JP2020197359A - Air delivery device, double floor, and air delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology that can cool an area from a lower part to an upper part of a rack in an air conditioning system in a machine room having a double floor structure.SOLUTION: An air delivery device includes: a fan for delivering air delivered by an air conditioner at a lower part of a floor panel forming a double floor to an upper part of the floor panel; and a variable function part which makes inclination of the fan relative to the floor panel variable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioning technique in a machine room having a double floor structure.

Devices such as large-capacity servers and high-speed routers are used and operated in various forms of business. These devices generate a large amount of heat, and cooling is essential.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, in a general air conditioning system, an air conditioner is arranged near the wall of a machine room, and the double floor is used as an air flow space to cool the device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-72575

In many cases, the device is mounted up to the top of the rack in order to effectively use the space in the machine room. However, the equipment on the top of the rack may not be sufficiently cooled.

As a countermeasure, for example, aisle capping, a floor panel with a fan unit, a commercial fan, etc. can be considered, but these conventional countermeasures have problems in maintainability or insufficient cooling. There's a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of cooling from the lower part to the upper part of a rack in an air conditioning system in a machine room having a double floor structure.

According to the disclosed technology, a fan for sending air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel at the lower part of the floor panel constituting the double floor, and
An air delivery device is provided that includes a variable function unit that changes the inclination of the fan with respect to the floor panel.

According to the disclosed technology, there is provided a technology that enables cooling from the bottom to the top of a rack in an air conditioning system in a machine room having a double floor structure.

It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of air in a machine room. It is a figure for demonstrating a hot aisle and a cold aisle. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example 1 of the floor panel in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the floor panel of structural example 1 from the top. It is a figure which shows the example of the reach target dimension by making a fan unit variable. It is a figure which shows the example of the mechanism for changing the inclination of a fan unit in structure example 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the mechanism for changing the inclination of a fan unit in structure example 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the mechanism for changing the inclination of a fan unit in structure example 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the mechanism for changing the inclination of a fan unit in structure example 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example 2 of the floor panel in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the floor panel of structural example 2 from the top. It is the figure which looked at the floor panel of structural example 2 from the top. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the structure of a fan unit. It is a figure which shows the example of the mounting structure of a fan unit. It is a figure which shows the example of the mounting structure of a fan unit. It is a figure which shows the example of the mounting structure of a fan unit. It is a figure which shows the example of the structure related to a variable operation screw. FIG. 1 is an operation diagram seen from the back surface. FIG. 2 is an operation diagram seen from the back. It is an operation diagram seen from the front. It is a figure which shows the inside of the wind direction plate, and the power switch part. It is a figure which shows the installation example when structure example 2 is used. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of structure example 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of structure example 2.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely examples, and the embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the following embodiments.

In the present embodiment, the device installed in the machine room is cooled. The machine room is, for example, a communication machine room, a computer room, a server room, or the like. The device to be cooled is various ICT (Information and Communications Technology) devices. Examples of the ICT device include communication devices such as exchanges, switches and routers, servers, computers, patch panels, patch panel control robots and the like. Hereinafter, the device to be cooled is referred to as an ICT device.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the ICT device to be cooled is mounted on the rack, but such a mode is an example. For example, the ICT device itself may have a rack-like shape, the ICT device itself may be stacked without using a rack or the like, or any other form may be used. Good.

(About the air flow in the machine room)
Before explaining the air delivery device in the present embodiment in detail, first, the basic structure of the machine room in which the air delivery device is installed and the air flow will be described.

In the present embodiment, the ICT device mounted on the rack is basically cooled by the cold air blown from the air conditioner installed in the machine room having a double floor. The "double floor" here includes a floor panel at the upper part of the floor of the building and a structure supporting the floor panel.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining how air flows in the machine room according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a rack 20 on which an ICT device is mounted is installed on a floor panel 30 having a large number of small holes. As shown in FIG. 1, the rack 20 is a set of a plurality of racks (individual racks).

Further, an air conditioner 10 is installed as shown in the figure. The air conditioner 10 of the present embodiment blows cold air under the double floor in a direction parallel to the front surface of the rack and parallel to the floor surface described as “front surface of the rack”.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cold air 40 output from the air conditioner 10 flows under the double floor while weakening the momentum as the distance from the air conditioner 10 increases, and the cold air flows from the small holes in the floor panel onto the double floor. It goes up as 50. Then, the cold air 50 is sucked into the front surface of the rack, cools the ICT device in the rack 20, and is discharged as a high-temperature exhaust 60 from the back surface of the rack. The exhaust gas 60 is returned to the air conditioner 10 via the ceiling.

The cold aisle and the hot aisle shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, in the present embodiment, a method is adopted in which cold air is taken in from the front surface of the rack 20 to cool the ICT device to be cooled and exhausted from the back surface of the rack 20.

Normally, a plurality of racks 20 are installed in the machine room, but for the purpose of improving air conditioning efficiency, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of racks 20 are formed in pairs so that the front surfaces of the two racks face each other. The racks are arranged in parallel. In the example of FIG. 2, the front surface of the rack 21 and the front surface of the rack 22 face each other, and the back surface of the rack 22 and the back surface of the rack 23 face each other.

In this case, in the row facing the front of each rack, the cold air 50 is sent as described with reference to FIG. 1, so this is called a cold aisle. Further, in the row facing the back surface of each rack, the exhaust 60 that has become hot gathers, so this is called a hot aisle.

As described above, the ICT device is often mounted up to the top of the rack. However, there is a problem that sufficient cold air does not reach the ICT device mounted on the upper part of the rack. Hereinafter, structural example 1 and structural example 2 will be described as structures for solving this problem. Structural example 1 and structural example 2 can be applied in combination.

The fan unit in the present embodiment described below is a unit including a motor and a propeller, and a housing for accommodating the motor and the propeller. Further, in the structure example 2, the housing is provided with a louver.

The "motor and propeller" part (minimum configuration required for blowing air) may be referred to as a fan, and the function that enables the tilt (or horizontal orientation) to be variable may be referred to as a variable function unit. Further, a device including a fan and a variable function unit may be referred to as an air delivery device. The "cold air" described below is an example of air.

(Structural example 1)
In Structural Example 1, by making the inclination of the fan unit provided in the lower part of the floor panel variable, it is possible to send cold air to a spot that requires cooling. When the conventional fixed fan unit was used, it could only be cooled from the floor to a low position (for example, 50 cm), but by using the fan unit of Structural Example 1, for example, from 10 cm above the floor to 210 cm at the top of the rack. It is possible to apply cold air to the rack, and it is possible to cool everything from the top to the bottom of the rack. In addition to eliminating the heat that circulates from the hot aisle to the cold aisle, cold air can be blown pinpointly through the intake port of the ICT device, for example, through the hole in the punching door of the rack.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the rack 21, cold aisle, rack 22, and floor panel. FIG. 3 shows a case where the ICT device mounted on the rack 21 is cooled as an example. The same applies to the case where the ICT device mounted on the rack 22 is cooled.

In the example of FIG. 3, two fan units (fan unit 100A and fan unit 100B) are provided at the lower part of the floor panel, and the inclination of each fan unit is variable.

For example, when the direction of the cold air sent from the fan unit 100A is A ° (example: 70 °) from the floor surface, the cold air can be applied to the height of h2 (example: 55 cm). Further, for example, when the direction of the cold air sent from the fan unit 100B is B ° (example: 75 °) from the floor surface, the cold air can be applied to the height of h1 (example: 145 cm).

In the example shown in FIG. 3, two fan units are installed in the direction perpendicular to the front surface of the rack, but the two fan units are only one example. For example, one fan unit for applying cold air may be installed on the upper part of the rack. Further, three or more fan units may be installed.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the structural example shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, two units 100 are housed in the lower part of the floor panel, and the inclination of the fan unit 100 can be changed by the variable operation screw. The floor panel above the fan unit 100 has striped gaps for allowing cold air to pass through. The shape of one floor panel in the example of FIG. 4 is, for example, 30 cm × 120 cm. FIG. 4 shows three floor panels, and the fan unit 100 is housed only in the central floor panel, which is an example. All floor panels (or multiple floor panels, but not all) may contain one or more fan unit units.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the inclination of the cold air sent from the fan unit 100 and the height of the target for reaching the cold air, as an example. The unit of each dimension shown in FIG. 5 is mm. In the example of FIG. 5, the center of the fan unit 100A (motor shaft) is located 250 mm away from the rack, and the center of the fan unit 100B (motor shaft) is located 500 mm away from the rack.

The mechanism for making the inclination of the fan unit 100 variable (which may be called a variable function unit) is not limited to a specific mechanism. Any mechanism may be used as long as the fan unit 100 can be attached to the lower part of the floor panel and the inclination of the fan unit 100 can be changed. Moreover, the form in which the fan is housed in the "fan unit" is only an example. For example, a structure may be adopted in which the fan is tiltably attached to the floor panel.

6 and 7 show an example of a mechanism for making the inclination of the fan unit 100 variable. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fan unit 100 is rotatably fixed to the structure (side surface) supporting the floor panel with screws 101.

The variable operation screws 103 to 104 can change the vertical position of the rack-side end of the fan unit 100 via the hinge 102. In addition, a slit is provided in the structure (side surface) that supports the floor panel to allow the fan unit 100 to move up and down, and movements other than the up and down movement are regulated by screws. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 7.

(Structural example 2)
Next, structural example 2 will be described. In Structural Example 2, the horizontal orientation of the fan unit 100 with a louver provided in the lower part of the floor panel is variable, so that cold air can be sent to a spot that needs cooling. By using the fan unit 100 of the structural example 2, for example, it is possible to apply cold air from 10 cm above the floor to 210 cm at the top of the rack, and it is possible to cool everything from the top to the bottom of the rack.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the rack 21, cold aisle, rack 22, and floor panel. FIG. 10 shows a case where the ICT device mounted on the rack 21 is cooled as an example. The same applies to the case where the ICT device mounted on the rack 22 is cooled.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the structural example 2, the fan unit 100 is horizontally provided at the lower part of the floor panel, but the horizontal orientation (left and right when viewed from above) of the fan unit 100 is variable. That is, the fan unit 100 can rotate in the horizontal direction.

For example, the center of the fan unit 100 is at a distance of 25 cm from the front surface of the rack 21. When the fan unit 100 is in a certain direction (eg, when the longitudinal direction of each plate constituting the louver is parallel to the front surface of the rack), the direction of the cold air sent from the fan unit 100 (angle from the floor surface) is C. It becomes ° (eg 60 °) and cold air can be applied to the height of h4 (eg 43 cm). Further, for example, when the direction of the fan unit 100 is changed (example: when the angle between the longitudinal direction of each plate constituting the louver and the front surface of the rack is 20 °), the direction of the cold air sent from the fan unit 100 is changed. It becomes D ° (example: 80 °) from the floor surface, and cold air can be applied to the height of h3 (example: 142 cm).

In the example shown in FIG. 10, one fan unit 100 is installed in the direction perpendicular to the front surface of the rack, but one fan unit 100 is only one example. Two or more fan units 100 may be installed.

11 (a) and 11 (b) are views of the structural example shown in FIG. 10 as viewed from above. In this example, one floor panel is 50 cm × 50 cm, and one fan unit 100 is installed on one floor panel. However, this is just one example. For example, one or more fan units 100 shown in the structure example 2 may be provided for each floor panel having the shape shown in the structure example 1.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the fan unit 100 provided in the lower part of the floor panel can be rotated in the horizontal direction by using the variable operation screw 114 through the slit made in the floor panel. The floor panel above the fan unit 100 has striped gaps to allow cold air to pass through. FIG. 11B shows how the fan unit 100 at the bottom of the floor panel is rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of fan units 100 may be installed in a direction parallel to the front surface of the rack.

FIG. 13A shows a cross-sectional example of the fan unit 100 and the structure around it. As shown in FIG. 13A, the fan unit 100 has a motor 110, a propeller 111, and a housing 112 with a louver. In the example of FIG. 13A, the floor panel has a holding member, and the housing 112 is formed by the screw 113 (in the example of FIG. 13A, the housing 112 and the screw 113 are fixed) and the holding member. It can be attached to the lower part of the floor panel, and the housing can be rotated from the slit described above. The mechanism (variable function unit) for attaching the fan unit 100 to the floor panel and making it rotatable is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 13A, and any mechanism may be used.

Further, the inclination of the louver with respect to the rotating surface of the propeller 111 may be fixed or variable. Further, the inclination of the louvers, the number of louvers, and the width of each plate constituting the louvers shown in FIG. 13A are only examples.

FIG. 13B is a top view of only the fan unit 100 with a louver. As shown in FIG. 13 (b), a louver is shown, and a propeller is under the louver.

Here, an example is shown in which the housing and the louver are integrated and the housing is rotated in the horizontal direction in order to change the horizontal direction of the louver, but this is an example. The housing that houses the motor and propeller and the louver may be separate, and only the louver may be rotated. Moreover, the form in which the fan is housed in the "fan unit" is only an example.

FIG. 14 shows another example of the mounting structure of the fan unit 100. In the example of FIG. 14A, the screw 113 is fixed to the holding member. FIG. 14B shows the back surface. As shown in the figure, grooves are provided on the left and right sides of the housing 112, which enables horizontal rotation. FIG. 15 shows an image seen from the back surface when the fan unit 100 is rotated. FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view in which the variable operation screw 114 can be seen. FIG. 16B is a back view thereof.

FIG. 17 shows a structure related to the variable operation screw 114. As shown in the lowermost figure in FIG. 17, the housing 112 of the fan unit 100 can be rotated by moving the variable operation screw 114 from the groove formed in the floor panel. FIG. 18 is an operation diagram 1 seen from the back surface. FIG. 19 is an operation diagram 2 seen from the back surface. From these figures, it can be seen that the housing 112 of the fan unit 100 can be rotated by moving the variable operation screw 114.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the fan unit 100 rotated. The fan unit 100 is rotated under the floor panel. FIG. 21 shows the inside of the wind direction plate and the power switch section.

FIG. 22 shows an example of installation when structural example 2 is used. In the example shown in FIG. 22, three fan units 100 are used.

(Combination of Structural Example 1 and Structural Example 2)
As described above, the structural example 1 and the structural example 2 can be combined. In this case, for example, the fan unit 100 with a louver is used, and the inclination of the fan unit 100 is variable as in the structure example 1. Further, in the tilted state, the fan unit 100 can be rotated on a surface parallel to the fan unit 100 (rotating surface of the propeller). Any mechanism may be used for the rotatable mechanism (variable function unit). In this case, the louver rotates together with the fan unit 100, but the louver may rotate independently.

By combining the structure example 1 and the structure example 2, it is possible to apply cold air to the upper part of the rack, and it is possible to finely adjust the delivery direction of the cold air.

(About the effect of the embodiment)
FIG. 23 shows the heights on the front surface of the rack before and after the fan unit is installed by using the conventional technique (one fan unit fixed in the wind direction) and the structural example 1 (two fan units, the wind direction is variable). This is the result of measuring the temperature. As shown in FIG. 23, it can be seen that a large cooling effect can be obtained at the upper part of the rack by using the structure example 1.

FIG. 24 shows the results of measuring the temperature at each height on the front surface of the rack before and after the fan unit is installed by using the structure example 2. As shown in FIG. 24, it can be seen that a large cooling effect can be obtained at the upper part of the rack also by using the structural example 2.

When Structural Example 1 and Structural Example 2 are combined, the same or greater effect as Structural Example 1 / Structural Example 2 can be obtained.

As described above, any of the structural example 1, the structural example 2, and a combination thereof has a great effect that the rack upper portion can be sufficiently cooled by a relatively simple mechanism. Since it is a relatively simple mechanism, the structures shown as Structural Example 1 and Structural Example 2 can be easily realized at low cost while maintaining the same seismic and load-bearing specifications as the floor panel of the double floor. In addition, the fan unit can be variably operated and the power switch can be turned ON / OFF from the upper part of the floor panel, so that the operation is easy. In addition, as described below, the problems in the prior art are also solved.

In the conventional aisle capping, since the capping including the passage is performed, a high installation cost is required and the capping itself hinders maintenance. On the other hand, the technique according to the present invention has a low cost and the fan unit is housed directly under the floor panel, so that there is no influence on maintenance.

With a conventional floor panel with a fan unit, the devices that can be cooled are limited, such as being able to cool only directly above, at a fixed angle, and up to 50 cm above the floor. On the other hand, in the technique according to the present invention, cooling can be performed from the lower part to the upper part of the rack.

A conventional commercial fan can diffuse cold air, but the installation period is provisional for several months, and it is necessary to prevent it from tipping over, which hinders maintenance. On the other hand, the technique according to the present invention has no effect on maintenance.

According to the technique according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of abnormal temperature failure of the device in the rack without imposing a load on the air conditioner in the machine room and causing maintenance hindrance.

(Summary of embodiments)
As described above, the present embodiment provides at least the air delivery device, the double floor, or the air delivery method described in each of the following items.
(Section 1)
A fan for sending air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel at the lower part of the floor panel constituting the double floor, and
An air delivery device including a variable function unit that changes the inclination of the fan with respect to the floor panel.
(Section 2)
The air delivery device according to item 1, wherein a louver for adjusting the direction of air sent from the fan is provided above the fan, and the direction of the louver on a plane parallel to the fan is variable.
(Section 3)
A fan for sending air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel at the lower part of the floor panel constituting the double floor, and
A louver that adjusts the direction of the air sent from the fan,
An air delivery device including a variable function unit that changes the horizontal orientation of the louver.
(Section 4)
The air delivery device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the fan sends air toward an ICT device mounted on a rack on the floor panel.
(Section 5)
A double floor provided with the air delivery device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 4.
(Section 6)
At the lower part of the floor panel forming the double floor, a fan for sending the air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel is tilted with respect to the floor panel.
An air delivery method for delivering air from the tilted fan.
(Section 7)
At the bottom of the floor panel that constitutes the double floor, the direction of the louver provided on the top of the fan for sending the air sent from the air conditioner to the top of the floor panel is changed.
An air delivery method for delivering air from a fan having the reoriented louver.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims.

10 Air conditioner 20 Rack 100 Fan unit 101 Fixing screw 102 Hinge 103, 104 Variable adjustment screw 105 Slit 110 Motor 111 Propeller 112 Housing 113 Screw 114 Variable operation screw

Claims (7)

A fan for sending air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel at the lower part of the floor panel constituting the double floor, and
An air delivery device including a variable function unit that changes the inclination of the fan with respect to the floor panel. The air delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a louver for adjusting the direction of air sent from the fan is provided above the fan, and the direction of the louver on a plane parallel to the fan is variable. A fan for sending air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel at the lower part of the floor panel constituting the double floor, and
A louver that adjusts the direction of the air sent from the fan,
An air delivery device including a variable function unit that changes the horizontal orientation of the louver. The air delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fan sends air toward an ICT device mounted on a rack on the floor panel. A double floor comprising the air delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. At the lower part of the floor panel forming the double floor, a fan for sending the air sent from the air conditioner to the upper part of the floor panel is tilted with respect to the floor panel.
An air delivery method for delivering air from the tilted fan. At the bottom of the floor panel that constitutes the double floor, the direction of the louver provided on the top of the fan for sending the air sent from the air conditioner to the top of the floor panel is changed.
An air delivery method for delivering air from a fan having the reoriented louver.