JP3319435B2 - Method and apparatus for cooling heat-generating equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for a heat-generating device that cools the heat-generating device using a refrigerant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to stably operate an electric device, a heat radiating plate is attached to a heat generating device such as a transformer or a circuit board, or a housing box for storing the heat generating device or the whole of the electric device. A configuration in which cooling is performed by air cooling or the like using a fan is employed.

[0003]

However, in the conventional air cooling, a configuration in which a heat radiating plate is simply attached has a low cooling efficiency, requires a large heat radiating area, causes an increase in size, and causes an error due to a rise in the temperature of electric equipment. Operation may also occur.

Further, in a configuration in which a cooling device is used for forced cooling using a fan or the like, it is necessary to always drive and cool the fan during operation of the heat-generating device, and there is a problem that the operating cost for driving the fan increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device for a heat-generating device that can efficiently and inexpensively cool.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling device for a heat-generating device, comprising: an inner container having a high thermal conductivity for accommodating the heat-generating device; an outer container for accommodating the inner container; Refrigerant accommodated convectively between the inner container, a tank that accommodates the refrigerant and communicates with the outer container so that the refrigerant in the outer container can be replaced with the refrigerant, and the temperature of the upper refrigerant in the outer container. A temperature difference detecting means for detecting a temperature difference between the lower refrigerant, and a refrigerant exchange for exchanging the refrigerant in the outer container with the refrigerant in the tank when the temperature difference detected by the temperature difference detecting means reaches a predetermined value or more. Means. The cooling device for a heating device according to claim 2 is the cooling device for a heating device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant replacement unit includes a flow unit that flows the refrigerant in the tank, and an upper portion of the outer container and an upper portion of the tank. An upper communicating portion communicating with the lower container and a lower communicating portion communicating with a lower portion of the outer container and a lower portion of the tank are provided. The cooling device for a heating device according to claim 3 is the cooling device for a heating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature difference detecting means includes an upper temperature sensor disposed at an upper portion in the outer container and the outer container. And a lower temperature sensor disposed in a lower part of the inside. A cooling device for a heating device according to claim 4 is the cooling device for a heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner container includes:
It has a heat exchange part having a large surface area and irregularities. The cooling device for the heat-generating device according to the fifth aspect is the cooling device according to the first to fourth aspects.
In the cooling device for a heating device according to any one of the above, the outer container is formed of a member having low thermal conductivity. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling device for a heat generating device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the outer container is vertically elongated.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the configuration of a cooling device for a heat-generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a cooling device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling device 1 is made of a material such as a metal having a good thermal conductivity for transmitting heat well to the outside, and an inner container 2 for housing the entire heat generating device in a sealed state. have. And the outer surface of this inner container 2
Heat exchange part 2a formed unevenly so as to increase the surface area
Is provided.

Further, the cooling device 1 has an outer container 3 formed of a member having a low thermal conductivity that does not leak heat to the outside and containing the inner container 2 in a sealed state. And between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3, the refrigerant | coolant 4 is accommodated so that convection is possible. Preferably, at least the outer container 3 is formed in a longitudinal shape along the vertical direction. The coolant 4 is preferably a liquid that is not denatured by heat exchange.

The upper and lower portions of the outer container 3 include
An upper temperature sensor 5 and a lower temperature sensor 6 as temperature detecting means for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant 4 are provided, respectively.

Further, the cooling device 1 has a spare tank 8 formed of a member such as a metal having a good thermal conductivity for transmitting heat to the outer container 3 well and containing a refrigerant. An upper communication portion 9 is provided above the spare tank 8 so as to communicate with the upper portion of the outer container 3 and allow the refrigerant 4 to flow therethrough. In addition, a lower communication portion 10 that communicates with the lower portion of the outer container 3 and allows the refrigerant 4 to flow therethrough is provided below the auxiliary tank 8. Further, in the spare tank 8,
A fan 11 is provided for flowing the internal refrigerant 4 and exchanging the refrigerant 4 in the outer container 3 with the refrigerant 4 in the auxiliary tank 8 via the upper communication part 9 and the lower communication part 10. In addition,
The present invention is not limited to the fan 11 and may be any configuration that allows the coolant 4 to flow and be replaced, such as a screw.

The fan 11 is connected to the upper temperature sensor 5
It is driven only when the difference between the temperatures measured by the first and second temperature sensors 6 reaches a predetermined temperature difference, and is not driven when the temperature difference is equal to or smaller than the predetermined temperature difference.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the heat-generating equipment generates heat by operating normally, the generated heat is transmitted to the refrigerant 4 via the inner container 2 and heat is exchanged between the heat-generating equipment and the refrigerant 4. The refrigerant 4 receiving the heat from the heat-generating device generates natural convection in the outer container 3 (step 1).

The upper temperature sensor 5 and the lower temperature sensor 6 detect the temperature of the refrigerant 4 by operating the heat-generating equipment, and recognize the temperature difference by control means (not shown).

Then, the control means determines whether or not the difference between the temperatures detected by the upper temperature sensor 5 and the lower temperature sensor 6 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (step 2).

If it is determined in step 2 that the temperature difference detected by the control means has not reached a predetermined value or more, the process returns to step 2. Also,
If it is determined in step 2 that the temperature difference detected by the control means has reached a predetermined value or more, control is performed to drive the fan 11 (step 3).

Further, it is determined again whether or not the difference between the temperatures detected by the upper temperature sensor 5 and the lower temperature sensor 6 has reached a predetermined value (step 4).

In step 4, the temperature difference detected by the control means has not reached a predetermined value or less, that is, the refrigerant 4 in the outer container 3 and the auxiliary tank 8
If it is determined that the refrigerant 4 has not been replaced, the process returns to step 4 again. If it is determined in step 4 that the temperature difference detected by the control means has reached a predetermined value or less, that is, that the refrigerant 4 in the outer container 3 and the refrigerant 4 in the spare tank 8 have been replaced, Then, the driving of the fan 11 is stopped (step 5), and
Return to The refrigerant 4 replaced in the spare tank 8
Is cooled by heat exchange with the outside air from the outer surface of the spare tank 8.

As described above, the heat-generating device is housed in the inner container 2 formed of a member having a high thermal conductivity by being brought into contact with the externally convective refrigerant 4, and the temperature difference between the upper and lower portions of the refrigerant 4 is reduced. As a result, the cooling medium 4 is replaced with the cooling medium 4 contained in the spare tank 8 formed of a member having a high thermal conductivity, so that the fan 11 only needs to be driven at the time of replacement, and the operating cost can be reduced.

Further, since the heat exchange with the refrigerant 4 which facilitates heat transfer is performed and the solvent 4 is appropriately replaced with the solvent 4 which is cooled in the spare tank 8, a heat radiating plate or the like having a large area is not required, and the heat exchange is efficiently performed. And can be easily miniaturized.

Further, since the heat-generating device is sealed, even if the heat-generating member ignites or smokes, the heat-generating member can be used safely and cleanly without leaking to the outside, and there is no possibility that the surroundings will be adversely affected.

Since the inner container 2 is provided with the heat exchanging portion 2a, the heat exchanging property with the refrigerant 4 can be improved, and malfunction or damage due to heat generated by the heat generating device can be prevented.

Further, since the outer container 3 is formed of a member having low thermal conductivity, a temperature difference between the upper portion and the lower portion easily occurs due to the convection of the refrigerant 4, and the temperature difference can be easily detected.

Furthermore, by forming the outer container 3 in a vertically long shape in the vertical direction, a temperature difference between the upper portion and the lower portion is easily caused by the convection of the refrigerant 4, and the temperature difference can be easily detected.

Since the temperature difference is detected by the upper temperature sensor 5 and the lower temperature sensor 6, the temperature difference can be easily detected with a simple configuration.

The spare tank 8 and the outer container 3 are communicated with each other through the upper communication portion 9 and the lower communication portion 10, and the cooling medium 4 is replaced by rotating the fan as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, the inner container 2
Although the heat exchanging section 2a is provided in the above description, the heat exchanging section 2a need not be provided if the heat exchange with the refrigerant 4 is efficiently performed.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the heat-generating device is housed in an inner container formed of a member having high thermal conductivity in contact with the convective refrigerant 4 outside, and the temperature difference between the upper and lower portions of the refrigerant. Is generated, the cooling medium is replaced with a refrigerant housed in a tank formed of a member having a high thermal conductivity, so that the fan only needs to be driven at the time of the replacement, and the operating cost can be reduced.

Further, heat exchange is performed with a refrigerant which can easily transfer heat,
Since the solvent is appropriately replaced with the solvent cooled in the spare tank, a heat radiating plate having a large area is not required, heat can be efficiently exchanged, and the size can be easily reduced.

Further, since the heat-generating device is sealed, even if the heat-generating member ignites or smokes, it can be used safely and clean without leaking to the outside, and there is no possibility that the surroundings will be adversely affected.

By providing a heat exchange section in the inner container, the heat exchange property with the refrigerant can be improved, and malfunction or damage due to heat generated by the heat generating device can be prevented.

Further, since the outer container is formed of a member having a low thermal conductivity, a temperature difference between the upper portion and the lower portion easily occurs due to convection of the refrigerant, and the temperature difference can be easily detected.

Further, by forming the outer container in a vertically long shape, a temperature difference between the upper portion and the lower portion is easily caused by the convection of the refrigerant, and the temperature difference can be easily detected.

Further, since the temperature difference is detected by the upper temperature sensor and the lower temperature sensor, the temperature difference can be easily detected with a simple configuration.

The spare tank and the outer container are communicated with each other through the upper communication portion and the lower communication portion, and the cooling medium is replaced by appropriately rotating the fan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cooling device for a heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a cooling operation according to the first embodiment;

[Description of Signs] 1 Cooling device 2 Inner container 2a Heat exchange unit 3 Outer container 4 Refrigerant 5 Upper temperature sensor 6 Lower temperature sensor 8 Spare tank 9 Upper communication unit 10 Lower communication unit 11 Fan

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A container having a high thermal conductivity for accommodating a heating device, an outer container for accommodating the inner container, a refrigerant convectively accommodated between the outer container and the inner container, A tank that contains a refrigerant and communicates with the outer container so that the refrigerant in the outer container can be exchanged with the refrigerant in the outer container; and a temperature difference detecting unit that detects a temperature difference between a temperature of the upper refrigerant and a lower temperature of the refrigerant in the outer container; A cooling device for a heat-generating device, comprising: a refrigerant exchange unit that exchanges the refrigerant in the outer container with the refrigerant in the tank when the temperature difference detected by the temperature difference detection unit reaches a predetermined value or more. 2. A refrigerant exchange means for flowing a refrigerant in a tank, an upper communication part communicating an upper part of the outer container and an upper part of the tank, and a communication part between a lower part of the outer container and a lower part of the tank. The cooling device for a heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a lower communication portion. 3. The temperature difference detecting means includes an upper temperature sensor disposed in an upper portion of the outer container and a lower temperature sensor disposed in a lower portion of the outer container. 3. The cooling device for a heat-generating device according to 1 or 2. 4. The cooling device for a heat-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the inner container has a heat exchange portion having a large surface area and unevenness. 5. The cooling device for a heating device according to claim 1, wherein the outer container is formed of a member having low thermal conductivity. 6. The cooling device for a heat-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the outer container is vertically elongated.