1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an air conditioning system for a data processing system that has at least one row of server cabinets, the row of server cabinets borders a cold path, and at least one air conditioning unit takes in warm air, cools it, and blows it out as cold air.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Data processing systems normally include a multitude of server cabinets that have individual electronic modules or which are equipped with separate fans, cold air intakes, and warm air outlets, installed in them for cooling purposes.
The server cabinets are arranged in a plurality of rows and are oriented so that the cold air intakes and the warm air outlets of the individual server cabinets are situated or positioned in respectively opposite directions from one another and corresponding cold paths and warm paths are in alternating fashion between the server cabinets. In a two-row arrangement of server cabinets, a cold path is provided between the two server cabinet rows. The warm air outlets of the server cabinets are situated or positioned on the outside of this arrangement and blow the warm air into the surrounding space.
Various concepts are known from the prior art for air conditioning, in particular cooling, these types of data processing systems.
It is possible, for example, for the warm air exhausted from the server cabinets to be taken in by an air conditioning system, cooled, and blown into the cold path. In order to increase the cooling efficiency, the cold path normally is partitioned off from the warm paths and the surrounding space at the sides and top. Systems of this kind are described, for example, by PCT International Publication WO 03/083631 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,366 B2.
Particularly effective air conditioning of systems of this kind are inline air conditioning systems, which are situated between the server cabinets at particular intervals depending on the dissipation of the data processing system. These air conditioning units have fans that take in the warm air from the warm paths or the surrounding air via warm air intakes, cool the air with one or more heat exchangers through which water flows, and blow it into the partitioned-off cold paths via cold air injection points.
In the product catalog “RITTAL Handbook 32/IT Solutions”, starting on page 726 and in the information brochure “RITTAL IT-Cooling Solutions”, 03/08, for example, appropriate air conditioning units are listed under the trademark “LCP Inline”.
LCP stands for liquid cooling package and describes air conditioning units that can be placed between server cabinets inside data processing systems and that have water-cooled heat exchangers.
The air conditioning systems currently on the market have one disadvantage because they represent an interruption in the server cabinet arrangement and their structure diverges significantly from that of the server cabinets.
One object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning system with a structure that allows it to be fully integrated into a data processing system.
This object is achieved with an air conditioning unit integrated into the row of cabinets and the dimensions of the air conditioning unit and the dimensions of the server cabinets are essentially the same or, while having the same height and depth, the width of the air conditioning unit corresponds to a whole-number multiple of a width of one server cabinet.
By contrast with centrally installed air conditioning systems, this air conditioning system makes it possible for warm air to be extracted directly at its point of origin and supplied back to the cold path in the form of cold air. Air pressure losses and thus the power consumption of the fans are minimized because only short flow lengths are taken into account. In addition, the surroundings of the data processing system are only slightly influenced by warm air, yielding an effective cooling concept for temperature-sensitive data processing systems. It is advantageous if each air conditioning unit has the same dimensions as the server cabinets, and it can be integrated directly into the rows of server cabinets without a need to interrupt the grid arrangement for the server cabinets.
It is advantageous for the air conditioning unit to have at least one base module and possibly additional expansion modules, with the number of expansion modules adapted as a function of the required cooling capacity for the data processing system.
In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the base module and the expansion modules of the air conditioning unit are essentially the same. The dimensions of the base module and the expansion modules correspond to those of one server cabinet. In particular, this relates to the depth and width of the base modules and expansion modules. This modular construction allows the cooling capacity to be optionally scaled, also making it possible to have a subsequent expansion. In addition, this concept can also be used to achieve a redundancy in the air conditioning system, for example when at least two base modules are installed in a data processing system.
The air conditioning units can be used in various ways if cold air can be conveyed vertically downward via at least one cold air discharge, through a double floor and into the cold path or can be conveyed horizontally via perforated front elements of the air conditioning unit and into the cold path.
With a horizontal cold air discharge into the cold path, devices for slowing the flow of air are preferably provided on the air outlet side in both the base module and the expansion modules. This can be implemented, for example, with a positive pressure plenum that is situated or positioned in the flow direction directly between the exhaust opening of the fan and the perforated front elements of the air conditioning unit. With direct cold path injection, it is thus possible for the air flow to be reduced to a certain quantity and also to be homogenized.
With a variability in the intake of warm air, it is possible for the warm air to be taken in by at least one warm air intake, for example via a perforated rear-wall door and/or at the top of the air conditioning unit. With a horizontal extraction at the rear, it is possible, for example, for the warm air to also be taken in directly from a warm path partition, making it possible to achieve a particularly effective cooling of the data processing system.
In one embodiment of the air conditioning system, all of the upper-level components of the air conditioning unit are installed in the base module. Thus, for example, the base module of the air conditioning unit has at least one heat exchanger that has a connection to water-conveying systems and a control unit for fans and the water circuit.
The expansion module of the air conditioning unit has at least one heat exchanger and at least one fan. Both the fan and the water circuit for the heat exchangers of the expansion module can be controlled from the control unit of the base module and for this purpose, the base module has appropriate interfaces for connecting to the expansion modules. The expansion module performs the function of increasing the cooling capacity of the air conditioning unit and is appropriately controlled from the base module. It can also be supplied with cooling water. This is accompanied by cost savings in the installation of such air conditioning systems. With this concept, additional expansion modules can be subsequently arranged in a line with each existing unit at any time.
If the heat exchanger in the base module or expansion modules of the air conditioning unit is installed diagonally when viewed from the side, then a larger heat exchange area is available for the cooling. In this case, it is possible for the heat exchanger to extend across essentially the entire diagonal, viewed from the side, of the interior of the air conditioning unit.
In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchangers of the base module and expansion modules of the air conditioning unit have a filter on the inlet side, which can filter the intake air in order to remove dust particles from the air. It is thus possible to significantly reduce exposure of the data processing system to dust. In this case, the filter can be formed as a cartridge filter, which facilitates a rapid filter replacement.
If the base module of the air conditioning unit has a steam humidifier that can be controlled by the control unit, then it is also possible to influence the relative humidity.
If the fans are formed as EC ventilators, electronically commutated, then highly efficient, speed-controllable fans are used, which in comparison to classic asynchronous motors, have advantages with regard to a higher efficiency over broad speed ranges and with regard to a universal use. For example, it is not necessary to have different variants if the fans must operate with 50 Hz or 60 Hz. In the present field of use, the EC ventilators each has a respective impeller housing to facilitate changing the discharge direction.
If the cold path is partitioned off from the surrounding air, then it is possible to significantly increase the cooling efficiency of the data processing system. This also yields a better control of the flow conditions.
This invention is explained in greater detail below in view of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:
In
The warm air, which is taken in by the fans 13, first flows through a heat exchanger 12 arranged diagonally in the housing of the air conditioning unit 10 and is cooled in the process. On the inlet side, the heat exchanger 12 is associated with a filter 15 that can be formed as a cartridge filter. Each fan 13 is formed as EC radial ventilators and, depending on the intended use, can blow the cold air vertically downward via a cold air discharge 14 into the cold path 40 in a double floor or can blow the cold air horizontally via perforated front elements, for example via a perforated front door, of the air conditioning unit 10, directly into the cold path 40. To accomplish this, the fans 13 can be installed or positioned in different directions in the air conditioning unit 10. In this case, devices such as a positive pressure plenum can be provided at the air outlet end to slow down the air flow.
The heat exchangers 12 are connected to a cooling water system and have corresponding distributors 16 and collectors 17. A control unit 18 regulates the cooling water circuit and the flow rate of the fans 13.
In the base module of the air conditioning unit 10, there is a connection to an external water circuit. The base module of the air conditioning unit 10 also has interfaces that can be connected to expansion modules for expanding the cooling capacity of the air conditioning unit 10. The interfaces relate in particular to the control of the cooling water circuit and the actuation of the fan 13 in the expansion module, which does not have a control unit.
The control unit 18 can have a differential pressure control of the fan output of the fans 13. It is also possible to provide a control of the relative humidity by a steam humidifier. Also, additional fans 13, which are situated for example in the vicinity of the double floor, see
The air conditioning system of this invention can be used to produce an effective cooling concept for temperature-sensitive data processing systems, which influences the immediate surroundings only slightly with warm air. The modular construction allows the cooling capacity to be scaled, also making it possible to carry out a subsequent expansion.
German Patent Reference 10 2009 011 006.2-34, filed 2 Mar. 2009, the priority document corresponding to this invention, to which a foreign priority benefit is claimed under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119, and its entire teachings are incorporated, by reference, into this specification.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102009011006.2-34 | Mar 2009 | DE | national |