WO2014155705A1

WO2014155705A1 - Cooling control system, cooling control device, and cooling control method

Info

Publication number: WO2014155705A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/059624
Authority: WO
Inventors: 森戸啓至
Original assignee: 富士通株式会社
Priority date: 2013-03-29
Filing date: 2013-03-29
Publication date: 2014-10-02

Abstract

The purpose of this invention is to easily determine the setting temperature for an air conditioner. A cooling control system controls the setting temperature for an air conditioner that cools a server. The cooling control system first specifies a candidate temperature range for setting in the air conditioner from a temperature range that is recommended for installing a server and that is within the range of temperatures that the air conditioner can be set to. Next, the cooling control system adds the power consumption of the air conditioner and the power consumption of a server fan that are expected when the air conditioner is set to a candidate temperature for setting in the air conditioner. The cooling control system creates information wherein temperature candidates for setting in the air conditioner and respective added values are associated. From the information wherein the temperature candidates for setting in the air conditioner and respective added values are associated, the cooling control system selects the setting temperature with the relatively smallest added value. The cooling control device sets the selected temperature in the air conditioner.

Description

COOLING CONTROL SYSTEM, COOLING CONTROL DEVICE, AND COOLING CONTROL METHOD

The present invention relates to server cooling control.

Data center is a facility that manages and manages multiple servers. The data center is a facility equipped with a high-speed communication line, power generation equipment, and air conditioning equipment and capable of centrally managing a plurality of servers. Many servers and air conditioners consume enormous amounts of power. Therefore, a data center that can realize power saving is desired.

In recent years, container-type data centers have been developed that realize power saving in data centers. FIG. 1 shows an example of a container-type data center as viewed from above. The container type data center in FIG. 1 includes a container 100 and air conditioners 101a to 101d. The container 100 has a server rack. The server 102 is stored in the server rack. The air conditioner 101 is provided outside the container 100 and cools the inside of the data center. As a means for the air conditioner 101 to cool the inside of the data center, a direct outside air cooling method in which outside air is directly taken into the room and the inside of the data center is cooled is known. As a means for cooling the data center, an indirect outside air cooling method is known in which indoor air is cooled by heat exchange using outside air temperature. Container-type data centers reduce the power consumption of air conditioners by cooling the data center using outside air and outside air temperature.

Also, as a technique for reducing the power consumption of the data center, a technique for preventing the leakage of cold air by controlling the airflow of the air conditioner and the server fan is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-172853 A

The background art described above has the following problems.
The technique of Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is not effective in a space-saving and highly airtight space such as a container-type data center.

It is desirable to reduce power consumption in the data center. In a container type data center, the power consumption of the air conditioner is reduced by cooling the data center using the outside air / outside air temperature, so it may be better to change the set temperature depending on the outside air temperature. In one aspect, the present invention provides a cooling control system and method for easily determining a set temperature of an air conditioner.

The cooling control system is a system that controls the set temperature of the air conditioner that cools the server. First, the cooling control system specifies a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner from a recommended temperature range in which a server within a temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner may be installed. Next, the cooling control system adds the power consumption amount of the air conditioner and the power consumption amount of the fan of the server, which is expected when a temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner is set in the air conditioner. The cooling control system creates information associating the candidate temperature to be set to the air conditioner with the added value. The cooling control system selects a set temperature with a relatively small value from among the information in which the temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner is associated with the added value. The cooling control device sets the selected selected temperature in the air conditioner.

Easily determine the set temperature of the air conditioner.

This is an example of a container type data center as seen from above. It is a figure which shows the example of the data center which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the example which showed the relationship between the preset temperature of an air conditioning machine, and power consumption. It is an example of the hardware constitutions of a cooling control system. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a process of a cooling control apparatus. It is an example which shows the information of the power consumption estimated that the air conditioner 101 consumes. 3 is an example of a hardware configuration of a server 102. It is an example which shows the process of the rotation control part 216. FIG. It is an example of the information referred when the rotation control part 216 sets the rotation speed of a fan. It is an example which shows the information of the power consumption corresponding to the rotation speed of a fan. It is the example which showed the relationship between the preset temperature of an air conditioning machine, and power consumption. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a process of the acquisition part of a cooling control apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of the specific part of a cooling control apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a process of the preparation part of a cooling control apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of the selection part of a cooling control apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a process of the setting part of a cooling control apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of the extraction part of an air conditioning machine, and a notification part. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of the calculation part of a server, and a transmission part. It is a figure which shows the example of the data center which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the data center which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is an example of the information of the power consumption corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan which has fan identification information. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of the preparation part of 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the calculation process in 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data center according to the first embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The data center in FIG. 2 includes an air conditioner 101, a plurality of servers 102, and a cooling control device 201.

The cooling control device 201 includes a temperature determination unit 202, a processing unit 205, a setting unit 208, and a memory 209. The temperature determination unit 202 implements an acquisition unit 203 and a specification unit 204. The acquisition unit 203 acquires setting information of the air conditioner 101 from the air conditioner 101. The setting information of the air conditioner 101 is information related to the specifications of the air conditioner 101. Information related to specifications includes information on a temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner 101, information on a setting unit indicating how many times the temperature can be set in the air conditioner 101, and a temperature set in the air conditioner 101 Information. In parallel, the acquisition unit 203 acquires specification information from the server 102. The specification information of the server 102 includes information of a temperature recommended that the server 102 may be installed. The example of the cooling control system according to the first embodiment does not limit the number of air conditioners 101 and servers 102. When there are a plurality of air conditioners 101, the acquisition unit 203 acquires setting information from each of the air conditioners 101. When there are a plurality of air conditioners 101, they may not be the same model. If there are a plurality of servers 102, they may not be the same model. The specifying unit 204 uses the setting information of the air conditioner 101 acquired by the acquiring unit 203 and the temperature information recommended to install the server 102 to specify a temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner. To do.

The processing unit 205 implements a creation unit 206 and a selection unit 207. The creation unit 206 creates a table in which temperatures that are candidates for the air conditioner identified by the identifying unit 204 are associated with the total power consumption used for cooling the data center. The total power consumption used for cooling the data center is the amount of power consumed by the air conditioner to bring the data center temperature to the temperature set for the air conditioner, and the server fan at the temperature set for the air conditioner. Power consumption. The selection unit 207 selects the temperature with the lowest power consumption amount from the table created by the creation unit 206. The setting unit 208 sets the temperature with the smallest power consumption selected by the selection unit 207 in the air conditioner 101.

The air conditioner 101 includes a management unit 210, a temperature control unit 211, an extraction unit 212, a notification unit 213, and a memory 214. The management unit 210 manages information on the amount of power consumed by the air conditioner 101 and stores it in the memory 214. The temperature control unit 211 controls the air flow rate of the air conditioner 101 so that the room temperature of the data center becomes the set temperature of the air conditioner set in the air conditioner 101. The memory 214 stores setting information and power consumption information of the air conditioner 101. When the cooling control apparatus 201 requests notification of power consumption information that the air conditioner 101 is expected to consume, the extraction unit 212 associates such information with a temperature that is a candidate for setting the air conditioner. And extracted from the power consumption information of the memory 214. The notification unit 213 notifies the cooling control apparatus 201 of information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101 extracted by the extraction unit 212.

The server 102 includes a measurement unit 215, a rotation control unit 216, a recording unit 217, a calculation unit 218, a transmission unit 219, and a memory 220. The measurement unit 215 measures the temperature of the server 102. The rotation control unit 216 controls the number of rotations of the built-in fan and the fan to be rotated in accordance with the temperature of the server 102 measured by the measurement unit 215. The built-in fan increases the number of rotations and cools the server 102 when the temperature of the server 102 rises. The recording unit 217 records information on the amount of power consumed by the built-in fan. The calculation unit 218 performs a predetermined process and calculates the expected fan power consumption when a request is received from the creation unit 206 to transmit information on the expected fan power consumption. The transmission unit 219 transmits information on the expected fan power consumption to the cooling control apparatus 201. The memory 220 stores, as the specification information of the server 102, information on the temperature recommended to install the server 102 and information on the power consumption of the fan used in the calculation unit 218.

FIG. 3 is an example showing the relationship between the set temperature of the air conditioner and the power consumption. The vertical axis in FIG. 3 represents the power consumption, and the horizontal axis in FIG. 3 represents the set temperature of the air conditioner. FIG. 3 is shown by a graph A, a graph B, and a graph C. Graph A is a graph showing the power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner in the temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner. Graph A is a graph of power consumption information stored in the memory 214 of the air conditioner. Graph B is a graph showing the expected fan power consumption in the temperature range where it is recommended that the server be installed. Graph B is a graph of the fan power consumption calculated by the calculation unit 218. Graph C is a graph showing the power consumption of the data center in a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. A graph C is a graph of the information of the table created by the creation unit 206.

Graph C is a graph obtained using Graph A and Graph B. The processing of the cooling control apparatus 201 will be described using graphs A to C. The acquisition unit 203 acquires information on the temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner shown in the graph A from the air conditioner 101. The acquisition unit 203 acquires, from the server 102, information on the temperature range recommended that the server shown in the graph B may be installed. The specifying unit 204 specifies a temperature range in which a temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner and a temperature range that is recommended to install a server overlap as a temperature range that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner. To do. Graph C shows the power consumption of the data center in a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner specified by the specifying unit 204. The creation unit 206 acquires, from the air conditioner 101, information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner shown in the graph A in a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. The creation unit 206 acquires, from the server 102, information on the expected fan power consumption shown in the graph B in the temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. The creation unit 206 adds the power consumption amount expected to be consumed by the air conditioner and the expected fan power consumption amount, and calculates the power consumption amount of the data center shown in the graph C. The selection unit 207 selects the temperature at which the power consumption of the data center shown in the graph C is the smallest. The temperature with the lowest power consumption is near the center in the graph C of FIG. The setting unit 208 sets the temperature with the smallest power consumption selected by the selection unit 207 in the air conditioner 101.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the cooling control system. The cooling control system of FIG. 4 includes a cooling control device 201, an air conditioner 101, and a server 102. The cooling control apparatus 201 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and a storage device. Moreover, the cooling control apparatus 201 may include a dedicated monitor and input means. The CPU of the cooling control apparatus 201 in FIG. 4 implements the acquisition unit 203, the identification unit 204, the creation unit 206, the selection unit 207, and the setting unit 208 in FIG. Information used by the CPU of the cooling control device 201 is stored in a memory or a storage device of the cooling control device 201. The air conditioner 101 has a CPU, a memory, and a storage device. The CPU of the air conditioner 101 implements the management unit 210, the temperature control unit 211, the extraction unit 212, and the notification unit 213 in FIG. Information processed by the CPU of the air conditioner 101 is stored in the memory or storage device of the air conditioner 101. The CPU of the server 102 implements the measurement unit 215, the rotation control unit 216, the recording unit 217, the calculation unit 218, and the transmission unit 219 in FIG. Information processed by the CPU of the server 102 is stored in the memory or storage device of the server 102.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the cooling control device. The temperature determination unit 202 of the cooling control apparatus 201 includes an acquisition unit 203 and a specification unit 204, and processes step S101 and step S102. The acquisition unit 203 acquires the setting information of the air conditioner 101 from the memory 214 of the air conditioner 101, and acquires the specification information of the server 102 from the memory 220 of the server 102. The setting information to be acquired is information on a temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner. The acquired specification information of the server 102 is information on a temperature range recommended for server installation (step S101).

The identifying unit 204 identifies a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. The specifying unit 204 sets a temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner and a temperature range that is recommended to be installed as a server as a temperature range that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner. Identify. The specifying unit 204 compares the upper limit temperature of the temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner 101 with the upper limit temperature of the temperature recommended to install the server 102. When there are a plurality of air conditioners 101 and servers 102, the specifying unit 204 determines the upper limit temperature of the temperature range that can be set for each air conditioner 101 and the upper limit temperature that is recommended to install each server 102. Compare. The specifying unit 204 specifies the lowest temperature among the compared upper limit temperatures as the upper limit temperature that is a candidate for setting the air conditioner. The specifying unit 204 compares the lower limit temperature of the temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner 101 with the lower limit temperature of the recommended temperature at which the server 102 may be installed. When there are a plurality of air conditioners 101 and servers 102, the specifying unit 204 determines a lower limit temperature of a temperature range that can be set for each air conditioner 101 and a lower limit temperature that is recommended to install each server 102. Compare. The identifying unit 204 identifies the highest temperature among the compared lower limit temperatures as the lower limit temperature that is a candidate for setting the air conditioner (step S102).

The processing unit 205 of the cooling control apparatus 201 includes a creation unit 206 and a selection unit 207, and processes step S103 and step S104. The creation unit 206 creates a table in which temperatures that are candidates for the air conditioner identified by the identifying unit 204 are associated with the total power consumption used for cooling the data center. In step S <b> 103, the creation unit 206 requests the air conditioner 101 to notify the information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner, corresponding to the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. The request to the air conditioner 101 includes information on a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. In parallel, the creation unit 206 requests the server 102 to transmit information on the predicted fan power consumption corresponding to the temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner. When transmitting a request to the server 102, the creation unit 206 calculates a differential temperature that is scheduled to be changed from the current set temperature of the air conditioner, from information on the temperature range that is a candidate for setting to the air conditioner. The differential temperature scheduled to be changed from the current set temperature of the air conditioner refers to the temperature of how many times it is planned to change from the current set temperature of the air conditioner. The request to the server 102 includes information on the differential temperature scheduled to be changed from the current set temperature of the air conditioner (step S103).

The air conditioner 101 includes an extraction unit 212 and a notification unit 213, and performs Step S104 and Step S105. The extraction unit 212 receives a request from the cooling control apparatus 201 for notification of information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner. The extraction unit 212 extracts information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner from the information on the power consumption in the memory 214 of the air conditioner 101 in association with the temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner (step S104). ). Step S104 will be described in detail later (FIG. 6). The notification unit 213 notifies the creation unit 206 of the extracted power consumption information (step S105).

The server 102 includes a calculation unit 218 and a transmission unit 219, and performs Step S106 and Step S107. The calculation unit 218 calculates an expected fan power consumption corresponding to a temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner. The calculation unit 218 receives a request from the creation unit 206 to transmit information on the expected power consumption of the fan corresponding to the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. In addition, the calculation unit 218 receives information on the differential temperature scheduled to be changed from the current set temperature of the air conditioner. The calculation unit 218 calculates the expected fan rotation speed when the average temperature, CPU temperature, and memory temperature of the air inside the server 102 change by the difference temperature. The information on the power consumption of the fan stored in the memory 220 of the server 102 includes information on the fan rotation speed corresponding to the average air temperature, CPU temperature, and memory temperature in the server 102. The calculation unit 218 calculates an expected fan power consumption corresponding to the expected fan rotation speed (step S106). Step S106 will be described in detail later (FIGS. 7 to 10). The transmission unit 219 transmits the calculated expected fan power consumption information to the creation unit 206 (step S107).

When the creation unit 206 of the cooling control apparatus 201 obtains a response to the request issued to the air conditioner 101 and the server 102, it sums the power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner and the expected fan power consumption, Determine the total power consumption used to cool the data center. The creating unit 206 creates a table A that associates the temperatures that are candidates for the air conditioner identified by the identifying unit 204 with the total power consumption used for cooling the data center (step S103). Table A is an example of a table in which temperatures that are candidates for setting to the air conditioners that are the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature specified in S102 are associated with the total power consumption used for cooling the data center.

The selection unit 207 of the cooling control apparatus 201 selects a temperature with the smallest total power consumption used for cooling the data center from the table A (step S108). The setting unit 208 performs setting processing for setting the temperature with the smallest total power consumption selected by the selection unit 207 in the air conditioner (step S109). When S109 ends, the cooling control device waits for a predetermined time and repeats the processing from S101. The fixed time may be regular or irregular, and may be set by the user. Further, the processing of S101 to S109 may be repeatedly executed when the amount of change in power consumption in the air conditioner due to a change in temperature outside the room in the data center becomes greater than a predetermined threshold.

FIG. 6 is an example showing information of power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101. The information on the predicted power consumption is information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101 when a temperature that is a candidate for the air conditioner is set in the air conditioner. The expected power consumption information in FIG. 6 is information used by the extraction unit 212 in step S106. The power consumption information in FIG. 6 predicts how much power is consumed when a predetermined temperature is set for the air conditioner 101 based on the amount of power consumed that the air conditioner 101 is expected to consume. Is shown for each outside air temperature. For example, when the outside air temperature is 5 degrees and 25 degrees is set for the air conditioner, it is expected that the air conditioner 101 consumes 1.64 KW of power. Information on the power consumption of the air conditioner 101 is used by the creation unit 206. The creation unit 206 sends a request to the air conditioner 101 to notify the information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101, corresponding to the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. In parallel, the creation unit 206 sends information on the temperature range that is a candidate to be set to the air conditioner specified by the specifying unit 204 to the air conditioner 101. When the creation unit 206 requests that the air conditioner 101 corresponding to the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner to notify the information about the power consumption that is expected to be consumed, the extraction unit 212 receives the information Is extracted from the power consumption information stored in the memory 214 of the air conditioner. The outside air temperature is 20 degrees, and the creation unit 206 requests the air conditioner 101 to notify the information of the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioners having the temperatures of 25 degrees to 29 degrees that are candidates for setting to the air conditioners. Here are some examples: The extraction unit 212 extracts the power consumption amount equivalent to the set temperature of 25 to 29 degrees from the power consumption information in the memory 214 in a row where the outside air temperature is 20 degrees. In the example of FIG. 6, the information is 3.30 KW (25 degrees), 3.44 KW (26 degrees), ... 3.82 KW (29 degrees). The notification unit 213 notifies the cooling control apparatus 201 of information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101 extracted by the extraction unit 212.

A process in which the measurement unit 215 and the rotation control unit 216 of the server 102 control the fan will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an example of a hardware configuration of the server 102. 7 includes a CPU 301, a memory 220, and fans 302-1 to 302-6. The measurement unit 215 of the server 102 measures the average temperature of the air inside the server 102, the temperature of the CPU 301, and the temperature of the memory 220. When the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 is high, the rotation control unit 216 increases the number of rotations of the fans 302-1 to 302-6 and cools the server 102. The fan 302-2 and the fan 302-3 are installed to face the CPU 301 and are used to cool the CPU 301. When the temperature of the CPU 301 is high, the rotation control unit 216 increases the rotation speed of the fan 302-2 and the fan 302-3 and cools the CPU 301. The fan 302-4 and the fan 302-5 are installed facing the memory 220 and are used for cooling the memory 220. Therefore, when the temperature of the memory 220 is high, the rotation control unit 216 increases the number of rotations of the fan 302-4 and the fan 302-5 and cools the memory 220.

FIG. 8 is an example showing processing of the rotation control unit 216. Reference numeral 801 in FIG. 8 denotes an example of processing in which the rotation control unit 216 controls the rotation speed of the fan in accordance with the average temperature of the air inside the server 102. A graph 801 in FIG. 8 shows the current temperature of the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 and the rotation speed A of the fan corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102. The rotation control unit 216 sets the number of rotations of the fans 302-1 to 302-6 corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102. The rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed A corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 for the fans 302-1 to 302-6. Next, reference numeral 802 in FIG. 8 is an example of processing in which the rotation control unit 216 controls the fan rotation speed in accordance with the temperature of the CPU 301. A graph 802 in FIG. 8 indicates the current temperature of the CPU 301 and the fan rotation speed B corresponding to the temperature of the CPU 301. The rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed of the fan 302-2 and the fan 302-3 corresponding to the temperature of the CPU 301. However, when the number of fan rotations corresponding to the temperature of the CPU 301 is less than the number of fan rotations corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102, the rotation control unit 216 sets the fan 302-2 and the fan 302-3. Do not change the rotation speed. Reference numeral 803 in FIG. 8 denotes an example of processing in which the rotation control unit 216 controls the fan rotation speed in accordance with the temperature of the server memory 220. A graph 803 in FIG. 8 shows the current temperature of the memory 220 and the fan rotation speed C corresponding to the temperature of the memory 220. The rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed of the fan 302-4 and the fan 302-5 corresponding to the temperature of the memory 220. However, when the number of fan rotations corresponding to the temperature of the memory 220 is smaller than the number of fan rotations corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102, the rotation control unit 216 sets the fan 302-4 and the fan 302-5. Do not change the rotation speed. In the example of 803 in FIG. 8, the rotation speed of the fan corresponding to the temperature of the memory 220 is larger than the rotation speed of the fan corresponding to the average temperature of the air in the server 102. 4. Change the rotation speed of the fan 302-5 to C.

FIG. 9 is an example of information referred to when the rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed of the fan. The example of FIG. 9 is information regarding the rotational speed of the fan stored in the memory 220 of the server. Reference numeral 901 in FIG. 9 is information indicating the number of rotations of the fan corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102. The information 901 in FIG. 9 is used by the rotation control unit 216 in the process 801 in FIG. The rotation speed of the fan shown by 901 in FIG. 9 is set for the fans 302-1 to 302-6. The rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed 5850 rpm for the fans 302-1 to 302-6 when the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 is 25 degrees. Further, when the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 is 35 degrees, the rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed 12300 rpm for the fans 302-1 to 302-6. Reference numeral 902 in FIG. 9 is information indicating the rotational speed of the fan corresponding to the temperature of the CPU 301. The information 902 in FIG. 9 is used by the rotation control unit 216 in the process 802 in FIG. The rotation speed of the fan indicated by 902 in FIG. 9 is set for the fans 302-2 to 302-3. When the CPU temperature of the server 102 is 83 degrees, the rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed 5850 rpm for the fans 302-2 to 302-3. Further, the rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed 12300 rpm for the fans 302-2 to 302-3 when the CPU temperature of the server 102 is 93 degrees. Reference numeral 903 in FIG. 9 is information indicating the number of fan rotations corresponding to the memory temperature of the server 102. The information 903 in FIG. 9 is used by the rotation control unit 216 in the process 803 in FIG. The number of fan rotations indicated by reference numeral 903 in FIG. 9 is set for the fans 302-4 to 302-5. When the memory temperature of the server 102 is 83 degrees, the rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed 5850 rpm for the fans 302-4 to 302-5. Further, the rotation control unit 216 sets the rotation speed 12300 rpm for the fans 302-4 to 302-5 when the memory temperature of the server 102 is 93 degrees.

The processing of the calculation unit 218 of the server 102 will be described below. The calculation unit 218 performs a predetermined process and calculates the expected fan power consumption when a request is received from the creation unit 206 to transmit information on the expected fan power consumption. The creation unit 206 is configured to change a value obtained by subtracting the current set temperature of the air conditioner from the temperature information that is a candidate to be set to the air conditioner specified by the specifying unit 204 from the current set temperature of the air conditioner. And As a specific example, if the temperature that is a candidate for setting the air conditioner is 15 to 20 degrees and the current set temperature of the air conditioner is 18 degrees, the difference temperature that is scheduled to be changed from the current set temperature of the air conditioner is negative. It will be 3 to 2 degrees. The creation unit 206 sends a request to the server 102 to transmit information on the estimated power consumption of the fan together with information on the difference temperature. The calculation unit 218 receives a request from the creation unit 206 to transmit information on the expected power consumption of the fan. The calculation unit 218 calculates a value obtained by adding the difference temperature to each of the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 measured by the measurement unit 215, the temperature of the CPU 301, and the temperature of the memory 220 of the server. The calculation unit 218 sets a value obtained by adding the difference temperature to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102 as the assumed average temperature of the air inside the server 102. The calculation unit 218 sets a value obtained by adding the difference temperature to the temperature of the CPU 301 as the assumed CPU temperature. The calculation unit 218 sets a value obtained by adding the difference temperature to the temperature value of the memory 220 as the assumed memory temperature. The calculation unit 218 causes the rotation control unit 216 to determine the number of rotations of the fan from the information on the average air temperature inside the assumed server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature. The calculating unit 218 calculates the expected fan power consumption from the fan rotation speed corresponding to the average air temperature inside the assumed server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature. Note that the rotation control unit 216 does not actually set the fan rotation speed determined from information on the assumed average air temperature in the server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature.

FIG. 10 is an example showing information on the power consumption corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan. The calculation unit 218 calculates the expected power consumption of the fan based on the information in FIG. 10 from the fan rotation speed corresponding to the average air temperature inside the assumed server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature. Calculate the amount. In the example of FIG. 10, when the fan is rotating at 5850 rpm, 2 W of electric power is consumed per fan. When the fan is rotating at 12300 rpm, 9 W of electric power is consumed per fan. The example of FIG. 10 is an example, and the value is not limited. Information on the power consumption per fan corresponding to the number of rotations of the fan may be provided. The calculation unit 218 acquires the power consumption amount of each fan from the rotational speed of the fan determined from the information of the average air temperature inside the assumed server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature. The calculation unit 218 adds the power consumption of each fan, and calculates the expected fan power consumption. Information on the expected power consumption of the fan is transmitted to the cooling control apparatus 201 by the transmission unit 219.

When the creation unit 206 receives information on the power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101 and the expected fan power consumption, the creation unit 206 obtains the total power consumption used for cooling the data center. The creation unit 206 creates a table in which temperatures that are candidates for the air conditioner identified by the identifying unit 204 are associated with the total power consumption used for cooling the data center. The selection unit 207 selects a temperature with the smallest total power consumption used for cooling the data center from the table. The setting unit 208 sets the temperature with the smallest total power consumption selected by the selection unit 207 in the air conditioner.

FIG. 11 is an example showing the relationship between the set temperature of the air conditioner and the power consumption. FIG. 11 a and FIG. 11 b are modifications of FIG. 3. Data center power consumption varies with outside temperature. The power consumption of the data center varies depending on, for example, day and night, weather, season, and the like. FIG. 11A is an example when the outside air temperature is lower than that in FIG. FIG. 11A is indicated by a graph D, a graph E, and a graph F. Graph D is a graph showing the amount of power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner in a temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner. Graph D is a graph of power consumption information stored in the memory 214 of the air conditioner. The graph E is a graph showing the expected power consumption of the server in the temperature range where it is recommended that the server may be installed. The graph E is a graph of the fan power consumption calculated by the calculation unit 218. Graph F is a graph showing the power consumption of the data center in a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. The graph F is a graph of the information of the table created by the creation unit 206. The graph F is a graph obtained using the graph D and the graph E. Since graph D has a lower outside air temperature than graph A in FIG. 3, the amount of power consumption is low when the set temperature of the air conditioner is low. Therefore, the graph F has less power consumption when the set temperature of the air conditioner is lower than the graph C of FIG. The selection unit 207 selects the temperature with the smallest power consumption among the power consumptions of the data center shown in the graph F. The temperature with the lowest power consumption is on the side where the set temperature of the air conditioner is low in the graph F of FIG. FIG. 11B shows an example in which the load on the server 102 is higher than that in FIG. FIG. 11 b is indicated by a graph G, a graph H, and a graph I. The graph G is a graph showing the amount of power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner in a temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner. The graph G is a graph of power consumption information stored in the memory 214. The graph H is a graph showing the expected power consumption of the server in the temperature range where it is recommended that the server be installed. The graph H is a graph of the fan power consumption calculated by the calculation unit 218. Graph I is a graph showing the power consumption of the data center in a temperature range that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner. The graph I is a graph of the information of the table created by the creation unit 206. The graph I is a graph obtained using the graph G and the graph H. In graph H, the load on the server 102 is high, so that the amount of power consumption is high regardless of the setting temperature of the air conditioner. Therefore, the graph I has higher power consumption when the set temperature of the air conditioner is lower than the graph C of FIG. The selection unit 207 selects the temperature with the lowest power consumption among the power consumptions of the data center shown in the graph I. In graph I in FIG. 11, the temperature with the smallest amount of power consumption is on the side where the set temperature of the air conditioner is higher.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the acquisition unit of the cooling control device. The acquisition unit 203 acquires information on a temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner from the air conditioner 101 (step S201). The temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner is information on the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature that can be set in the air conditioner 101. The acquisition unit 203 confirms responses to all servers connected to the cooling control apparatus 201 (step S202). The acquisition unit 203 acquires information on a temperature range recommended for server installation from the server 102 (step S203). The temperature range recommended for installation of the server is information on the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature of the temperature recommended for installation of the server 102. The acquisition unit 203 determines whether the information of S203 has been acquired from all servers connected to the cooling control apparatus 201 (step S204). If the information of S203 has not been acquired from all servers, the process is repeated from S203. If the information of S203 has been acquired from all servers, the process proceeds to S102.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of a specific unit of the cooling control device. The specifying unit 204 selects the lowest temperature from the upper limit temperature acquired in S201 and the upper limit temperature acquired in S203 (step S301). The specifying unit 204 selects the highest temperature from the lower limit temperature acquired in S201 and the lower limit temperature acquired in S203 (step S302). The specifying unit 204 specifies that the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner is within the range between the upper limit temperature selected in S301 and the lower limit temperature selected in S302 (step S303). When S303 ends, the process proceeds to S103.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the creation unit of the cooling control device. The creation unit 206 acquires information on a setting unit indicating how many times the temperature can be set in the air conditioner 101 from the air conditioner 101 (step S401). The creation unit 206 acquires information about the current set temperature of the air conditioner 101 from the air conditioner 101 (step S402). The creation unit 206 sets the lower limit temperature selected in S302 as a candidate temperature to be set in the air conditioner (step S403). The creation unit 206 acquires, from the air conditioner 101, information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101 when a temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner is set in the air conditioner 101 (step S404). The creation unit 206 determines whether information on the amount of power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner 101 in S404 has been acquired from all the air conditioners (step S405). If information on the amount of power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioners from all the air conditioners has not been acquired, the process is repeated from S404. The creation unit 206 calculates, as a difference temperature, a value obtained by subtracting the current set temperature of the air conditioner from the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner (YES in step S405, step S406). The creation unit 206 acquires information on the expected power consumption of the fan when the average temperature, CPU temperature, and memory temperature of the air inside the server 102 change by the difference temperature (step S407). If the information about the expected power consumption of the fans from all the servers has not been acquired, the process is repeated from S407. The creation unit 206 adds the power consumption expected to be consumed by the air conditioner and the fan power consumption expected to obtain the total power consumption used for cooling the data center. The creation unit 206 creates a table that describes information associating temperatures that are candidates for setting to the air conditioner with the total power consumption used for cooling the data center (step S409). The creation unit 206 adds the value of the setting unit acquired in S401 to the temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner (step S410). The creation unit 206 determines whether or not the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner is higher than the upper limit temperature selected in S301 (step S411). If the temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner is equal to or lower than the upper limit temperature selected in S301, the process proceeds to S404. If the temperature that is a candidate to be set for the air conditioner is higher than the upper limit temperature selected in S301, the process proceeds to S104.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the selection unit of the cooling control device. The selection unit 207 selects a temperature at which power consumption is minimized from the table created by the creation unit 206 (step S501). When there are a plurality of temperatures at which the power consumption is minimized in the process of S501, the selection unit 207 selects the lowest temperature among the temperatures at which the power consumption is minimized (step S502).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the setting unit of the cooling control device. The setting unit 208 acquires the current set temperature of the air conditioner and the temperature information selected in S502 from the processing unit 205 (step S601). The setting unit 208 determines whether or not the current set temperature of the air conditioner and the temperature selected in S502 are the same value (step S602). If the current set temperature of the air conditioner and the temperature selected in S502 are the same value, the setting process ends. When the current set temperature of the air conditioner is different from the temperature selected in S502, the setting unit 208 sets the temperature selected in S502 to the air conditioner (NO in step S602, step S603). The setting unit 208 determines whether the temperature selected in S502 has been set for all the air conditioners (step S604). If the temperature selected in S502 is not set for all the air conditioners, the process repeats S603. When the temperature selected in S502 is set for all the air conditioners, the setting process ends.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the extraction unit and the notification unit of the air conditioner. The extraction unit 212 acquires information related to the outside air temperature from the memory 214 of the air conditioner (step S701). The outside air temperature is measured by the air conditioner 101, and information on the outside air temperature is stored in the memory 214. The extraction unit 212 extracts, from the memory 214, information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the air conditioner, corresponding to the information on the outside air temperature and the temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner (step S702). The notification unit 213 notifies the creation unit 206 of information on the power consumption that is expected to be consumed by the extracted air conditioner (step S703).

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the calculation unit and the transmission unit of the server. The calculation unit 218 acquires information about the current average temperature, CPU temperature, and memory temperature of the air inside the server 102 from the measurement unit 215 (step S801). The calculation unit 218 adds the difference temperature to the current average temperature of the air inside the server 102 to calculate the assumed average temperature of the air inside the server 102. The calculation unit 218 calculates the assumed CPU temperature by adding the difference temperature to the current CPU temperature. The calculation unit 218 adds the difference temperature to the current memory temperature and calculates the assumed memory temperature (step S802). The calculating unit 218 calculates the expected fan rotation speed corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the assumed server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature (step S803). The calculation unit 218 calculates an expected fan power consumption corresponding to the expected fan speed (step S804). The calculation unit 218 determines whether the processes of S803 and S804 have been performed on all the fans (step S805). If processing has not been performed for all fans, the processing is repeated from S803. The calculation unit 218 adds the expected fan power consumption amounts of all the fans (step S806). The transmission unit 219 transmits information on the expected power consumption of the fan to the cooling control device (step S807).

As described above, in the method according to the embodiment, the temperature with low power consumption can be automatically changed to the set temperature of the air conditioner.
The embodiment is not limited to the above, and can be variously modified. Some examples are described below.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data center according to the second embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The data center according to the second embodiment is a diagram in which the cooling control device 201 is mounted on the air conditioner 101 as the cooling control unit 401. The cooling control unit 401 may be installed as a program in the air conditioner 101. The cooling control unit 401 performs the same processing as the cooling control device 201.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data center according to the third embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 19 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Compared with the first embodiment, the data center according to the third embodiment has the cooling control device 201 mounted on the air conditioner 101 as the cooling control unit 401, and the fan mounted on the server 102. The power consumption information and calculation unit 218 is mounted on the air conditioner 101. The server 102 includes fan identification information 501. When the server 102 is not the same model, each server consumes different electric power corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan. For this reason, the data center according to the third embodiment has information including fan identification information in addition to the information on the power consumption corresponding to the rotational speed of the fan in FIG. FIG. 21 is an example of information on power consumption corresponding to the number of rotations of a fan having fan identification information. Information regarding the rotational speed of the fan shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the memory 220 of the server 102 and is notified to the air conditioner 101 in response to a request.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the creation unit according to the third embodiment. The creation unit 206 acquires information about the current average air temperature, CPU temperature, and memory temperature inside the server 102 from the measurement unit 215 (step S901). The creation unit 206 acquires information on the number of built-in fans, the current number of rotations of each built-in fan, fan identification information, and the number of fan rotations from the server memory 220 (step S902). The creation unit 206 determines whether the information acquired in S902 has been acquired from all servers (step S903). If the information acquired in S902 has not been acquired from all servers, the process is repeated from S901. If the information acquired in S902 has been acquired from all servers, the process proceeds to S904. Steps S904 to S909 are the same as steps S401 to S406 in FIG. The process of step S910 will be described in detail later (FIG. 23). Steps S911 to S914 are the same as steps S408 to S411 in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of calculation processing according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the air conditioner 101 includes a calculation unit 218. FIG. 18 is modified as shown in FIG. 23 to perform calculation processing. The calculation processing in FIG. 23 corresponds to the processing in step S910 in FIG. The calculation unit 218 adds the difference temperature to the current average temperature of the air inside the server 102 to calculate the assumed average temperature of the air inside the server 102. The calculation unit 218 calculates the assumed CPU temperature by adding the difference temperature to the current CPU temperature. The calculation unit 218 adds the difference temperature to the current memory temperature and calculates the assumed memory temperature (step S1001). The calculation unit 218 calculates the expected fan rotation speed corresponding to the average air temperature inside the assumed server 102, the assumed CPU temperature, and the assumed memory temperature (step S1002). The calculation unit 218 calculates the expected fan power consumption corresponding to the expected fan speed from the information regarding the fan speed that matches the fan identification information (step S1003). The information regarding the rotational speed of the fan used in S1003 is information illustrated in FIG. The calculation unit 218 determines whether or not the processing of S1002 and S1003 has been performed for all fans (step S1004). If processing has not been performed for all fans, the processing is repeated from S1002. The calculation unit 218 adds the expected fan power consumption of all the fans (step S1005). When S1005 ends, the process proceeds to S911.

The information on the power consumption of the air conditioner 101 shown in FIG. 5 may be information set in advance by an administrator. Further, the air conditioner 101 may measure the outside air temperature and the amount of power consumption during operation, and update the power consumption information of the air conditioner 101 shown in FIG. 5 using actual data.

9 may be the duty ratio of the fan corresponding to the average temperature of the air inside the server 102, the CPU temperature, and the memory temperature. Also, the information on the power consumption corresponding to the rotational speed of the fan shown in FIG. 10 may be used in association with the duty ratio instead of the information on the power consumption instead of the rotational speed of the fan.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Container 101 Air conditioner 101 Present air conditioner 102 Server 201 Cooling control apparatus 202 Temperature determination part 203 Acquisition part 204 Identification part 205 Processing part 206 Creation part 207 Selection part 208 Setting part 209 Memory 210 Management part 211 Temperature control part 212 Extraction part 213 Notification unit 214 Memory 215 Measurement unit 216 Rotation control unit 217 Recording unit 218 Calculation unit 219 Transmission unit 220 Memory 302 Fan 401 Cooling control unit 501 Fan identification information

Claims

A cooling control system for controlling a set temperature of an air conditioner that cools a room in which a server is installed and the server,
A temperature range that is a candidate for setting the air conditioner is within a temperature range that can be set for the air conditioner, and a specific unit that specifies from a recommended temperature range that the server may be installed, and
The predicted value of the power consumption amount of the air conditioner and the predicted value of the power consumption amount of the fan of the server when a temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner is set in the air conditioner, A creation unit that creates information associating the temperature that is a candidate to be set with the total value;
From the information, a selection unit that selects a set temperature with which the total value associated is relatively small; and
A setting unit for setting the relatively small set temperature in the air conditioner;
A cooling control system comprising:
The cooling control system includes:
Control the set temperature of the air conditioner at regular intervals,
The cooling control system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed time is set such that a change amount of power consumption in the air conditioner due to a change in temperature outside the room is less than a threshold value.
The air conditioner retains information by associating the power consumption amount of the air conditioner, which is expected when the temperature to be a candidate to be set in the air conditioner is set in the air conditioner, with the temperature outside the room. The cooling control system according to claim 2, wherein:
The server includes a first fan used for cooling the CPU, a second fan used for cooling the memory, and a third fan.
The server uses the average temperature of the air inside the server when the candidate temperature to be set for the air conditioner is set for the air conditioner. Find the expected value,
The first predicted value is compared with a second predicted value that is the number of rotations of the first fan obtained using the temperature of the CPU, and among the first and second predicted values, The one with the larger value is the first rotation speed,
The first predicted value is compared with a third predicted value that is the number of rotations of the second fan obtained using the temperature of the memory, and among the first and third predicted values, The one with the larger value is the second rotation speed,
Consumption for the first fan to operate at the first rotational speed, the second fan to operate at the second rotational speed, and the third fan to operate at the first expected value 4. The cooling control system according to claim 2, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a predicted value of the power consumption amount of the fan as a total value of the power amount. 5.
A cooling control method for controlling a set temperature of an air conditioner for cooling a server,
A temperature range that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner is within a temperature range that can be set in the air conditioner, and is specified from a recommended temperature range that the server may be installed,
Add the power consumption amount of the air conditioner and the power consumption amount of the fan of the server, which is expected when the temperature that is a candidate for setting to the air conditioner is set to the air conditioner, and set the air conditioner Create information associating the candidate temperature with the added value,
From the information, select a set temperature where the added value is relatively small,
The cooling control method, wherein the relatively small set temperature is set in the air conditioner.
The cooling control method includes:
Control the set temperature of the air conditioner at regular intervals,
The cooling control method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined time is set such that a change amount of power consumption in the air conditioner due to a change in temperature outside the room is less than a threshold value.
The air conditioner holds information in association with the temperature outside the room, which is expected when a temperature that is a candidate to be set in the air conditioner is set in the air conditioner. Item 7. The cooling control method according to Item 6.
The server includes a first fan used for cooling the CPU, a second fan used for cooling the memory, and a third fan.
The server uses the average temperature of the air inside the server when the candidate temperature to be set for the air conditioner is set for the air conditioner. Find the expected value,
The first predicted value is compared with a second predicted value that is the number of rotations of the first fan obtained using the temperature of the CPU, and among the first and second predicted values, The one with the larger value is the first rotation speed,
The first predicted value is compared with a third predicted value that is the number of rotations of the second fan obtained using the temperature of the memory, and among the first and third predicted values, The one with the larger value is the second rotation speed,
Consumption for the first fan to operate at the first rotational speed, the second fan to operate at the second rotational speed, and the third fan to operate at the first expected value The cooling control method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a predicted value of power consumption of the fan is calculated from a total value of power consumption.