KR20160080689A - Server rack assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A server rack assembly comprises: a pair of server racks accommodating servers; and a server rack cooling device interposed between the server racks. The server rack cooling device includes: a housing; a partition wall separating the inside of the housing into a cold side and a hot side and having a partition wall opening; a common air circulation tube having one ends, each of which communicates with each of the server racks and the other ends facing the one ends and communicating with the partition wall opening; a heat exchange unit discharging heat absorbed from the cold side to the hot side; an external air receiving unit receiving external air from the cold side; and a blowing unit separately supplying cooling air, cooled from the cold side, to each of the server racks. The present invention provides a server rack assembly capable of effectively cooling a server in the server rack.

Description

Server Rack Assembly {SERVER RACK ASSEMBLY}

The present invention relates to a server rack assembly, and more particularly, to a server rack assembly capable of cooling a server housed in a server rack by a closed cooling system and an open cooling system, and particularly to cooling two server racks through a cooling apparatus for one server rack Server rack assembly.

In general, a server rack provides an environment in which computer devices such as network devices, communication devices and servers operate smoothly, and protects computer equipment from external shocks and vibrations.

When a large number of computer equipment are housed in a server rack having a limited space, the temperature inside the server rack may rise sharply due to heat generated during operation of each computer equipment, thereby greatly reducing the performance of the computer equipment .

To solve this problem, most server racks include constant temperature and humidity functions to keep the temperature and humidity inside the server rack constant.

In order to keep the temperature and humidity inside the server rack constant, it is widely used to cool the computer equipment placed inside the server rack by providing the cool air generated from the outside of the server rack to the inside of the server rack.

A method for cooling the interior of a server rack by providing cool air generated from the outside of the server rack to the inside of the server rack is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,751,188 entitled "Method and system for providing cooling of components in a data storage system".

U.S. Patent No. 188 discloses a technique in which a tube through which cool air generated from an external air conditioner outside the server rack passes is disposed adjacent to each of the laminated electric elements and the cool air can be discharged from each tube to each of the electric elements have.

However, although the method of introducing the cool air generated from the outside of the server rack into the server rack as in the above-mentioned U.S. '188 is possible in a large data center equipped with an external air conditioner, Which is difficult to apply to a rack.

In addition, the technique of introducing the cool air generated from the outside of the server rack and providing the cool air generated inside the server rack to the inside of the server rack is greatly reduced in the utilization efficiency of the cool air because the cool air generated from the outside is discharged through the outlet immediately after passing through the server inside the server rack Problems.

On the other hand, U.S. Patent No. 7,144,320 entitled " Air distribution arrangement for rack-mounted equipment "includes a plenum formed between a server and a door mounted on a cabinet, and a cool air provided upward from an air box, And a technique of being exhausted to the ceiling or the rear panel through each server while rising along a conduit formed between the doors.

However, although the U.S. Patent No. 320 discloses an air box that introduces outside air into a conduit, U.S. Patent No. 320 is also unlikely to be used alone in a room without external air conditioning facilities, This is because it is inhaled and provided to the conduit but can not generate cold air itself.

1. U.S. Patent No. 7,751,188 entitled "Method and system for providing cooling of components in a data storage system" 2. U.S. Patent No. 7,144,320 entitled "Air distribution arrangement for rack-mounted equipment" (2006.12.05)

The present invention relates to an open cooling method for cooling computer equipment inside a server rack by providing outside air to a server rack for cooling the server rack, or re-cooled and re-cooled air supplied to a server rack Provides a server rack assembly that can simultaneously cool computer equipment inside two server racks through a closed cooling system that cools computer equipment in a circulating manner.

In one embodiment, the server rack assembly includes a pair of server racks for receiving servers; And

And a cooling device for the server rack interposed between the server racks, wherein the cooling device for the server rack includes a housing, a partition wall having a partition wall opening formed therein and partitioning the inside of the housing into a cold side and a hot side, A heat exchanging unit for dissipating the heat absorbed by the cold side from the hot side, and an outdoor air introducing unit for introducing ambient air from the cold side, wherein the other end of the outdoor air introducing unit And an air blowing unit for providing cool air cooled on the cold side to the server racks, respectively.

The server racks of the server rack assembly each include a duct, which is opened when the outside air introducing unit is opened, and the duct is closed when the outside air introducing unit is closed.

The cooling apparatus for the server rack of the server rack assembly is provided with a bypass hole for returning the cold air to the cold side again when the pressure of the server racks is high.

The blowing units of the server rack assemblies are formed in a number corresponding to the number of the server racks, and the blowing directions of the blowing units correspond to the arrangement direction of the server racks.

The server rack assembly according to the present invention includes a closed cooling system in which heated air circulates in a server rack in which servers are disposed, or an open cooling system in which cold air outside the server rack is introduced to provide cooling to a server rack The server inside the server rack can be efficiently cooled according to the temperature of the outside air or the temperature inside the server rack by cooling the servers inside the server rack.

1 is a perspective view of a server rack assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a cooling apparatus for a server rack of the server rack assembly of FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing a cooling apparatus for a server rack in which side plates of the cooling apparatus for the server rack of FIG. 2 are removed.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of a cooling device for a server rack with the air circulation tube removed. Fig.
Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing that the cooling device for the server rack of the server rack assembly cools the server racks in an open cooling manner.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing that a server rack cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention cools the inside of server racks by a closed cooling system.

In the following description, only parts necessary for understanding the embodiments of the present invention will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted so as not to obscure the gist of the present invention.

The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings and the inventor is not limited to the meaning of the terms in order to describe his invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, so that various equivalents And variations are possible.

1 is a perspective view of a server rack assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a server rack assembly 1000 includes a cooling device 800 for a server rack and a pair of server racks 900.

The cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack generates cool air through a closed cooling system or an open cooling system and the cool air generated through the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack is sent to a pair of server racks 900 So as to cool the server mounted inside the server racks 900.

2 is a perspective view of a cooling apparatus for a server rack of the server rack assembly of FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cooling apparatus for a server rack in which side plates of the cooling apparatus for the server rack of FIG. 2 are removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of a cooling device for a server rack with the air circulation tube removed. Fig.

2 to 4, a cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack includes a housing 100, a partition 200, a common air circulation tube 300, a heat exchange unit 400, a blowing unit 500, (600). In addition, the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack may include a controller 700 and various sensors.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack provides cool air generated by a closed cooling system or an open cooling system to a server rack 900 in which computer equipment is stacked, Cool the mounted servers.

The housing 100 includes a frame 110 and a plurality of side plates 120 coupled to the frame 100.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame 110 is formed, for example, in a hollow rectangular shape. Alternatively, the frame 110 may be formed in various shapes other than the rectangular shape.

The frame 110 serves as a skeleton so that the air conditioner 800 for a server rack can maintain a constant shape.

The side plates 120 may be detachably coupled to the frame 110, and the side plates 120 may be formed in a plate shape.

The partition 200 divides the internal space of the housing 100 constituted by the frame 110 and the side plates 120 into two areas, for example.

The inner space of the housing 100 is divided into a cold side CS and a hot side HS by the partition 200 and the air on the cold side CS has a relatively low temperature, Side HS has a relatively higher temperature than the cold side CS.

The partition wall 200 may be formed in the housing 100 so as to be perpendicular to the bottom plate of the housing 100 in order to divide the internal space of the housing 100 into a cold side CS and a hot side HS. And a partition opening 210 is formed in a part of the partition 200.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the partition 200 is a member that separates the cold side CS and the hot side HS, and the cold side CS and the hot side HS are not heat exchanged through the partition 200 The barrier rib 200 may be made of a synthetic resin material. Alternatively, the barrier rib 200 may be formed by pressing a metal plate. When the barrier rib 200 is made of a metal plate, the barrier rib 200 may be a column The energy efficiency can be further improved by adding the transmission preventing member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a first opening 122 and a second opening 124 are formed in a pair of side plates 120 facing each other among the side plates 120 of the housing 100 . The first opening 122 is formed in the cold side CS and the second opening 124 is formed in the position corresponding to the hot side HS.

The hot side (HS) of the housing 100 separated by the partition 200 is formed with an opening 130 for discharging the air introduced into the hot side HS and the air heated by the heat exchange unit to be described later, (130) is coupled to a duct extending outdoors. The opening 130 is provided with an opening / closing device for opening and closing the opening.

Referring to FIG. 4, a heat exchange unit 400 is disposed inside the housing 100.

A compressor 410 which emits heat in the heat exchanging unit 400 is provided on the hot side HS while the interior of the housing 100 is divided into a cold side CS and a hot side HS by partition walls 200, A heat dissipating unit such as the condenser 420 is disposed and an cold heat exchanger unit 400 for absorbing heat is disposed on the cold side CS and a heat absorbing unit such as the evaporator 430 is disposed.

The common air circulation tube 300 plays a role of recovering the heated air from the servers disposed in the pair of server racks 900 to be described later and the primary cooling by exchanging heat between the outside air and the heated air .

In an embodiment of the present invention, the common air circulation tube 300 includes second openings 124 formed in a pair of side plates 120 of the cooling device 800 for a server rack, as shown in FIG. 5 And the other end opposite to the one end is in communication with the opening 210 formed in the partition 200.

The air introduced through the second openings 124 by the common air circulation tube 300 is supplied to the cold side CS through the partition opening 210 without mixing with the air on the hot side HS, When the circulation tube 300 is used, the cooling apparatus 900 for a server rack can cool a pair of server racks 900 in a closed cooling system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the common air circulation tube 300 is heat exchanged with the ambient air to primarily cool air passing through the air circulation tube 300.

Meanwhile, the open / close plate 140 may be disposed in the second openings 124 of the pair of side plates 120 to provide cooling air in the open cooling mode.

When the second openings 124 of the side plates 120 are closed by the opening and closing plate 140, the open air introducing unit 600 disposed at the lower end of the cold side CS of the housing 100 is opened, Side CS so as to cool the outside air at the cold side CS.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchange unit 400 may include a compressor 410, a condenser 420, an expansion unit 420, A valve (not shown) and an evaporator 430.

The compressor 410 and the condenser 420 of the heat exchange unit 400 are disposed on the hot side HS of the housing 100 and the expansion valve and the evaporator 430 of the heat exchange unit 400 are disposed on the cold side of the housing 100, (CS).

A pair of evaporators 430 are disposed on the cold side CS and are hereinafter defined as a pair of evaporators 430 and a first evaporator 432 and a pair of evaporators 430, (432, 434) are arranged in a vertical direction, respectively.

The blowing unit 500 is disposed at the cold side CS of the housing 100 and the blowing unit 500 is disposed at a position adjacent to the evaporator 430 of the heat exchange unit 400.

The blowing unit 500 includes a first blowing unit 510 disposed to face the first evaporator 432 and a second blowing unit 520 disposed facing the second evaporator 434 ).

The first and second air blowing units 510 and 520 pass the first and second evaporators 432 and 434 and provide cooled air to the first opening 122 formed in the side plate 120 so that the cooled air flows through the first opening (Not shown).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first blowing unit 510 of the worm unit 500 is disposed in a direction toward the server rack disposed on one side of the cooling apparatus 800 for the server rack among the pair of server racks 900 And the second blowing unit 520 of the air blowing unit 500 faces the server rack disposed on the other side of the pair of server racks 900 opposite to the one side of the cooling device 800 for the server rack Direction.

The outside air introducing unit 600 is disposed on the cold side CS of the housing 100. The outside air introducing unit 600 includes an opening and closing cover 610 for opening and closing an opening formed in the bottom plate of the housing 100, 610 to rotate.

The controller 700 generates cold air in the cooling apparatus 800 for the server rack corresponding to the temperatures of the outdoor air and the cold air measured from various sensors and provides the generated cool air to the server rack. Controls the operations of the heat exchange unit 400, the air blowing unit 500, and the outside air introduction unit 600 and the like.

Various sensors such as a temperature sensor for controlling the controller 700, a humidity sensor, a coolant temperature sensor, and an ambient temperature sensor may be mounted on the cooling device 800 for the server rack.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the server racks 900 of the server rack assembly 100 are respectively disposed on both sides of the cooling apparatus 800 for the server rack.

Hereinafter, the server racks disposed on both sides of the cooling apparatus 800 for the server rack are defined as a first server rack 900a and a second server rack 900b.

The first and second server racks 900a and 900b are formed in a shape suitable for stacking a server in layers.

The first and second server racks 900a and 900b include server rack bodies 910 and 930 and doors 920 and 940, respectively.

The server rack bodies 910 and 930 are each formed in, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and one side thereof can be opened to mount or detach the server.

On the upper surface of the server rack main body 910, 930, for example, openable ducts 915, 935 are communicated.

A portion of the server rack main body 910, 930 connected to the front side of the server rack main body 910, 930 when the open side of the one of the server rack main bodies 910, 930 is the front side is defined as the server rack side 917.

The shelves are laid out in layers within the server racks 910 and 930, and servers such as computer equipment are mounted on each shelf.

The server forms a passage through which cool air is introduced into the front surface and heated air is discharged to the rear surface of the server. That is, the cool air generated by the cooling apparatus 800 for the server rack flows into the front surface of the server and is discharged to the rear surface of the server.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the spacing between the shelves is substantially the same as the height of the server, so that cold air introduced into the front of the server can not pass through other than the path of the server, And is discharged to the rear side.

The doors 920 and 940 are hinged to the open front of the server rack bodies 910 and 930 and the doors 920 and 940 open or close the server rack bodies 910 and 930.

The doors 920 and 940 may include a glass plate for observing the interior of the server racks 910 and 930. The glass plate may be configured such that electromagnetic waves are introduced into the server racks 910 and 930 from outside the server racks 910 and 930 And metal wires for shielding electromagnetic waves may be embedded in the form of a mesh to prevent electromagnetic waves from leaking out of the server rack bodies 910 and 930 from inside the server rack bodies 910 and 930. [

The server rack sides 917 of the server rack bodies 910 and 930 are disposed to face a pair of side plates 120 of the cooling apparatus 800 for a server rack shown in Figs.

5, in the server rack bodies 910 and 930 corresponding to the respective first openings 122 disposed on the cold side CS of the side plates 120 of the cooling device 800 for the server rack, Side openings 912 and 932 are formed and the second openings 124 disposed on the hot side HS of the side plates 120 of the cooling device 800 for the server rack correspond to the second openings 124, On the side surface 917, second server rack side openings 914 and 934 are formed.

On the other hand, when the internal pressure of the server rack body 910 is high at a position adjacent to the first server rack side openings 912 and 932 of the server rack bodies 910 and 930, the cool air introduced into the server rack bodies 910 and 930 is guided to the cooling apparatus 800 The bypass hole may be formed.

Hereinafter, operation of the server rack assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The server rack assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention operates in two cooling modes, and the server rack assembly 1000 operates in a closed cooling mode and an open cooling mode.

First, an open cooling system of the server rack assembly 1000 will be described with reference to FIG.

Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing that the cooling device for the server rack of the server rack assembly cools the server racks in an open cooling manner.

1 to 5, in order for the server rack cooling apparatus 800 to cool the air by the open cooling system, the outside air introduction unit 600 is opened and the hot side (HS) of the side plate 120 of the housing 100 The outdoor unit is introduced to the cold side (CS) of the housing 100 by closing the opening / closing plate 140.

At this time, outside air is also supplied to the hot side (HS) of the housing 100 to cool the condenser 420 of the heat exchange unit 400 disposed on the hot side (HS) of the housing 100, Is exhausted to the outside through a duct connected to the housing (100).

The outside air introduced into the cold side CS through the outside air introducing unit 600 is cooled while passing through the evaporator 430 of the heat exchanging unit 400 and the cold air passes through the blowing unit 500, The cold air discharged through the first opening 122 is discharged through the first opening 122 formed in the first server rack 900 through the first server rack side openings 912 and 932 of the server rack 900, And 900b, respectively, to cool the servers housed in the server rack bodies 910 and 930. The server rack bodies 910 and 930 of FIG.

After the servers are cooled, the heated air discharged from the servers is discharged to the outside through the open ducts 915 and 935 while being connected to the server rack bodies 910 and 930. The server rack cooling apparatus 800 repeats the above- Cooling the servers disposed in the server rack bodies 910 and 930 of the server rack 900 including the first and second server racks 900a and 900b in an open cooling manner.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing that a server rack cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention cools a server inside server racks by a closed cooling system.

1 to 4 and 6, in order for the server rack cooling apparatus 800 to cool the air by the closed cooling system, the outside air introducing unit 600 is closed and the opening / closing plate 140 is opened to the side of the housing 100 And the second opening 124 disposed on the hot side (HS) of the plate 120 is opened.

At this time, outside air is also supplied to the hot side (HS) of the housing 100 to cool the condenser 420 of the heat exchange unit 400 disposed on the hot side (HS) of the housing 100, Is exhausted to the outside through a duct connected to the housing (100).

The server is cooled in the server rack bodies 910 and 930 of the first and second server racks 900a and 900b of the server rack 900 as the outside air does not flow into the cold side CS of the housing 100, Air flows into the second opening 124 of the side plate 120 of the housing 100 through the second server rack side openings 914 and 934 of the server rack bodies 910 and 930. [

The heated air provided from the first and second server racks 900a and 900b through the second opening 124 is supplied to the common air circulation tube 300 connected to the first and second server racks 900a and 900b, Through the partition opening 210 formed in the partition 200 through the through hole 210 and provided to the cold side CS.

At this time, since the heated air passing through the server in the server rack bodies 910 and 930 is supplied to the cold side CS through the common air circulation tube 300, the air having passed through the second opening 124 flows into the housing 100) hot side (HS) air.

The air which has passed through the partition wall opening 210 formed in the partition wall 200 and supplied to the cold side CS via the common air circulation tube 300 is cooled while passing through the evaporator 430 of the heat exchange unit 400, The air is returned through the first server rack side openings 912 and 932 of the server rack bodies 910 and 930 through the air blowing unit 500 and the first opening 122 of the side plate 120 of the housing 100 again to the first and second And is provided as a server disposed in each of the server racks 900a and 900b to cool the server.

By repeating this process, the servers disposed inside the server rack bodies 910 and 930 are cooled by the circulating closed cooling system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the closed cooling system may be applied when there is less heat generation inside the server rack bodies 910, 930, while an open cooling system may be applied when large amounts of heat are generated within the server rack bodies 910, 930 can do.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the closed cooling system can be applied when there is less heat generation inside the server rack, while the open cooling system can be applied when a large amount of heat is generated in the server rack.

Although it is shown and described that the inside of the server rack is cooled through the open cooling system and the closed cooling system in an embodiment of the present invention, a part of the outside air introducing unit is opened and a part of the open / The server rack may be cooled by a mixed cooling method in which air in the server rack is introduced into the server rack through the opening and closing plate to provide cool air to the server rack. In the mixed cooling system, the outdoor air introducing unit and the open / The interlocking unit can be mounted on the air conditioner for the server rack.

The interlocking unit may include, for example, a wire connecting the opening / closing plate and the outdoor air introducing unit and an elastic member returning the wire, or a motor mounted on the outdoor air introducing unit and the opening / closing plate.

As described in detail above, it is possible to arrange the server racks on both sides of the cooling apparatus for one server rack and to cool the two server racks by the closed cooling system or the open cooling system by using the cooling apparatus for one server rack .

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are merely examples of specific examples for the purpose of understanding, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

100 ... housing 200 ... partition wall
300 ... common air circulation tube 400 ... heat exchange unit
500 ... air blowing unit 600 ... outside air introduction unit
700 ... controller 800 ... air conditioner for server rack
900a, 900b ... First and second server racks

Claims (4)

A pair of server racks for storing servers; And
And a cooling device for a server rack interposed between the server racks,
The air conditioner for a server rack includes a housing, a partition wall having an interior of the housing divided into a cold side and a hot side, a partition wall having a partition wall opening formed therebetween, one side end communicating with the server racks, A heat exchange unit for radiating heat absorbed from the cold side on the hot side, an outdoor air introduction unit for receiving ambient air from the cold side, and cool air cooled on the cold side to the server racks The server rack assembly comprising: The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the server racks each include a duct, the duct is opened when the outside air introducing unit is opened, and the duct is closed when the outside air introducing unit is closed. The method according to claim 1,
And a bypass hole is formed in the cooling device for the server rack to return the cool air to the cold side when the pressure of the server racks is high. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the blowing units are formed in a number corresponding to the number of the server racks, and the blowing directions of the blowing units correspond to the direction of arrangement of the server racks.

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