JP7419660B2 - Control device, storage rack, fan control system, fan control method and computer program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to drive control of a fan that exhausts air inside a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic equipment.

Electronic devices such as network devices and servers used for network connections are sometimes aggregated and stored in storage racks. There are some types of storage racks that are equipped with a fan that is installed in the housing of the storage rack and exhausts air from the inside of the housing to the outside. When the fan is driven, the heat emitted from the electronic device is exhausted from the housing to the outside, thereby suppressing the temperature rise inside the housing (inside the storage rack). ing. Drive control of the fan is performed, for example, by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the fan in accordance with a sensor output value of a temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the storage rack.

Note that Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-54216) discloses that the power consumption of an information processing device housed in a rack device is determined, and the opening and closing of intake and exhaust ducts are controlled according to the determined power consumption. The configuration is shown. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-43817) describes a configuration in which the inside of a server room is divided into a hot zone where racks for storing servers are arranged and a cool zone where no servers are arranged. It is shown. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which the amount of air from a blower is controlled so that the amount of air from the hot zone to the cool zone is approximately equal to the amount of air from the cool zone to the hot zone.

JP2017-54216A JP2010-43817A

By the way, as mentioned above, in order to suppress the temperature rise inside the storage rack, although the inside of the storage rack is exhausted by driving a fan, some areas inside the storage rack (for example, near the floor) (areas) may rise in temperature. If there is a heat-sensitive component (for example, a communication module such as a QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable) installed at a cable terminal) in an area where the temperature increases, the component will be damaged by heat. There are concerns that this may happen.

The present invention was devised to solve the above problems. That is, the main object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing a situation in which the temperature of a partial area increases (hereinafter also referred to as heat accumulation) within the housing of a storage rack that stores electronic equipment. .

In order to achieve the above object, one form of a control device according to the present invention includes:
Information regarding the rotational speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device placed in the housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information regarding the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. an acquisition unit that acquires information;
The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. and a fan control section for driving and controlling the exhaust fan so that the exhaust fan does not disturb the exhaust fan.

One form of the storage rack according to the present invention is
A housing for storing electronic equipment equipped with an air cooling fan;
an exhaust fan provided in a housing to exhaust air from the inside of the housing to the outside;
and a control device of the present invention.

One form of the fan control system according to the present invention is
Information regarding the rotational speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device placed in the housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information regarding the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. a monitoring device including an acquisition unit that acquires information;
The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. and a fan control device for driving and controlling the exhaust fan so that the exhaust fan does not disturb the exhaust fan.

One form of the fan control method according to the present invention is as follows:
Information regarding the rotational speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device placed in the housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information regarding the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. get information,
The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. The exhaust fan is controlled so that the

One form of the computer program according to the present invention is
Information regarding the rotational speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device placed in the housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information regarding the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Processing to obtain information,
The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. A computer is caused to execute a process of driving and controlling the exhaust fan so that the exhaust fan does not occur.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a heat pool in which the temperature of a partial region increases within the housing of a storage rack that stores electronic equipment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of a storage rack equipped with a control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of an electronic device stored in a storage rack. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a control device according to a first embodiment; FIG. It is a flow chart showing an example of operation in a control device of a 1st embodiment. It is a flow chart showing another example of operation in the control device of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the composition of the fan control system of a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure explaining the structure of the storage rack to which the fan control system of 2nd Embodiment is applied. It is a figure explaining other embodiments of a fan control system. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the electronic device in a 3rd embodiment. It is a figure explaining other embodiments of the control device concerning the present invention. It is a figure explaining other embodiments of the storage rack concerning the present invention. It is a figure explaining other embodiments of the fan control system concerning the present invention.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of a storage rack equipped with a control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The storage rack 1 has a housing 2 that stores electronic equipment. In the example of FIG. 1, the interior 2a of the casing 2 houses a plurality of servers 11 as electronic devices and a network switch 12 that controls network connections of the servers 11.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of electronic devices such as the server 11 and the network switch 12 that are housed in the housing 2. As shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 2, the electronic device includes a processor 31 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage device 32 such as a semiconductor memory. A processor 31 and a storage device 32 are housed inside a housing 30. An air cooling fan 34 is arranged inside the housing 30. The air cooling fan 34 connects an air supply port (not shown) provided in the casing 30, an area where the processor 31 and the storage device 32 are arranged, and an exhaust port (not shown) provided in the casing 30. The processor 31 and the like are air-cooled by generating ventilation along the path. Furthermore, a supply air temperature sensor 35 is provided inside the housing 30. The supply air temperature sensor 35 is disposed upstream of the area where the processor 31 and the storage device 32 are placed (air cooling target area) in the ventilation path driven by the air cooling fan 34. Detects the temperature of air. For example, the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 is controlled according to the temperature detected by the supply air temperature sensor 35.

In the first embodiment, the server 11 is equipped with a BMC (Base Management Controller) that is a management controller. This BMC has a configuration that complies with standard specifications based on IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface), and a description of the configuration will be omitted here.

The housing 2 of the storage rack 1 of the first embodiment has an opening for a storage space 2a in which electronic equipment having the internal configuration described above is stored, and a door 3 that can freely open and close the opening. is provided in the housing 2. The door 3 is configured to allow exhaust air to pass from the storage space 2a of the housing 2 to the outside of the housing 2. Further, the door 3 is equipped with an exhaust fan 4 (a plurality of exhaust fans 4 in the example shown in FIG. 1), and when the exhaust fan 4 is driven, the door 3 is passed from the storage space 2a of the housing 2 to the outside. Exhaust is performed. Note that the housing 2 is provided with an air supply hole (not shown) for supplying air from the outside to the storage space 2a, for example in a housing portion facing the door 3.

Further, the door 3 is provided with a heat receiving part 6 of a circulation path 5 through which a refrigerant for cooling the exhaust gas passing through the door 3 circulates. In other words, the circulation path 5 is a circulation path in which the refrigerant circulates through a heat receiving section 6 that cools the exhaust gas by exchanging heat with the refrigerant, and a heat radiating section (not shown) that cools the refrigerant by causing the refrigerant to radiate heat. It is a road. The heat receiving portion 6 of the circulation path 5 is provided in the door 3 so as to be located within the ventilation path of the exhaust gas driven by the exhaust fan 4. The circulation path 5 is provided with a refrigerant temperature sensor 7 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the heat receiving section 6 .

Further, the housing 2 is provided with a temperature sensor 8 that detects the temperature of the storage space 2a. In the first embodiment, the temperature sensor 8 is installed at a position that detects the temperature of the exhaust gas on the upstream side of the heat receiving section 6 in the ventilation path of the exhaust gas driven by the exhaust fan 4 .

Furthermore, the housing 2 is provided with a control device 10 . The control device 10 has a function of driving and controlling the exhaust fan 4. In the first embodiment, the control device 10 is connected to the BMC of the server 11 housed inside the housing 2 of the storage rack 1, and is configured to be able to acquire information from the BMC. Furthermore, the control device 10 is also connected to a network switch 12 and can acquire information from the network switch 12 as well.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of the control device 10. As shown in FIG. The control device 10 includes a processor 20 such as a CPU, and a storage device 21.

The storage device 21 is a storage medium that stores a computer program (hereinafter also referred to as a program) 27 and various data. There are various types of storage media, such as hard disk drives and semiconductor memories. Here, any type of storage medium may be employed as the storage device 21, and a description of the configuration of the storage medium will be omitted. Further, there are cases where the control device 10 is equipped with multiple types of storage media, but even in such a case, for convenience, they will be collectively referred to as the storage device 21 here.

The processor 20 can have functions based on the program 27 by reading the program 27 from the storage device 21 and executing the program 27. For example, in the first embodiment, the processor 20 includes an acquisition section 23, a lower limit setting section 24, and a fan control section 25 as functional sections.

The acquisition unit 23 has a function of acquiring the sensor output value of the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 and the sensor output value of the temperature sensor 8 at predetermined timing (for example, at every predetermined time interval). Furthermore, the acquisition unit 23 acquires information on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 from the BMC of each server 11 housed in the housing 2 of the storage rack 1 at predetermined timing (for example, at every predetermined time interval). It also has a function to acquire data. Further, the acquisition unit 23 has a function of also acquiring information on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 provided in the network switch 12, as described above.

Furthermore, the acquisition unit 23 has a function of registering the acquired sensor output value in the storage device 21 in association with information such as sensor identification information for identifying the source sensor and output time (or acquisition time) of the sensor output value. may be provided. Furthermore, the acquisition unit 23 has a function of registering the information on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 acquired from the server 11 etc. in the storage device 21 in association with information such as identification information for identifying the server 11 from which the acquisition is made and information such as the acquisition time. You may be prepared.

The lower limit value setting unit 24 has a function of setting a lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 in order to prevent a heat pool from being generated inside the housing 2 of the storage rack 1. In other words, the heat buildup inside the case 2 is caused by the amount of air generated by the air cooling fan 34 of the server 11 being greater than the amount of air generated by the exhaust fan 4 of the case 2, so that the air inside the case 2 can smoothly pass through the door 3 to the outside. This is thought to be due to the fact that it is not discharged. For this reason, the lower limit value setting unit 24 has a function of variably setting the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 so that the air volume by the exhaust fan 4 of the housing 2 does not fall below the air volume by the air cooling fan 34 of the server 11. .

In the first embodiment, the lower limit value setting unit 24 uses information on the rotation speeds of the air cooling fans 34 of the server 11 and the network switch 12 to set the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4. That is, the amount of air driven by the fan increases or decreases in proportion to the rotation speed of the fan. From this, the lower limit value setting unit 24 multiplies the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 acquired by the acquisition unit 23 by a proportionality constant predetermined based on the performance of the air cooling fan 34 to determine the air volume by the air cooling fan 34. calculate. In the first embodiment, a plurality of servers 11 and a network switch 12 are housed inside the casing 2, and since there are a plurality of air cooling fans 34, the lower limit value setting unit 24 sets the air volume by each air cooling fan 34. After the calculation, the total amount of air volume by the air cooling fans 34 is calculated. The lower limit value setting unit 24 sets the sum of the calculated air volumes as the lower limit value of the air volume by the exhaust fan 4, and uses the lower limit value of the air volume and a proportionality constant predetermined based on the performance of the exhaust fan 4, etc. Then, the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is calculated. When a plurality of exhaust fans 4 are provided, the lower limit value setting unit 24 sets the total air volume due to the drive of the plurality of exhaust fans 4 to the lower limit value of the air volume set as described above. The rotation speed is calculated as the lower limit value of the rotation speed.

The fan control unit 25 uses the sensor output value of the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 and the sensor output value of the temperature sensor 8 acquired by the acquisition unit 23 to set the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the housing 2 to the outside. The exhaust fan 4 has a function of controlling the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 so as to maintain the temperature. The method by which the fan control unit 25 controls the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is not limited here. However, in the first embodiment, the fan control unit 25 rotates the exhaust fan 4 within the rotation speed range from the lower limit value set by the lower limit value setting unit 24 to the upper limit value determined by the specifications of the exhaust fan 4. Control numbers. In other words, the upper and lower limits of the rotation speed range in which the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is variably controlled are set in advance depending on the performance and specifications of the exhaust fan 4, and normally the exhaust air is exhausted within the set fixed rotation speed range. The rotation speed of fan 4 is controlled. In contrast, in the first embodiment, the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is variably set by the lower limit value setting unit 24 depending on the drive control status of the air cooling fan 34 of the server 11 or the like. For this reason, the fan control unit 25 also performs the following processing.

For example, the fan control unit 25 calculates a candidate value of the rotation speed for controlling the exhaust fan 4 within the fixed rotation speed range as described above. Then, the fan control unit 25 compares the calculated candidate value with the lower limit value of the rotation speed set by the lower limit value setting unit 24, and if the candidate value is equal to or higher than the lower limit value, the fan control unit 25 selects the candidate value. Confirm as the target value of rotation speed. On the other hand, the fan control unit 25 compares the candidate value with the lower limit value set by the lower limit value setting unit 24, and if the candidate value is less than the lower limit value, the fan control unit 25 changes the lower limit value set by the lower limit value setting unit 24 to the target rotation speed. Confirmed as Then, the fan control unit 25 controls the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 so that the rotation speed reaches the determined rotation speed target value.

The control device 10 of the first embodiment and the storage rack 1 equipped with the same are configured as described above. Next, an example of a control operation for setting the lower limit value of the exhaust fan 4 in the control device 10 and an example of an operation for driving and controlling the exhaust fan 4 will be described using FIGS. 4 and 5. Note that FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process of setting the lower limit value of the exhaust fan 4, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process of driving and controlling the exhaust fan 4.

For example, the lower limit setting unit 24 of the control device 10 acquires information on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 from the server 11 and the network switch 12 (step S1 in FIG. 4). Then, the lower limit value setting unit 24 calculates the air volume by the air cooling fan 34 by multiplying the obtained rotational speed by a proportionality constant that is predetermined and given based on the performance of the air cooling fan 34 (step S2). Furthermore, the lower limit value setting unit 24 calculates the total amount of airflow from the air cooling fans 34 of all the electronic devices including the server 11 and the network switch 12 housed inside the housing 2 (step S3). After that, the lower limit value setting unit 24 calculates the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 from the calculated total air volume using a proportional constant that is predetermined and given based on the performance of the exhaust fan 4. (Step S4). Thereafter, the lower limit value setting unit 24 prepares for the next timing after the predetermined process start, and executes the operations from step S1 onwards when the process start timing comes.

The fan control unit 25 executes processing steps related to drive control of the exhaust fan 4 as shown in FIG. That is, the fan control unit 25 calculates a candidate value for the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 using temperature information based on the sensor output values of the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 and the temperature sensor 8 (step S11). Then, the fan control unit 25 compares the calculated candidate value with the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 calculated by the lower limit value setting unit 24, and determines whether the candidate value is equal to or greater than the lower limit value. (Step S12). As a result of this comparison, if the candidate value is greater than or equal to the lower limit value, the fan control unit 25 determines the candidate value as the target value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 (step S13). On the other hand, if the candidate value is not greater than or equal to the lower limit value (the candidate value is less than the lower limit value), the fan control unit 25 determines the lower limit value as the target value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 (step S14). Then, the fan control unit 25 controls the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 so as to reach the target rotation speed determined in this way. Such a series of processing by the fan control unit 25 is repeatedly performed.

As described above, the storage rack 1 of the first embodiment includes the housing 2, the exhaust fan 4, and the control device 10. A function is provided to set a lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 so that the air volume does not fall below the air volume produced by the air cooling fan 34. Thereby, the control device 10 and the storage rack 1 equipped with the control device 10 can prevent the air volume caused by the exhaust fan 4 from falling below the air amount caused by the air cooling fan 34. Therefore, the control device 10 and the storage rack 1 equipped with the control device 10 can prevent heat from accumulating inside the housing 2 due to the air volume by the exhaust fan 4 being lower than the air volume by the air cooling fan 34. It is possible to prevent thermal damage to parts and equipment due to heat from the heat pool.

<Second embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In a second embodiment, an embodiment of a fan control system will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the parts with the same names as those of the control device, storage rack, and electronic equipment (server and network switch) in the first embodiment, and the common parts are Duplicate explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of an embodiment of the fan control system in the second embodiment. The fan control system 15 of the second embodiment includes a monitoring device 16 and a fan control device 17. The monitoring device 16 includes an acquisition section 23 and a lower limit setting section 24. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, one of the servers 11 stored in the storage rack 1 also functions as the monitoring device 16. That is, the processor 31 of the server 11, which also has the function of the monitoring device 16, implements the acquisition section 23 and the lower limit setting section 24 by executing a program. The functions of the acquisition section 23 and the lower limit value setting section 24 are similar to those of the acquisition section 23 and the lower limit value setting section 24 described in the first embodiment.

The fan control device 17 has the same function as the fan control section 25 described in the first embodiment, and is realized by the processor 20 of the control device 10 of the storage rack 1. That is, the fan control device 17 acquires information from the acquisition unit 23 and lower limit setting unit 24 in the monitoring device 16, and also acquires temperature information from the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 and temperature sensor 8, and uses the acquired information. It has a function of driving and controlling the exhaust fan 4. In the drive control of the exhaust fan 4 by the fan control device 17, as in the first embodiment, the lower limit value of the rotation speed range in which the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is variably controlled is the lower limit set by the lower limit value setting section 24. It is a value.

Since the fan control system 15 of the second embodiment has the same functions as the acquisition unit 23, lower limit value setting unit 24, and fan control unit 25 described in the first embodiment, the control device of the first embodiment 10 and the storage rack 1 including the same can be obtained. In other words, the fan control system 15 of the second embodiment can prevent the generation of a heat pool inside the housing 2 due to the air volume by the exhaust fan 4 being lower than the air volume by the air cooling fan 34, and can prevent the heat from the heat pool from forming. This can prevent heat damage to parts and equipment caused by heat damage.

In the second embodiment, an example is described in which the monitoring device 16 is implemented by the server 11 housed in the storage rack 1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the monitoring device 16 may be realized by a server 40 outside the housing 2 of the storage rack 1. For example, the server 40 is housed in a separate storage rack.

<Third embodiment>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the description of the third embodiment, parts with the same names as those of the control device, storage rack, and electronic equipment (server and network switch) described in the first and second embodiments are given the same reference numerals. Duplicate explanation of the common parts will be omitted.

In the third embodiment, an exhaust temperature sensor 36 as shown in FIG. 9 is provided inside the housing 30 of the electronic equipment (server 11 and network switch 12) housed inside the housing 2. There is. The exhaust temperature sensor 36 is disposed downstream of the area to be air-cooled (the area where the processor 31 and the storage device 32 are located) in the ventilation path driven by the air-cooling fan 34, and is configured to detect the ventilation (exhaust air) that has passed through the area to be air-cooled. Detects the temperature of

In electronic devices such as servers, it is common that only the supply air temperature sensor 35 and the exhaust temperature sensor 36 are provided. Both of 36 are provided.

Instead of acquiring the information on the rotation speed of the cooling fan 34 from the server 11 and the network switch 12 as described in the first and second embodiments, the acquisition unit 23 of the control device 10 or the monitoring device 16 It has a function of acquiring the sensor output value of the exhaust temperature sensor 36. That is, the acquisition unit 23 acquires the sensor output value of the exhaust temperature sensor 36 from the BMC of the server 11 and the network switch 12, similarly to the case of acquiring information on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34.

Further, the lower limit value setting unit 24 sets the lower limit value of the exhaust fan 4 using the air volume based on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34 as described in the first and second embodiments. Then, the lower limit value of the exhaust fan 4 is set using the temperature of the exhaust gas detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36. For example, the lower limit value setting unit 24 determines whether the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 36 is determined by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 acquired at the same acquisition timing from all the electronic devices (server 11 and network switch 12) disposed inside the housing 2. , extract the highest detected temperature. The detected temperature extracted in this way is used as information corresponding to the air volume by the air cooling fan 34 of the electronic device. In other words, it is assumed that the change in temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 and the increase/decrease in the air volume by the air cooling fan 34 have similar trends. From this, relationship data between the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 and the lower limit of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is used to set the lower limit of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 using the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36. is determined in advance by simulation or the like and registered in the storage device 21. The lower limit value setting unit 24 sets the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 based on such relational data and the extracted temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 36. Also in the third embodiment, the set lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 prevents the air volume by the exhaust fan 4 from falling below the air volume by the air cooling fan 34, as in the first and second embodiments. The value is

The configuration other than the above in the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the control device 10 and storage rack 1 of the first embodiment or the configuration of the fan control system of the second embodiment, and redundant explanation thereof will be omitted here. . Also in the third embodiment, since the lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 4 is set as described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, in the third embodiment, the air volume by the exhaust fan 4 is prevented from becoming less than the air volume by the air cooling fan 34. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the generation of a heat pool inside the casing 2 due to the air volume by the exhaust fan 4 being lower than the air volume by the air cooling fan 34 is prevented, and the parts and parts due to the heat of the heat pool are prevented. Heat damage to the equipment is prevented.

<Fourth embodiment>
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the description of the fourth embodiment, parts with the same names as those of the control device, storage rack, and electronic equipment (server and network switch) described in the first to third embodiments are given the same reference numerals. Duplicate explanation of the common parts will be omitted.

In the fourth embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment, the server 11 and network switch 12 housed in the storage rack 1 are equipped with an exhaust temperature sensor 36. The acquisition unit 23 of the control device 10 or the monitoring device 16 acquires, from the server 11 and the network switch 12, the sensor output value (detected temperature) of the exhaust temperature sensor 36 instead of information on the rotation speed of the air cooling fan 34.

In the fourth embodiment, the lower limit value setting section 24 of the control device 10 or the monitoring device 16 is omitted. The fan control unit 25 or the fan control device 17 of the control device 10 uses the sensor output value (detected temperature) of the exhaust temperature sensor 36 acquired by the acquisition unit 23 instead of the sensor output value of the temperature sensor 8, The exhaust fan 4 is driven and controlled. The temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 used here is, for example, among the temperatures detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 acquired from all the servers 11 and network switches 12 inside the housing 2 at the same acquisition timing. This is the highest detected temperature.

As described above, the temperature of the exhaust gas detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 changes in height similar to the increase or decrease in the air volume caused by the air cooling fan 34 of the server 11 or the network switch 12. For this reason, the fan control unit 25 or the fan control device 17 of the control device 10 drives and controls the exhaust fan 4 using the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 36 instead of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8. The same effects as in the first to third embodiments can be obtained.

Further, since the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 36 is used instead of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8, the temperature sensor 8 can be omitted.

<Other embodiments>
Note that the present invention is not limited to the first to fourth embodiments, and can take various embodiments. For example, FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the control device according to the present invention. The control device 45 in FIG. 10 includes an acquisition section 46 and a fan control section 47. The acquisition unit 46 acquires information regarding the number of rotations of an air cooling fan of an electronic device placed in a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic devices equipped with an air cooling fan, or information about the number of rotations of an air cooling fan of an electronic device that is disposed in a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic devices equipped with an air cooling fan, or information about the number of rotations of an air cooling fan that is discharged from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Equipped with a function to obtain information regarding temperature. The fan control unit 47 uses the information acquired by the acquisition unit 46 to determine whether the air volume of the exhaust air by the exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is the same as the amount of air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Equipped with a function to drive and control the exhaust fan so that the air volume does not fall below the specified level. The control device 45 having such a configuration is provided, for example, in a storage rack 50 as shown in FIG. 11. That is, the storage rack 50 in FIG. 11 includes the above-mentioned control device 45 in addition to the housing 51 and the exhaust fan 52. The housing 51 is configured to house an electronic device equipped with an air cooling fan. The exhaust fan 52 is installed in the housing 51 to exhaust air from inside the housing to the outside.

The control device 45 in FIG. 10 and the storage rack 50 in FIG. 11 are arranged so that the air volume of the exhaust air by the exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of the exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Control the exhaust fan so that it does not. Therefore, the control device 45 and the storage rack 50 can obtain the same effects as in the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the fan control system according to the present invention. The fan control system 54 in FIG. 12 includes a monitoring device 55 and a fan control device 56. The monitoring device 55 includes an acquisition unit 57 . The acquisition unit 57 obtains information regarding the rotation speed of an air-cooling fan of an electronic device disposed in a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic devices equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information about the number of rotations of an air-cooling fan of an electronic device that is disposed in a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic devices equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information about the number of rotations of an air-cooling fan of an electronic device that is disposed inside a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic devices equipped with an air-cooling fan, or information about the number of rotations of an air-cooling fan of an electronic device that is disposed in a housing of a storage rack that stores electronic devices that are equipped with an air-cooling fan. Equipped with a function to obtain information regarding temperature.

The fan control device 56 uses the information acquired by the acquisition unit 57 to determine whether the air volume of the exhaust air by the exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is the same as the amount of air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Equipped with a function to drive and control the exhaust fan so that the air volume does not fall below the specified level.

This fan control system 54 can also obtain effects similar to those of the first to fourth embodiments.

1,50 Storage rack 2,51 Housing 4,52 Exhaust fan 7 Refrigerant temperature sensor 8 Temperature sensor 10,45 Control device 11 Server 12 Network switch 15,54 Fan control system 16,55 Monitoring device 17,56 Fan control device 23 , 46, 57 acquisition section 24 lower limit value setting section 25, 47 fan control section 36 exhaust temperature sensor

Claims (8)

an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the rotation speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device arranged in a housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with the air-cooling fan;
The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. and a fan control unit that controls driving of the exhaust fan so that the exhaust fan does not
The information used by the fan control unit includes a sensor output value of an exhaust temperature sensor provided inside the electronic device to detect the temperature of exhaust gas from the inside of the electronic device to the outside, and a sensor output value of an exhaust temperature sensor provided in the casing to detect the temperature of exhaust gas from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Control that includes both a sensor output value of a refrigerant temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into a part where heat exchange is performed between the exhaust gas and the refrigerant in a circulation path in which a refrigerant that cools the exhaust air from the exhaust fan circulates. Device. The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. further comprising a lower limit value setting unit that sets a lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan so that
The fan control section acquires predetermined information used for drive control of the exhaust fan, and uses the acquired information to adjust the rotation speed of the exhaust fan to the speed set by the lower limit value setting section. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed is set within a rotation speed range from a lower limit value to a predetermined upper limit value, and the exhaust fan is driven and controlled based on the set rotation speed. When a plurality of the electronic devices are stored in the housing of the storage rack, the lower limit value setting unit uses information regarding the rotation speed of the air cooling fan acquired from each of the electronic devices in the housing. the total air volume of the air cooling fan of the electronic device in the housing is calculated, and a lower limit value of the rotation speed of the exhaust fan is set so that the air volume of the exhaust air by the exhaust fan does not fall below the total air volume. The control device according to item 2 . A housing for storing electronic equipment equipped with an air cooling fan;
an exhaust fan provided in a housing to exhaust air from the inside of the housing to the outside;
A storage rack comprising the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . a monitoring device including an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the rotation speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device disposed in a housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with the air-cooling fan;
The information acquired by the acquisition unit is used to ensure that the air volume of exhaust air by an exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is less than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. and a fan control device for driving and controlling the exhaust fan so that the exhaust fan does not
The information used by the fan control device includes a sensor output value of an exhaust temperature sensor that is installed inside the electronic device and detects the temperature of exhaust gas from the inside of the electronic device to the outside, and a A fan that includes both a sensor output value of a refrigerant temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into a part that performs heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the refrigerant in a circulation path in which a refrigerant that cools the exhaust air from the exhaust fan circulates. control system. The fan control system according to claim 5 , wherein the monitoring device is located outside the housing of the storage rack. by computer,
obtaining information regarding the rotation speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device arranged in a housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with the air-cooling fan;
Using the acquired information, the air volume of the exhaust air by the exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is not lower than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. Drive and control the exhaust fan ,
The information used to control the drive of the exhaust fan includes a sensor output value of an exhaust temperature sensor that is installed inside the electronic device and detects the temperature of exhaust gas from the inside of the electronic device to the outside, and information that is installed in the casing. and a sensor output value of a refrigerant temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into a part where heat exchange is performed between the exhaust gas and the refrigerant in a circulation path in which a refrigerant that cools the exhaust air from the exhaust fan circulates. Fan control method. A process of acquiring information regarding the rotation speed of the air-cooling fan of the electronic device arranged in a housing of a storage rack that stores the electronic device equipped with the air-cooling fan;
Using the acquired information, the air volume of the exhaust air by the exhaust fan that exhausts air from the inside of the housing of the storage rack to the outside is not lower than the air volume of exhaust air exhausted from the inside of the electronic device to the outside. A computer program that causes a computer to execute a process of driving and controlling an exhaust fan, the computer program comprising:
The information used in the process of driving and controlling the exhaust fan includes a sensor output value of an exhaust temperature sensor that is installed inside the electronic device and detects the temperature of exhaust gas from the inside of the electronic device to the outside, and and a sensor output value of a refrigerant temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into a part where heat exchange is performed between the exhaust gas and the refrigerant in a circulation path in which a refrigerant that cools the exhaust air by the exhaust fan circulates. Computer programs included .

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