JP2015015008A - Information processing apparatus, exhaust unit, and data center - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cool an electronic device without increasing the power required for air conditioning in an information processing apparatus, exhaust unit, and data center.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 5 includes a rack 3 including an intake surface 3a and an exhaust surface 3b, a shelf board 10 provided inside the rack 3, an electronic device 11 mounted on the shelf board 10, and an inclined plate 14 provided above the electronic device 11 and inclined upward from the intake surface 3a side to the exhaust surface 3b side, where the inclined plate 14 has an opposing surface 14a arranged opposite to the electronic device 11, and grooves 14x are provided on the opposing surface 14a to be extended from the intake surface 3a side to the exhaust surface 3b side.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an exhaust unit, and a data center.

  Various information processing apparatuses are provided in the data center. The information processing apparatus accommodates an electronic device such as a server in a rack, and information processing is performed in the electronic device.

  In order to cool the electronic equipment in operation, the data center is provided with an air conditioning facility for generating cooling air. As a method of air conditioning, there are, for example, a method of supplying cooling air to the electronic equipment from under the floor of the data center and a method of generating cooling air with a packaged air conditioner.

  Regardless of which method is used, insufficient cooling of the electronic device can be prevented by lowering the set temperature of the cooling air or increasing the air volume of the cooling air. However, this increases the power for air conditioning, making it difficult to realize energy saving in the data center.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-166691 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-118292 No. 6-44150 JP-A-8-23179

  An object of the present invention is to cool electronic devices without increasing the power for air conditioning in information processing apparatuses, exhaust units, and data centers.

  According to one aspect of the following disclosure, a rack having an intake surface and an exhaust surface, a shelf plate provided in the rack, an electronic device placed on the shelf plate, and the electronic device And an inclined plate that is inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side, and the inclined plate has a facing surface that faces the electronic device, There is provided an information processing apparatus provided with a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side.

  According to another aspect of the disclosure, a shelf board that is housed in a rack having an intake surface and an exhaust surface and on which an electronic device is placed, is provided above the shelf board, and An inclined plate that is inclined while rising toward the exhaust surface side, and a side plate that connects the side portions of the shelf plate and the inclined plate, and the inclined plate has an opposing surface that faces the electronic device. And an exhaust unit having a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side on the opposing surface.

  Further, according to another aspect of the disclosure, a rack including a cold aisle, a hot aisle, an intake surface facing the cold aisle, and an exhaust surface facing the hot aisle, and provided in the rack A shelf plate, an electronic device placed on the shelf plate, and an inclined plate that is provided above the electronic device and is inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side. A data center is provided in which the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface.

  According to the following disclosure, since the inclined plate is inclined so as to rise from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side, warm air generated in the electronic device is guided to the exhaust surface side through the inclined plate.

  Moreover, since warm air flows along the groove of the inclined plate, the warm air is easily guided only in the direction in which the groove extends. As a result, it is possible to prevent the warm air transmitted through the inclined plate from diffusing, so that the flow rate of the warm air is increased and the warm air can be quickly discharged to the exhaust surface side.

  As a result, the electronic device can be cooled without increasing the air conditioning power.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data center used for examination by the inventors of the present application. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the information processing apparatus used for examination by the inventors of the present application. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment viewed from the exhaust surface side. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating simulation results according to the comparative example. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating simulation results according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment as viewed from the exhaust surface side. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment viewed from the exhaust surface. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12A is an enlarged front view of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 12B is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

  Prior to the description of the present embodiment, items studied by the inventor will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data center used for examination by the inventors of the present application.

  A plurality of information processing devices 5 are provided on the floor 2 of the data center 1. Each information processing apparatus 5 includes a rack 3 and a first electronic device 4 accommodated therein. Among these, the first electronic device 4 is, for example, a rack mount type server, and a plurality of first electronic devices 4 are stacked on one rack 3 in the vertical direction.

  The floor 2 is provided with an opening 2 a for supplying the cooling air C into the data center 1. After the cooling air C is supplied to the cold aisle 7 of the data center 1, each electronic device 4 is cooled and discharged as an exhaust flow E to the hot aisle 8 of the data center 1.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the information processing apparatus 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rack 3 has an intake surface 3 a facing the cold aisle 7 and an exhaust surface 3 b facing the hot aisle 8. Both the intake surface 3a and the exhaust surface 3b are air-permeable mesh metal plates, and the air in the data center can freely flow through the intake surface 3a and the exhaust surface 3b.

  Further, the first electronic device 4 takes in the cooling air C described above by rotating a fan (not shown) provided therein. Electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) inside the first electronic device 4 are cooled by the cooling air C, and the exhaust flow E is discharged from the first electronic device 4 after cooling.

  A unit of thickness of one first electronic device 4 is called 1U (≈44.5 mm). In this example, a space of 2U (≈88.9 mm) is provided in the rack 3, and a shelf board 10 for mounting the second electronic device 11 is provided in the space.

  The second electronic device 11 is a network device such as a switching hub or a router. The second electronic device 11 generates less heat than the first electronic device 4 such as a server, and the second electronic device 11 does not need to be actively air-cooled. No cooling fan is provided in the second electronic device 11. Such an electronic device is also called a fanless device.

  In such an information processing apparatus 5, since the second electronic device 11 is fanless, air easily stagnates around the second electronic device 11, and a heat pool 13 is generated to generate the second electronic device 11. Tends to be undercooled.

  In particular, when the pressures of the cold aisle 7 and the hot aisle 8 are antagonizing, the air flow from the cold aisle 7 toward the hot aisle 8 does not occur around the second electronic device 11, as described above. The heat pool 13 is likely to be generated.

  In order to eliminate such a heat accumulation 13, it is conceivable to provide an exhaust fan around the second electronic device 11, but in this case, the power consumption of the information processing device 5 is equivalent to the power of the fan. As a result, the energy saving of the data center 1 cannot be realized.

  In the following, each embodiment that can eliminate the heat accumulation 13 without providing an exhaust fan will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the information processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same elements as those described in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS.

  This information processing apparatus 5 is used in the data center 1 of FIG. 1, and has an inclined plate 14 above the shelf board 10 described in FIG.

  The inclined plate 14 is fixed to the frame 3 c of the rack 3 with screws 17, and the inclination angle is determined by the position of the screws 17. In the present embodiment, the inclined plate 14 is provided so as to be inclined while rising from the intake surface 3a side to the exhaust surface 3b side by adjusting the position of the screw 17.

  The inclined plate 14 is provided with a facing surface 14 a that faces the second electronic device 11. The opposing surface 14a is provided with a plurality of grooves 14x extending from the intake surface 3a side to the exhaust surface 3b side.

  The depth of the groove 14x is, for example, 15 mm, and the interval between the adjacent grooves 14x is, for example, 50 mm.

  The size of the inclined plate 14 is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, an inclined plate 14 having a size accommodated in a 19-inch rack standardized by EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance) is used. In this case, the inclined plate 14 has a width of about 430 mm and a depth of about 700 mm.

  The material of the inclined plate 14 includes resin and metal. In this embodiment, the inclined plate 14 is produced by processing a stainless steel plate.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the information processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second electronic device 11 generates heat during use, thereby warming the surrounding air and generating warm air A.

  In the present embodiment, since the inclined plate 14 is inclined as described above, the warm air A is guided along the inclined plate 14 to the exhaust surface 3b side. As a result, it is possible to suppress a natural flow of air around the second electronic device 11 and heat accumulation in the vicinity of the second electronic device 11.

  Moreover, since the fresh cooling air C is naturally supplied from the intake surface 3a to the periphery of the second electronic device 11 by such an air flow, the air conditioning power can be increased without increasing the power for air conditioning. The temperature of the second electronic device 11 can be prevented from rising by the cooling air C.

  Moreover, since the warm air A flows along the groove 14x of the inclined plate 14, the warm air A is easily guided only in the direction from the intake surface 3a toward the exhaust surface 3b. As a result, the warm air A traveling along the inclined plate 14 is prevented from diffusing in the lateral direction, so that the flow rate of the warm air A is faster than when there is no groove 14x, and the warm air A is quickly discharged to the exhaust surface 3b side. be able to.

  In order to allow as much warm air A as possible to be guided by the groove 14x, the depth of the groove 14x is preferably as deep as possible.

  Although the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate 14 measured from the horizontal plane is not particularly limited, by setting the inclination angle θ to an angle that makes the best use of the space in the rack 3, the inclination angle θ is increased as much as possible and the exhaust surface. It is preferable to efficiently induce warm air A to the 3b side.

  For example, when a 2U space is provided in the rack 3 as in this example, the inclined plate 14 is provided for 1U of the rack 3 and the inclination angle θ is set to 7.2 ° to increase the height for 1U. You can make the most of it.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus 5 as viewed from the exhaust surface 3b side.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the width W <b> 1 of the groove 14 x of the inclined plate 14 is narrower than the width W <b> 2 of the second electronic device 11.

  As a result, regardless of the position of the second electronic device 11 on the shelf board 10, the warm air A around the second electronic device 11 flows into any of the plurality of grooves 14x, and the warm air A flows into the exhaust surface 3b side. Can be guided to.

  Next, a simulation performed by the inventor will be described.

  This simulation was performed for each of the comparative example and the present embodiment. In any simulation, the calorific value of the second electronic device 11 was 10 W, and the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate 14 was about 4 °.

  6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating simulation results according to the comparative example. In the comparative example, the inclined plate 14 was not provided with the groove 14x.

  FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the flow of heat from the second electronic device 11 in this comparative example.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the average temperature of the surface of the second electronic device 11 was 48.9 ° C. It has also been found that heat flows out of the second electronic device 11 in almost all directions except the intake surface 3a.

  FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the wind speed of the air around the second electronic device 11 in this comparative example.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the maximum wind speed of the air discharged along the inclined plate 14 was about 0.12 m / s.

  On the other hand, FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing simulation results according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the groove 14x is provided in the inclined plate 14 as described above.

  FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the flow of heat from the second electronic device 11 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the average temperature of the surface of the second electronic device 11 is 47.6 ° C., which is 1. The temperature was 3 ° C lower.

  Further, heat is induced along the groove 14x, and the diffusion of the heat flow is suppressed as compared with the comparative example of FIG.

  FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view showing the wind speed of the air around the second electronic device 11 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the maximum wind speed of the air discharged along the inclined plate 14 is about 0.14 m / s, and the wind speed may be faster than the comparative example of FIG. It was confirmed.

  As described above, by providing the inclined plate 14 with the groove 14x as in the present embodiment, the wind speed of the air discharged along the inclined plate 14 is increased, and the cooling efficiency of the second electronic device 11 is improved. I was able to confirm.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the width of the groove 14x of the inclined plate 14 is made wider than that in the first embodiment as follows.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the exhaust surface 3b side.

  In FIG. 8, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted below.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the width W1 of the groove 14x of the inclined plate 14 is equal to or larger than the width W2 of the second electronic device 11. The entire upper surface 11a of the second electronic device 11 is opposed to the facing surface 14a of the inclined plate 14 inside the groove 14x.

  Thereby, most of the warm air A generated from the second electronic device 11 is guided to the inside of the groove 14x, and the warm air A can be efficiently guided to the exhaust surface 3b side along the groove 14x.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the information processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in these embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted below.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 5 is provided with an exhaust unit 20, and the second electronic device 11 is accommodated in the exhaust unit 20.

  The exhaust unit 20 includes the inclined plate 14, the shelf plate 10, and the side plate 21 described in the first embodiment.

  Among these, the side plate 21 connects the side edge portion 10z of the shelf plate 10 and the side edge portion 14z of the inclined plate 14, and prevents the warm air A in the exhaust unit 20 from escaping in the lateral direction.

  Further, the inclined plate 14 is provided with a groove 14x as in the first embodiment, whereby the flow rate of the warm air A discharged from the exhaust unit 20 to the exhaust surface 3b side is increased as described above, and the second plate The cooling efficiency of the electronic device 11 is increased.

  Since the inclined plate 14 is fixed to the side plate 21, it is not necessary to fix the inclined plate 14 to the frame 3c of the rack 3 with screws 17 as in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment.

  The exhaust unit 20 is detachable from the rack 3 where the first electronic device 4 is not mounted and is vacant. In the present embodiment, the height of the exhaust unit 20 is 2 U, and the exhaust unit 20 is accommodated in a 2 U empty space in the rack 3.

  FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus 5 as viewed from the exhaust surface 3b.

  As shown in FIG. 10, by providing the side plate 21, it is possible to prevent the warm air A generated in the second electronic device 11 from flowing into the adjacent rack 3, and to suppress the rack 3 from being warmed by the warm air A. can do.

  In order to prevent the heat in the exhaust unit 20 from being transmitted to the adjacent rack 3, it is preferable to use a heat insulating material such as glass wool as the material of the side plate 21.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the information processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, the same elements as those described in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in these embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted below.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, a front plate 25 and a back plate 26 are provided in the exhaust unit 20 described in the third embodiment.

  Among these, the front plate 25 is connected to the edge portions 14 y and 21 y facing the intake surface 3 a of the rack 3 among the respective edge portions of the inclined plate 14 and the side plate 21, and the intake air that sucks the cooling air C. A mouth 25a is provided.

  On the other hand, the back plate 26 is connected to the edge portions 10w and 21w facing the exhaust surface 3b of the rack 3 among the edge portions of the shelf plate 10 and the side plate 21, and has an exhaust port 26a for exhausting the warm air A. Prepare.

  FIG. 12A is an enlarged front view of the information processing apparatus 5 viewed from the front plate 25 side, and FIG. 12B is an enlarged rear view of the information processing apparatus 5 viewed from the back plate 26 side.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the air inlet 25a has a slit shape that is long in the lateral direction, and the height H1 measured from the shelf board 10 is about 10 mm, and the width L1 is about 430 mm.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.12 (b), the exhaust port 26a is also a slit shape long in a horizontal direction.

  However, the exhaust port 26a is at a height H2 higher than the height H1 as measured from the shelf board 10. In the present embodiment, the height difference (H2−H1) between the exhaust port 26a and the intake port 15a is 68.9 mm.

  Further, the width L2 of the exhaust port 26a is about 430 mm, similar to the width L1 of the intake port 25a. The height H3 of the exhaust port 26a is about 10 mm.

  FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the information processing apparatus 5.

  By providing the exhaust port 26a at a position higher than the intake port 25a as described above, the warm air A rising by buoyancy is reliably guided to the exhaust port 26a along the inclined plate 14, and the warm air A is transferred to the intake port 25a. You can suppress the escape. Accordingly, for example, warm air A can be prevented from reaching the cold aisle 7 through the intake port 25a, and the temperature of the cold aisle 7 can be prevented from rising due to the warm air A.

  Further, since the warm air A is discharged from the exhaust port 26a, the internal pressure of the exhaust unit 20 decreases, so that the cooling air C is quickly taken into the exhaust unit 20 from the intake port 25a so as to compensate for the pressure decrease. The cooling efficiency of the second electronic device 11 is improved.

  The following additional notes are disclosed for each embodiment described above.

(Appendix 1) A rack having an intake surface and an exhaust surface;
A shelf board provided in the rack;
An electronic device placed on the shelf board;
An inclined plate provided above the electronic device and inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side;
The information processing apparatus, wherein the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface.

(Additional remark 2) The said groove | channel has the width | variety more than the width | variety of the said electronic device,
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein an entire upper surface of the electronic device is opposed to the facing surface inside the groove.

(Additional remark 3) The said groove | channel is provided with two or more in the said opposing surface,
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein a width of the groove is narrower than a width of the electronic device.

  (Supplementary note 4) The information processing apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, further comprising a side plate that connects side edges of the shelf plate and the inclined plate.

(Additional remark 5) The front plate provided with the inlet port connected to the edge part which opposed the said suction surface among each edge part of the above-mentioned inclination board and the above-mentioned side board,
Of each edge of the shelf and the side plate, connected to the edge facing the exhaust surface, and having a back plate with an exhaust port,
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 4, wherein the exhaust port is positioned higher than the intake port.

(Additional remark 6) The shelf board accommodated in the rack provided with the intake surface and the exhaust surface, and an electronic device is mounted,
An inclined plate which is provided above the shelf plate and which is inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side;
A side plate connecting the side edges of each of the shelf plate and the inclined plate;
The exhaust unit, wherein the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the suction surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface.

(Appendix 7) Cold aisle,
Hot aisle,
A rack having an intake surface facing the cold aisle and an exhaust surface facing the hot aisle;
A shelf board provided in the rack;
An electronic device placed on the shelf board;
An inclined plate provided above the electronic device and inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side;
The data center according to claim 1, wherein the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data center, 2 ... Floor, 2a ... Opening, 3 ... Rack, 3a ... Intake surface, 3b ... Exhaust surface, 3c ... Frame, 4 ... 1st electronic device, 5 ... Information processing apparatus, 7 ... Cold aisle, 8 ... Hot aisle, 10 ... Shelf plate, 14 ... Inclined plate, 14a ... Opposing surface, 14x ... Groove, 10w, 14y, 21y, 21w ... Edge, 10z, 14z ... Side edge, 20 ... Exhaust unit, 21 ... Side plate, 25 ... front plate, 25a ... intake port, 26 ... back plate, 26a ... exhaust port.

Claims (5)

A rack with an intake surface and an exhaust surface;
A shelf board provided in the rack;
An electronic device placed on the shelf board;
An inclined plate provided above the electronic device and inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side;
The information processing apparatus, wherein the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a side plate that connects side edges of the shelf plate and the inclined plate. Of each edge of the inclined plate and the side plate, a front plate connected to the edge facing the intake surface and provided with an intake port;
Of each edge of the shelf and the side plate, connected to the edge facing the exhaust surface, and having a back plate with an exhaust port,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust port is positioned higher than the intake port. A shelf board that is housed in a rack having an intake surface and an exhaust surface and on which electronic devices are placed;
An inclined plate which is provided above the shelf plate and which is inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side;
A side plate connecting the side edges of each of the shelf plate and the inclined plate;
The exhaust unit, wherein the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the suction surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface. Cold aisle,
Hot aisle,
A rack having an intake surface facing the cold aisle and an exhaust surface facing the hot aisle;
A shelf board provided in the rack;
An electronic device placed on the shelf board;
An inclined plate provided above the electronic device and inclined while rising from the intake surface side toward the exhaust surface side;
The data center according to claim 1, wherein the inclined plate has a facing surface facing the electronic device, and a groove extending from the intake surface side to the exhaust surface side is provided on the facing surface.

Images