JP6003296B2 - Humidity detection device and air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a humidity detection device and an air conditioning system.

  In recent years, with the advent of an advanced information society, a large amount of data has been handled by computers, and in many facilities such as data centers, many computers are installed in the same room and collectively managed. Under such circumstances, a large amount of heat is generated from the computer, causing malfunction or failure, and thus means for cooling the computer is required. For this reason, in a normal data center, heat generated in the computer is discharged outside the computer by a fan (blower), and the indoor temperature is adjusted using an air conditioner (air conditioner).

  The inventors of the present application have proposed a method for measuring a temperature distribution using an optical fiber (Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to these methods, detailed temperature distribution in racks and rooms that contain computers can be obtained, and air conditioning equipment can be efficiently controlled based on the temperature distribution. Power to be reduced.

JP 2009-265077 A JP 2009-265083 A JP-A-63-132138 JP-A-3-94191

  It is an object to provide a humidity detection device and an air conditioning system suitable for controlling humidity in a facility such as a data center.

According to one aspect of the disclosed technology, a moisture-sensitive member that expands and contracts according to humidity, a grip portion that grips both ends of a predetermined region in the length direction of the optical fiber, and one end side are connected to the moisture-sensitive member, A movable rod that rotates about a fulcrum according to the expansion and contraction of the moisture sensitive member; a bend rod that is connected to the other end of the movable rod and moves in a predetermined direction according to the rotation of the movable rod; and the bend A locking portion that is provided on the rod and locks the center portion of the optical fiber at a portion of which the both ends are gripped by the gripping portion, and the gripping portion is a first region in the length direction of the optical fiber. And a second gripping part for gripping both ends of the second region spaced apart from the first region, and the bend bar is extended by the moisture sensitive member. A first bend portion for generating a microbend in the optical fiber of the first region when Serial humidity-sensitive member humidity detecting device and a second bend portion is provided for generating microbending the optical fiber of the second region when deflated.

According to another aspect of the disclosed technology, an air conditioner capable of adjusting indoor temperature and humidity, an optical fiber laid in the room, and connected to the optical fiber in a length direction of the optical fiber. Output from a temperature distribution measuring device that measures a temperature distribution, a humidity detecting device that holds both ends of a predetermined region of the optical fiber, and generates a transmission loss in the optical fiber according to humidity, and the temperature distribution measuring device A control device that controls the air conditioning equipment based on the data, and the humidity detection device grips both ends of a predetermined area in the length direction of the optical fiber, and a moisture sensitive member that expands and contracts according to humidity. A gripping part, one end side of which is connected to the moisture sensitive member, a movable bar that rotates around a fulcrum according to the expansion and contraction of the moisture sensitive member, and the other end side of the movable bar that is connected to rotate the movable bar. Move in a certain direction accordingly A bend rod, and a locking portion that is provided on the bend rod and that locks a central portion of the optical fiber at a portion that is gripped at both ends by the gripping portion, and the gripping portion has a length of the optical fiber. A first gripping part for gripping both ends of the first region in the direction, and a second gripping part for gripping both ends of the second region spaced apart from the first region, A first bend portion for generating a microbend in the optical fiber in the first region when the moisture sensitive member is extended; and a microbend in the optical fiber in the second region when the moisture sensitive member is contracted. And an air conditioning system having a second bend unit for generating .

  According to the humidity detection apparatus according to the above aspect, it is possible to detect humidity using an optical fiber used for measuring a temperature distribution of a facility such as a data center. In addition, the air conditioning system according to the other aspect described above can simultaneously measure the temperature distribution of a facility such as a data center and detect the humidity using an optical fiber, and appropriately adjust the temperature distribution and humidity in the facility. Can be controlled.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a temperature distribution measuring device and an air conditioning system using the temperature distribution measuring device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a spectrum of backscattered light. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a time-series distribution of the intensity of Raman scattered light detected by the photodetector. 4 calculates the I ₁ / I ₂ ratio for each time based on the time-series distribution of the intensity of Raman scattered light in FIG. 3, and the horizontal axis (time) in FIG. It is a figure which shows the result of having converted signal intensity | strength) into temperature. FIG. 5 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining the minimum heating length. FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the minimum heating length. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a humidity detecting device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the output of the photodetector of the temperature distribution measuring apparatus. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the optical fiber when the humidity is higher and lower than the appropriate range. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between relative humidity and transmission loss. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main part of a humidity detection device according to a modification. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of racks and air conditioners in a data center room. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a computer (server) stored in a rack.

  Hereinafter, before describing the embodiment, a preliminary matter for facilitating understanding of the embodiment will be described.

  In the data center, temperature management is important as well as temperature management. For example, it is conceivable to install a hygrometer in the room of the data center and control the air conditioning equipment based on the humidity measured by the hygrometer. However, in this case, it is necessary to lay electrical wiring between the control device that controls the air conditioning equipment and the hygrometer, which increases the introduction cost and the maintenance cost. Therefore, it is conceivable to measure temperature distribution and humidity using an optical fiber.

  Conventionally, a method for detecting humidity using an optical fiber has been proposed. For example, a microbend is generated by strongly twisting an optical fiber and a moisture-sensitive fiber bundle, and the transmission loss due to the microbend changes when the moisture-sensitive fiber bundle expands and contracts according to humidity. A method for measuring humidity has been proposed.

  However, in the above-described method, since a strong pressure is constantly applied to the optical fiber, the transmission loss of the optical fiber is large, and measurement of the temperature distribution and humidity with a single optical fiber increases the measurement accuracy of the temperature distribution. It will decline. Also, if a large pressure is constantly applied to the optical fiber, the optical characteristics of the optical fiber will change, so it will be necessary to frequently perform maintenance and replacement of the optical fiber, calibration of the temperature distribution measuring device, etc. Will increase.

  In the following embodiments, a humidity detection device and an air conditioning system suitable for controlling humidity in a facility such as a data center will be described.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, humidity is detected using a distributed temperature sensor (DTS) using an optical fiber as a sensor. Therefore, first, the temperature distribution measuring device will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a temperature distribution measuring device and an air conditioning system using the temperature distribution measuring device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a spectrum of backscattered light, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a time-series distribution of the intensity of Raman scattered light detected by a photodetector.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature distribution measuring device 20 includes a laser light source 21, lenses 22 a and 22 b, a beam splitter 23, a wavelength separation unit 25, a photodetector 26, and a calculation unit 27. Used by connecting to the fiber 24.

  Laser light having a predetermined pulse width is output from the laser light source 21 at a constant cycle. This laser light enters the optical fiber 24 from the light source side end of the optical fiber 24 through the lens 22a, the beam splitter 23, and the lens 22b. In FIG. 1, 24 a indicates the core of the optical fiber 24, and 24 b indicates the cladding of the optical fiber 24.

  A part of the light that has entered the optical fiber 24 is backscattered by the molecules constituting the optical fiber 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the backscattered light includes Rayleigh scattered light, Brillouin scattered light, and Raman scattered light. Rayleigh scattered light is light having the same wavelength as incident light, and Brillouin scattered light and Raman scattered light are light having wavelengths shifted from the incident wavelength.

  The Raman scattered light includes Stokes light shifted to a longer wavelength side than incident light and anti-Stokes light shifted to a shorter wavelength side than incident light. The intensity of Stokes light and anti-Stokes light both change with temperature, but the amount of change of Stokes light with temperature is small, and the amount of change of anti-Stokes light with temperature is large. That is, it can be said that the Stokes light has a small temperature dependency, and the anti-Stokes light has a large temperature dependency.

  As shown in FIG. 1, these backscattered light returns through the optical fiber 24 and exits from the light source side end. Then, the light passes through the lens 22 b, is reflected by the beam splitter 23, and enters the wavelength separation unit 25.

  The wavelength separation unit 25 includes beam splitters 31a to 31c that transmit or reflect light according to the wavelength, and optical filters 33a to 33c that transmit only light of a specific wavelength. In addition, the wavelength separation unit 25 includes condensing lenses 34 a to 34 c that condense light transmitted through the optical filters 33 a to 33 c onto the light receiving units 26 a to 26 c of the photodetector 26, respectively.

  The light incident on the wavelength separation unit 25 is separated into Rayleigh scattered light, Stokes light, and anti-Stokes light by the beam splitters 31 a to 31 c and the optical filters 33 a to 33 c and input to the light receiving units 26 a to 26 c of the photodetector 26. . As a result, signals corresponding to the intensity of Rayleigh scattered light, Stokes light, and anti-Stokes light are output from the light receiving units 26a to 26c.

  The calculation unit 27 includes a computer. The computing unit 27 acquires the temperature distribution along the laying path of the optical fiber 24 based on the signal output from the photodetector 26.

  By the way, the backscattered light generated in the optical fiber 24 is attenuated while returning through the optical fiber 24. Therefore, in order to correctly evaluate the temperature at the position where backscattering occurs, it is important to consider light attenuation.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time-series distribution of the intensity of Raman scattered light, with time on the horizontal axis and signal intensity on the vertical axis. Stokes light and anti-Stokes light are detected by the photodetector 26 for a certain period immediately after the laser pulse is incident on the optical fiber 24. When the temperature is uniform over the entire length of the optical fiber 24, the signal intensity decreases with the passage of time when the laser pulse is incident on the optical fiber 24 as a reference. In this case, the time on the horizontal axis indicates the distance from the light source side end of the optical fiber 24 to the position where the backscattering occurs, and the decrease in signal intensity with time indicates the attenuation of light by the optical fiber 24. .

When the temperature is not uniform over the length direction of the optical fiber 24, for example, when a high temperature portion and a low temperature portion exist along the length direction, the signal intensity of Stokes light and anti-Stokes light is not attenuated uniformly. As shown in FIG. 3, peaks and valleys appear on the curve indicating the change in signal intensity with time. In FIG. 3, the intensity of anti-Stokes light at a certain time t is I ₁ and the intensity of Stokes light is I ₂ .

4 calculates the I ₁ / I ₂ ratio for each time based on the time-series distribution of the intensity of Raman scattered light in FIG. 3, and the horizontal axis (time) in FIG. It is a figure which shows the result of having converted signal intensity | strength) into temperature. As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature distribution in the length direction of the optical fiber can be measured by calculating the intensity ratio (I ₁ / I ₂ ) between the anti-Stokes light and the Stokes light.

  The control device 10 controls the air conditioning equipment 11 based on the temperature distribution data output from the temperature distribution measuring device 20. In this embodiment, humidity data is also output from the temperature distribution measuring device 20 as will be described later. The control device 10 controls the air conditioning equipment 11 based on the temperature distribution data and the humidity data output from the temperature distribution measuring device 20, and adjusts the indoor temperature and humidity.

  Hereinafter, the minimum heating length will be described with reference to FIGS.

The pulse width (ON time) t0 of laser light output from the laser light source 21 is 10 nsec, the speed c of light in vacuum is 3 × 10 ⁸ m / sec, and the refractive index n of the core 24b of the optical fiber 24 is 1.5. Then, the pulse width W of the laser light in the optical fiber 24 is about 2 m as shown in the following equation (1).

W = t0 · c / n = 10 (nsec) · 3 × 10 ⁸ (m / sec) /1.5≈2 (m) (1)
The backscattered light of the laser beam corresponding to the pulse width is taken into the photodetector 26 as one signal, and the photodetector 26 detects the temperature from the integrated value of the signal corresponding to the pulse width. Therefore, accurate temperature measurement cannot be performed unless heat is uniformly applied to the length corresponding to the pulse width W of the optical fiber 24. Hereinafter, the minimum heating length necessary for accurate temperature measurement is referred to as Lmin.

  When the optical fiber is heated with the actual temperature distribution shown in FIG. 5A, that is, when only the length L of the optical fiber 24 is uniformly heated, the measured temperature distribution is as shown in FIG. 5B. Draw a Gaussian (normal distribution) curve. As shown in FIG. 6, when the length L of the heating part is shorter than the minimum heating length Lmin, the peak of the measured temperature distribution becomes low, and when the length L of the heating part becomes long, the peak of the measured temperature distribution becomes high. . In order to sufficiently reduce the difference between the measured temperature and the heating temperature, it is necessary to set the length L of the heating part to be equal to or greater than the minimum heating length Lmin.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the length L of the heating unit is short, the measured temperature distributions do not overlap even if the two heating units are close to each other. However, when the length L of the heating part is equal to or longer than the minimum heating length Lmin, the measured temperature distributions are overlapped unless the distance between the two heating parts is longer than the minimum heating length Lmin. Therefore, in order to measure the temperature of the heating unit with high accuracy, the minimum period L _M measurable heat distribution is approximately twice the value of the minimum heating length Lmin.

  The inventors of the present application have proposed a method of measuring the temperature distribution with high accuracy at intervals shorter than the minimum heating length using a transfer function (see Patent Documents 1 and 2), but the description thereof is omitted here. .

  Hereinafter, the humidity detection device will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a humidity detecting device. In the present embodiment, the humidity is detected using a part of the optical fiber 24 connected to the temperature distribution measuring apparatus 20 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the humidity detection device 30 includes a humidity sensing body 31, a movable rod 32, a spring 33, a bend rod 34, and fiber gripping portions 35a to 35d. The structure formed by the movable rod 32, the spring 33, and the bend rod 34 is an example of a bend portion.

  The movable bar 32 is rotatable about a fulcrum 32 a, one end of which is connected to the moisture sensitive body 31 suspended from the support 39, and the other end is connected to the spring 33 suspended from the support 39. And are arranged almost horizontally. An offset adjusting portion (not shown) is provided between the spring 33 and the support 39, and the vertical position of the spring 33 can be finely adjusted by the offset adjusting portion.

  The moisture sensitive body 31 expands and contracts according to humidity. In the present embodiment, hair is used as the moisture sensitive body 31, but other than the hair may be used as the moisture sensitive body 31. When hair is used as the moisture sensitive body 31, the moisture sensitive body 31 expands when the humidity (relative humidity, the same applies hereinafter) increases, and the moisture sensitive body 31 contracts when the humidity decreases.

  As described above, since one end side of the movable bar 32 is connected to the moisture sensing body 31 and the other end side is connected to the spring 33, when the moisture sensing body 31 expands and contracts, the spring 33 also expands and contracts accordingly. The angle of the bar 32 changes. Here, the length of the moisture-sensitive body 31, the vertical position (offset) of the spring 33, the spring constant, and the like are adjusted so that the movable rod 32 is horizontal when the humidity is an optimum value (for example, 50% RH). It shall be.

  The bend bar 34 is arranged vertically, and the upper end thereof is connected to the other end side of the movable bar 32. For this reason, the bend bar 34 moves in the vertical direction in accordance with the change in the angle of the movable bar 32. However, stoppers 38a and 38b are respectively provided above and below the bend bar 34, and the movement range of the bend bar 34 is limited by these stoppers 38a and 38b.

  Above the bend bar 34, there is a round bar-shaped fiber hook 36a and a fiber holder 37a that is disposed above the fiber hook 36a and holds the optical fiber 24 between the fiber hook 36a. Is provided. Further, at the lower part of the bend rod 34, a round rod-like fiber hooking portion 36b and a fiber holding portion 37b which is disposed below the fiber hooking portion 36b and holds the optical fiber 24 between the fiber hooking portion 36b. And are provided.

  The radii of the fiber hooks 36a and 36b are set to be smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius in the specification of the optical fiber 24. For example, assuming that the minimum allowable bending radius of the optical fiber 24 is 10 mm, the radius of the fiber hooking portions 36a and 36b is about 5 mm.

  Each of the fiber gripping portions 35a to 35d is formed by two rolls, and holds the optical fiber 24 between the rolls. The fiber gripping portions 35a and 35b are disposed at positions sandwiching the bend rod 34, the fiber gripping portion 35c is disposed below the fiber gripping portion 35a, and the fiber gripping portion 35d is disposed below the fiber gripping portion 35b.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, two portions of one optical fiber 24 that are separated from each other are arranged in the humidity detection device 30 as a first detection unit 241 and a second detection unit 242.

  That is, both ends of the first detection unit 241 of the optical fiber 24 are gripped by the fiber gripping portions 35a and 35b, and the central portion of the optical fiber 24 between the fiber gripping portions 35a and 35b is hooked on the fiber hooking portion 36a. Similarly, both ends of the second detection unit 242 of the optical fiber 24 are gripped by the fiber gripping portions 35c and 35d, and the central portion of the optical fiber 24 between the fiber gripping portions 35c and 35d is pulled to the fiber hooking portion 35b. Multiply.

  However, the optical fiber 24 is loosely curved and the fiber hooking portion 36a so that the curvature of the optical fiber 24 does not become smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius when the humidity is in an appropriate range (for example, 38% RH to 62% RH). , 36b is important. In addition, the interval between the first detection unit 241 and the second detection unit 242 is preferably set to be twice or more the minimum heating length described above in order to avoid mutual interference.

  In this way, a part of the optical fiber 24 connected to the temperature distribution measuring device 20 (see FIG. 1) is arranged in the humidity detecting device 30. Thereby, the computing unit 27 of the temperature distribution measuring device 20 can detect the temperature distribution in the length direction of the optical fiber 24 and the humidity at the place where the humidity detecting device 30 is disposed. And the control apparatus 10 controls the air conditioner 11 based on the data output from the temperature distribution measuring apparatus 20 as mentioned above, and adjusts indoor temperature and humidity in the appropriate range, respectively. The light used for humidity detection may be Rayleigh scattered light or Raman scattered light.

  FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing the output of the photodetector 26 of the temperature distribution measuring apparatus 20 with the horizontal axis representing the position in the length direction of the optical fiber 24 and the vertical axis representing the signal intensity. It is. Here, the 1st detection part 241 is arrange | positioned in the position of about 300 m of the optical fiber 24, and the 2nd detection part 242 is arrange | positioned in the position of about 340 m. 8A to 8C, the transmission loss existing at a position of about 390 m is caused by the optical connector that connects the optical fibers.

  When the humidity is within an appropriate range, as shown in FIG. 7, there is slack in the first detection unit 241 and the second detection unit 242 of the optical fiber 24, and no large pressure is applied to the optical fiber 24. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8A, the first detection unit 241 and the second detection unit 242 do not generate a large transmission loss.

  When the humidity is higher than the appropriate range, the moisture sensitive body 31 extends, and the bend bar 34 moves upward as shown in FIG. Therefore, the optical fiber 24 of the first detection unit 241 is pulled by the fiber hooking part 36a, and the curvature of the optical fiber 24 in contact with the fiber hooking part 36a is smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, a transmission loss due to microbending occurs in the portion of the first detection unit 241.

  On the other hand, when the humidity is lower than the appropriate range, the moisture sensitive body 31 contracts, so that the bend bar 34 moves downward as shown in FIG. 9B. Therefore, the optical fiber 24 of the second detection unit 242 is pulled by the fiber hooking part 36b, and the curvature of the optical fiber 24 in contact with the fiber hooking part 36b is smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 8C, transmission loss due to microbending occurs in the second detector 242.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between the relative humidity on the horizontal axis and the transmission loss on the vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 10, when the relative humidity is lower than the lower limit value of the appropriate range, the transmission loss of the optical fiber 24 increases as the humidity decreases. However, when the humidity is too low, the bend bar 34 abuts against the stopper 38b to prevent excessive stress from being applied to the optical fiber 24, so that an extreme increase in transmission loss is avoided.

  Further, when the humidity is higher than the upper limit value of the appropriate range, the transmission loss of the optical fiber 24 increases as the humidity increases. However, when the humidity is too high, the bending rod 34 abuts against the stopper 38a to prevent excessive stress from being applied to the optical fiber 24, so that an extreme increase in transmission loss is avoided.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the humidity at which the bend bar 34 abuts against the stopper 38b is set lower than the allowable lower limit value (for example, 30% RH), and the humidity at which the bend bar 34 abuts the stopper 38a is set at the allowable upper limit value ( For example, it is preferably set higher than 70% RH).

  In the present embodiment, when the humidity deviates from the appropriate range, a transmission loss occurs at a predetermined position in the length direction of the optical fiber 24. For this reason, the control apparatus 10 is based on the data output from the temperature distribution measuring apparatus 20, whether or not the humidity in the room of the data center is within the appropriate range, and if it is not within the appropriate range, it is lower or higher than the appropriate range. Can be detected in real time. By controlling the air conditioning equipment 11 based on this detection result, the indoor humidity can be maintained within an appropriate range.

  Further, in the humidity detection device 30 of the present embodiment, since a strong stress is not applied to the optical fiber 24 for a long time, the humidity detection device 30 does not hinder measurement accuracy of the temperature distribution.

  Further, if the humidity is within an appropriate range, a strong stress is not applied to the optical fiber 24 for a long time, so that changes in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber 24 are suppressed. For this reason, it is not necessary to frequently perform maintenance and replacement of the optical fiber 24 and calibration of the temperature distribution measuring device 20, and the maintenance cost can be reduced.

(Modification)
For example, in a data center that cools a computer by introducing outside air into a room, the temperature in the room changes relatively greatly. In this case, you may make it change the suitable range of humidity according to temperature.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic views showing the main part of a humidity detecting device according to a modification. In FIGS. 11A and 11B, the configuration of a portion not shown is basically the same as that of the humidity detection apparatus shown in FIG.

  In the humidity detection device shown in FIG. 11A, a temperature-sensitive member 41a that expands and contracts depending on the temperature is disposed on the bend bar 34. As the temperature-sensitive member 41a, for example, an actuator in which a temperature-sensitive compound that changes into a liquid and a solid depending on the temperature can be used.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11A, when the temperature increases, the temperature sensing member 41a expands, and the fiber hooking portions 36a and 36b and the fiber holding portions 37a and 37b move downward. Further, when the temperature is lowered, the temperature sensitive member 41a contracts, and the fiber hooking parts 36a and 36b and the fiber holding parts 37a and 37b move upward.

  For this reason, in the humidity detection apparatus shown in FIG. 11A, the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the appropriate range shown in FIG. 10 move to the left as a whole when the temperature increases, and the appropriate value shown in FIG. 10 when the temperature decreases. The lower and upper limits of the range move to the right as a whole. Therefore, when the air conditioning equipment 11 is controlled so that the humidity is within the appropriate range, the humidity is low when the temperature is high, and the humidity is high when the temperature is low. For example, in a closed space where the amount of water vapor does not change, the relative humidity changes depending on the temperature to the high side at low temperatures and to the low side at high temperatures, but there is no particular management problem if avoiding condensation at low temperatures However, this method works well in such a case.

  In the humidity detection device shown in FIG. 11B, a temperature sensitive member 41b that expands and contracts depending on the temperature is disposed on the movable rod 32. In the example shown in FIG. 11B, the temperature sensing member 41b extends and the position of the fulcrum 32a moves to the right when the temperature increases, and the temperature sensing member 41b contracts and the position of the fulcrum 32a moves to the left when the temperature decreases. Move to. When the temperature increases, the lower limit value and upper limit value of the appropriate range shown in FIG. 10 move to the right as a whole, and the sensitivity to changes in humidity decreases. On the contrary, when the temperature is lowered, the balance position is shifted, so that the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the appropriate range shown in FIG. 10 are moved to the left as a whole, and the sensitivity to changes in humidity is increased. As described above, when the temperature is low, it is often necessary to pay attention to dew condensation, but this method works well in such a case.

  Thus, by using the temperature sensitive members 41a and 41b, the humidity control range can be changed according to the temperature. In the examples of FIGS. 11A and 11B, an actuator in which a temperature-sensitive compound is enclosed is used as the temperature-sensitive member, but bimetal or the like may be used as the temperature-sensitive member.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case where the humidity in the data center room is controlled within the appropriate range has been described. However, the humidity is not simply controlled within the appropriate range, but is controlled so as to approach the optimum humidity (optimum value). Is preferred. In the following embodiment, an air conditioning system will be described that uses the humidity detection device described in the first embodiment to control the indoor humidity of the data center so as to approach the optimum humidity. Note that FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 are also referred to in this embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of racks and air conditioners in a data center room. As shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of racks (server racks) 51 are arranged in rows in the data center room. As shown in FIG. 13, each rack 51 houses a plurality of computers (servers) 56. Each computer 56 is provided with a cooling fan 57, and indoor air is taken into the rack 51 from one surface of the rack 51 (hereinafter referred to as “intake surface”) by the rotation of the cooling fan 57. 51 is discharged from the other surface (hereinafter referred to as “exhaust surface”).

  Adjacent rows of racks 51 are arranged such that the intake surface and the intake surface or the exhaust surface and the exhaust surface face each other, and the space between the rows is a passage through which an operator can pass. On the floor of the passage on the intake surface side, a grill (ventilation opening) 52 that connects the underfloor space and the space where the rack 51 is installed is arranged.

  In the data center room, a plurality of air conditioners 53 are arranged across a rack row. These air conditioners 53 take in indoor air from the air intake port, and supply air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted to the underfloor space from the air supply port. The air supplied to the underfloor space moves to the intake surface side of the rack 51 through the grill 52, enters the rack 51, cools the computer 56, and is then discharged from the exhaust surface.

  The optical fiber 24 connected to the temperature distribution measuring device 20 (see FIG. 1) passes through the intake surface and the exhaust surface of each rack 51, and further is a humidity detection device 30 arranged at a portion indicated by a broken circle in FIG. (See FIG. 7).

  The air conditioner 53 is provided with a temperature hygrometer 54 that measures the temperature and humidity of the air blown from the air supply port with high accuracy. Then, the temperature and humidity detection results by the temperature and humidity meter 54 are input to the control device 10.

  Before actually air-conditioning the room using the air conditioning system described above, the following preparations are made. That is, first, a precision hygrometer is disposed at the position of the humidity detection device 30. And the temperature of the air which blows off from the air supply port of the air conditioner 53 is changed every 5 degreeC from 15 degreeC to 30 degreeC, for example. Further, for each temperature, the humidity of the air blown from the air supply port of the air conditioner 53 is changed from 10% RH to 70% RH, for example, every 10% RH.

  Thus, the temperature and humidity of the air blown from the air supply port of the air conditioner 53 are variously changed, and the temperature and humidity at the position of the humidity detection device 30 are measured for each temperature and humidity. Here, the temperature at the position of the humidity detection device 30 is obtained from the output of the temperature distribution measurement device 20, and the humidity at the position of the humidity detection device 30 is obtained by the precision hygrometer described above.

  Based on these measurement results, the relationship between the temperature and humidity of the air blown from the air supply port of the air conditioner 53 and the temperature and humidity at the position of the humidity measuring device 30 is examined, and stored as a database in the control device 10. Keep it. Instead of storing the database, a calculation formula for estimating the humidity at the position of the humidity detection device 30 is derived from the temperature and humidity of the air blown from the air supply port of the air conditioner 53 and the temperature of the position of the humidity detection device 30. The calculation formula may be stored in the control device 10.

  After the database or calculation formula is stored in the control device 10 in this way, indoor air conditioning (humidity adjustment) is performed as follows using the air conditioning system according to the present embodiment.

  That is, the control device 10 detects the temperature and humidity at the position of the air conditioner 53 from the temperature hygrometer 54. Further, the control device 10 detects the temperature at the position of the humidity detection device 30 from the temperature distribution measurement device 20. And the control apparatus 10 estimates the humidity of the position of the humidity detection apparatus 30 using the above-mentioned database or calculation formula, and controls the air conditioner 53 so that the estimated value becomes optimal humidity.

  If the humidity at the position of the humidity detector 30 deviates from an appropriate range for some reason, transmission loss due to microbending occurs at a predetermined position in the length direction of the optical fiber 24. Therefore, the control device 10 knows that the humidity at the position of the humidity detection device 30 is out of the appropriate range based on the data output from the temperature distribution measurement device 20. Thereby, the control apparatus 10 controls the air conditioner 53 so that the humidity of the position of the humidity detection apparatus 30 becomes an appropriate range, ie, the transmission loss by microbending is eliminated.

  In this case, the control device 10 does not immediately stop the control of the air conditioner 53 when the humidity falls within an appropriate range, but changes the control amount of the air conditioner 53 so that the humidity becomes the optimum humidity. For example, the control device 11 corrects the estimated value by calculating the difference between the humidity detected value by the humidity detecting device 30 and the estimated value while the humidity is outside the appropriate range. Then, the set humidity of the air conditioner 53 is changed little by little so that the estimated value becomes the optimum humidity. In this way, the indoor humidity can be controlled to approach the optimum humidity.

  The following additional notes are disclosed with respect to the above embodiments.

(Appendix 1) a moisture sensitive member that expands and contracts according to humidity;
A gripping part for gripping both ends of a predetermined region in the length direction of the optical fiber;
A humidity detection apparatus comprising: a bend portion that generates a microbend in an optical fiber of a portion of which both ends are gripped by the grip portion according to expansion and contraction of the humidity sensitive member.

(Appendix 2) The bend portion is
One end side is connected to the moisture sensitive member, and a movable rod that rotates around a fulcrum according to the expansion and contraction of the moisture sensitive member,
A bend bar that is connected to the other end of the movable bar and moves linearly according to the rotation of the movable bar;
The humidity detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a locking portion that is provided on the bend rod and locks a central portion of the optical fiber at a portion of which the grip portion is gripped at both ends.

(Additional remark 3) The said holding part hold | grips the both ends of the 1st holding part which hold | grips the both ends of the 1st area | region of the length direction of the said optical fiber, and the 2nd area | region spaced apart from the said 1st area | region A second gripping part,
The bend rod includes a first bend portion that generates a microbend in the optical fiber in the first region when the moisture sensitive member is extended, and a second region in the second region when the moisture sensitive member is contracted. The humidity detection device according to appendix 2, further comprising: a second bend unit that generates a microbend in the optical fiber.

  (Additional remark 4) The curvature of the part which contacts the said optical fiber of the said latching | locking part is smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius on the specification of the said optical fiber, Any one of Additional remark 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Humidity detector.

  (Supplementary note 5) The humidity detection device according to supplementary note 2, further comprising a temperature-sensitive member attached to the bend rod and moving the position of the locking portion according to temperature.

  (Additional remark 6) It has a temperature sensing member attached to the said movable rod, and moves the position of the said fulcrum according to temperature, The humidity detection apparatus of Additional remark 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Appendix 7) Air conditioning equipment capable of adjusting indoor temperature and humidity;
An optical fiber laid in the room;
A temperature distribution measuring device connected to the optical fiber and measuring a temperature distribution in a length direction of the optical fiber;
A humidity detecting device that grips both ends of a predetermined region of the optical fiber and generates a transmission loss in the optical fiber according to humidity;
And a control device that controls the air conditioning equipment based on data output from the temperature distribution measuring device.

(Appendix 8) The humidity detection device is:
A moisture-sensitive member that expands and contracts according to humidity;
One end side is connected to the moisture sensitive member, and a movable rod that rotates around a fulcrum according to the expansion and contraction of the moisture sensitive member,
A bend bar that is connected to the other end of the movable bar and moves linearly according to the rotation of the movable bar;
A gripping part for gripping both ends of the predetermined region of the optical fiber;
The air conditioning system according to appendix 7, further comprising: a locking portion that is provided on the bend rod and that locks a central portion of the optical fiber at a portion where both ends are gripped by the gripping portion.

(Additional remark 9) The said holding part hold | grips the both ends of the 1st holding part which hold | grips the both ends of the 1st area | region of the length direction of the said optical fiber, and the 2nd area | region spaced apart from the said 1st area | region A second gripping part,
The bend rod includes a first bend portion that generates a microbend in the optical fiber in the first region when the moisture sensitive member is extended, and a second region in the second region when the moisture sensitive member is contracted. A second bend portion for generating a microbend in the optical fiber,
The air conditioning system according to appendix 8, wherein the control device controls the air conditioning equipment so that microbending does not occur in either the first region or the second region.

(Additional remark 10) It has the temperature hygrometer which detects the temperature and humidity of the air supplied from the said air-conditioning equipment,
The control device estimates the humidity at the position of the humidity detecting device from the data output from the temperature distribution measuring device and the temperature and humidity measured values by the temperature hygrometer, and the estimated value matches the optimum humidity. The air conditioning system according to any one of appendices 7 to 9, wherein the air conditioning equipment is controlled as described above.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Control apparatus, 11 ... Air conditioning equipment, 20 ... Temperature distribution measuring apparatus, 21 ... Laser light source, 22a, 22b ... Lens, 23 ... Beam splitter, 24 ... Optical fiber, 25 ... Wavelength separation part, 26 ... Photodetector, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 27 ... Operation part, 30 ... Humidity detection apparatus, 31 ... Humidity-sensitive body, 32 ... Movable rod, 32a ... Supporting point, 33 ... Spring, 34 ... Bend rod, 35a-35d ... Fiber holding part, 36a, 36b ... Fiber hook , 37a, 37b ... Fiber holding part, 38a, 38b ... Stopper, 39 ... Support, 41a, 41b ... Temperature sensitive member, 51 ... Rack, 52 ... Grill, 53 ... Air conditioner, 56 ... Computer, 57 ... Cooling fan , 241 ... 1st detection part, 242 ... 2nd detection part.

Claims (3)

A moisture-sensitive member that expands and contracts according to humidity;
A gripping part for gripping both ends of a predetermined region in the length direction of the optical fiber;
One end side is connected to the moisture sensitive member, and a movable rod that rotates around a fulcrum according to the expansion and contraction of the moisture sensitive member,
A bend rod connected to the other end of the movable rod and moving in a predetermined direction in accordance with the rotation of the movable rod;
A locking portion that is provided on the bend rod and that locks the central portion of the optical fiber of the portion whose both ends are gripped by the gripping portion;
The gripping portion includes a first gripping portion that grips both ends of the first region in the length direction of the optical fiber, and a second gripping that grips both ends of the second region separated from the first region. And
The bend rod includes a first bend portion that generates a microbend in the optical fiber in the first region when the moisture sensitive member is extended, and a second region in the second region when the moisture sensitive member is contracted. And a second bend section for generating a microbend in the optical fiber . The humidity detection device according to claim 1 , wherein a curvature of a portion of the locking portion that contacts the optical fiber is smaller than a minimum allowable bending radius in the specification of the optical fiber. Air conditioning equipment that can adjust the temperature and humidity in the room;
An optical fiber laid in the room;
A temperature distribution measuring device connected to the optical fiber and measuring a temperature distribution in a length direction of the optical fiber;
A humidity detecting device that grips both ends of a predetermined region of the optical fiber and generates a transmission loss in the optical fiber according to humidity;
A control device for controlling the air conditioning equipment based on data output from the temperature distribution measuring device ;
The humidity detector is
A moisture-sensitive member that expands and contracts according to humidity;
A gripping part for gripping both ends of a predetermined region in the length direction of the optical fiber;
One end side is connected to the moisture sensitive member, and a movable rod that rotates around a fulcrum according to the expansion and contraction of the moisture sensitive member,
A bend rod connected to the other end of the movable rod and moving in a predetermined direction in accordance with the rotation of the movable rod;
A locking portion that is provided on the bend rod and that locks the central portion of the optical fiber of the portion whose both ends are gripped by the gripping portion;
The gripping portion includes a first gripping portion that grips both ends of the first region in the length direction of the optical fiber, and a second gripping that grips both ends of the second region separated from the first region. And
The bend rod includes a first bend portion that generates a microbend in the optical fiber in the first region when the moisture sensitive member is extended, and a second region in the second region when the moisture sensitive member is contracted. An air conditioning system comprising: a second bend unit that generates a microbend in an optical fiber .

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