JPH0575284A - Cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a dew-forming phenomenon at a preparation stage etc., for starting a cooling device. CONSTITUTION:A control part 2 monitors a temperature of a liquid refrigerant 8 by a refrigerant temperature sensor 7 and at the same time monitors the air temperature within a chamber at a location where a device is installed by an air-temperature sensor 13. The control part 2 calculates a difference between the temperature of air in the chamber obtained by the air-temperature sensor 13 and that of the liquid refrigerant 8 obtained by the refrigerant temperature sensor 7. The control part 2 drives fans 4a and 4b and a pump 6 when the difference between the temperature of air within the chamber and that of the liquid refrigerant 8 reaches a preset specified value, thus enabling a temperature of the liquid refrigerant to be brought closer to that of air within the chamber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cooling device, and more particularly to a cooling system for exhausting heat to indoor air without using a refrigerator in a cooling device for an electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in cooling an electronic device having a high heat generation density, a liquid cooling system is often adopted to compensate for the insufficient cooling capacity of the air cooling system. In this liquid cooling method, a liquid cooling medium is caused to flow on a flat plate, and a heat generating element of an electronic device is closely attached to the flat plate to transfer heat generated by the heat generating element to the liquid cooling medium, or the heat generating element itself is directly immersed in the liquid cooling medium. There is a method to cool it.

However, although the above liquid cooling system is excellent in cooling capacity, it has a problem that dew condensation occurs due to the relationship between the liquid temperature and the ambient temperature, and the temperature and humidity are strictly controlled to prevent the dew condensation phenomenon. There is a need to. In particular, dew condensation that causes serious damage to electronic components that dislike water is a phenomenon that must be absolutely avoided. In order to avoid this phenomenon, measures are generally taken such as limiting the temperature and humidity conditions of the room in which the device is installed, or limiting the temperature of the liquid refrigerant within a narrow range.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the room temperature and humidity and the surface temperature of the heating element and the piping portion after the start of the operation of the conventional air conditioner. As shown by the curve A in the figure, the room temperature rises from the temperature T1 to the temperature T2 immediately after the air conditioner operation start time b. The slope of the curve A is larger than the slope of the curve E showing the rise of the surface temperature of the heating element and the piping portion which changes from the temperature TC1 to the temperature TC3. This is because the pipe section and the liquid refrigerant filled therein have a large heat capacity, and the heating element is also in close contact with the pipe section, and therefore does not follow the rise in room temperature.

On the other hand, in order to prevent static electricity which causes malfunction of the device, the humidifier operates so as to maintain a predetermined relative humidity and water is supplied to the room, so that the relative humidity is shown by the curve C. Thus, the humidity changes from R1 to R2. Therefore, as shown by the curve D, the dew point indicating the condensation temperature changes from the temperature TD1 to the temperature TD2, which is a high temperature.

However, since the surface temperature of the heating element and the piping portion does not follow the room temperature as described above, the dew point may be reached below the dew point to cause a dew condensation phenomenon, which may seriously impair the apparatus. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the region between time c and time d, the surface temperature of the heating element, the piping portion, etc. is below the dew point, and dew condensation occurs.

In such a conventional cooling system, measures are taken such as limiting the temperature and humidity conditions of the room and limiting the temperature of the liquid refrigerant within a narrow range in order to avoid the dew condensation phenomenon. Since these measures are effective after the apparatus reaches a steady state after the start of operation, there is a problem that a dew condensation phenomenon often occurs in the preparation stage for starting the operation of the apparatus. That is, when the room temperature is low in cold regions and winter, a problem immediately after the start of operation of the air conditioner becomes a problem.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides a cooling device capable of preventing the occurrence of dew condensation at the preparation stage for starting the operation of the device. For the purpose of provision.

[0009]

A cooling device according to the present invention comprises a circulation means for circulating a cooling medium for cooling a heat generating portion of an electronic device, and a heat exchange means for exchanging heat between the cooling medium and room air at a location where the electronic device is arranged. A cooling device comprising: a refrigerant temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant; an air temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the indoor air; a detection value of the refrigerant temperature detecting means and the air temperature detecting means. Determination means for determining whether or not the difference between the detected value and the predetermined value is set in advance,
Control means for controlling to drive the circulation means and the heat exchange means when the determination means detects that the predetermined value is reached when the heat generating portion is not generating heat is provided.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the liquid refrigerant 8 transferred to the indoor air in the heat exchanger 3 of the cooling device 1 is accumulated in the tank 5, and then passes through the pump 6 and the pipe 9 to the heat generating portion 12 of the electronic device 10. Supplied. The liquid refrigerant 8 supplied to the heat generating portion 12 takes heat from the heat generating portion 12 to increase its temperature, and then the pipe 9
To return to the heat exchanger 3.

Further, the control unit 2 of the cooling device 1 has the electronic device 1
When a signal indicating that the heat generating portion 12 has generated heat is received from the control unit 11 of 0 through the signal line 100, a driving signal is sent to the fans 4a and 4b and the pump 6 through the signal lines 101 and 102 to perform the cooling operation. Control to start. In addition, the control unit 2 monitors the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 by the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 and monitors the air temperature in the room where the apparatus is installed by the air temperature sensor 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 2 of the cooling device 1 of FIG. In the figure, an amplifier 21 of the control unit 2 indicates an air temperature sensor 13 input via a signal line 100a.
A / D (analog / digital) by amplifying the signal from
Output to the converter 23. The amplifier 22 amplifies the signal from the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 input via the signal line 101 to A
Output to the / D converter 23. The A / D converter 23 converts the signal amplified by the amplifiers 21 and 22 from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the microprocessor 25.

When the receiving circuit 24 notifies the microprocessor 25 from the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 via the signal line 100b that the heating unit 12 has generated heat, the microprocessor 25 generates heat. It is determined whether or not the part 12 needs to be cooled. The microprocessor 25 has a heating unit 12
When it is determined that the cooling of the pump 6 is necessary, a signal instructing to start the operation of the pump 6 is output to the pump drive circuit 26. When the pump drive circuit 26 receives a signal instructing to start the operation of the pump 6, the pump drive circuit 26 outputs a drive signal to the pump 6 via the signal line 101. At the same time, the microprocessor 25 outputs a signal instructing the fan drive circuit 27 to start the operation of the fan 4. When the fan drive circuit 27 receives the signal instructing to start the operation of the fan 4, the fan drive circuit 27 outputs a drive signal to the fan 4 via the signal line 102.

On the other hand, the microprocessor 25 calculates the difference between the temperature of the room air from the air temperature sensor 13 input as a digital signal from the A / D converter 23 and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 from the refrigerant temperature sensor 7. When the difference reaches a predetermined value set in advance, the microprocessor 25 issues a signal instructing the pump drive circuit 26 to start the operation of the pump 6 and a signal instructing the fan drive circuit 27 to start the operation of the fan 4. Respectively output to. When the pump drive circuit 26 receives a signal instructing to start the operation of the pump 6, the pump drive circuit 26 outputs a drive signal to the pump 6 via the signal line 101. Further, when the fan drive circuit 27 receives a signal instructing to start the operation of the fan 4, the fan drive circuit 27 outputs a drive signal to the fan 4 via the signal line 102.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing changes in the room temperature and humidity and the surface temperature of the heating element and the piping portion after the start of the operation of the air conditioner in one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown by the curve A in FIG. 3, the temperature of the indoor air at the installation location of the apparatus changes from the temperature T1 to the temperature T2 when the air conditioner (not shown) starts to operate. The dew point indicating the temperature is also the temperature TD1 to the temperature TD
Change to 2.

At this time, as shown by the curve B, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 also changes from the temperature TC1 to the temperature TC2,
Since the rate of increase is lower than the temperature rise at the dew point, if the temperature of the room air rises in that state, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 becomes lower than the temperature at the dew point.

The control unit 2 of the cooling device 1 controls the liquid refrigerant 8
When the approaching temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 is detected, that is, when the difference between the temperature of the room air and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 reaches a preset specified value ΔTC, the signal line 101
, 102 to drive signals to the fans 4a, 4b and the pump 6.

When the fans 4a and 4b and the pump 6 start operating in accordance with the drive signal, heat is transferred between the indoor air whose temperature is rising and the liquid refrigerant 8 by the heat exchanger 3, and the liquid refrigerant 8 is heated. The temperature rises (see Figure 3). As a result, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 approaches the temperature of the room air, so that the dew condensation phenomenon in the electronic device 10 can be prevented. At this time, the fans 4a and 4b and the pump 6 are continuously operated until the rise in the temperature of the indoor air is reduced.

As described above, the difference between the temperature of the room air detected by the temperature sensor 13 and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 detected by the refrigerant temperature sensor 7 is calculated, and the difference is set to the preset specified value ΔTC. By driving the fans 4a, 4b and the pump 6 when the temperature becomes low, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant 8 can be brought close to the temperature of the room air. Therefore, the heating unit 1
When 2 does not generate heat, when the temperature of the indoor air rises due to the start or stop of the operation of the air conditioner, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation at the preparation stage for starting the operation of the device.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the difference between the temperature of the refrigerant and the air temperature reaches a preset predetermined value when the heat generating portion does not generate heat, the refrigerant circulates to the heat generating portion. By performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and the room air, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation at the preparation stage for starting the operation of the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the cooling device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing changes in temperature and humidity of a room and surface temperatures of heating elements and piping portions after the start of operation of an air conditioner in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in temperature and humidity in a room and surface temperatures of a heating element and a piping portion after the start of operation of an air conditioner according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooling device 2 Control part 3 Heat exchanger 4, 4a, 4b Fan 6 Pump 7 Refrigerant temperature sensor 8 Liquid refrigerant 9 Piping 12 Heat generating part 13 Air temperature sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cooling device having a circulation means for circulating a refrigerant for cooling a heat generating part of an electronic device and a heat exchange means for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and room air at a location where the electronic device is arranged. The refrigerant temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant, the air temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the indoor air, the difference between the detection value of the refrigerant temperature detection means and the detection value of the air temperature detection means Determining means for determining whether a predetermined value has been set in advance, and the circulating means and the heat exchanging means when the determining means detects that the predetermined value has been reached when the heat generating portion is not generating heat. A cooling device provided with a control means for controlling to drive.