JPH01293415A - Pump mounting inspecting system for liquid cooling computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically inspect that the necessary number of pumps is mounted and a cooling liquid is correctly circulated at the time of the pump activation by collecting the data to show the presence and absence of the pump mounting based on the detecting output of a flow quantity sensor corresponding for the pump activation. CONSTITUTION:It is checked whether or not when a pump mounting inspection mode is set by a service processor, etc., regardless of the presence and absence of the mounting condition, for example, pumps 12a-12n are successively activated and the detecting output is obtained from corresponding flow quantity sensors 14a-14n in accordance with the prescribed sequence with the maximum pump mounting number as a premise. Thus, when the detection output is obtained from the flow quantity sensors 14a-14n, it is judged that the pumps 12a-12n are already mounted, and on the other hand, when the detection output of the flow quantity sensors 14a-14n is not obtained, it is judged that they are not mounted, and it can be immediately judged whether mounting is not executed though the mounting is scheduled or mounting is not executed since the mounting is not scheduled. Further, in order to confirm the mounting by the detection output of the flow quantity sensors 14a-14n, the mounted pumps 12a-12n circulate the cooling water normally and it can be confirmed whether or not the piping system is wrong.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Required 1] Regarding the pump mounting inspection method for a liquid-cooled computer system in which a pump is provided to supply cooling liquid under pressure to each computer unit, it is necessary to ensure that the required number of pumps are installed and that the pump is correctly operated when the pump is started. In order to automatically check that the coolant is being circulated, a flow sensor is installed in each of the coolant supply lines of the multiple pumps installed in each computer unit, and the flow rate sensor is installed in each of the coolant supply lines of the multiple pumps installed in each computer unit. The configuration is such that a plurality of pumps are sequentially activated, and data indicating whether or not the pumps are installed is collected based on the detection output of the corresponding flow rate sensor each time the pumps are activated.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a pump mounting inspection method for a liquid-cooled computer system in which a pump is provided to pressurize and supply a cooling liquid to each computer unit.

As computer systems become more densely packaged, the amount of heat generated during computer operation increases, and liquid-cooled computer systems have been put into practical use that cool computer systems by circulating cooling water to improve cooling efficiency.

In such liquid-cooled computer systems, one cooling pump is generally installed and cooling water is circulated through a separate piping system for each computer unit, but if a pump failure occurs, all units In recent years, a pump has been installed for each computer unit to improve the reliability of the cooling system.

[Prior Art] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional liquid-cooled computer system in which a cooling pump is installed for each computer unit.

In FIG. 4, the computer system is composed of a plurality of computer units such as a memory control unit 18 and a CPU 20, and each computer unit has an apparatus power control device 22.
a to 22n and converters 24a to 24n are provided, and supply power to each computer unit under the control of a system power supply control device 26. Furthermore, the system power control device 26 is connected to the service processor 28 , and the service processor 28 is connected to the service processor 28 by operating the console 30 .
enables control of power supply to each computer unit.

System power control device 26 of such a computer system
A cooling water supply device 32 is connected to the cooling water supply device 32, and a total of n including a memory control unit 18, CPU 20, etc.
A plurality of pumps 12a to 12n are provided corresponding to the ll units, and when the computer system is started up, the pumps 128 to 12n are activated in response to control commands from the service processor 28 and device power control devices 22a to 22n, and each Cooling water is supplied under pressure and circulated to the computer units corresponding to the pumps 12a to 12n.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in such conventional liquid-cooled computer systems, the number of pumps installed varies depending on the configuration of the computer system, and the number of pumps required varies depending on the configuration of the computer system. A pump is installed.

However, when the system is completed, it is impossible to know whether the planned number of pumps have been installed in each unit that requires cooling unless the cooling system is visually inspected. There was a problem that the inspection work became complicated.

Furthermore, even if the required number of units are installed, it is difficult to visually check whether the pumps are starting up properly and whether cooling water is being circulated to the intended units using the correct piping. However, there was a problem in that the confirmation work was detailed and complicated.

The present invention was made in view of these conventional problems, and it is designed to automatically check whether or not the required number of pumps are installed and whether cooling water is being circulated correctly by starting the pumps. The purpose of this paper is to provide a pump mounting inspection method for liquid cooling computer systems.

[Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the present invention includes a memory control unit, CP
The object is a liquid-cooled computer system equipped with pumps 12a to 12n that pressurize and supply cooling liquid to each of a plurality of computer units 10a to 1on such as U.

In the present invention, for such a liquid cooling computer system, flow rate sensors 14a to 14n are provided in each liquid supply line of the pumps 12a to 12n, and when a pump mounting inspection mode is set by a control unit 16 such as a service processor, Further, the pumps 12a to 12n are sequentially activated in a predetermined order, and data indicating whether or not the pumps are installed is collected based on the detection output obtained from the corresponding flow rate sensor each time the pumps are activated.

[Function] In the pump mounting inspection method of the present invention having such a configuration, when the pump mounting inspection mode is set by a service processor or the like, regardless of the presence or absence of the mounting state, the pump mounting inspection method of the present invention, for example, assumes the maximum number of pumps to be mounted, regardless of the presence or absence of the mounting state. The pumps are started in sequence according to a predetermined order, and it is checked whether a detection output is obtained from the corresponding flow sensor. If a detection output is obtained from the flow sensor, it is determined that the pump has been installed. On the other hand, if the detection output of the flow sensor is If it is not available, it is determined that it has not been implemented, and it can be immediately determined whether it is scheduled to be implemented but has not been implemented, or whether it is not scheduled to be implemented and therefore has not been implemented.

In addition, in order to confirm the implementation using the detection output of the flow sensor, the installed pump is circulating the cooling water normally.
It can be confirmed that there are no mistakes in the piping system, and if a detection output from a flow rate sensor installed in the piping system of a unit different from that of the activated pump is obtained, a piping error can be immediately known.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the computer system first has a plurality of computer units such as a memory control unit 18 and a CPU 20, and each computer unit has device power control devices 22a to 2.
2n and converters 24a to 24n are provided. The device power control devices 22a to 22n are the system power control device 2.
6 and the system power control unit @26 is further connected to a service processor 28 with a console 30.

A cooling water supply device 32 is provided for such a computer system, and the cooling water supply device 32 includes a memory control unit 18, a CPU 20. Furthermore, a plurality of pumps 128 corresponding to the computer units fin such as converters 24a to 24n are provided.
~12n and its control unit are installed.

In this embodiment, the cooling water supply line from pump 12a is connected to converters 24a to 24n as a group, the cooling water supply line of pump 12b is connected to memory control unit 18, and the cooling water supply line of pump 12n is connected to It is connected to the CPU 20. Converters 24a to 24n, memory control unit 18 and CPU 2
The cooling water that has passed through 0 is returned to the heat exchanger 34 provided in the cooling water supply device 32 through each cooling water supply line, and after dissipating heat from the cooling water returned from the computer unit side, the cooling water is returned to the pumps 12a to 12a. 12n is supplied to the suction side.

Regarding such a liquid-cooled computer system, first of all, in the present invention, a flow rate sensor 14 is installed in each of the cooling water supply lines from the pumps 12a to 12n to each computer unit.
a, '14i, and 14n are provided. Flow rate sensor 14a
, 141.14n may be, for example, a flow switch whose switch contact closes to produce a detection output when cooling water flows. Also, the flow rate sensors 14a, 1
4i and '14n are desirably installed near the unit inlet side where the cooling water supply lines for each computer unit are connected.

The detection outputs of the flow rate sensors 14a and 141.14n are transmitted to the device power control device 22 corresponding to each computer unit.
a-22n and system power control, provided to device 26. For example, in this embodiment, the detection output of the flow rate sensor 14a is given to the device power supply control device 22a corresponding to the memory control unit 18, and
The flow rate sensor 141 of n is provided to the system power supply control device 26. CPU 20 flow rate sensor 14n
The information is given to the device power supply control device 22n. Therefore, the detection output from each flow rate sensor 14a, 141114n can be sent to the service processor 28 and the control unit of the cooling water supply device @32 via the device power control device 22a, 22n and the system power control device 26.

On the other hand, the cooling water supply device 32 is connected to the system power supply control device 26.
is connected to the service processor 28 via the service processor 28, and the pump 1 is
2a to 12n can be started or stopped.

The service processor 28 has a function as a control unit that performs control processing of the pump mounting inspection method of the present invention, and when the operator sets the pump mounting inspection mode using the console 30, the
12n to sequentially start the pumps in a predetermined order, and each time the pumps are started, data indicating whether or not the pumps are installed is collected based on the detection output from the corresponding flow rate sensor.

Furthermore, as a process when the service processor 28 is set to the pump mounting inspection mode, the service processor 28 has mounting information of the maximum number of pumps that can be mounted in the liquid cooling computer system, and the service processor 28 has mounting information on the maximum number of pumps that can be mounted in the liquid cooling computer system, and the service processor 28 has mounting information on the maximum number of pumps that can be mounted in the liquid cooling computer system, and performs actual inspection within the range of the maximum number of pumps. Regardless of the number of pumps installed, the system has a function of sequentially sending pump activation commands for the maximum number of pumps and checking the detection output of the corresponding flow rate sensor. In this way, by performing the pump mounting inspection processing by the service processor 28 based on the maximum number of pumps that can be mounted in the liquid cooling computer system, even if the computer system configuration changes and the number of pumps actually mounted differs, service A common inspection process can be performed without changing the processing sequence of the processor 28 even if the actual number of pumps mounted varies within the maximum number of pumps.

Note that the above inspection process can also be performed by the control units of the system power supply control device 26 and the cooling water supply device 32 according to instructions from the service processor 28.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be explained with reference to the operation flow diagram shown in FIG.

First, when the operator sets the pump mounting inspection mode to the service processor 28 using the console 30 during the completion stage of the liquid cooling calculation system, the operation flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

That is, in setting the pump mounting inspection mode for the service processor 28, an initial pump selection is performed in step S1. For example, the pump 12a provided in the cooling water supply device 32 is selected. Subsequently, in step S2, the service processor 28 selects the selected pump 12.
A is commanded to start the pump, and the pump 12a starts.
As a result, cooling water is supplied under pressure to converters 24a to 24n.

Subsequently, in step S3, it is checked whether the detection output of the flow rate sensor 141 provided in the cooling water supply line of the pump 12a is obtained within a certain period of time after the pump is started, and the detection output of the flow rate sensor 14i is normally obtained. If so, the process advances to step S4, where it is determined that the pump 12a is installed, and the pump 12a is stopped at step S6.

On the other hand, in step S3, the detection output of the flow rate sensor 141 is 1.
If not, the process proceeds to step S5 and the pump 12
It is determined that a is not mounted, and the process proceeds to step S6 to stop the pump.

When the pump is stopped in step S6, it is checked in the next step S7 whether or not a predetermined number of pumps has been reached, for example, the maximum number n of pumps that can be implemented in the liquid cooling computer system, and it is checked whether the predetermined number n has not been reached. Sometimes step S
8, the next pump, for example pump 12b, is selected, and the process returns to step S2 to start the pump and repeat the same process.

When the processing for all pumps is completed in step S7, the process proceeds to step S9, the detected data is saved, and the series of processing is completed.

By using the pump mounting inspection apparatus according to the operation flow shown in FIG. 3, the operator can check whether the pump is mounted or not mounted by displaying the detection data saved by the service processor 28 on the console 30 at the end of the test. I can do it.

Here, regarding the unmounted pumps obtained through the inspection process, it is determined whether the pumps have not been mounted depending on the system configuration, or whether they are pumps scheduled to be mounted but have not been mounted, and whether they are planned to be mounted or not. Even if the pump is installed, if it is not installed, it is possible to know whether the pump is not installed by checking the cooling water supply device 32 and finally confirming whether or not the pump is actually installed. At this time, if the pump that was determined to be uninstalled is actually installed, and the pump installation inspection process yields uninstalled data even though the pump is actually installed, the pump is started. However, the pump could not actually be started, or even if the pump was started, cooling water could not be supplied to the corresponding computer unit due to clogged piping, etc. It can be restored to normal condition by replacing itself or inspecting the piping system.

Furthermore, the inspection data from the pump mounting inspection process performed at the completion stage of the liquid cooling computer system is sent to the service processor 2.
8, therefore, during periodic inspections performed while the system is in operation, the inspection data of the pump mounting inspection process performed during the periodic inspection is compared with the inspection data saved in advance in the service processor 28. By doing so, it is possible to easily determine whether there is a pump failure or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically inspect whether or not a pump scheduled for implementation has actually been installed, which simplifies inspection work that was previously performed visually. The installation status of the pump can be quickly and appropriately grasped, and it is possible to reliably prevent pumps from not being installed at the system completion stage.

In addition, since the presence or absence of the mounting state is determined from the detection output of the flow sensor when detection is started, when the detection output of the flow sensor is obtained, it is not only possible to check the mounting state of the pump.
It can be confirmed that cooling water is being normally supplied to the scheduled computer units, and the reliability of the cooling system can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an operational flow diagram of the present invention: FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional liquid-cooled computer system. In the figure, 10a-10n: Computer unit 12a-12n: Pump 14a-14n: Flow rate sensor 16: Control unit 18: Memory control unit 20: CPU 22a to 22n: device power supply control device 24a-24n: converter 26: System power control device 28: Service processor 30: Console 32: Cooling water supply device 34: Heat exchanger Fushichichiro Month 6 and Sanri Fortune Telling Figure 1 For Iζ complete 1, F1 heavy drops 〇-diagram Figure 3 Figure 4 of the March map of the Fukudai system

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a liquid-cooled computer system equipped with a pump (12a-12n) that supplies cooling liquid under pressure to each of a plurality of computer units (10a-10n), each liquid supply line of the pump (12a-12n) are provided with flow rate sensors (14a to 14n), and when the control unit (16) sets a pump mounting inspection mode, the pumps (12a to 12n) are sequentially started according to a predetermined order, and the pumps are responded to each time the pumps are started. A pump mounting inspection method for a liquid cooling computer system characterized by collecting data indicating whether or not a pump is mounted based on a detection output from a flow sensor. (2) The control unit (16) has implementation information of the maximum number of pumps that can be implemented in the liquid cooling computer system, and regardless of the actual number of pumps that can be implemented within the range of the maximum number of pumps, the control unit (16) 2. The pump mounting inspection method for a liquid cooling computer system according to claim 1, wherein the pump start commands for the number of pumps are sequentially sent out and the detected outputs of the corresponding flow rate sensors are checked.