JP2020035114A - Air conditioning setting selection system for data center - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning setting selection system for a data center that can conduct air conditioning control based on a temperature distribution in a whole rack.SOLUTION: An air conditioning setting selection system for a data center installed along a pathway connecting a first side with a second side in a server room, includes: multiple racks accommodating a server; an air conditioner installed on the first side and blowing cooling air from the first side to the second side; a thermal image acquisition part installed in the second side toward the first side and acquiring a thermal image indicating a temperature of the multiple racks along the path way; and a setting selection part selecting setting of the air conditioner that mitigates the temperature distribution included in the thermal image on the basis of the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning setting selection system for a data center.

  Conventionally, there is a smart air-conditioning control system for a data center that associates an indoor wireless temperature sensor module with an air conditioner, selects a target air conditioner in accordance with the fluctuation of each sensor measurement value, and performs optimal control (for example, Non-Patent Documents) 1).

Smart DASH (registered trademark) for NTT Facilities Data Center [Search on August 23, 2018], URL: http://www.ntt-f.co.jp/service/data_center/aco_dash/

  By the way, in the conventional smart air-conditioning control system for data centers, since several temperature sensor modules are arranged at intervals in the height direction of the rack, the accuracy of detecting the temperature of the rack is low, and the temperature of the entire rack is low. It may be difficult to perform air conditioning control based on the distribution.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning setting selection system for a data center that can perform air conditioning control based on the entire temperature distribution of a rack.

  An air-conditioning setting selection system for a data center according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided along a passage connecting a first side and a second side in a server room, and a plurality of racks accommodating a server; An air conditioner that is provided on the side and blows out cooling air from the first side toward the second side, and an air conditioner that is provided on the second side with the first side facing and the plurality of racks along the passage. A thermal image acquisition unit that acquires a thermal image indicating a temperature, and a setting selection that selects, based on the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit, a setting of the air conditioner that reduces a temperature distribution included in the thermal image. And parts.

  An air-conditioning setting selection system for a data center that can perform air-conditioning control based on the temperature distribution of the entire rack can be provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inside of a server room 10 of the data center 100. It is a figure which shows the AA arrow cross section of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a visible image acquired by a thermo camera 130. It is a figure showing an example of a thermal image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a histogram acquired by a thermo camera 130. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioning setting selection system 200 for a data center. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process executed by a setting selection unit 142. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process executed by a setting selection unit 142.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment to which an air conditioning setting selection system for a data center according to the present invention is applied will be described.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the inside of a server room 10 of a data center 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 and 2 use an XYZ coordinate system.

  The data center 100 includes a plurality of racks 110, an air conditioner 120, and a thermo camera 130. The data center 100 has a plurality of server rooms 10, one of which is shown in FIGS. The server room 10 has a floor 11, side walls 12, and a ceiling 13, which are simplified in FIG.

  In the server room 10, a plurality of racks 110, an air conditioner 120, and a thermo camera 130 are arranged. In FIG. 1, as an example, twelve racks 110 are arranged in two rows. A passage 10A is provided between the two rows of racks 110.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the floor 11 of the server room 10 has a double floor, and has a lower floor 11A and an upper floor 11B. A rack 110 is arranged on the upper surface of the upper floor 11B. The upper floor 11B includes a mesh portion 11B1 formed by a ventilation hole penetrating in the thickness direction in a portion of the passage 10A.

  The rack 110 has a plurality of rack-type servers stacked in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In each server, the side facing the passage 10A is the front side, and the opposite side in the Y-axis direction is the back side. Each server has a fan, and is configured to suck air in the Y-axis direction from the front side and exhaust air from the back side.

  The air conditioner 120 is disposed on the lower floor 11A on the X axis negative direction side of the two rows of racks 110, and has an outlet 121 between the lower floor 11A and the upper floor 11B. The temperature and air volume of the cold air blown out by the air conditioner 120 can be set separately for the left and right racks 110 in the passage 10A.

  The air conditioner 120 is an air conditioner, and blows out cooled air (cold air) from the outlet 121 between the lower floor 11A and the upper floor 11B. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, when passing between the lower floor 11A and the upper floor 11B, the cold air gradually passes through the mesh portion 11B1 of the upper floor 11B and moves to the passage 10A above the upper floor 11B. , Are supplied to the rack 110 in order from the X-axis negative direction side.

  The cold air is sucked into the server of the rack 110 from the front side facing the passage 10A, and the air (hot air) that has cooled the server and raised in temperature is exhausted from the back side of the server. The hot air exhausted from the server is taken in by the exhaust device, supplied to the air conditioner 120, and cooled. Thus, the air is circulated in the server room 10.

  The thermo camera 130 is suspended from the ceiling 13 on the X-axis positive direction side of the passage 10A. Thermo camera 130 is an example of a thermal image acquisition unit. The thermo camera 130 acquires a thermal image of the rack 110 from the X-axis positive direction side to the X-axis negative direction side along the passage 10A, as indicated by the arrow. The thermo camera 130 is provided on the opposite side of the air conditioner 120 with respect to the two rows of racks 110.

  1 and 2 show a configuration in which the thermo cameras 130 are arranged on the X-axis positive direction side of all the racks 110. However, the thermo cameras 130 do not acquire thermal images of all the racks 110. Is also good. The thermo camera 130 only needs to be able to acquire the thermal images of the rack 110 upstream and in the middle of the cold air blown from the air conditioner 120, and may not be able to acquire the thermal images of the downstream rack 110. As an example, the upstream rack 110 is the first and second racks 110 from the X-axis negative direction side of the six racks 110 arranged in the X-axis direction. The third and fourth racks 110 from the X-axis negative direction side are the fifth and sixth racks 110 from the X-axis negative direction side.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a visible image acquired by the thermo camera 130. The visual field acquired by the thermo camera 130 and the visual field of the thermal image are equal. In the visual field shown in FIG. 3, the X axis is a direction from the back to the front. The dimensions of each part are as shown in FIG.

  Since the temperature and the air volume of the cold air blown out by the air conditioner 120 can be set separately for the left and right racks 110 of the passage 10A, the air conditioning setting selection system for the data center according to the embodiment uses the left and right racks 110 of the passage 10A. Set the temperature and air volume of cold air separately according to the temperature. Therefore, hereinafter, the left rack 110 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

  At the center of the visual field of the thermo camera 130 is the air conditioner 120, and the rack 110 is included on both sides. The racks 110 included in the field of view are eight of the twelve racks 110 on the X-axis negative direction side. That is, the eight racks 110 upstream and in the middle of the cold air are included in the field of view of the thermo camera 130.

  The field of view of thermo camera 130 is relatively narrow. On the other hand, in the upstream, middle, and downstream racks 110, the temperature of the upstream and middle racks 110 tends to differ, but the temperature of the middle and downstream racks 110 tends to hardly differ. Here, if the thermo camera 130 is arranged by pulling it in the positive direction of the X axis, it may be possible to fit all the twelve racks 110 in the field of view, but the space of the server room 10 is limited. Therefore, there is a restriction on the installation position of the thermo camera 130 in the X-axis direction.

  For the above reasons, if it is difficult to cover all 12 racks 110 in the field of view, the thermo camera 130 is moved from the air conditioner 120 to the rack 110 in the direction in which the cold air blows through (X-axis direction). The thermo camera 130 may be disposed on the opposite side so that the upstream and downstream racks 110 of the cold air fall within the field of view.

  Further, the thermo camera 130 moves the four racks 110 located on both sides of the passage 10A in the front-rear direction (the X-axis direction in which cold air blows through, and connects the depth of the field of view and the front) with respect to the acquired thermal image. In each of the four areas (1) to (4) shown in FIG. Regions (1) to (4) are adjacent to each other.

  More specifically, with respect to the thermal image shown in FIG. 4, the upper front area (1), the upper rear area (2), the lower front area (3), and the lower The temperatures in four regions (1) to (4) in the region (4) on the back side are obtained. The upper side is the upper half and the lower side is the lower half.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a histogram acquired by the thermo camera 130. The histogram acquisition unit included in the thermo camera 130 generates a histogram from the temperature data of all pixels included in the regions (1) to (4). Here, as an example, 22 ° C. to 27 ° C. is an appropriate range (appropriate temperature zone). The appropriate range is a range in which it is not necessary to change the settings of the temperature and the air volume of the air conditioner 120.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the air conditioning setting selection system 200 for the data center. The air conditioning setting selection system 200 for a data center includes a thermo camera 130, a server 140, a database 150, and a PC (Personal Computer) 160.

  Thermocamera 130 is located in data center 100, but server 140, database 150, and PC 160 are located in a management center remote from data center 100. Thermo camera 130, server 140, and PC 160 are communicably connected by communication network 50. The communication network 50 is, for example, the Internet or a wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network). The server 140, the database 150, and the PC 160 may be arranged in the data center 100.

  The thermo camera 130 has a thermal image acquisition unit 131 and a histogram acquisition unit 132. The thermal image acquisition unit 131 acquires a thermal image as shown in FIG. 4 and outputs temperature data representing the temperature of each pixel included in the regions (1) to (4). The histogram acquisition unit 132 generates a histogram as shown in FIG. 5 from the temperature data output for the regions (1) to (4) by the thermal image acquisition unit 131.

  The server 140 has a main control unit 141 and a setting selection unit 142. The main control unit 141 is a processing unit that executes processing other than the processing performed by the setting selection unit 142 and controls the server 140. The setting selection unit 142 selects the setting of the temperature or the air volume of the air conditioner 120 based on the temperature data received from the thermo camera 130. The temperature data received from the thermo camera 130 represents the temperature of each pixel and is divided into each of the areas (1) to (4). The maximum temperature and the minimum temperature in each of 1) to (4) can be extracted.

  The database 150 stores programs and data executed by the main control unit 141 and the setting selection unit 142, data generated by the execution of the programs, and the like.

  FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are diagrams illustrating processing executed by the setting selection unit 142.

  When the processing is started, the setting selection unit 142 receives the histograms generated for the areas (1) to (4) (step S1). The histogram is generated by the histogram acquisition unit 132 of the thermo camera 130 and transmitted to the server 140.

  The setting selection unit 142 determines whether or not the ratio of the temperature included in the appropriate temperature zone to the ratio of the entire temperature (100%) included in the histogram is 70% or more (Step S2).

  When determining that the temperature is not 70% or more (S2: NO), the setting selection unit 142 determines whether the maximum temperatures of the regions (1) and (2) are 29 ° C. or less (step S3). Step S3 is a process for determining whether or not the highest temperature on the upper side of the upstream and middle racks 110 is 29 ° C. or lower. 29 ° C. is an example of the first predetermined temperature.

  If the setting selection unit 142 determines that the maximum temperatures of the areas (1) and (2) are not lower than 29 ° C. (S3: NO), it is determined whether the maximum temperature of the rack 110 in the area (3) is 26 ° C. or higher. Is determined (step S4). The rack in the area (3) is the lower middle rack 110. 26 ° C. is an example of a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature.

  When the setting selection unit 142 determines that the highest temperature of the rack 110 in the area (3) is 26 ° C. or higher (S4: YES), the setting selecting unit 142 determines that the air volume of the air conditioner 120 needs to be increased or the set temperature needs to be reduced. The determination result is transmitted to the PC 160 (step S5). As a result, a message indicating that the air volume of the air conditioner 120 needs to be increased or the set temperature needs to be reduced is displayed on the monitor of the PC 160.

  When the process reaches step S5, the temperature of the racks 110 in the regions (1) and (2) (upper rack 110 in the field of view) is high and the cooling is insufficient, and the racks 110 in the region (3) (midstream) The lower rack 110) is in a relatively high state even within the appropriate temperature range. For this reason, since it is considered that the cooling is generally insufficient, it is determined that the air volume of the air conditioner 120 needs to be increased or the set temperature needs to be reduced.

  Insufficient cooling of the upper rack 110 may be particularly noticeable on the upstream side (region (2)).

  When determining that the temperature of the rack 110 in the area (3) is not higher than 26 ° C. (S4: NO) in step S4, the setting selection unit 142 determines whether the lowest temperature in the area (3) is lower than 22 ° C. A determination is made (step S6). 22 ° C. is an example of a third predetermined temperature lower than the second predetermined temperature.

  When the setting selection unit 142 determines that the minimum temperature of the area (3) is lower than 22 ° C. (S6: YES), it determines that the air volume of the air conditioner 120 needs to be reduced, and transmits the determination result to the PC 160 (step S6). S7). After finishing the process in step S7, the setting selection unit 142 ends a series of processes.

  When the process reaches step S7, the temperature of the racks 110 in the regions (1) and (2) (the upper rack 110 in the field of view) is high and the cooling is insufficient, and the rack 110 in the region (3) (the middle The lower rack 110) is too cold.

  When the air volume of the air conditioner 120 is strong, the air volume that passes upward through the mesh portion 11B1 of the upper floor 11B becomes insufficient, and the air volume that flows downstream along the upper floor 11B tends to increase. Therefore, the cold air is not sufficiently supplied to the upper rack 110 (the areas (1) and (2)), and the racks 110 (the upper rack 110 in the field of view) of the areas (1) and (2) are cooled. Becomes insufficient.

  Further, even if the air volume is strong, the cold air is sufficiently supplied to the rack 110 on the lower side of the middle stream, so that the rack 110 in the area (3) is too cold.

  For this reason, by reducing the air volume, a large amount of cold air is sent to the racks 110 in the regions (1) and (2) (the upper rack 110 in the field of view) to lower the temperature, and the racks 110 in the region (3) are reduced. The amount of cold air to be supplied is reduced to prevent the rack 110 in the area (3) from being too cold.

  Note that such insufficient cooling may be particularly remarkable on the upstream side (region (2)) among the upper racks 110.

  If the setting selection unit 142 determines in step S3 that the maximum temperatures of the areas (1) and (2) are 29 ° C. or less (S3: YES), the maximum temperatures of the areas (3) and (4) are 22 ° C. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step S8).

  When the setting selection unit 142 determines that the maximum temperature of the rack 110 in the areas (3) and (4) is not equal to or higher than 22 ° C. (S8: NO), the setting selecting unit 142 determines that the set temperature of the air conditioner 120 needs to be increased, and determines. The result is transmitted to PC 160 (step S9). After finishing the process in step S9, the setting selection unit 142 ends a series of processes.

  When the process reaches step S9, it is not necessary to change the setting of the air conditioner 120 in the cooling state of the racks 110 in the areas (1) and (2), but the rack 110 in the areas (3) and (4) Since the side rack 110) is too cold, the set temperature of the air conditioner 120 is increased to mitigate the excessively cold state. In this case, the air volume of the air conditioner 120 may be reduced, but from the viewpoint of energy saving, the set temperature is increased.

  If the setting selection unit 142 determines in step S8 that the maximum temperatures of the regions (3) and (4) are 22 ° C. or higher (S8: YES), the setting of the air conditioner 120 is determined to be good, and the determination is performed. The result is transmitted to PC 160 (step S10). After finishing the process of step S10, the setting selection unit 142 ends a series of processes.

  If the setting selection unit 142 determines in step S2 that it is 70% or more (S2: YES), the setting selection unit 142 determines that the setting of the air conditioner 120 is good, and transmits the determination result to the PC 160 (step S10). . After finishing the process of step S10, the setting selection unit 142 ends a series of processes.

  If the setting selection unit 142 determines in step S6 that the minimum temperature of the area (3) is not lower than 22 ° C. (S6: NO), the flow proceeds to step S5 to increase the air volume of the air conditioner 120. Alternatively, it is determined that the set temperature needs to be lowered, and the determination result is transmitted to PC 160 (step S5). As a result, a message indicating that the air volume of the air conditioner 120 needs to be increased or the set temperature needs to be reduced is displayed on the monitor of the PC 160.

  In this case, the rack 110 in the area (3) (the lower rack 110 in the middle stream) is within the appropriate temperature range and relatively low, but the rack 110 in the areas (1) and (2) (the upper The temperature of the rack 110) is high and cooling is insufficient. For this reason, it is considered that the cooling of the racks 110 in the regions (1) and (2) (the upper rack 110 in the field of view) is insufficient, and thus the air volume of the air conditioner 120 increases or the set temperature decreases. Is determined to be necessary.

  Insufficient cooling of the upper rack 110 may be particularly noticeable on the upstream side (region (2)).

  As described above, the air-conditioning setting selection system 200 for the data center uses the temperature setting or air volume of the air conditioner 120 based on the temperature distribution in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction of the rack 110 obtained from the thermal image acquired by the thermo camera 130. The setting is selected, and the selected result is displayed on the monitor of the PC 160. The maintenance worker who looks at the monitor of the PC 160 may change the temperature setting or the air volume setting of the air conditioner 120 according to the message displayed on the monitor.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide the air-conditioning setting selection system 200 for the data center that can perform the air-conditioning control based on the temperature distribution of the entire rack.

  In the above, the mode in which the rack 110 included in the thermal image is divided into four regions (1) to (4) has been described, but the number is not limited to four. Since it suffices to divide into a plurality of parts in the front-back direction and a plurality of parts in the up-down direction, it may be divided into six or more regions.

  Further, in the above, the mode in which the determination is performed using the maximum temperature or the minimum temperature of the regions (1) to (4) has been described. However, the average temperature may be used instead of the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature. The average value of each of the predetermined number of pixels × the predetermined number of pixels in each of 1) to (4) may be used.

  As described above, the air-conditioning setting selection system for the data center according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiment and claims. Various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Reference Signs List 10 server room 11 floor 11A lower floor 11B upper floor 100 data center 110 rack 120 air conditioner 130 thermo camera 131 thermal image acquisition unit 132 histogram acquisition unit 140 server 142 setting selection unit 200 air conditioning setting selection system for data center

Claims (7)

A plurality of racks arranged along a passage connecting the first side and the second side in the server room and accommodating the server; and a plurality of racks provided on the first side, from the first side to the second side. An air conditioning setting selection system for a data center including an air conditioner that blows cooling air,
A thermal image acquisition unit that is provided on the second side with the first side facing, and acquires a thermal image indicating a temperature of the plurality of racks along the passage;
An air conditioner setting selection system for a data center, comprising: a setting selection unit that selects, based on the thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit, a setting of the air conditioner that reduces a temperature distribution included in the thermal image. The data center is
The first floor,
A second floor provided on the first floor and having a ventilation hole penetrating in a thickness direction, wherein the plurality of racks are arranged;
The cooling air blown out from the air conditioner is guided between the first floor and the second floor, and is supplied to the plurality of racks through the ventilation holes of the second floor. Air conditioning setting selection system for data centers.   The setting selection unit may be configured such that in a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the side surfaces of the plurality of racks included in the thermal image into a vertical direction and a direction along the passage, an upper temperature is higher than a first predetermined temperature (29). When the temperature on the lower side of the second side is equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature (26) lower than the first predetermined temperature, the setting is to increase the air volume of the air conditioner, or the temperature of the air conditioner The air-conditioning setting selection system for a data center according to claim 1, wherein the setting for reducing the air-conditioning is selected.   The setting selection unit, when the temperature on the lower side of the second side is lower than a third predetermined temperature (22) lower than the second predetermined temperature (26) in the plurality of regions, the air flow rate of the air conditioner The air-conditioning setting selection system for a data center according to claim 3, wherein the setting for reducing the air-conditioning is selected.   The setting selection unit may determine that the upper temperature is equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature (29) in a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the side surfaces of the plurality of racks included in the thermal image into a vertical direction and a direction along the passage. The data according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the lower temperature is lower than a fourth predetermined temperature (23) lower than the first predetermined temperature, a setting for increasing the temperature of the air conditioner is selected. Air conditioning setting selection system for the center. The thermal image acquisition unit further includes a temperature distribution acquisition unit that acquires a temperature distribution of the plurality of racks from a thermal image acquired by the thermal image acquisition unit,
The setting selection unit, in the temperature distribution acquired by the temperature distribution acquisition unit, when the ratio not included in the appropriate temperature zone is less than a predetermined ratio, selects a setting to change the air volume or temperature of the air conditioner, An air conditioning setting selection system for a data center according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The thermal image acquisition unit, wherein the thermal image includes a rack at the first side end and does not include a rack at the second side end among a plurality of racks arranged along the passage. The air-conditioning setting selection system for a data center according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air conditioning setting selection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air conditioning setting selection system is provided on the second side with the first side facing.