JP6429959B2 - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for facilities in which information communication devices such as a plurality of servers, storages, and network devices are accommodated.

In facilities such as data centers in which information communication devices such as servers, storage, and network devices are accommodated, air conditioning management is indispensable because the amount of heat generated by the information communication devices is large.
As a conventional technique for performing energy management including air-conditioning management, a technique is disclosed in which an existing network environment is used to determine the internal heat generation amount of OA equipment, and energy management is performed.
Specifically, in a facility where a plurality of OA devices are connected to a network, the internal heat generation amount of the connected OA device is calculated from the network connection information of the OA device, and the heat load prediction for the next day in the facility is calculated. The optimum operation of the equipment is planned, and the air conditioning equipment is also operated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-10204 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1-2)

  In the energy management device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the OA equipment is collected using the network environment connected to the network management device by using the information communication line to collect the floors or floors of the building by the line concentrator (hub, router, etc.). Information is being acquired. When air conditioning management is performed in units of floors or floors, the entire room is cooled by air conditioning equipment, so control is performed so that the entire room is below a predetermined temperature even if some OA equipment is generating heat. . For this reason, there is a problem that equipment with higher air conditioning capacity than necessary is required, which results in high power consumption and high electricity charges. Further, when OA equipment having a large heat generation amount and OA equipment having a small heat generation amount are mixed in the same room, there is a problem that efficient cooling cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an air conditioning system that can reduce power costs.

An air conditioning system according to the present invention is an air conditioning system that air-conditions a facility in which a plurality of racks in which information communication devices are stored in multiple stages are arranged, and distributes power from a power supply device to each information communication device. The distribution board to be supplied, the power measuring means provided in the distribution board for measuring the power value supplied to each information communication device, and the information communication device are divided into a plurality of groups and provided corresponding to the groups. The air conditioner and the air conditioning control means for controlling the air conditioner. The group of information communication equipment is a rack unit, and the air conditioner is provided integrally with the rack above or below each rack. In the control means, the power value measured by the power measurement means is totaled for each group, the air conditioner corresponding to the group is controlled according to the total power value, and the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner is controlled in proportion to the power value. Configured to And those are.

According to the air conditioning system of the present invention, the group of information and communication equipment is in units of racks, and the air conditioner is provided integrally with the rack above or below each rack, and is measured by the power measuring means in the air conditioning control means. It is configured to collect the power value for each group of information communication equipment, control the air conditioner corresponding to the group according to the summed power value, and control the air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner in proportion to the power value. Therefore, air conditioning control in units of groups by power monitoring using the correlation between the amount of heat generated and the amount of power enables local and efficient air conditioning control according to the degree of heat generation of information communication equipment. The power consumption of the entire air conditioning system can be reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the electric power value-cooling capability characteristic of the air conditioning system by Embodiment 1. FIG. It is another schematic block diagram of the air conditioning system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the server and the whole air conditioning system at the time of applying the air conditioning system of FIG. 1 to a data center. It is a perspective view of the server and the whole air conditioning system which shows another example of application of the air conditioning system of FIG. It is a perspective view of the server and the whole air conditioning system which shows another example of application of the air conditioning system of FIG. It is a perspective view of the server and the whole air conditioning system at the time of applying the air conditioning system by Embodiment 2 to a data center.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning system according to the first embodiment.
For example, there is a data center as equipment for accommodating information communication equipment. In a data center, a plurality of servers and the like are housed in a plurality of racks and arranged neatly on a partitioned floor or room in a building. FIG. 1 assumes such a facility space and will explain a server as an example of information communication equipment.
In the room, there are a plurality of racks 2 in which a plurality of servers 1 are stored in multiple stages, a power supply device 3 for supplying power to the servers 1, and a distribution board 4 for distributing power from the power supply device 3 to each server 1. I have. Furthermore, each rack 2 is provided with an air conditioner 5 that cools the server 1 accommodated in the rack 2, and is provided with air conditioning control means 6 that controls the air conditioner 5.

A plurality of circuit breakers 7 for wiring are accommodated in the distribution board 4, and the server 1 is connected to the load side of each circuit breaker 7. In addition, on the load side of each circuit breaker 7 in the distribution board 4, power measuring means 8 including a current / voltage sensor 8 a is provided.
The air conditioning control means 6 includes an air conditioning control unit 9 that controls the air conditioner 5 provided in the rack 2, a programmable logic controller 10 (hereinafter abbreviated as PLC 10), and a control terminal 11. The PLC 10 is connected to the power measuring means 8 of the distribution board 4 via a communication interface (not shown).
The number of servers 1 and racks 2 is an example, and is not limited to the figure. In practice, a large number of racks are arranged in a plurality of rows.

Next, the function and operation of each part will be described.
The power supply device 3 is composed of, for example, a DC power supply, and is connected to each circuit breaker 7 of the distribution board 4, and supplies power to the server 1 via the wiring circuit breaker 7. At this time, the power measuring means 8 provided in the distribution board 4 measures the current value and the voltage value supplied to the server 1 which is a load connected to the circuit breaker 7 by the current / voltage sensor 8a, The electric power value supplied to the load is obtained by arithmetic processing. The power measuring unit 8 transmits the obtained power value to the PLC 10 in response to the request of the PLC 10 of the air conditioning control unit 6. The control terminal 11 of the air conditioning control means 6 is connected to the PLC 10 and has a function of inputting and changing setting information of the PLC 10 and a function of visually displaying the air conditioning status.

The PLC 10 previously stores correlation data in which the position information of the server 1 (for example, in which rack of which rack is stored) and the power measuring means 8 are associated with each other. By doing so, for example, the power value obtained from the uppermost circuit breaker 7 of the distribution board 4 in FIG. 1 is information of the uppermost server 1 of the rack B. Such correlation data is acquired and stored for all the servers 1.
In addition, the correlation between the power value of the server group (rack unit in FIG. 1) and the cooling capacity of the air conditioner 5 that each air conditioner 5 is responsible for is previously grasped as a power value-cooling capacity characteristic, and the data is also stored in the PLC 10. Prepare.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power value-cooling capacity characteristic. The horizontal axis shows the power value, the left vertical axis shows the heat generation amount of the server and the cooling capacity of the air conditioner, and the right vertical axis shows the temperature. In the figure, the thin line indicates the amount of heat generated by the server, and the thick line indicates the cooling capacity of the air conditioner. Also, the broken line shows the transition of the device temperature of the server when the air conditioner is activated for reference.
The amount of heat generated by the server 1 that is a load is proportional to the power supplied to the server 1. Accordingly, since the temperature of the server 1 increases as the supplied power value increases, the air conditioner is activated when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature (for example, point a in the figure), and the air conditioner air conditioning is proportional to the increase in the server temperature. If the capacity is increased, the amount of heat generated is cooled by the air conditioner, and the device temperature of the server 1 can be kept almost constant.

If the circuit breaker 7 is on, the server 1 connected to it generates heat according to the power used, but if it is off, the server 1 connected to it does not generate heat. The power value also changes depending on the operating status of the server 1. The power measuring means 8 measures and determines the power value supplied to each server 1.
In the air conditioning control means 6, the PLC 10 issues a command to the power measurement means 8 to receive the power value, and the power values for each rack 2 are known by counting the power values in rack units. Therefore, referring to the prepared power value-cooling capacity characteristic data and position information, the air conditioner 5 mounted on the corresponding rack 2 via the air conditioning control unit 9 according to the amount of power used in rack units, The cooling capacity is adjusted. By doing so, it is possible to control the temperature rise of the server 1 to be almost constant in units of two racks.

Next, a modification of the air conditioning system described above will be described.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioning system showing a modification of the air conditioning system of FIG. 1. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described.
In FIG. 1, the air conditioning control means is provided separately from the distribution board, but in FIG. 3, the air conditioning control means is provided in the distribution board. The inside of the distribution board other than the air conditioning control means is the same as in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution board 12 includes air conditioning control means 13 inside. The air conditioning control means 13 has the same function as the air conditioning control means 6 of FIG. That is, the air conditioning control means 13 has the PLC 10 inside thereof and has the same function as the air conditioning control unit 9.

Power is supplied from the power supply device 3 to the server 1 as a load via the wiring circuit breaker 7. The power measuring means 8 measures the current value and voltage value of the power supplied to the load by the current / voltage sensor 8a, obtains the load power value by arithmetic processing, and determines the load power value according to the request from the air conditioning control means 13. It transmits to the air-conditioning control means 13.
As in the case of FIG. 1, the air conditioning control means 13 includes the correlation between the installation position (row, stage) of the server 1 and the power measuring means 8 in advance, the power value of the server 1 that each air conditioner 5 is responsible for, and the air conditioner. The correlation between the cooling capacities 5 is previously grasped as the power value-cooling capacity characteristics, and the data is prepared.
The air conditioning control means 13 aggregates the power values received from the power measuring means 8 in units of two racks, and refers to the correlation data to control the cooling capacity of the air conditioner 5 in units of two racks. The temperature of 1 can be controlled almost constant.

Next, the case where the air conditioning system described above is applied to a data center will be described more specifically.
4 and 5 are perspective views of the server and the entire air conditioning system when the air conditioning system of FIG. 1 is applied to a data center. Parts equivalent to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals for easy understanding.
A plurality of servers 1 are accommodated in a rack 2 in multiple stages and arranged in three rows. The air conditioner 5 is installed in each rack 2 unit. FIG. 4 shows the case where the air conditioner 5 is arranged at the upper part of the rack 2, and FIG. 5 shows the case where it is arranged at the lower part of the rack 2. Although not shown, the power supply device is connected to the distribution board 4, and power is supplied to each server 1 via the distribution board 4. An air conditioning control device 6 that is an air conditioning control means is connected to each air conditioner 5.

The air conditioning method is as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and the cooling function of the air conditioner 5 installed in the rack 2 that houses the server 1 having a high power value is enhanced based on the information on the arrangement position of the server 1 and the power value. The air conditioner 5 installed in the rack 2 that houses the server 1 having a low power value is controlled to lower the cooling function.
For example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, if the total power value supplied to each server 1 stored in the rack 2 a indicated by hatching is high, this information is grasped by the power measuring means in the distribution board 4, Since it is transmitted to the air conditioning control device 6, by controlling the air conditioning function of the air conditioner 5a provided at the top or bottom of the rack 2a, a server group having a large heat generation, in this case, the rack 2a is prioritized on a rack basis. Can be cooled.
4 and 5 show a configuration in which the distribution board 4 and the air conditioning control device 6 are individually provided corresponding to FIG. 1, but the air conditioning control means is provided in the distribution board as shown in FIG. You may make it the structure to provide.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another example in which the air conditioning system is applied to a data center.
In the description so far, the server group to be cooled has been in units of racks, but FIG. 6 shows that the air conditioners 5 are provided in units of rows of racks 2. That is, one air conditioner 5 is associated with a group of servers 1 to be cooled as a group and a plurality of servers 1 housed in a row of arranged racks 2 as a group.
For each rack row, the power value of the server stored in the rack row, the power value-cooling capability characteristic data of the cooling capacity of the corresponding air conditioner, and the position information of the server arrangement position are prepared in advance. The optimum air conditioning control is performed for each rack row in the same manner as described above.
For example, if the rack row shown by hatching in FIG. 6 is an array group having servers with high power values, the cooling function of the air conditioners 5a installed in that row is enhanced, and there are other servers with low power values. By reducing the cooling function of the air conditioners 5 installed in the rack row, it is possible to intensively cool the rack row having a server with a large amount of heat generation.

The distribution board 4 and the air conditioning control device 6 can use the same data as in the case of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 by changing the correlation data prepared in advance from the rack unit to the rack row unit.
Moreover, although the facility which applies the air conditioning system of this application was demonstrated as a data center, it is not limited to this, It can apply to the general air conditioning of the facility in which a plurality of information communication equipment is accommodated orderly in the partitioned room. it can.

As described above, according to the air conditioning system of the first embodiment, an air conditioning system that air-conditions a facility in which a plurality of racks in which information and communication devices are stored in multiple stages are arranged and includes power from a power supply device. A distribution board that distributes and supplies to each information communication device, a power measuring means that is provided in the distribution board and measures the power value supplied to each information communication device, and the information communication device is divided into a plurality of groups. The air conditioner provided corresponding to the group and the air conditioning control means for controlling the air conditioner, and the air conditioning control means totalize the power values measured by the power measuring means for each group. Since it is configured to control the air conditioner corresponding to the group according to the power value, by using the correlation between the calorific value and the power amount to control the air conditioning in groups by power monitoring, information communication equipment Depending on the fever degree of the station Manner it is possible to efficiently perform the air-conditioning control, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the entire air conditioning system.
In addition, when aggregation processing is performed in a data center in which information and communication devices such as servers, storages, and routers are accommodated, there is a large difference in power consumption between models and racks. Is big.

  In addition, since the air conditioning control means is provided outside the distribution board, the present system can be constructed by incorporating the air conditioning control means into an air conditioning control device of a general air conditioner.

  In addition, since the air conditioning control means is provided inside the distribution board, it does not require a separate installation space for installing the air conditioning control means, so that the entire installation space can be reduced.

  In addition, since the group of information communication equipment is in units of racks and the air conditioners are provided in units of racks above or below the racks, air conditioning can be performed precisely according to the power used in units of racks. The power consumption of the entire system can be effectively reduced.

  Furthermore, the group of information communication equipment is arranged in rows of arranged racks, and the air conditioners are provided on the end faces in the row direction of the racks. Therefore, the number of installed air conditioners is reduced and used in units of rack rows. It is possible to reduce power consumption of the entire air conditioning system by performing air conditioning control according to the power.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the server and the entire air conditioning system when the air conditioning system according to the second embodiment is applied to a data center. Parts equivalent to those in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As in FIG. 4, there are a plurality of rack rows in which a plurality of racks 2 in which a plurality of servers 1 are stored in multiple stages are arranged, and the distribution board 4 and the air conditioning control device 6 are arranged indoors. However, the air conditioner (not shown) is not directly mounted on the rack 2 but is installed on the ceiling and side walls of the data center room 14. And the server group which takes charge of cooling with one air conditioner is decided beforehand, and the blowing position of the air conditioner provided in the ceiling part and the side wall part is provided in a plurality of locations corresponding to each server group. In the figure, the direction of the balloon at the balloon position is indicated by an arrow. The correspondence with server groups can be made flexibly by using ducts.

Correlation data between the arrangement information and power value of the server group and the cooling capacity of the corresponding air conditioner is prepared in advance and stored in the air conditioning control device 6.
As in the first embodiment, the power value of each server 1 is measured by the power measuring means mounted on the distribution board 4, and the power value of the server group is tabulated in the air conditioning control device 6, and the power used based on the correlation data The corresponding air conditioner is controlled according to the value. By doing this, the cooling capacity from the air outlet of the air conditioner corresponding to the server group with a high power value is increased (as shown by a shaded and thick arrow in the figure as an example), and it corresponds to the server group with a low power value. The cooling capacity from the air outlet of the air conditioner can be lowered.
In addition, although the air conditioner was demonstrated as what was installed in the ceiling side and the wall surface side, it should just be installed in one at least in any one.

As described above, according to the air conditioning system of the second embodiment, the group of information and communication devices is set to a plurality of predetermined rack units, and the air conditioner is installed in correspondence with the plurality of determined racks. Because it is provided on the ceiling or side wall of the housed room, air conditioning control can be performed locally and efficiently for information communication equipment with high heat generation by performing air conditioning control not on the entire room but on the spot. Therefore, the power consumption of the entire air conditioning system can be reduced and the power cost can be reduced.
Moreover, since the air-conditioning equipment provided in the room where the information communication device is arranged can be used, the cost of the air-conditioning system can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

  In the present invention, it is possible to freely combine the respective embodiments within the scope of the invention, and to appropriately change or omit the respective embodiments.

1 server (information and communication equipment), 2, 2a rack, 3 power supply, 4 distribution board,
5, 5a Air conditioner, 6 Air conditioning control means (air conditioning control device), 7 Circuit breaker,
8 Electric power measurement means, 8a Current / voltage sensor, 9 Air conditioning control unit, 10 PLC,
11 control terminal, 12 distribution board, 13 air conditioning control means, 14 rooms.

Claims (3)

An air conditioning system that air-conditions a facility in which a plurality of racks storing information communication devices are arranged in a line,
A distribution board that distributes power from a power supply device and supplies it to each of the information communication devices, and a power measuring means that is provided in the distribution board and measures a power value supplied to each of the information communication devices, The information communication device is divided into a plurality of groups, and air conditioners provided corresponding to the groups, and air conditioning control means for controlling the air conditioners,
The group of the information communication equipment is the rack unit, and the air conditioner is provided integrally with the rack above or below each rack,
In the air conditioning control means, the power values measured by the power measuring means are totaled for each group, the air conditioners corresponding to the groups are controlled according to the total power values, and proportional to the power values. An air conditioning system configured to control an air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
The air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning control means is provided outside the distribution board. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
The air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning control means is provided inside the distribution board.

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