JPH04315498A - Method of cooling electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively utilize cooling air by stopping a cooling mechanism such as a fan, when air flow rate detecting means detects a large air flow rate. CONSTITUTION:In the case of an underfloor air conditioning in which pressurized cooling air is fed from an underfloor 6, opening/closing means 13 is opened by the pressure of the air, and the air is fed into a device 5 through passages 10, 11. In this case, a skirt is mounted around a lower part of the device 5 to block a gap to a floor surface 19, thereby preventing leakage of the air. On the other hand, in the case of air conditioning in the room by lowering a temperature in the room, since the cooling air does not have a pressure, the means is closed, and the air is sucked by a fan 14 through the passage 11. When air flow rate detecting means 15 detects a large air flow rate, the fan 14 is stopped. Thus, the air can be effectively utilized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of cooling an electronic device such as a magnetic disk drive used as an external storage device of a computer system.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, magnetic disk drives have been used in large quantities in computer systems, and their proportion in computer rooms continues to increase.

[0003] Furthermore, as magnetic disk drives have become smaller and their installation floor area has been reduced, the number of machines has increased, and it has become necessary to increase the capacity of air conditioning systems in computer rooms. In small-sized systems, an indoor air conditioning method as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 9 is generally adopted.

In the figure, 1 is an air conditioner, 2 is a blower duct that guides cooling air from the air conditioner, and 3 is a temperature sensor that detects the indoor temperature. The device 5 is cooled by sucking indoor cooling air from the bottom of the device 5.

[0005] The cooling air is sucked in by the chimney effect of the device 5 or by a fan provided in the device 5. On the other hand, in computer rooms of large systems, an underfloor air conditioning method as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 10 is generally employed.

[0006] In this method, cooling air from the air conditioner 1 is sent to the underfloor 6 between the free access floor 4 and the base 21, and the pressurized cooling air is sent from the underfloor 6 to the cooling unit provided at the bottom of the device 5. The air that cools the device 5 is blown into the inside of the device 5 through the air intake port 7.
The air is absorbed by a return duct 8 disposed above the air conditioner 1 and returned to the air conditioner 1.

In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes a sensor for detecting the temperature of cooling air from the air conditioner 1. This underfloor air conditioning method has good cooling efficiency and is extremely effective compared to indoor air conditioning methods when the heat density from the device 5 is high or when the layout is complicated.

[0008] Therefore, the device 5 is required to be compatible with both air conditioning methods.

[0009]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Even with the above-mentioned underfloor air conditioning method, it is difficult to uniformly air condition a wide area, and the air conditioning conditions vary depending on the installation location of the device.

[0010] Equipment close to the air conditioner is supplied with a sufficient amount of cooling air because the pressure of the cooling air is strong, but equipment far away from the air conditioner is supplied with a sufficient amount of cooling air because the pressure of the cooling air is low. It happens that cooling air is not supplied.

[0011] As a countermeasure to this problem, increasing the number of air conditioners or increasing the capacity of the air conditioners is carried out, but this increases equipment costs and maintenance costs, which is uneconomical. On the other hand, if an excessive amount of air is supplied to the device, the rotation speed of the fan may be lowered if the device uses a specific fan, for example, a fan that changes its rotation speed depending on the load situation. However, if the device is equipped with a circuit that monitors the number of rotations of the fan and generates a fan alarm, there is a problem that the fan alarm of the device may be erroneously activated.

[0012] Furthermore, a problem arises in that a device installed near a device with a large displacement is affected by the device and the amount of air supplied decreases. In general, it is possible to equalize the air conditioning conditions to the devices by measuring the amount of cooling air supplied to each device and adjusting the opening area of the floor surface that supplies cooling air from the bottom of the device. The number of man-hours and costs required for changes will be large.

[0013] Another problem is that it is difficult to deal with the addition of equipment or changes to the system. The present invention
The purpose is to provide a cooling method that is not affected by the installation environment and can efficiently support both indoor air conditioning methods and underfloor air conditioning methods, and that can improve air conditioning efficiency and simplify air conditioning equipment. .

[0014]

[Means for solving the problem] In the present invention, FIG.
As shown in the enlarged view of the main part, it is used in both an underfloor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows into the device 5 from under the floor 6, and an indoor air conditioning method in which indoor cooling air is drawn into the device 5. A method for cooling an electronic device, which includes an air volume detection means 15 for detecting the amount of cooling air supplied, and is capable of stopping a cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan when the air volume detection means 15 detects a large air volume. It is.

Alternatively, a setting means 15' for setting the underfloor air conditioning method is provided, and the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan can be stopped depending on the settings of the setting means 15'. Alternatively, the detection of the fan alarm 21' of the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan can be stopped when the air volume detection means 15 detects that the air volume is large.

Further, the cooling air intake port 7 of the device is equipped with a wind speed detection means 16 for detecting the wind speed of the cooling air, and when the wind speed detection means 16 detects a decrease in wind speed, an alarm 21 is generated and the fan etc. The cooling mechanism 14 is activated.

Furthermore, when the wind speed detecting means 16 detects that the wind speed is high, a fan alarm 21 of the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan is activated.
The cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan can be stopped by stopping the detection of '.

[0018]

[Operation] When the air volume detection means 15 detects that the amount of cooling air flowing in from under the floor is large, the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan
stop.

Furthermore, depending on the setting of the underfloor air conditioning method in the setting means 15', the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan can be stopped. Further, when the air volume detection means 15 detects that the air volume is large, the detection of the fan alarm 21' of the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan can be stopped.

Further, when a decrease in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detection means 16, an alarm 21 is generated. Further, when a decrease in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detection means 16, the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan is activated.

Furthermore, when an increase in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detection means 16, the detection of the fan alarm 21' can be stopped. Furthermore, when an increase in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detection means 16, the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan is operated to be stopped.

[0022]

[Embodiment] In the present invention, as shown in the enlarged view of the main part of FIG. A first path 10 flowing into the device 5 and a first path 10
and a second path 11 adjacent to the first path 10, and an opening/closing means 1 that opens or closes the partition plate 12 between the first path 10 and the second path 11 by the pressure of the cooling air flowing in from the underfloor 6.
3, and the second path 11 is a cooling mechanism such as a fan (hereinafter referred to as a fan) that flows cooling air from the first path 10.
It is equipped with 14.

In such a configuration, in the case of an under-floor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows in from the under-floor 6, the opening/closing means 13 is opened by the pressure of the cooling air, and the opening/closing means 13 is opened by the pressure of the cooling air, and the opening/closing means 13 is opened by the pressure of the cooling air. Cooling air flows into the interior of the device 5 through a path 11 .

At this time, a skirt is attached around the lower part of the device 5 to close the gap with the floor surface 19 and prevent leakage of cooling air. On the other hand, in the case of an indoor air conditioning method that lowers the indoor temperature and cools the room, the opening/closing means 13 is blocked because there is no pressure in the cooling air, and the cooling air is sucked through the second path 11 by the fan 14. This is what I did.

At this time, the cooling air is distributed between the lower part of the device 5 and the floor surface 1.
9, that is, a gap corresponding to the height of the pedestal 20. Alternatively, as shown in the enlarged view of the main part in FIG. 2, the opening/closing means 13 described above is provided in the first path 10, and the second path 11 constitutes a flow path independent of the first path 10 for cooling. A fan 14 for sucking air may be provided so that it is not affected by fluctuations in the amount of air caused by the opening/closing means 13 provided in the first path 10.

The opening/closing means 13 includes a plurality of plate-like pieces 17 arranged in a line, which can be opened and closed, for example, as shown by arrows A-B. In addition, depending on the air conditioning method, the opening/closing means 13 can be manually operated in advance.
It may be configured to set the opening/closing of the air conditioner, or to perform settings according to the air conditioning method using a setting circuit or the like.

The opening/closing means 13 includes an air volume detection switch that detects the opening/closing state of the opening/closing means 13 and detects the amount of cooling air passing therethrough depending on whether the underfloor air conditioning method is used or the opening/closing means 13 is in an open state. It is provided as means 15 (hereinafter referred to as a switch).

The actuator 15a of the switch 15 is located so as to be in contact with the plate-shaped piece 17, and the switch 15 is activated when the plate-shaped piece 17 is opened by a predetermined angle or more. Therefore, when the opening/closing means 13 is manually opened, the switch 15 is activated and operates as the underfloor air conditioning setting means 15'.

The operation of the cooling method will be described below with reference to block diagrams. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, when the switch 15, which is the cooling air flow rate detection means, detects the open state of the opening/closing means 13 and detects that the underfloor air conditioning method is used, the signal is sent to the fan power supply 22. The cooling mechanism 14, such as a fan, is stopped.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan may be stopped by a switch 15' that sets the underfloor air conditioning method. As a result, the use of the fan 14 is avoided during underfloor air conditioning, the underfloor air conditioning can be effectively utilized, and the device 5 can operate in an energy-saving manner.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, when the air volume detection means 15 detects the open state of the opening/closing means 13 and detects that the amount of cooling air is excessive, a signal is sent to the alarm circuit 2.
3 and stops alarm detection.

If the device 5 uses a specific fan, for example, a fan 14 whose rotational speed is changed depending on the load condition, an excessive air volume will reduce the rotational speed of the fan 14 and cause a fan alarm. occurs, so fan alarm detection is stopped.

Accordingly, even if an excessive amount of cooling air is supplied, in the case of the special fan 14 described above, it is possible to avoid erroneous activation of the fan alarm 21'. The fan 14 is, for example, a DC fan using a DC brushless motor, and has a function of outputting a pulse synchronized with rotation as a rotation detection signal.

The fan alarm drive circuit 23
A rotation signal is received from 4, and if the rotation speed falls below a predetermined value, a fan alarm 21' is generated and sent to the magnetic disk control device and CPU.

Furthermore, the wind speed of the cooling air flowing in from the lower part of the device 5 is detected by the wind speed detecting means 16 provided in the first path 10, and when a decrease in the wind speed is detected, the block diagram of FIG. The signal drives an alarm drive circuit 23 to generate a fan alarm 21, as shown in FIG.

This makes it possible to protect the device 5 even if the cooling air runs out due to an abnormality in the underfloor air conditioner 1 while the fan 14 is stopped. Further, when a decrease in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detecting means 16, a signal is sent to the fan power source 22 as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7, and the fan power source 22 starts the fan 14.

This makes it possible to start the fan 14 even if there is no cooling air due to an abnormality in the underfloor air conditioner 1 while the fan 14 is stopped. It can efficiently respond to variations in air conditioning.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8, when an increase in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detecting means 16 and a signal is sent to the alarm circuit 23, the alarm circuit 23 sets the fan alarm 21'. detection can be stopped.

Accordingly, even if an excessive amount of cooling air is supplied, in the case of the special fan 14 described above, it is possible to avoid erroneous activation of the fan alarm 21'. Furthermore, when an increase in wind speed is detected by the wind speed detection means 16, a signal is sent to the fan power supply 22 as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
The fan power supply 22 is sent to the cooling mechanism 14 such as a fan.
It operates so that it can be stopped.

[0040] This makes it possible to effectively utilize the underfloor air conditioning, making it possible to operate the device in an energy-saving manner, and also making it possible to
It can efficiently deal with variations in air conditioning depending on the installation location. In any of the above cases, if the device 5 is for indoor air cooling, the fan 14 is used normally.

The wind speed detecting means 16 includes, for example, a resistor which is a heating element, a magnet which is sensitive to temperature, and a reed switch which is sensitive to changes in the magnetic force. In the figure, reference numeral 24 denotes a dust filter, which removes dust contained in the cooling air and prevents it from flowing into the apparatus.

[0042]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device that can efficiently handle both indoor air conditioning and underfloor air conditioning. It has great economic and industrial effects, such as being able to be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1: An enlarged view of the main parts of the method for cooling an electronic device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of main parts showing another embodiment of the method for cooling an electronic device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a third method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a fourth method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a fifth method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a sixth method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a seventh method of cooling an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an indoor air conditioning method to which the present invention is applied;

[Fig. 11] An explanatory diagram of an underfloor air conditioning method to which the present invention is applied,

[Explanation of symbols]

5 equipment,
6 Under the floor, 7 Cooling air intake,
10 first route, 11 second route,
12 partition plate, 13 opening/closing means,
14 Fan (cooling mechanism), 15
Air volume detection means (switch), 15' Underfloor air conditioning method setting means, 15a Actuator,
16 Wind speed detection means, 17
plate-shaped piece,
19 floor, 20 feet,
21 alarm, 21' fan alarm,
22 Power supply for fan, 23 Alarm circuit, 24
dust filter,

Claims (7)

[Claims] [Claim 1] An underfloor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows from under the floor (6) into the inside of the device (5);
A cooling method for an electronic device used in both an indoor air conditioning method that sucks indoor cooling air into a device (5), comprising an air volume detection means (15) for detecting the amount of cooling air supplied; A method for cooling an electronic device, characterized in that a cooling mechanism (14) such as a fan can be stopped when an air volume detection means (15) detects a large air volume. [Claim 2] An underfloor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows from under the floor (6) into the inside of the device (5);
A cooling method for an electronic device used in both an indoor air conditioning method in which indoor cooling air is sucked into a device (5), comprising a setting means (15') for setting an underfloor air conditioning method, the setting means (15') A cooling method for an electronic device, characterized in that a cooling mechanism (14) such as a fan can be stopped depending on the setting of . [Claim 3] An underfloor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows from under the floor (6) into the inside of the device (5);
A cooling method for an electronic device used in both an indoor air conditioning method that sucks indoor cooling air into a device (5), comprising an air volume detection means (15) for detecting the amount of cooling air supplied; When the air volume detection means (15) detects that the air volume is large, the fan alarm (21) of the cooling mechanism (14) such as a fan is activated.
´) A cooling method for an electronic device characterized by being able to stop the detection of 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the cooling air intake port (7) is provided with a wind speed detection means (16) for detecting the wind speed of the cooling air, and the wind speed detection means (16)
A method for cooling an electronic device, characterized in that an alarm (21) is generated when a decrease in wind speed is detected. 5. A wind speed detection means for detecting the wind speed of the cooling air at the cooling air intake (7) of the device according to claim 2.
16), and when the wind speed detection means (16) detects a decrease in wind speed, a cooling mechanism (14) such as a fan is activated. [Claim 6] An underfloor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows from under the floor (6) into the inside of the device (5);
A cooling method for electronic equipment used in both an indoor air conditioning method that sucks indoor cooling air into a device (5), and a wind speed detection means that detects the wind speed of cooling air at a cooling air intake (7) of the device. (16), the wind speed detection means (1
6) detects that the wind speed is high, the cooling mechanism such as a fan (14)
) A cooling method for an electronic device, characterized in that detection of a fan alarm (21') can be stopped. [Claim 7] An underfloor air conditioning method in which pressurized cooling air flows from under the floor (6) into the inside of the device (5);
A cooling method for electronic equipment used in both an indoor air conditioning method that sucks indoor cooling air into a device (5), and a wind speed detection means that detects the wind speed of cooling air at a cooling air intake (7) of the device. (16), the wind speed detection means (1
6) detects that the wind speed is high, the cooling mechanism such as a fan (14)
) A method for cooling an electronic device, characterized by being able to stop.