a in the unit to increase the flow rate of the cooling air 7 to enhance the cooling action, thereby lowering the exhaust temperature.

  Since such cooling control is performed in the additional device mounting housing 1b of each stage, it corresponds to the additional device mounting housing 1b installed in a higher position where the temperature of indoor air is relatively high. The front panel 5 with cooling function and the cooling fan unit 4 that operate frequently increase the power consumption and noise generated, but the cooling function is installed in a lower position where the air temperature is relatively low. Since the front panel 5 and the cooling fan unit 4 are operated less frequently, the increase in power consumption and generated noise can be suppressed. Overall, efficient cooling with less power consumption and generated noise is achieved. can do.

  Further, in this embodiment, the mounting device control device 4c refers to the temperature detection signals obtained from the intake air temperature sensor 5g and the exhaust gas temperature sensor 4b, and performs the Peltier element drive current control and the speed increase instruction of the cooling air fan 4a. Although configured as described above, each storage device 3 may be provided with a device temperature sensor, and may be modified so as to be controlled with reference to the detected temperature signal of the storage device itself obtained from the device temperature sensor.

  Although the installation of the front panel 5 with the cooling function has been described with respect to the additional device mounting case 1b, the same function is also provided for the basic device mounting case 1a.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Equipment mounting housing | casing 1a ... Basic equipment mounting housing | casing 1b ... Expansion equipment mounting housing | casing 2 ... Rack 2a ... Support | pillar 2b ... Housing mounting rail 3 ... Storage equipment 4 ... Cooling ventilation fan unit 4a ... Cooling ventilation fan 4b: Exhaust temperature sensor 4c: Placement device control device 5 ... Front panel with cooling function 5a ... Cooling fin 5b ... Post 5c ... Peltier element 5d ... Heat sink 5e ... Front panel frame 5f ... Peltier control device 5g ... Intake temperature sensor 6 ... Wiring 7 ... Cooling air 8 ... Main controller.

Claims (4)

In a storage apparatus in which a front panel is installed on the front side of a device mounting housing in which a plurality of storage devices are placed side by side in the cooling air flow direction,
The front panel includes cooling fins that cool cooling air flowing in after being cooled by a Peltier element, and the drive current of the Peltier element is configured to be controlled according to the temperature of intake air or exhaust gas. Storage device.   The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front panel includes a heat radiating plate extending from a heat radiating surface of the Peltier element in a front-rear direction of the device mounting housing.   3. The device mounting housing according to claim 1, wherein the device mounting housings are mounted in multiple stages on a rack, and the front panel is detachably installed on the front side of each device mounting housing corresponding to each device mounting housing. Storage device.   In Claim 2, The said equipment mounting housing | casing is mounted in the housing mounting rail provided in the rack in multiple stages, and the said front panel puts the said heat sink between the said equipment mounting housing | casing and the said housing mounting rail. A storage device, wherein the storage device is detachably installed on the front side of each device mounting housing so as to be sandwiched.