Heat Ventilation Apparatus

Abstract

An exemplary heat ventilation apparatus includes a server system having servers, a temperature sensor, a blower unit and a controlling unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the blower unit. The temperature sensor is mounted on the server system for sensing a temperature of an interior of the server system. The blower unit is adapted for drawing hot air from the server system to warm buildings. The controlling unit outputs different signals to turn on or turn off the blower unit according to different temperatures of the interior of the server system.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to heat ventilation apparatuses, and more particularly to a heat ventilation apparatus utilizing exhaust heat of servers.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Generally, a plurality of servers is densely mounted in a server cabinet to form a data center. Each of the servers typically includes at least a power supply device, a motherboard, a hard disk drive, and an optical disk drive, all of which can generate considerable heat during operation. The heat of the servers is generally dissipated to the ambient by heat dissipation devices, such as cooling fans. The direct discharge of so much heat to the ambient may be considered as wasting energy.

[0005] What is needed, therefore, is a means for better dealing with heat of servers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0006] The drawing shows a heat ventilation apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] Referring to the drawing, a heat ventilation apparatus 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The heat ventilation apparatus 10 includes a server system 12, an exhaust system 14, and a cooling system 16.

[0008] The server system 12 can be a container data center, which generally includes a plurality of servers densely mounted in a standard container. Each of the servers includes at least a power supply, a motherboard, and a plurality of hard disks, all of which can generate considerable heat during operation. The cooling system 16 is adapted for dissipating the heat of the servers of the server system 12. The heat ventilation apparatus 10 is adapted for supplying the heat of the servers to buildings 20, such as offices, housings, etc., which need to be warmed. Thereby, the heat of the servers of the server system 12 can be recycled.

[0009] The cooling system 16 includes a sensing unit 160, a control unit 162, a fan unit 164, a desiccant unit 166 and an air filter 168. The control unit 162 is electronically connected to the sensing unit 160 and the fan unit 164. The desiccant unit 166 is coupled to an air outlet of the fan unit 164. The air filter 168 is arranged between the desiccant unit 166 and the server system 12, with an inlet of the air filter 168 coupled to the desiccant unit 166, and an outlet of the air filter 168 coupled to the server system 12.

[0010] The sensing unit 160 of the cooling system 16 is adapted for measuring temperatures of an exterior and an interior of the server system 12. The control unit 162 outputs different signals to turn the fan unit 164 on or off according to measurement results. More specifically, when the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 exceeds that of the exterior by a predetermined value, such as 5.degree. C., the control unit 162 outputs a signal to start the fan unit 164. Thus cooling air is drawn into the server system 12 from the ambient. When the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 equals or is less than that of the exterior, which means that the interior of the server system 12 is cool, the control unit 162 outputs a signal to turn off the fan unit 164, thus conserving energy.

[0011] When the fan unit 164 starts, cooling air is drawn from the ambient to flow through the desiccant unit 166 and the air filter 168 in turn, and finally to the server system 12 to exchange heat with the servers. When the cooling air flows through the desiccant unit 166, moisture in the cooling air is removed; and when the cooling air flows through the air filter 168, dust in the cooling air is removed. Thus, the cooling air entering the server system 12 is clean and dry.

[0012] The exhaust system 14 includes a temperature sensor 140, a controlling unit 142, a blower unit 144, and an air purifier 146. The controlling unit 142 is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 140 and the blower unit 144. The air purifier 146 has an inlet coupled to an air outlet of the blower unit 144, and an outlet connected to the buildings 20. It should be understood that conduits for conducting hot air can be provided between the air purifier 146 and the buildings 20, particularly when the buildings 20 are far from the server system 12.

[0013] The temperature sensor 140 of the exhaust system 14 is mounted on the server system 12 to detect the temperature of the interior of the server system 12. The controlling unit 142 outputs different signals to turn the blower unit 144 on and off according to different temperatures of the interior of the server system 12. A predetermined threshold temperature (hereinafter, "blower threshold temperature") can be set in the controlling unit 142, such as 40.degree. C., 45.degree. C., 60.degree. C., etc.

[0014] When the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 is lower than the blower threshold temperature, which means that the interior of the server system 12 is not hot, the controlling unit 142 outputs a signal to turn off the blower unit 144. Conversely, when the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 reaches or exceeds the blower threshold temperature, i.e., the interior of the server system 12 is hot, the controlling unit 142 outputs a signal to turn on the blower unit 144, thereby drawing hot air from the server system 12 and across the air purifier 146. Accordingly, dust and moisture are removed from the hot air, and purified hot air is supplied to warm the buildings 20.

[0015] In summary, during operation of the servers of the server system 12, heat is generated, and accordingly, the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 increases. When the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 exceeds that of the exterior by a predetermined threshold value (herein, "fan threshold value"), the fan unit 164 starts and draws cooling air into the server system 12 to exchange heat with the servers. Thus, a safe working temperature of the servers is maintained. When the temperature of the interior of the server system 12 increases to the blower threshold temperature, the blower unit 144 draws out hot air from the server system 12 to warm the buildings 20. Thus, the exhaust heat of the servers is reused.

[0016] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of certain embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A heat ventilation apparatus, comprising: a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of an interior of a server system; a blower unit adapted for drawing hot air from the server system to warm a desired location; and a controlling unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the blower unit, the controlling unit being capable of outputting different signals to turn on or turn off the blower unit according to different temperatures of the interior of the server system.

2. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air purifier for purifying the hot air, an inlet of the air purifier being coupled to an air outlet of the blower unit.

3. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein a blower threshold temperature is set in the controlling unit, when the temperature of the interior of the system exceeds that of the predetermined temperature, the blower unit turns on to draw the hot air, and when the temperature of the interior of the system is less than that of the predetermined temperature, the blower unit turns off.

4. A heat ventilation apparatus, comprising: a server system comprising a plurality of servers; a temperature sensor mounted on the server system for sensing a temperature of an interior of the server system; a blower unit adapted for drawing hot air from the server system to warm a desired location; and a controlling unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the blower unit, the controlling unit being capable of outputting different signals to turn on or turn off the blower unit according to different temperatures of the interior of the server system.

5. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an air purifier for purifying the hot air, an inlet of the air purifier being coupled to an air outlet of the blower unit.

6. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 4, wherein a blower threshold temperature is set in the controlling unit, when the temperature of the interior of the system exceeds that of the predetermined temperature, the blower unit turns on to draw the hot air, and when the temperature of the interior of the system is less than that of the predetermined temperature, the blower unit turns off.

7. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the server system is a container data center.

8. A heat ventilation apparatus, comprising: a server system comprising a plurality of servers; a fan unit for drawing cooling air from the ambient to exchange heat with the server system; and a blower unit for drawing hot air from the server system to warm a desired location.

9. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the server system is a container data center.

10. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of an interior of the server system and a controlling unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor, the controlling unit being capable of outputting different signals to turn on or turn off the blower unit according to different temperatures of the interior of the server system.

11. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 10, wherein a blower threshold temperature is set in the controlling unit, when the temperature of the interior of the system exceeds that of the predetermined temperature, the blower unit turns on to draw the hot air, and when the temperature of the interior of the system is less than that of the predetermined temperature, the blower unit turns off.

12. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an air purifier for purifying the hot air, an inlet of the air purifier being coupled to an air outlet of the blower unit.

13. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a sensing unit mounted on the server system and a control unit electrically connected to the sensing unit, the sensing unit being adapted for sensing temperatures of an interior and an exterior of the server system, the control unit being capable of outputting different signals to turn on or turn off the fan unit according to different comparison results of the temperatures of the interior and exterior.

14. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a desiccant unit coupled to an air outlet of the fan unit.

15. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an air filter, an inlet of the air filter being coupled to the desiccant unit, and an outlet of the air filter being coupled to the server system.

16. The heat ventilation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an air filter connected between the fan unit and the server system.