U.S. patent application number 12/775592 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-25 for information handling apparatus, control apparatus, and installation.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJITSU LIMITED. Invention is credited to Junichi ISHIMINE, Tadashi KATSUI, Ikuro NAGAMATSU, Yuji OHBA, Seiichi SAITO, Masahiro SUZUKI, Akira UEDA, Yasushi URAKI, Nobuyoshi YAMAOKA.
Application Number | 20100296915 12/775592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42334923 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100296915 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUZUKI; Masahiro ; et
al. |
November 25, 2010 |
INFORMATION HANDLING APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS, AND
INSTALLATION
Abstract
An information handling apparatus includes a chassis installed a
plurality of electric parts of the information handling apparatus,
having a pair of openings on opposite sides for allowing an
incoming and outgoing air flow for cooling down an inside of the
information handling apparatus, a pair of temperature detectors for
detecting temperature at each of the openings, a fan installed in
the housing for generating airflow between the openings, the fan
being capable of reversibly switching airflow direction, and a
controller for performing switching of the air flow direction by
the fan so that the fan generates the airflow from one of the
openings at which a detected with lower temperature is detected as
compared with the other of the openings.
Inventors: |
SUZUKI; Masahiro; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; SAITO; Seiichi; (Kawasaki, JP) ;
NAGAMATSU; Ikuro; (Kawasaki, JP) ; ISHIMINE;
Junichi; (Kawasaki, JP) ; KATSUI; Tadashi;
(Kawasaki, JP) ; OHBA; Yuji; (Kawasaki, JP)
; YAMAOKA; Nobuyoshi; (Kawasaki, JP) ; UEDA;
Akira; (Kawasaki, JP) ; URAKI; Yasushi;
(Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.
8000 TOWERS CRESCENT DRIVE, 14TH FLOOR
VIENNA
VA
22182-6212
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJITSU LIMITED
Kawasaki-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
42334923 |
Appl. No.: |
12/775592 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/47 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20736 20130101;
G06F 1/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/47 |
International
Class: |
F04D 15/00 20060101
F04D015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2009 |
JP |
2009-123480 |
Claims
1. An information handling apparatus comprising: a chassis
installed a plurality of electric parts of the information handling
apparatus, having a pair of openings on opposite sides for allowing
an incoming and outgoing air flow for cooling down an inside of the
information handling apparatus; a pair of temperature detectors for
detecting temperature at each of the openings; a fan installed in
the housing for generating airflow between the openings, the fan
being capable of reversibly switching airflow direction; and a
controller for performing switching of the air flow direction by
the fan so that the fan generates the airflow from one of the
openings at which a detected with lower temperature is detected as
compared with the other of the openings.
2. A control apparatus for controlling a fan installed in a housing
for generating airflow between the openings, the fan being capable
of reversibly switching airflow direction, the housing
accommodating a plurality of information handling apparatus and
having a pair of openings on opposite sides for allowing an
incoming and outgoing air flow for cooling down the information
handling apparatus, the fan control apparatus comprising: a pair of
temperature detectors for detecting temperature at each of the
openings; a controller for performing switching of the air flow
direction by the fan so that the fan generates the airflow from one
of the openings at which a detected with lower temperature is
detected as compared with the other of the openings.
3. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the a
housing is installed in an installation which installed an
air-conditioner.
4. The control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: the
installation has a plurality of the housings which are arranged in
the plurality of rows, and the air-conditioner has a plurality of
vents and air inlets which are arranged between the rows, the
plurality of the vents and the air inlets having respectively flaps
which are openable and closable.
5. An installation comprising: a plurality of information handling
apparatuses including respectively; a chassis installed a plurality
of electric parts of the information handling apparatus, having a
pair of openings on opposite sides for allowing an incoming and
outgoing air flow for cooling down an inside of the information
handling apparatus, a pair of temperature detectors for detecting
temperature at each of the openings, a fan installed in the housing
for generating airflow between the openings, the fan being capable
of reversibly switching airflow direction, and a controller for
performing switching of the air flow direction by the fan so that
the fan generates the airflow from one of the openings at which a
detected with lower temperature is detected as compared with the
other of the openings; and an air conditioning apparatus for air
conditioning within the installation.
6. The installation according to claim 5, further comprising a
plurality of the housings each for accommodating a plurality of
information handling apparatus, the plurality of the housings
arranged in the plurality of rows; wherein the air conditioner has
a plurality of vents and air inlets which are arranged between the
rows, the plurality of the vents and the air inlets having
respectively flaps which are openable and closable.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-123480,
filed on 21 May, 2009, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The embodiments discussed herein are related to an
information handling apparatus, a fan control apparatus, and
installation an installation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Hitherto, in a space called a data center or machine room as
illustrated in FIG. 15, there are information communication
apparatuses such as servers, storage systems and network equipment
and an information-communication-apparatus housing rack in which
such apparatuses are stacked. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a
data center. Hereinafter, an information communication apparatus is
referred to as an IT (information technology) apparatus 20, and an
information-communication-apparatus housing rack 30 may be called a
rack.
[0004] Since IT apparatuses 20 include many electronic parts such
as a central processing unit (CPU), the IT apparatuses 20 generate
(or dissipate) heat while consuming power. When some IT apparatuses
20 run at a high temperature, it may be difficult to perform normal
operations. Accordingly, an IT apparatus 20 has an air flow
generation part such as a fan 22, as illustrated in FIG. 16 and is
forcedly cooled. Thus, the apparatus can be kept at a constant
temperature, and reliability and operability can be secured.
Generally, an IT apparatus having an air inlet on the front face is
used. Through the air inlet, air at a predetermined temperature is
taken in by a fan 22. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an
air-cooling function of an IT apparatus.
[0005] However, in such a space, since many IT apparatuses 20 and
racks are arranged, the temperature of the entire space increases.
As a result, the IT apparatuses 20 take in air at a high
temperature with a fan 22 and it is difficult to cool the
apparatuses. In order to solve the problem, an air-conditioning
system is generally used which emits the air at a high temperature
within the space to the outside and supplies air at a low
temperature into the space to lower the temperature within the
space.
[0006] The use of the air-conditioning system causes air
circulation within the space. Thus, the IT apparatuses 20 take in
the air at a lower temperature to cool the internal electronic
parts and exhaust the air at a high temperature after the use for
cooling. Then, the air-conditioning system quickly takes in the air
at a high temperature exhausted from the IT apparatuses 20,
releases the air to the outside and supplies air at a low
temperature into the space. Thus, since the IT apparatuses 20 can
typically take in the air at a lower temperature and cool the
electronic parts included in the IT apparatuses 20, the reliability
of the IT apparatuses 20 themselves can improve.
[0007] The air-conditioning system may be, for example, of an
air-conditioning type having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit or
a water-cooling type using water cooled by an external turbo
refrigerator, for example, to cool air at a high temperature taken
into the space. Any type of air-conditioning system has electronic
devices in the indoor unit for cooling the air by heat exchange,
such as a blower, a compressor that circulates water for cooling
air and a blower that releases heat to the outside. In other words,
the air-conditioning system uses power to operate the electronic
devices such as the blowers and compressor for air circulation.
Such an air-conditioning system is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open
Patent Publications No. 3-26839 and 2007-300037.
[0008] However, since information communication apparatuses have
come to perform advanced processing and/or complicated processing,
information communication apparatuses generate more heat and/or
have higher heat generation densities. As a result, even the use of
the air-conditioning system according to the technology in the past
may not cool such information communication apparatuses
efficiently. Since the increases in heating value and/or heat
generation densities of information communication apparatuses may
increase the working amount of the air-conditioning system, the
power consumption by the air-conditioning system may increase,
which is not environmentally friendly.
SUMMARY
[0009] According to an aspect of the invention, an information
handling apparatus includes a chassis installed a plurality of
electric parts of the information handling apparatus, having a pair
of openings on opposite sides for allowing an incoming and outgoing
air flow for cooling down an inside of the information handling
apparatus, a pair of temperature detectors for detecting
temperature at each of the openings, a fan installed in the housing
for generating airflow between the openings, the fan being capable
of reversibly switching airflow direction, and a controller for
performing switching of the air flow direction by the fan so that
the fan generates the airflow from one of the openings at which a
detected with lower temperature is detected as compared with the
other of the openings.
[0010] The object and advantages of the invention will be realized
and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the
foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive
of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an information processing
apparatus according to a first embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an information processing
apparatus according to a second embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow by the
information processing apparatus according to the second
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an information processing apparatus in
which electronic parts having a symmetrical form about an air flow
path are arranged.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an information processing apparatus
having electronic parts arranged symmetrically about an air flow
path.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of a rack having an
air-conditioning control function.
[0017] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a case where a
rack is to be relocated.
[0018] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an example of the case using an
under floor-outlet air-conditioning system.
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the case using a 1:1
redundant air-conditioning system.
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of air-conditioning control
on the entire space where information processing apparatuses and a
rack there for is placed.
[0021] FIG. 11 illustrates another example of air-conditioning
control on the entire space where information processing
apparatuses and a rack there for is placed.
[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates another example of air-conditioning
control on the entire space where information processing
apparatuses and a rack there for is placed.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of an
exhaust partition 44.
[0024] FIG. 14 illustrates a rack having a gas-liquid heat exchange
system.
[0025] FIG. 15 illustrates a data center.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an air-cooling function
of an IT apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0027] There will be described in detail embodiments of the
information processing apparatus, information-processing-apparatus
housing rack and space control system disclosed by the present
application with reference to drawings, below.
First Embodiment
[0028] The information processing apparatus disclosed by the
present application is an IT apparatus such as a server and a
computer that executes programs to perform the corresponding
processing. Particularly, the information processing apparatus is
environmentally friendly and can cool the internal electronic parts
efficiently with a minimum amount of energy.
[0029] According to the first embodiment, there will be described a
configuration of the information processing apparatus disclosed by
the present application. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an
information processing apparatus according to the first
embodiment.
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an information processing
apparatus 10 includes electronic parts 11, air flow generation
portions 12a and 12b, environmental-information acquiring portions
13a and 13b, and a direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14. The
electronic parts 11 include a motherboard, a CPU, a memory, a ROM
(read only memory) and, an LSI (large scale integration) that
perform the corresponding processing.
[0031] The air flow generation portions 12a and 12b are connected
to the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14 and generate the
air flow for cooling the electronic parts 11. More specifically,
the air flow generation portions 12a and 12b take in air from the
outside of the information processing apparatus 10, cause the air
to pass through the inside of the information processing apparatus
10 and then exhaust the air to the outside.
[0032] The environmental-information acquiring portions 13a and 13b
are connected to the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14 and
acquire ambient environmental information on the information
processing apparatus 10. More specifically, the
environmental-information acquiring portion 13a and 13b acquire
environmental information such as temperature and humidity on the
side (A) and side (B), respectively, in FIG. 1 and output the
environmental information to the direction-of air-flow changing
portion 14.
[0033] On the basis of the environmental information acquired by
the environmental-information acquiring portions 13a and 13b, the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14 changes the operating
conditions of the air flow generation portion 12a or 12b to change
the direction of air flow. For example, if the temperature acquired
by the environmental-information acquiring portion 13a is lower
than the temperature acquired by the environmental-information
acquiring portion 13b, the direction-of-air-flow changing portion
14 controls the air flow generation portion 12a and/or 12b so that
the air can flow from the lower-temperature side to the
higher-temperature side. In other words, if the temperature in the
side (A) in FIG. 1 is lower than the side (B), the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14 controls the air flow
generation portion 12a and 12b so as to form the air flow path (1)
in FIG. 1 on which air flows from the side (A) to the side (B).
[0034] For example, if the temperature acquired by the
environmental-information acquiring portion 13b is lower than the
temperature acquired by the environmental-information acquiring
portion 13a, the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14 controls
the air flow generation portion 12a and 12b so that air can flow
from the lower-temperature side to the higher-temperature side. In
other words, if the temperature in the side (B) in FIG. 1 is lower
than the side (A), the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 14
controls the air flow generation portion 12a and/or 12b so as to
form the air flow path (2) in FIG. 1 on which air flows from the
side (B) to the side (A).
[0035] In this way, the information processing apparatus 10
according to the first embodiment can automatically change the
direction of suction/exhaust of the air for cooling the electronic
parts 11 on the basis of the ambient environment of the information
processing apparatus 10. As a result, the information processing
apparatus 10 can be environmentally friendly and can cool internal
electronic parts efficiently with a minimum amount of energy.
Second Embodiment
[0036] The information processing apparatus disclosed by the
present application may have various function portions excluding
the function portions according to the first embodiment. According
to a second embodiment, there will be described an information
processing apparatus having various function portions.
[0037] [Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus]
[0038] First of all, with reference to FIG. 2, there will be
described an information processing apparatus according to the
second embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an
information processing apparatus according to the second
embodiment.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an information processing
apparatus 20 includes electronic parts 21, fans 22, a vent 23, a
front sensor 24, a rear sensor 25, an environmental-information
acquiring portion 26, and a direction-of-air-flow changing portion
27. These processing portions here are given for illustration
purpose only, and the information processing apparatus may include
other processing portions.
[0040] The electronic parts 21 perform the corresponding processing
and may include a substrate 21a, an HDD 21e and an input/output
portion 21f. The electronic parts represented by the electronic
parts 21 are given for illustration purpose only, and the
electronic parts 21 may include other various parts.
[0041] The substrate 21a may be an electronic circuit substrate
(such as a motherboard) for configuring the electronic parts that
implement the processing by the information processing apparatus 10
and may include a CPU 21b, a memory 21c and an expansion slot 21d,
for example.
[0042] The CPU 21b is a central processing unit that performs
various numerical-value calculations, information processing and
apparatus control based on programs. The memory 21c is a main
storage device that stores data and programs directly accessible by
the CPU 21b. The expansion slot 21d may be a slot for an expansion
card for adding a function to the information processing apparatus
20 or a PC card such as a LAN (local area network) card and a flash
memory card.
[0043] The HDD 21e is a hard disk drive (or storage device) that
stores data to a magnetic disk and reads data from a magnetic disk.
The input/output portion 21f is an input/output device driver that
controls a display, a printer and a communication interface, for
example, to provide interfaces to applications or the like.
[0044] The fans 22 are connected to the direction-of-air-flow
changing portion 27 and generate the air flow for cooling the
electronic parts 21. More specifically, the fans 22 are blowers
provided on the front face of the information processing apparatus
20. If the fans 22 receive an instruction to rotate from the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27, the fans 22 rotate in
the direction instructed by the direction-of-air-flow changing
portion 27, take in the air from the outside and generate an air
flow.
[0045] For example, if the fans 22 are instructed to rotate in the
clockwise direction from the direction-of-air-flow changing portion
27, the fans 22 rotate in the instructed clockwise direction and
generate the air flow path (1) on which air is taken in from the
front of the information processing apparatus 20 and is exhausted
to the rear. If the fans 22 are instructed to rotate in the
counterclockwise direction from the direction-of-air-flow changing
portion 27, the fans 22 rotate in the instructed counterclockwise
direction and generate the air flow path (2) on which air is taken
in from the rear of the information processing apparatus 20 and is
exhausted to the front. The correspondence relationship between the
direction of rotation and the direction of the air flow path are
given for illustration purpose only and is not limited to the
aforementioned relationship.
[0046] The vent 23 exhausts the air taken in from the front of the
information processing apparatus 20 to the rear through the fans 22
and takes in the air from the rear of the information processing
apparatus 20 to the inside of the information processing apparatus
20 through the fans 22.
[0047] The front sensor 24 is defined on the front face of the
information processing apparatus 20 and acquires environmental
information such as temperature and humidity of the front of the
information processing apparatus 20 and outputs the information to
the environmental-information acquiring portion 26. The rear sensor
25 is defined on the rear face of the information processing
apparatus 20 and acquires environmental information such as
temperature and humidity of the rear of the information processing
apparatus 20 and outputs the information to the
environmental-information acquiring portion 26.
[0048] The timing for detecting temperature or humidity by the
front sensor 24 or rear sensor 25 may be defined arbitrarily such
as detection upon notification to the environmental-information
acquiring portion 26 of the occurrence of change in temperature or
humidity that is measured at all times and detection at
predetermined time intervals (such as every 30 minutes).
Illustrating the example in which the sensors are provided at the
two positions of the rear and front of the information processing
apparatus 20, the positions are not limited thereto. The sensors
may be provided on sides or at the four corners. The positions and
number of the sensors may be defined arbitrarily.
[0049] The environmental-information acquiring portion 26 is
connected to the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 and
acquires ambient environmental information of the information
processing apparatus 20. More specifically, the
environmental-information acquiring portion 26 acquires temperature
or humidity of the front of the information processing apparatus 20
from the front sensor 24 and acquires temperature or humidity of
the rear of the information processing apparatus 20 from the rear
sensor 25 and outputs the acquired environmental information to the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27.
[0050] On the basis of the environmental information acquired by
the environmental-information acquiring portion 26, the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 changes the operating
condition of the fans 22 to change the direction of air flow. More
specifically, on the basis of the environmental information
acquired by the environmental-information acquiring portion 26, the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 changes the direction of
rotations by the fans 22 to change the direction of air flow so
that air can flow from the front to the rear or from the rear to
the front of the information processing apparatus 20.
[0051] For example, on the basis of the temperature or humidity
acquired by the environmental-information acquiring portion 26, the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 may determine that the
front of the information processing apparatus 20 has a higher
temperature or humidity than the rear. In this case, the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 instructs the fans 22 to
rotate clockwise and generates the air flow path (1) on which air
is take in from the front of the information processing apparatus
20 and is exhausted to the rear. On the basis of the temperature or
humidity acquired by the environmental-information acquiring
portion 26, the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 may
determine that the rear of the information processing apparatus 20
has a higher temperature or humidity than the front. In this case,
the direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 instructs the fans 22
to rotate counterclockwise and generates the air flow path (2) on
which air is taken in from the rear of the information processing
apparatus 20 and is exhausted to the front.
[0052] [Processing Flow by Information Processing Apparatus]
[0053] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, there will be described a
processing flow by the information processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is
a flowchart illustrating a processing flow by the information
processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 3, if the power is turned on (Yes in
step S101), the environmental-information acquiring portion 26 of
the information processing apparatus 20 acquires ambient
environmental information on the information processing apparatus
20 through the front sensor 24 and rear sensor 25 (step S102).
[0055] Then, on the basis of the environmental information acquired
by the environmental-information acquiring portion 26, the
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 of the information
processing apparatus 20 determines the direction of the air flow to
be taken into the information processing apparatus 20 (step S103).
The direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 then controls the
fans 22 so as to generate the determined air flow (step S104).
[0056] After that, until the power is turned off by a user, for
example, (No in step S105), the information processing apparatus 20
repeats the processing in step S102 to step S104. If the power is
turned off by a user, for example, (Yes in step S105), the
information processing apparatus 20 stops the fans 22 (step
S106).
Second Embodiment
[0057] In this way, according to the second embodiment, the air
flow path for cooling the electronic parts 21 can be automatically
changed on the basis of the ambient environment of the information
processing apparatus 20. As a result, the internal electronic parts
can be efficiently cooled environmentally friendly and with a
minimum amount of energy. As described above, even in the
information processing apparatus 20 having many electronic parts,
the internal electronic parts can be efficiently cooled
environmentally friendly and with a minimum amount of energy.
Third Embodiment
[0058] In the information processing apparatus disclosed by the
present application, since the internal electronic parts are cooled
by the air, the arrangement of the electronic parts in
consideration of the air flow path allows efficient cooling with
less energy. According to a third embodiment, there will be
described an example of the efficient arrangement of the internal
electronic parts within the information processing apparatus.
[0059] [Forms of Electronic Parts]
[0060] First of all, with reference to FIG. 4, there will be
described the examples of the forms of the electronic parts within
the information processing apparatus. FIG. 4 illustrates an
information processing apparatus in which electronic parts having
symmetrical forms about the air flow path are arranged.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the forms of the electronic parts
21 within the information processing apparatus 21 are preferably
schematically symmetrical about the air flow path (or the direction
of air flow). Thus, even when the direction of air flow is changed
by 180 degrees (for example, direction is changed from (1) to (2)),
the electronic parts 21 can be efficiently cooled independently of
the direction of air flow since the resistances that the air flow
receives from the electronic parts are schematically equal.
[0062] [Arrangement of Electronic Parts]
[0063] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, there will be described an
example of the arrangement of the electronic parts within the
information processing apparatus. FIG. 5 illustrates an information
processing apparatus having electronic parts arranged symmetrically
about the air flow path.
[0064] When a plurality of electronic parts perform the same
processing, the electronic parts are preferably arranged
symmetrically about the air flow path (the direction of air flow),
as illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, many information processing
apparatuses with high precision having high-speed processing
performance have a plurality of CPUs and memories. In this case,
the symmetrical arrangement of the electronic parts about the air
flow path allows schematically equal resistances that the air flow
receives from the electronic parts even when the direction of the
air flow is changed by 180 degrees. As a result, independently of
the direction of the air flow, the electronic parts can be
efficiently cooled.
Fourth Embodiment
[0065] According to the first to third embodiments, there have been
described the examples of the information processing apparatus that
control the direction of air flow. However, a rack that stores a
plurality of information processing apparatuses may have a control
portion that controls the direction of air flow as described
above.
[0066] According to a fourth embodiment, there will be described a
rack having an air-conditioning control function with reference to
FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of a rack having an
air-conditioning control function.
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the rack according to the fourth
embodiment internally has a control portion, a plurality of
information processing apparatuses, (a total of four) sensors at
upper and lower positions on the front and rear surfaces, and three
fans 22 on the front faces. The positions and numbers of the
apparatuses, fans 22 and sensors here are given for illustration
purpose and are not limited thereto.
[0068] Each of the information processing apparatuses held by the
rack is the apparatus having the functions according to one of the
first to third embodiments. Each of the sensors may be a
thermometer or hygrometer that acquires environmental information
such as temperature and humidity as in the second embodiment. Each
of the fans 22 is a blower that rotates to generate an air
flow.
[0069] The control portion is a computer having similar functions
to those of the environmental-information acquiring portion 26 and
direction-of-air-flow changing portion 27 according to the second
embodiment. That is, the control portion acquires ambient
environmental information on the rack through the sensors, and, on
the basis of the acquired environmental information, changes the
operating condition of the fans 22 to change the direction of the
air flow.
[0070] For example, if the front of the rack has a higher
temperature or humidity than the rear, the control portion
instructs the fans 22 to rotate clockwise and generates the air
flow path on which air is taken in from the front of the rack and
is exhausted to the rear. If the rear of the rack has a higher
temperature or humidity than the front, the control portion
instructs the fans 22 to rotate counterclockwise and generates the
air flow path on which air is taken in from the rear of the
information processing apparatus 20 and is exhausted to the
front.
[0071] In this way, according to the fourth embodiment, the air
flow for cooling the information processing apparatuses and the
electronic parts within the information processing apparatuses can
be efficiently taken into the rack. As a result, in the information
processing apparatuses stored in the rack, the internal electronic
parts can be efficiently cooled. Storing information processing
apparatuses in the past that are not the information processing
apparatus disclosed by the present application in the rack
according to the fourth embodiment can provide the same effects as
that of one of the first to third embodiment. In other words, even
in an information processing apparatus in the past, the internal
electronic parts can be efficiently cooled.
[0072] An apparatus generating a large amount of heat or an air
flow of exhaust heat in the vicinity may cause an increase in
intake temperature heat and becomes a disadvantage in design.
However, according to the embodiment, an advantageous direction of
air flow can be found by the information processing apparatus or
the rack on the basis of the ambient environment, and the internal
electronic parts can be forcedly cooled in the direction of air
flow. As a result, the temperature of the semiconductor devices (or
electronic parts) therein such as a CPU can be lowered, and
energy-saving and high reliability can be attained.
Fifth Embodiment
[0073] Next, there will be described cases 30 where the information
processing apparatuses 20A to 20N according to one of the first to
fourth embodiments are effectively provided in a space such as a
machine room having an air-conditioning system in the past for air
circulation.
[0074] [Case Where Air-Conditioning System is to be Relocated]
[0075] First of all, with reference to FIG. 7, there will be
described a case where air-conditioning systems 40A and 40B defined
in rear of a rack is to be relocated to the front of the rack.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are a diagram for explaining a case where a rack 30
is to be relocated. The arrows in FIG. 7A indicate the flows of
air.
[0076] In FIG. 7A, the information communication apparatuses and
rack receive the supply of air from the rear side of the
apparatuses and rack 30 from the floor-mounted air-conditioning
system 40A and take in cool air from the rear side 30B and exhaust
the air warmed as a result of the cooling of the electronic parts
to the front. There will be described a case where, under the
condition, the air-conditioning system is to be relocated to the
front of the rack as illustrated in FIG. 7B.
[0077] In general, relocating an air-conditioning system may
require changing the direction of the rack 30 and information
communication apparatuses stored in the rack. In that case, as the
size of the rack increases and as the complexity of the
configurations of the information communication apparatuses
increases, the numbers of power supply cables and signal cables and
the complexity of the connection forms increase. For that, it is
not easy to change the directions, and high construction cost may
be involved in only changing the directions.
[0078] On the other hand, when the information processing
apparatuses according to one of the first to third embodiments
and/or the rack 30 according to the fourth embodiment are applied
as the information processing apparatuses and rack 30 illustrated
in FIGS. 7A and 7B, relocating the air-conditioning systems 40A and
40B may only require controlling the fans 22 so as to take in air
from the direction of air supply. In other words, as described
above, the necessity is eliminated for changing the direction of
the apparatuses in consideration of the power supply cables and
signal cables for the relocation of the air-conditioning system,
and no construction cost is involved. In this way, even when the
necessity for relocating the air-conditioning system rises in the
future, the air at a low temperature can be taken in to efficiently
cool the internal electronic parts, with no costs.
[0079] [Case Using Under floor-Outlet Air-Conditioning System]
[0080] Next, with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, there will be
described a case using an under floor-outlet air-conditioning
system. FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an example of the case using an
under floor 34 -outlet air-conditioning system 40A.
[0081] Since an under floor-outlet air-conditioning system 40A
emits cool air to under floor 34, a rack 30 or information
communication apparatuses may require sucking up the emitted cool
air from under floor 34 and supplying the air to the inside of the
rack 30 or apparatuses to cool the internal electronic parts.
[0082] Normally, the amount of air emitted from under floor by an
under floor-outlet air-conditioning system 40A is manually
measured, the floor at position where the air can be sucked up best
is torn up and the fans 22 of the rack 30 and information
communication apparatus is adjust to suck up the air from there. In
other words, the information on the performance of the under
floor-outlet air-conditioning system and the floor and space where
the rack placed is determined totally, which takes time and
costs.
[0083] On the other hand, when the information processing
apparatuses according to one of the first to third embodiments
and/or the rack according to the fourth embodiment are used in an
environment using an under floor-outlet air-conditioning system, a
sensor is used to detect the part releasing cool air of the floor.
Then, the information processing apparatuses and/or rack 30 may be
required to control the fans 22 so as to suck the air from the
detected part. For example, if the information processing
apparatuses and/or rack detect that cool air is emitted from
between the air-conditioning system and the rack, as illustrated
FIG. 8A, the information processing apparatuses and/or rack may be
required to control the fans 22 so as to suck the air from the
detected part. If the information processing apparatus or rack
detects that cool air is emitted from the opposite side of the
air-conditioning system, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the information
processing apparatuses and/or rack may be required to control the
fans 22 so as to suck the air from the detected part. In this way,
air at a low temperature can be easily taken in, and the internal
electronic parts can thus be efficiently cooled, without requiring
totally determining the information on the performance of the under
floor-outlet air-conditioning system and the floor and space where
the rack is placed.
[0084] [Case Using 1:1 Redundant Systems]
[0085] Next, with reference to FIG. 9, there will be described a
case using 1:1 redundant air-conditioning systems 1 and 2. FIG. 9
illustrates an example of the case using 1:1 redundant
air-conditioning systems.
[0086] For a very important information processing apparatuses or a
rack 30 storing a very important system, redundant floor-mounted
air-conditioning systems 1 and 2 are often provided in front and
rear of the rack, as illustrated in FIG. 9, to improve reliability.
Generally, in many cases, two air-conditioning systems 1 and 2 are
alternately operated, and, with the switching of the operations by
the air-conditioning systems, the directions of the
air-conditioning systems may be changed toward the rack or
information communication apparatuses.
[0087] Normally, the operation is performed for changing the
air-conditioning systems 1 and 2 directed toward the rack 30 or
information communication apparatus by watching the power supply
cables and signal cables and without destroying the complicated
connection forms. For that, it is not easy to change the directions
of the air-conditioning system, and, moreover, only changing the
directions takes a large amount of time and money.
[0088] On the other hand, when the information processing
apparatuses according to one of the first to third embodiments and
the rack according to the fourth embodiment are used as the
information processing apparatus and rack illustrated in FIGS. 7A
and 7B, detecting the running air-conditioning system and
controlling the fans 22 so as to take in air from the detected
direction may be required. In other words, since the directions of
the air-conditioning systems are not required to change in
consideration of the power supply cables and signal cables with the
switching of the air-conditioning systems as described above, the
cost and time are not required there for. In this way, even when
1:1 redundant air-conditioning systems are used, air at a low
temperature can be taken in reasonably and easily to efficiently
cool the internal electronic parts.
Sixth Embodiment
[0089] Having described the examples according to the first to
fifth embodiments in which air-conditioning control is performed on
information processing apparatuses and a rack, the embodiment
allows efficient air-conditioning control over the entire space
where the information processing apparatuses and rack there for are
placed.
[0090] According to a sixth embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 10
to 12, there will be described an example in which efficient
air-conditioning control is performed over the entire space where
information processing apparatuses and a rack there for are placed.
FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate examples of air-conditioning control over
the entire space where information processing apparatuses and a
rack there for are placed.
[0091] According to the sixth embodiment, an indoor control device
44 is connected to indoor ceiling panels, under floor panels, an
air-conditioning system that supplies air from under floor and
eight racks via signal lines such as buses so as to allow
opening/closing of the panels, control over the air-conditioning
systems 43A and 43B, acquisition of the amounts of electric power
consumption of the racks 30 and control over the operations of the
fans 22 of the racks 30 or information processing apparatuses.
[0092] According to the sixth embodiment, an example will further
be described in which the temperature increases by 1.degree. C. for
a total amount of electrical power consumption of 1 kW of each of
the racks, and the air-conditioning systems 43A and 43B supply air
at 20.degree. C. to the inside of the room to implement
air-conditioning control for keeping the inside of the room at
35.degree. C. or lower.
[0093] For example, the total amount of electrical power
consumption of each of the eight racks is 3 kW, the temperature of
the air having passed through one rack increases by 3.degree. C.
The air-conditioning systems 43A and 43B take in the emitted air at
20.degree. C. before it reaches 35.degree. C. (which is a
temperature limit). In order to efficiently cool the information
processing apparatuses, the air conditioning systems 43A and 43B
may take in the air having passed through four racks 30 (20.degree.
C.+3.degree. C..times.4=32.degree. C. <35.degree. C.).
[0094] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the indoor
control device 44 opens the under floor panel at the middle of
space having the eight racks 30 and opens the ceiling panels 40 at
both ends of the room. Thus, the indoor control device 44 can form
an air flow path on which air is taken in from under floor 34, is
split and flows into the right and left. As a result, the indoor
control device 44 can recover the air used for cooling the
information processing apparatuses (or electronic parts), that is,
the air emitted from the air-conditioning system at 20.degree. C.
and heated to 32.degree. C. by passing through the four racks,
without exceeding 35.degree. C. Thus, since the air emitted once
can be used for cooling by causing the air to pass through more
racks, efficient air-conditioning control can be implemented.
[0095] Next, there will be described a case where each of the eight
racks 30 has a total amount of electrical power consumption of 5
kW. In this case, since the air emitted at 20.degree. C. from the
air-conditioning systems 44A A and 44B reaches the temperature
limit 35.degree. C. by passing through three racks, the air may be
caused to pass through up to two racks.
[0096] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the indoor
control device 44 alternately opens the under floor panels 42A and
the ceiling panels by leaving two racks between them. Thus, the
indoor control device 44 can form the air flow path on which air is
taken into the room from under floor 34, is caused to pass through
two racks 30 and is then recovered. As a result, since the air
emitted once can be used for cooling by causing the air to pass
through more racks 30, efficient air-conditioning control can be
implemented.
[0097] Next, there will be a case where each of the eight racks has
a total amount of electrical power consumption of 10 kW. In this
case, since the air emitted at 20.degree. C. from the
air-conditioning system reaches the temperature limit 35.degree. C.
or higher, for example, 40.degree. C., by passing through two
racks, the air may be caused to pass through up to one rack.
[0098] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the indoor
control device 44 alternately opens the under floor panels 42 and
the ceiling panels 40 by leaving one rack between them. Thus, the
indoor control device 44 can form the air flow path on which air is
taken into the room from under floor 37, is caused to pass through
one rack and is then recovered. As a result, since the air emitted
once can be used for cooling by causing the air to pass through
more racks, efficient air-conditioning control can be
implemented.
[0099] Having described according to the sixth embodiment the
examples in which each of the racks has an equal total amount of
electrical power consumption, it is given for illustration purpose
only. The racks generally have different total amounts of
electrical power consumption. Also in such a case, as described
above, the number of racks that the air emitted from the
air-conditioning system can pass through under the indoor
temperature limit may be determined. Then, the under floor panels
and ceiling panels may be opened so as to form an air flow path
allowing recovery of the air passed through the determined number
of racks.
[0100] A secure air flow path can be formed by controlling exhaust
partitions 44 as illustrated in FIG. 13 in opening the ceiling
panels for easy exhaust of the air through the opened ceiling
panels 40. As illustrated in FIG. 14, a gas-liquid heat exchange
system that implements a heat exchange function may be attached to
both faces (inlet side and outlet side) of each of the racks 30.
Thus, air can be cooled once before exhausted from the outlet side.
As a result, compared with the aforementioned example, since the
air emitted once can be used for cooling by causing the air to pass
through more racks, efficient air-conditioning control can be
implemented. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of
each of the exhaust partition 44s, and FIG. 14 illustrates a rack
having the gas-liquid heat exchange system.
Seventh Embodiment
[0101] Having described the embodiments up to this point, the
embodiment may be implemented in various different forms, in
addition to the aforementioned embodiments. Now, there will be
described different embodiments regarding the air flow generation
portion, environmental information, system configuration and others
and programs below.
[0102] [Air Flow Generation Portion]
[0103] Having described according to the first to sixth embodiments
that fans 22 are used as the air flow generation portion, the
embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, any device such as
a blower is usable if the device can suck and exhaust air.
[0104] For example, identical fans 22 may be attached to both ends
(or the outlet side and inlet side) of an air flow, and either one
of the fans 22 may be operated on the basis of environmental
information. Thus, the direction of air flow can be controlled.
[0105] Having described according to the first to sixth embodiments
that the direction of rotation of the fans 22 are automatically
controlled, the number of rotations may be controlled and may
furthermore be controlled manually, for example. On the basis of
environmental information, the direction of the attached fans 22
(which are the air flow generation portion) may be rotated by 180
degrees.
[0106] [Environmental Information]
[0107] Having described according to the first to sixth embodiments
that the environmental information is an ambient temperature or
humidity of the apparatus, the embodiment is not limited thereto.
Various kinds of information may be used as the environmental
information for controlling the air flow generation portion. For
example, the temperature or humidity within each of the apparatuses
may be detected for the same processing.
[0108] For example, the environmental information may be
information on the amount of air such as the wind direction and the
volume of air or layout information on the space where the
information processing apparatuses and/or racks are placed. The
information processing apparatuses and/or rack can perform analysis
processing on the layout information input by a user by using a
general architectural program to calculate the direction of wind
and the volume of air within the space. The information processing
apparatuses and/or rack may control on the basis of the acquired
the direction of wind and volume of air so as to form an air flow
path on which the air immediately after taken in from the outside
is captured to the apparatus or rack.
[0109] [System Configuration and Others]
[0110] In the processing described according to the aforementioned
embodiments, all or a part of the processing that has been
described to perform automatically may be performed manually.
Conversely, all or a part of the processing that has been described
to perform manually may be performed automatically. The processing
routines, control routines, specific names, information including
data and parameters described herein or in the attached drawings
may be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise indicated.
[0111] The illustrated parts of the apparatuses are functional and
conceptual and may not typically be required to be physically
configured in the illustrated manners. In other words, the specific
forms of the distribution/integration of the devices (such as the
integration of the environmental-information acquiring portion and
the direction-of-air-flow changing portion) are not limited to the
illustrated one, all or part of them may be functionally or
physically distributed or integrated in arbitrary units in
accordance with the loads and usages. All or an arbitrary part of
the processing functions implemented by the devices may be
implemented by a CPU and a program to be analyzed and executed by
the CPU or by a hard wired logic.
[0112] [Programs]
[0113] The air-conditioning control method according to the
embodiments may be implemented by causing a computer such as a
personal computer and a workstation to execute a prepared program.
The program may be distributed over a network such as the Internet.
The program may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium
such as a hard disk, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, an MO and a
DVD and may be read from the recording medium.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended
for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the
invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to
furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without
limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions,
nor does the organization of such examples in the specification
relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the
invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail, it should be understood that the various
changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *