US 2010/0076608 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AIR CONDITIONING FACILITIES, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTER ROOM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling air conditioning facilities, and a system and method for power management of a computer room. In an air-conditioning facility control system of a computer room (cooling room) equipped with air-conditioning facilities for air-cooling the computer room in which a large number of information processing units are installed, an air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit calculates a temperature sensitivity coefficient of each information processing unit, and that of each air conditioner, and then determines discharge air temperature of each air conditioner by use of the temperature sensitivity coefficients in such a manner that the sum of squares of a deviation of a change in discharge air temperature of each information processing unit becomes the smallest, and in such a manner that the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners becomes the smallest. Moreover, a calorific value of each information processing unit is determined in such a manner that the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners becomes the smallest. The air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit instructs each individual air conditioner to adjust the discharge air temperature thereof to the calculated value. Next, the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit assigns a job (load) to each information processing unit on the basis of the calorific value of each information processing unit. This makes it possible to minimize the power consumption of the air-conditioning facilities with cooling air temperature conditions, which are required by each information processing unit disposed in the computer room, satisfied. Moreover, by calculating a ratio of a load placed on each information processing unit, the power consumption of the computer room as a whole can be reduced in cooperation with a monitoring and controlling unit on the information processing unit side.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An air-conditioning facility control system for a computer room in which one or more information processing units and one or more air conditioners are placed, said system comprising:

temperature sensors for measuring temperature, each temperature sensor being provided at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the information processing unit, at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the information processing unit is discharged, at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the air conditioner, and at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the air conditioner is discharged;
an information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual information processing units;
and
an air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual air conditioners, and for inputting the output of the individual temperature sensors;
wherein:
the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit or the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit includes an information processing unit database in which data about specifications and locations of the information processing units are accumulated;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit includes:
a data input/output unit for inputting/outputting data from/to the individual air conditioners and the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit;
a storage unit for storing temperature data collected by the individual temperature sensors;
and
an individual air-conditioner set temperature instruction unit for controlling the discharge air temperature of air discharged from the individual air conditioners;
and
the individual air-conditioner set temperature instruction unit includes:
an air-conditioner set-temperature change calculation module for changing set temperature of each of the air conditioners;
an information-processing-unit intake-air temperature allowance calculation module for calculating a deviation of temperature of intake air taken into each of the information processing units from an upper limit thereof;
an air-conditioner cycle calculation module for calculating a cooling cycle of each of the air conditioners to determine the power consumption of the air conditioner;
and
a temperature sensitivity calculation module for calculating a temperature sensitivity coefficient of each of the information processing units associated with each of the air conditioners, and a temperature sensitivity coefficient of each of the air conditioners associated with each of the information processing units.

15 more elements

A power management system for a computer room in which one or more information processing units and one or more air conditioners are placed, said system comprising:

temperature sensors for measuring temperature, each temperature sensor being provided at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the information processing unit, at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the information processing unit is discharged, at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the air conditioner, and at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the air conditioner is discharged;
an information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual information processing units;
and
an air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual air conditioners, and for inputting the output of the individual temperature sensors;
wherein:
the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit or the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit includes an information processing unit database in which data about specifications and locations of the information processing units are accumulated;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit includes:
a data input/output unit for inputting/outputting data from/to the individual air conditioners and the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit;
a storage unit for storing temperature data collected by the individual temperature sensors;
and
an individual air-conditioner set temperature instruction unit for controlling the discharge air temperature of air discharged from the individual air conditioners;
the individual air-conditioner set temperature instruction unit includes:
an air-conditioner set-temperature change calculation module for changing set temperature of each of the air conditioners;
an information-processing-unit intake-air temperature allowance calculation module for calculating a deviation of temperature of intake air taken into each of the information processing units from an upper limit thereof;
an air-conditioner cycle calculation module for calculating a cooling cycle of each of the air conditioners to determine the power consumption of the air conditioner;
and
a temperature sensitivity calculation module for calculating a temperature sensitivity coefficient of each of the information processing units associated with each of the air conditioners, and a temperature sensitivity coefficient of each of the air conditioners associated with each of the information processing units;
and
the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit includes:
a data input/output unit for inputting an operational state of each of the information processing units, and for giving an instruction to assign a job to each of the information processing units;
an information-processing-unit monitoring unit for monitoring each of the information processing units;
and
an information-processing-unit job instruction unit for calculating assignment of a job (load) to each of the information processing units, and then for giving an instruction to assign the job.

20 more elements

An air-conditioning facility control method of an air-conditioning facility control system for a computer room in which one or more information processing units and one or more air conditioners are placed,

said system comprising:
an information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual information processing units,
an air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual air conditioners, and for inputting the output of the individual temperature sensors, and
the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit or the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit includes an information processing unit database in which data about specifications and locations of the information processing units are accumulated,
said method comprising the steps of:
providing temperature sensors for measuring temperature, each temperature sensor being provided at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the information processing unit, at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the information processing unit is discharged, at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the air conditioner, and at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the air conditioner is discharged;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit collecting information about temperature measured by the individual temperature sensors;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, on the basis of the temperature information, determining temperature sensitivity coefficients for the intake air temperature and discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units associated with discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, and temperature sensitivity coefficients for intake air temperature of each of the air conditioners associated with discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, on the basis of the temperature sensitivity coefficients for the intake air temperature and discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units associated with the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, determining discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners in such a manner that the sum of squares of a deviation of the discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units becomes the smallest, and determining the power consumption and cooling capacity at the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners at this point of time;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, on the basis of the temperature sensitivity coefficients for the intake air temperature and discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units associated with the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, determining discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners in such a manner that the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners becomes the smallest, and determining the power consumption and cooling capacity at the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners at this point of time;
and
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, outputting the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, which minimizes the sum of squares of a deviation of the discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units, or the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, which minimizes the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners, to each of the air conditioners as set temperature thereof.

9 more elements

A power management method of a power management system for a computer room in which one or more information processing units and one or more air conditioners are placed,

said system comprising:
an information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual information processing units;
and
an air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit for monitoring and controlling the individual air conditioners, and for inputting the output of the individual temperature sensors,
the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit or the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit includes an information processing unit database in which data about specifications and locations of the information processing units are accumulated,
said power management method comprising the steps of:
providing temperature sensors for measuring temperature, each temperature sensor being provided at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the information processing unit, at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the information processing unit is discharged, at an intake air portion through which air circulating in the computer room is taken into the air conditioner, and at a discharge air portion through which the air taken into the air conditioner is discharged;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, collecting information about temperature measured by the individual temperature sensors;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, on the basis of the temperature information, determining temperature sensitivity coefficients for the intake air temperature and discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units associated with discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, and temperature sensitivity coefficients for intake air temperature of each of the air conditioners associated with discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, on the basis of the temperature sensitivity coefficients for the intake air temperature and discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units associated with the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, determining discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners in such a manner that the sum of squares of a deviation of the discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units becomes the smallest, and determining the power consumption and cooling capacity at the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners at this point of time;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, on the basis of the temperature sensitivity coefficients for the intake air temperature and discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units associated with the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, determining a calorific value of each of the information processing units in such a manner that the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners becomes the smallest, and determining the power consumption and cooling capacity of each of the air conditioners at the calorific value of each of the information processing units at this point of time;
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, outputting the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, which minimizes the sum of squares of a deviation of the discharge air temperature of each of the information processing units, or the discharge air temperature of each of the air conditioners, which minimizes the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners, to each of the air conditioners as set temperature thereof;
and
the air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit, outputting the calorific value of each of the information processing units, which minimizes the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners, to the information-processing-unit monitoring and controlling unit.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for controlling air conditioning facilities, and system and method for power management of computer room

Life of this patent

System and method for controlling air conditioning facilities, and system and method for power management of computer room

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8