JP7791780B2 - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioning system that is equipped with a storage rack that houses equipment to be cooled, and that cools the equipment by supplying cooled air to the storage rack.

Data centers and server rooms where various information processing devices are installed are equipped with multiple storage racks (also called server racks) that house the information processing devices, and these information processing devices are required to be cooled. Known air conditioning systems include a cooled air supply unit that supplies cooled air generated by a cooling device to the storage racks, and an air return unit that returns the air supplied to the storage racks to the cooling device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the air conditioning system described in Patent Document 1, multiple storage racks are arranged in the center of the indoor space of a data center or server room, and cooling devices are arranged at both ends of the indoor space, facing each other across the multiple storage racks. The cooled air supply unit circulates cooled air from the cooling devices through the underfloor space of the indoor space and blows the cooled air onto the floor from the floor section between the multiple storage racks, supplying the cooled air to the storage racks. The air return unit supplies the air supplied to the storage racks from the ceiling section to the attic space, where it circulates through the attic space and returns the air to the cooling devices.

In this way, the cooling air supply unit uses the underfloor space to supply cooling air to the storage rack, and the air return unit uses the ceiling space to return air to the cooling device, which then circulates and supplies cooling air to the storage rack, thereby cooling the equipment to be cooled housed in the storage rack.

JP 2012-93859 A

However, in the air conditioning system described in Patent Document 1, the cooling devices are arranged at both ends of the indoor space, facing each other across multiple storage racks, so the cooled air supplied from one cooling device and the cooled air supplied from the other cooling device may collide in the center of the indoor space, potentially causing turbulence.

Since storage racks accommodate different numbers and types of equipment to be cooled, the magnitude of the cooling load typically varies from rack to rack. Because cooling devices control the amount of cooling air sent to them to meet the cooling load of the storage rack they are cooling, the amount of cooling air sent from one cooling device may differ from the amount of cooling air sent from the other cooling device. In such cases, the difference in air flow rates can easily cause turbulence due to collisions between the pieces of cooling air.

In addition, because the cooling air flows through the underfloor space, the Coanda effect cannot be expected to dampen the airflow much, and it flows to the center of the interior space at a relatively high speed, causing the cooling air to collide with other air bubbles, which can easily cause turbulence.

When turbulence occurs in the flow of cooling air in this way, it becomes difficult to supply cooling air evenly to all of the multiple storage racks, resulting in areas of high temperature above the specified value, known as hot spots, and making it difficult to cool the equipment being cooled.

In light of this situation, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system that can supply cooled air uniformly to multiple storage racks and appropriately cool the equipment to be cooled.

A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a cooling system including: a storage rack for storing equipment to be cooled;
a cooling air supply unit that supplies the cooling air generated by the cooling device to the storage rack;
an air return unit that returns the air supplied to the storage rack to the cooling device,
The storage racks are arranged in a plurality of rack installation areas set in a central area in a first direction within the rack installation space,
the cooling devices are disposed on both ends in the first direction in a state where they face each other across a rack installation area in the first direction,
the cooling air supply unit includes an underfloor flow unit that circulates cooling air from the cooling device under the floor of the rack installation space to the rack installation area, and an above-floor blow-out unit that is disposed on the floor of the rack installation area and blows the cooling air from the underfloor flow unit onto the floor of the rack installation space to supply it to the storage racks;
The rack installation space is provided with a first underfloor partition section under the floor, which is located in the center of the rack installation area in the first direction and extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, dividing the underfloor flow section into one side and the other side in the first direction.

According to this configuration, a first underfloor partition is provided under the floor of the rack installation space in the center of the rack installation area in the first direction, and the underfloor passage is partitioned into one side and the other side in the first direction. Therefore, cooling air from a cooling device arranged on one side in the first direction flows through the area on one side of the partitioned underfloor passage in the first direction, and cooling air from a cooling device arranged on the other side in the first direction flows through the area on the other side of the partitioned underfloor passage in the first direction. This prevents the cooling air from the cooling device arranged on one side in the first direction from colliding with the cooling air from the cooling device arranged on the other side in the first direction, effectively preventing the generation of turbulence due to this collision. Therefore, turbulence does not cause disruption in the cooling air flow, making it easier to uniformly supply cooling air to multiple storage racks arranged in the rack installation area, and the equipment to be cooled housed in those multiple storage racks can be appropriately cooled.

A second characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the storage racks are arranged in a state where the long left-right direction is aligned along the first direction, and the front ends of the storage racks facing each other in the second direction are spaced apart from each other,
The above-floor blowing section is arranged on the floor of the rack installation area in a front end gap area that corresponds to the gap between the front ends of the storage racks in the second direction, and the gap between the front ends of the storage racks in the second direction is used as a cooling air supply space.

With this configuration, the storage racks are arranged with their long, left-right dimensions aligned with the first direction, so the gap between the front ends of opposing storage racks in the second direction, which forms the cooling air supply space, extends along the first direction. In contrast, the cooling devices are arranged on both ends of the first direction, so cooling air is blown from both ends of the first direction along the first direction.

This allows the direction in which the cooling air supply space extends to coincide with the direction in which the cooling device blows cooling air, making it easier to supply cooling air efficiently and uniformly throughout the entire cooling air supply space and throughout the storage rack.

In a third characteristic configuration of the present invention, a plurality of the cooling devices are provided at both ends in the first direction and arranged side by side in the second direction,
A second underfloor partition section is provided under the floor of the rack installation space, extending along the first direction and dividing the underfloor flow section into multiple underfloor flow areas corresponding to multiple storage racks lined up in the second direction.

With this configuration, the second underfloor partition divides the underfloor passage section into multiple underfloor passage areas corresponding to the multiple storage racks lined up in the second direction, making it possible to associate the multiple cooling air supply spaces, which are the gaps between the front ends of storage racks facing each other in the second direction, with the multiple underfloor passage areas. This makes it possible to assign which underfloor passage area the cooling air will flow through for each of the multiple cooling devices lined up in the second direction. Therefore, even if the cooling load differs depending on the storage rack, the amount of cooling air sent to the underfloor passage area corresponding to that storage rack can be adjusted for each underfloor passage area, making it possible to flexibly respond to the cooling load of the storage rack while effectively supplying cooling air to the multiple storage racks lined up in the second direction.

In a fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the number of the cooling devices is set to be greater than the number of cooling air supply spaces which are gaps between the front ends of the storage racks facing each other in the second direction,
The rack installation space has a communicating space at both ends in the first direction under the floor, which allows cooling air to flow between multiple underfloor flow areas partitioned by the second underfloor partition.

With this configuration, the number of cooling devices is greater than the number of cooling air supply spaces. Therefore, when supplying cooling air to a cooling air supply space, if cooling devices are assigned one-to-one to the cooling air supply space, there will be a spare cooling device. This means that, for example, if a cooling device fails, the spare cooling device can supply cooling air to the cooling air supply space that the failed cooling device was responsible for. In this way, by providing a spare cooling device, cooling air can be supplied continuously, 24 hours a day, without interruption, making it particularly effective in data centers, server rooms, and other locations where constant cooling is required.

When supplying cooling air to the cooling air supply space using a spare cooling device, since the underfloor flow section is divided into multiple underfloor flow areas by the second underfloor partition, it is necessary to ensure that cooling air can flow from the spare cooling device to the underfloor flow area to be supplied.

Accordingly, with this configuration, communication spaces are provided under the floor of the rack installation space on both ends in the first direction, allowing cooling air to flow between multiple underfloor flow areas partitioned by the second underfloor partitions. This allows cooling air from the backup cooling device to flow through the communication spaces into the underfloor flow areas to be supplied, allowing cooling air to be appropriately supplied to the cooling air supply spaces to be supplied.

Floor plan of the rack installation room and machine room Plan view of the rack installation room and under the floor of the machine room A side view showing the cold aisle from the second direction A side view showing the hot aisle from the second direction FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of a rack installation area when viewed in a first direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Figure 1, this air conditioning system is applied to a building 1 to be cooled, such as a data center or server room where various information processing devices are installed, and the various information processing devices etc. stored in storage racks 2 are treated as the equipment to be cooled. The equipment to be cooled is cooled by circulating and supplying cooled air to the storage racks 2.

In addition to storage racks 2 that house equipment to be cooled, such as information processing equipment, this air conditioning system also includes a cooled air supply unit 4, as shown in Figure 3, that supplies cooled air generated by cooling devices 3 to the storage racks 2, and an air return unit 5, as shown in Figure 4, that returns the air supplied to the storage racks 2 to the cooling devices 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the building 1 to be cooled is equipped with a rack installation room 11 (corresponding to a rack installation space) in which multiple storage racks 2 are installed, and a machine room 12 in which multiple cooling devices 3 are installed. As shown in Figure 1, the machine room 12 is provided as an adjacent room adjacent to the rack installation room 11 in the first direction X1, and is arranged on both ends of the first direction X1, sandwiching the rack installation room 11 in the first direction X1.

Here, the directions in the building 1 to be cooled are set based on the storage rack 2, with the left-right direction of the storage rack 2 being the first direction X1 and the front-to-back direction of the storage rack 2 being the second direction X2, with the first direction X1 and the second direction X2 being perpendicular to each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the central area of the rack installation room 11 in the first direction X1 is set as the rack installation area 13, and as shown in FIG. 3, multiple storage racks 2 are arranged on the floor of the rack installation area 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage racks 2 are arranged in a row with their long left-right directions aligned along the first direction X1, with the front ends 21 of the storage racks 2 and the rear ends 22 of the storage racks 2 facing each other in the second direction X2 spaced apart.

As shown in FIG. 1, multiple storage racks 2 (e.g., 12 storage racks 2) are arranged at intervals in the second direction X2 between their front ends 21 and between their rear ends 22, forming passageways through which workers and the like can pass. A row of multiple storage racks 2 arranged at intervals in the second direction X2 is arranged on one side of the first direction X1 and the other side, forming a passageway 29 through which workers and the like can pass in the center in the first direction X1. The passageway 29 formed in the center in the first direction X1 can also be used as space for arranging pillars in the building 1 to be cooled.

Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the storage rack 2 has multiple storage sections lined up in the vertical and horizontal directions, and each storage section can accommodate equipment to be cooled. As shown in FIG. 5, the storage rack 2 supplies cooling air to each storage section from its front end 21 to cool the equipment to be cooled housed in each storage section, and the cooled air (hot air) is discharged to the rear end 22 of the storage rack 2. As a result, in the second direction X2, the passage between the front ends 21 of the storage racks 2 is provided as a cold aisle 24, and the passage between the rear ends 22 of the storage racks 2 is provided as a hot aisle 25.

As shown in Figure 3, the cooling air supply unit 4 includes an underfloor flow section 41 that circulates cooling air under the floor of the rack installation room 11, and an above-floor blow-out section 42 that blows the cooling air from the underfloor flow section 41 onto the floor of the rack installation room 11.

The cooling device 3 sends the generated cooled air to the underfloor space of the rack installation room 11, and the underfloor airflow section 41 circulates the cooled air sent from the cooling device 3 under the floor of the rack installation room 11 to the rack installation area 13. The entire underfloor space of the rack installation room 11 is provided as the underfloor airflow section 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, the above-floor blowing section 42 is made of, for example, punched metal with multiple holes, and blows the cooled air from the underfloor passage 41 onto the floor of the rack installation room 11, supplying it to the storage racks 2. The above-floor blowing section 42 is disposed on the floor 14 of the rack installation area 13 in the front end gap region 23, which corresponds to the gap between the front ends 21 of the storage racks 2 in the second direction X2 (see the dotted area in FIG. 1). Cooled air is supplied through the above-floor blowing section 42 to the cold aisle 24, which serves as a passage between the front ends 21 of the storage racks 2 in the second direction X2, and the cold aisle 24 serves as a cooled air supply space.

As shown in FIG. 4, the air return section 5 is equipped with a first hot air circulating section 51 that circulates the cooled air (hereinafter referred to as "hot air") that has cooled the equipment to be cooled in the storage racks 2 within the rack installation room 11, and a second hot air circulating section 52 that circulates the hot air from the first hot air circulating section 51 above the ceiling of the rack installation room 11.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the storage racks 2, hot air that has risen in temperature after cooling the equipment to be cooled is discharged from the rear ends 22, so the passage between the rear ends 22 of the storage racks 2 in the second direction X2 is provided as a hot aisle 25. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, this hot aisle 25 serves as a first hot air flow section 51 that circulates air within the rack installation room 11. In the first hot air flow section 51, hot air discharged from the rear ends 22 of the storage racks 2 is circulated toward the ceiling section 15 of the rack installation room 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second hot air flow section 52 circulates hot air supplied from the first hot air flow section 51 (hot aisle 25) through the first communication section 16 formed in the ceiling section 15 of the rack installation room 11, through the ceiling space, and supplies the hot air to the machine room 12 through the second communication section 17 formed in the wall section 18 between the rack installation room 11 and the machine room 12. The second hot air flow section 52 is configured throughout the entire ceiling space of the rack installation room 11. A plurality of first communication sections 16 are provided in the area of the ceiling section 15 corresponding to the hot aisle 25, spaced apart in the left-right and front-to-back directions of the storage rack 2, and a plurality of second communication sections 17 are provided in the wall section 18, spaced apart in the front-to-back direction of the storage rack 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, cold aisles 24 and hot aisles 25 are arranged alternately for a plurality of storage racks 2 arranged in the second direction X2. To prevent hot air from the hot aisle 25 from flowing into the cold aisle 24, an aisle partition section 26 is provided to separate the cold aisle 24 and the hot aisle 25, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the aisle partition section 26 shields the hot aisle 25, thereby dividing it into a cold aisle 24 and a hot aisle 25. The aisle partition section 26 is equipped with a first shielding section 27 (see Figure 4) that shields from the floor 14 to the ceiling 15 of the rack installation room 11 at both ends of the hot aisle 25 in the first direction X1, and a second shielding section 28 (see Figure 5) that shields from the upper end of the storage rack 2 facing the hot aisle 25 to the ceiling 15. In this way, hot aisle capping is adopted, shielding the hot aisle 25 with the first shielding section 27 and the second shielding section 28.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the machine rooms 12 are arranged at both ends of the rack installation room 11 in the first direction X1, and the cooling devices 3 are arranged on opposite sides of the rack installation room 11 in the first direction X1. By using the cooling devices 3 to blow cooled air from both ends of the first direction X1, cooled air can be supplied evenly to the long cold aisle 24. In large-scale data centers and other facilities requiring a large capacity for the equipment to be cooled, such as information processing equipment, the storage capacity is ensured by, for example, increasing the length of the storage racks 2 in the left-right direction. Therefore, although the length of the cold aisle 24 is longer, cooled air can be supplied evenly to the long cold aisle 24, making this an effective air conditioning system for large-scale data centers and other facilities with a large capacity.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cooling device 3 draws in hot air returned to the machine room 12 via the second hot air flow section 52, generates cooled air, and sends the generated cooled air to the underfloor flow section 41. The cooling device 3 is equipped with a cooling treatment section 31, such as a cooling coil, that cools the hot air, and a blower fan 32 that sends the cooled air. The cooling treatment section 31 is equipped with a heat medium supply path 33 that supplies a heat medium (chilled water) to the cooling treatment section 31, and a flow rate adjustment valve 34 that can freely adjust the flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the cooling treatment section 31.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the cooling device 3 can adjust the temperature of the generated cooling air by controlling the opening of the flow rate control valve 34, and can adjust the volume of cooling air sent by controlling the rotational speed of the blower fan 32. For example, the cooling device 3 performs outlet temperature control, which controls the opening of the flow rate control valve 34 so that the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor T1 matches the set temperature, and air volume control, which controls the rotational speed of the blower fan 32 so that the temperature difference between the outlet temperature sensor T1 and the return temperature sensor T2 matches the set temperature difference. The outlet temperature sensor T1 is located in the underfloor passage 41 and detects the temperature of the cooling air sent from the cooling device 3 to the underfloor passage 41. The return temperature sensor T2 is located above the machine room 12 and detects the temperature of the hot air returned to the machine room 12 by the second hot air passage 52.

As shown in FIG. 1, multiple cooling devices 3 are provided at both ends of the first direction X1, lined up in the second direction X2. A discharge temperature sensor T1 and a return temperature sensor T2 (see FIG. 3) are provided corresponding to each of the multiple cooling devices 3, and each cooling device 3 individually controls the discharge temperature and the airflow volume. For example, each cooling device 3 is provided with one discharge temperature sensor T1 and one return temperature sensor T2, and each cooling device 3 individually controls the discharge temperature and the airflow volume based on the temperature information detected by its corresponding discharge temperature sensor T1 and return temperature sensor T2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cooled air blown from each cooling device 3 is supplied to the storage rack 2 to be supplied by the cooled air supply section 4 of the underfloor circulation section 41 or the above-floor outlet section 42. The hot air that has cooled the equipment to be cooled in the storage rack 2 is returned to each cooling device 3 by the air return section 5 of the first hot air circulation section 51 or the second hot air circulation section 52, as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, each of the multiple outlet temperature sensors T1 and multiple return temperature sensors T2 provided corresponding to each of the multiple cooling devices 3 acquires temperature information that reflects the cooling status of the storage rack 2 to which the cooled air is supplied in each cooling device 3. Therefore, each of the multiple cooling devices 3 basically controls the outlet temperature and the airflow volume to cover the cooling load of the storage rack 2 to which the cooled air is supplied.

Since the number and type of equipment to be cooled housed in storage racks 2 vary, the magnitude of the cooling load typically differs depending on the storage rack 2. Therefore, when blowout temperature control and airflow control are performed so that each of multiple cooling devices 3 covers the cooling load of the storage rack 2 to which cooling air is supplied, the amount of cooling air blown by each of the multiple cooling devices 3 may differ.

At this time, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the cooling devices 3 are arranged on both ends in the first direction X1. Therefore, turbulence occurs due to collision between the cooling air blown from the cooling device 3 arranged on one side in the first direction X1 and the cooling air blown from the cooling device 3 arranged on the other side in the first direction X1, making it impossible to supply cooling air uniformly throughout the cold aisle 24.

Therefore, an underfloor passage 41 is provided under the floor of the rack installation room 11, making the entire underfloor space of the rack installation room 11 a flow space for cooling air. As shown by the thick dotted line in Figure 1, a first underfloor partition 61 is provided that divides the underfloor passage 41 in the first direction X1. Incidentally, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the rack installation room 11 and the machine room 12, and the first underfloor partition 61 and second underfloor partition 62 located under the floor of the rack installation room 11 are indicated by thick dotted lines.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first underfloor partition 61 extends along the second direction X2 in the center of the rack installation area 13 in the first direction X1, dividing the underfloor flow section 41 into a one-side underfloor flow area 43 (the upper area in FIG. 2) and an other-side underfloor flow area 44 (the lower area in FIG. 2) in the first direction X1. As shown by the thick dotted line in FIG. 1, the first underfloor partition 61 is disposed below the passage 29 formed in the center of the rack installation area 13 in the first direction X1. Incidentally, FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the underfloor of the rack installation room 11 and the machine room 12, with the storage racks 2 installed on the floor of the rack installation room 11 indicated by dotted lines.

The first underfloor partition 61 comprises a plate-like body extending vertically from the lower end to the upper end of the underfloor passage 41 (underfloor space). As shown in Figure 2, this plate-like body extends linearly over its entire length in the second direction X2, thereby dividing the underfloor passage 41 into a one-side underfloor passage area 43 and an other-side underfloor passage area 44.

In this way, by dividing the underfloor passage section 41 into a one-side underfloor passage area 43 and an other-side underfloor passage area 44 using the first underfloor partition section 61, the generation of turbulence due to collisions of cooling air streams can be prevented, and cooling air can be supplied uniformly throughout the entire cold aisle 24.

As shown by the thick dotted lines in Figure 1, the underfloor passage 41 is equipped with not only a first underfloor partition 61 that partitions the underfloor in the first direction X1, but also a second underfloor partition 62 that partitions the underfloor in the second direction X2. As shown in Figure 2, the second underfloor partition 62 extends along the first direction X1 and partitions the underfloor passage 41 into multiple underfloor passage areas 45-48 corresponding to the multiple storage racks 2 lined up in the second direction X2.

Like the first underfloor partition 61, the second underfloor partition 62 is provided with a plate-like body that extends vertically from the lower end to the upper end of the underfloor passage 41 (underfloor space). As shown in Figure 2, this plate-like body extends linearly along the first direction X1, thereby dividing the underfloor passage 41 into multiple underfloor passage areas 45-48.

As shown in Figure 2, multiple second underfloor partitions 62 are provided at intervals in the second direction X2, and divide the underfloor flow section 41 into multiple underfloor flow areas 45-48 so that the number of storage racks 2 present in each underfloor flow area 45-48 matches the control unit of the cooling device 3. The second underfloor partitions 62 are arranged below the cold aisle 24 or hot aisle 25, as indicated by the thick dotted lines in Figure 1.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, 12 storage racks 2 are provided lined up in the second direction X2, and therefore three second underfloor partitions 62 are provided spaced apart in the second direction X2, and the underfloor flow section 41 is partitioned into four underfloor flow areas, the first to fourth underfloor flow areas 45-48, so that the number of storage racks 2 present in each underfloor flow area 45-48 matches the control unit of the cooling device 3.

In this way, by dividing the underfloor passage section 41 into first to fourth underfloor passage areas 45-48 using the second underfloor partition 62, it is possible to assign to each of the multiple cooling devices 3 lined up in the second direction X2 which underfloor passage area 45-48 to which cooling air should be sent. Therefore, when the cooling device 3 performs discharge temperature control and air flow control, the underfloor passage areas 45-48 can be used as a single unit (control unit) to perform discharge temperature control and air flow control, making it possible to adjust the temperature and air flow of the cooling air for each underfloor passage area 45-48.

For example, even if the cooling load of the storage rack 2 corresponding to the first underfloor flow area 45 differs from the cooling load of the storage rack 2 corresponding to the second underfloor flow area 46, an amount of cooling air sufficient to cover the cooling load of the storage rack 2 corresponding to the first underfloor flow area 45 is blown into the first underfloor flow area 45, and an amount of cooling air sufficient to cover the cooling load of the storage rack 2 corresponding to the second underfloor flow area 46 is also blown into the second underfloor flow area 46. In this way, the air conditioning system can perform zone control to control the temperature and blown air volume of the cooling air for each of the first to fourth underfloor flow areas 45-48 partitioned by the second underfloor partition 62.

When assigning which of the underfloor flow areas 45-48 each of the multiple cooling devices 3 aligned in the second direction X2 should blow cooled air to, it is possible to assign one cooling device 3 to one cold aisle 24, for example. However, if one cooling device 3 fails, cooled air cannot be properly supplied to the cold aisle 24 assigned to that cooling device 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the number of cooling devices 3 is set to be greater than the number of cold aisles 24. In other words, more cooling devices 3 are installed than the number required to cover the total cooling load (total cooling load of each storage rack 2) of the multiple storage racks 2 installed in the rack installation area 13. Therefore, even when the total cooling load is covered by multiple cooling devices 3, there will be spare cooling devices 3. Even if one cooling device 3 fails, the spare cooling device 3 can be activated to supply cooled air to the cold aisle 24 that the failed cooling device 3 was responsible for, and the cooling load of the storage racks 2 facing that cold aisle 24 can be covered.

However, referring to Figure 2, if the flow of cooling air between the multiple underfloor flow areas 45-48 partitioned by the second underfloor partition 62 is completely blocked, the cooling device 3 will be limited to only the assigned underfloor flow areas 45-48 to which it can send air, and will not be able to send cooling air to other underfloor flow areas 45-48.

2, the second underfloor partition 62 does not define the underfloor flow section 41 over the entire length in the first direction X1, but rather has a communication space 49 that allows cooling air to flow between the multiple underfloor flow areas 45-48 defined by the second underfloor partition 62. For example, if the communication space 49 were located midway in the first direction X1, the cooling air blown from the cooling device 3 would flow partway through the assigned underfloor flow area 45-48 and then through the communication space 49 to another underfloor flow area 45-48, which would likely disrupt the flow of cooling air in each underfloor flow area 45-48. Therefore, the communication space 49 is provided at both ends in the first direction X1, close to the location where the cooling device 3 is installed. The cooling air blown from the cooling device 3 is immediately passed through not only the assigned underfloor flow area 45-48, but also through other underfloor flow areas 45-48, thereby preventing disruption of the flow of cooling air in each underfloor flow area 45-48 and allowing the cooling air to flow through other underfloor flow areas 45-48.

In this way, by setting the number of cooling devices 3 to be greater than the number of cold aisles 24 and providing a communication space 49, zone control is basically performed to control the temperature and airflow of the cooling air for each of the first to fourth underfloor flow areas 45-48 separated by the second underfloor partition 62. Even if a problem such as a malfunction of a cooling device 3 occurs, cooling air can be allowed to flow between the multiple underfloor flow areas 45-48, allowing cooling air to be appropriately supplied to all of the multiple storage racks 2 installed in the rack installation area 13, and the entire cooling load for all of the multiple storage racks 2 can be covered.

Regarding how multiple cooling devices 3 are operated, all cooling devices 3 can be kept in operation at all times, but, for example, instead of keeping all cooling devices 3 in operation, it is possible to stop only the number of cooling devices 3 set for operation stop. This allows maintenance work to be performed on cooling devices 3 that are in an operation stop state, preventing cooling device 3 malfunctions in advance.

When cooling devices 3 are stopped, the cooling devices 3 to be stopped are not fixed, but can be changed each time a change condition is met. For example, if the change condition is set to the passage of a set time, the cooling devices 3 to be stopped can be rotated periodically. Furthermore, selection conditions for which cooling devices 3 to stop operating can be set in advance based on the installation location, operating time, etc., and the cooling devices 3 to be stopped can be selected based on those selection conditions. For example, by setting selection conditions so that the operating time of all cooling devices 3 is uniform, there is no imbalance in operating time, and the occurrence of cooling device 3 failures can be minimized.

[Another embodiment]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the configurations of the embodiments described below are not limited to being applied independently, but can also be applied in combination with the configurations of other embodiments.

(1) In the above embodiment, in addition to the first underfloor partition 61 that divides the underfloor passage 41 into multiple regions in the first direction X1, a second underfloor partition 62 that divides the underfloor passage 41 into multiple regions in the second direction X2 is provided, but the second underfloor partition 62 can be omitted.

(2) In the above embodiment, hot aisle capping is adopted by providing a first shielding section 27 and a second shielding section 28 that shield the hot aisle 25 to prevent hot air from the hot aisle 25 from flowing into the cold aisle 24. However, conversely, cold aisle capping can also be adopted by providing a shielding section that shields the cold aisle 24.

(3) In the above embodiment, the storage racks 2 are arranged such that their long left-right dimensions are aligned along the first direction X1, with multiple racks spaced apart in the second direction X2. However, conversely, they can also be arranged such that their long left-right dimensions are aligned along the second direction X2, with multiple racks spaced apart in the first direction X1. The arrangement of the storage racks 2 can be changed as appropriate.

(4) In the above embodiment, the rack installation room 11 in which the storage rack 2 is installed and the machine room 12 in which the cooling device 3 is installed are provided as separate rooms, but the storage rack 2 and the cooling device 3 can also be installed in the same room (same space).

2 Storage rack 3 Cooling device 4 Cooled air supply unit 5 Air return unit 11 Rack installation room (rack installation space)
12 Machine room 13 Rack installation area 23 Front end gap area 24 Cold aisle (cooling air supply space)
41 Underfloor flow section 42 Above-floor blowout section 45 First underfloor flow area 46 Second underfloor flow area 47 Third underfloor flow area 48 Fourth underfloor flow area 49 Communication space 61 First underfloor compartment 62 Second underfloor compartment

Claims (4)

a storage rack for storing the equipment to be cooled;
a cooling air supply unit that supplies the cooling air generated by the cooling device to the storage rack;
an air return unit that returns the air supplied to the storage rack to the cooling device,
The storage racks are arranged in a plurality of rack installation areas set in a central area in a first direction within the rack installation space,
the cooling devices are disposed on both ends in the first direction in a state where they face each other across a rack installation area in the first direction,
the cooling air supply unit includes an underfloor flow unit that circulates cooling air from the cooling device under the floor of the rack installation space to the rack installation area, and an above-floor blow-out unit that is disposed on the floor of the rack installation area and blows the cooling air from the underfloor flow unit onto the floor of the rack installation space to supply it to the storage racks;
The air conditioning system is provided with a first underfloor partition section located under the floor of the rack installation space, extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the center of the rack installation area in a first direction, and dividing the underfloor flow section into one side and the other side in the first direction. The storage racks are arranged in a state where the long left-right direction is aligned along the first direction and the front ends of the storage racks facing each other in the second direction are spaced apart from each other,
The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the above-floor blowing section is arranged on the floor of the rack installation area in a front end gap area corresponding to the gap between the front ends of the storage racks in the second direction, and the gap between the front ends of the storage racks in the second direction is used as a cooling air supply space. a plurality of the cooling devices are provided at both ends in the first direction and arranged side by side in the second direction;
The air conditioning system of claim 2, wherein a second underfloor partition section is provided under the floor of the rack installation space, extending along the first direction and dividing the underfloor flow section into multiple underfloor flow areas corresponding to multiple storage racks lined up in the second direction. The number of the cooling devices is set to be greater than the number of cooling air supply spaces, which are gaps between the front ends of the storage racks facing each other in the second direction,
The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein a communication space is provided under the floor of the rack installation space at both ends in the first direction, allowing cooling air to flow between multiple underfloor flow areas partitioned by second underfloor partitions.