Air-Conditioning Box Comprising a Heat Exchanger and Air-Conditioning Method

Abstract

The invention relates to an air-conditioning box comprising a heat exchanger for regulating the temperature. The air-conditioning box is used especially in systems for cooling computer centers or servers. The special design of the heat exchanger allows energy costs to be reduced such that systems operating with the air-conditioning box of the invention use less energy.

Description

[0001] This application for patent claims priority from European patent application EP 09 010 989.3, filed Aug. 27, 2009, and PCT international application PCT/EP2010/005068 (published as WO 2011023327), filed Aug. 18, 2010 and published Mar. 3, 2011, and the contents of these prior applications are incorporated herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to an air-conditioning box comprising a heat exchanger for regulating temperature. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating such an air-conditioning box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Air-conditioning boxes with a heat exchanger for temperature regulation are known from the state of the art. Furthermore, systems for regulating temperature are known from the state of the art for various applications. One possible application for such systems is the air conditioning of individual rooms or of entire buildings. Systems for regulating temperature are required in particular for the air conditioning of computer centers since the operation of computer systems, for example, server systems, generates a significant development of heat. The heat produced by the server systems must necessarily be removed from the space in which the server systems are standing in order not to exceed the maximally admissible operating temperatures for such server systems, which are reached and exceeded in a short time without the removal of the heat produced by the servers.

[0004] DE 199 04 667 teaches a system for regulating the temperature of a building. The system shown in it comprises an air-conditioning apparatus that comprises a cooling agent circuit, as a result of which an indirect cooling of the building or of individual rooms is made possible by the cooling agent. Such a cooling is especially advantageous in that the admissible range of the relative air humidity and the desired temperature can be maintained very well. The cooling of the system shown takes place as a function of the outdoor temperature either as indirect free cooling in the winter, as active cooling in the summer as well as indirect free in combination with an active cooling in the transition time.

[0005] The previous systems have the disadvantage that the entire air flow must be conducted through the heat exchanger even when the heat exchanger is turned off. As a consequence, pressure losses on the air side are created that bring about a greater power consumption by the ventilators and therefore higher energy costs. Therefore, apparatuses are known in which the air is conducted via a bypass when the heat exchanger is turned off in order to circumvent the pressure loss; however, this has the disadvantage that greater dimensions are necessary for the apparatus in order to be able to realize an appropriate bypass. However, apparatuses that have the smallest possible space requirement are preferred particularly in computer centers in order to be able to keep the area as small as possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0006] FIG. 1a shows a schematic view of the air-conditioning box in accordance with the invention with a heat exchanger in the operating state.

[0007] FIG. 1b shows the air flow in the air-conditioning box of FIG. 1a.

[0008] FIG. 1c shows a perspective view of the air-conditioning box of FIG. 1a.

[0009] FIG. 2a shows a schematic view of the air-conditioning box in accordance with the invention with the heat exchanger in the rest position.

[0010] FIG. 2b shows the air flow in the air-conditioning box of FIG. 21.

[0011] FIG. 2c shows a perspective view of the air-conditioning box of FIG. 2a.

SUMMARY OF THE INVETNION

[0012] Therefore, the present invention addresses the problem of making available an air-conditioning box with heat exchanger that causes no higher energy costs and air-side pressure losses are avoided to a great extent even when the heat exchanger is turned off. The invention addresses a further problem of making available a system for temperature regulation as well as a method for operating a system for temperature regulation.

[0013] The invention solves the problem with an air-conditioning box for temperature regulation through which at least one air flow can be conducted and that contains at least one heat exchanger, characterized in that the heat exchanger is moveably arranged in the air-conditioning box and can move about a point of rotation between at least one operating position and one position of rest. Further embodiments are subject matter of the subclaims or are described in the following.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The air-conditioning box of the invention preferably comprises a heat exchanger that can be moved between exactly one operating position and one position of rest. In the sense of the invention the operating position is understood to be a position of the air-conditioning box in which the air entering into the air-conditioning box is guided through the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger is in operation. In a corresponding manner the position of rest is understood to be a position of the heat exchanger in the air-conditioning box in which the heat exchanger is arranged outside of the air flow in the air-conditioning apparatus and is not in operation. The heat exchanger can be folded between the operating position and the rest position by fastening the heat exchanger at a point of rotation in the air-conditioning box; thus there is a foldable and/or rotatable fastening of the heat exchanger in the air-conditioning box. The movement between the different positions takes place, for example, electrically or hydraulically, whereby even mechanical folding mechanisms or other movement mechanisms can be used.

[0015] In the air-conditioning box in accordance with the invention the heat exchanger is preferably movable between exactly one operating position and exactly one rest position. In the rest position the heat exchanger is preferably arranged vertically to the bottom of the air-conditioning box and parallel to the longer side wall of the air-conditioning box; rest positions are less preferred in which the heat exchanger is arranged obliquely in the air-conditioning box, i.e., with an angle to the bottom that is not a right angle. Here, the maximum height of the heat exchanger in the rest position preferably corresponds to the height of the air-conditioning box. This ensures that there is an especially good utilization of the present area for the tempering, in particular for the cooling. However, even other embodiments are conceivable in which the heat exchanger has lesser dimensions.

[0016] The heat exchanger is preferably arranged in the air-conditioning box in accordance with the invention in the operating state along the diagonal of the air-conditioning box between two opposite corners.

[0017] The heat exchanger is designed, for example, as an evaporator or as a cooler. The control and regulation of the air-conditioning box takes place, for example, by appropriate software.

[0018] The air-conditioning box in accordance with the invention has the advantage over traditional air-conditioning boxes that the air-side pressure losses can be reduced in comparison to traditional air-conditioning boxes. When the heat exchanger is not in operation it is folded out of the air flow so that this can reduce pressure losses otherwise produced by air flowing through the turned-off heat exchanger. This can distinctly lower the energy costs for the operation. At the same time, a retention of the advantageous, small dimensions is possible since it is not necessary to conduct the air over a bypass when the heat exchanger is turned off in order to avoid pressure losses.

[0019] The air-conditioning box can be operated in different operating states, for example, at temperatures of the incoming air, also called outside air, that are above a temperature T₁. Above a higher temperature T₂ an active cooling could take place by the heat exchanger in operating position while in the range above T₁ and below T₂ only a mixed operation of active and direct cooling could take place, which could again lower the energy costs. Below T₁ a direct free cooling is possible, i.e., the heat exchanger is turned off and is in the rest position, so that the energy requirement can be distinctly lowered. The using of the free cooling can ensure a high energy efficiency since no energy losses, for example, by additional heat exchangers, occur.

[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment at least one ventilator apparatus could be provided. This ventilator apparatus could be arranged outside of the space to be cooled, for example, outdoors, in order to improve the removal of the warm air. Such an additional removal of heat could take place by the ventilator apparatus in particular at outdoor temperatures above 17° C.

[0021] The air-conditioning boxes in accordance with the invention are used, for example, in systems for regulating the temperature of computer centers and/or of server systems, during which the 3 different operating states already explained above are run through. At very high temperatures the entire system is operated in the active cooling operating mode. In this instance the heat exchanger is arranged in the operating position, in which all air flows through the heat exchanger and is cooled in it. At somewhat lower temperatures a mixed operation consisting of active cooling and direct cooling takes place, i.e., only a part of the entire air flow is conducted via the heat exchanger and another part of the air flow is mixed into the cooled air flow outside of the air-conditioning box. This air flow must be, for example, outdoor air or return air from the entire system. In the third operating mode of the direct free cooling the system is cooled exclusively with outdoor air. In this operating state the heat exchanger is in the rest position and the air flow can pass without impediment through the air-conditioning box.

[0022] Therefore, in this instance there are two operating states in which air flows through the heat exchanger in the operating state and one state in which the heat exchanger is folded out of the air flow and no air flows through it. This can distinctly reduce the air-side pressure losses, as explained above.

[0023] The mixing box in accordance with the invention can be used, for example, as part of an air-conditioning apparatus or as an air-conditioning apparatus. The air-conditioning box is used here for the cooling of computer centers, servers, computers or server systems as well as server racks. It is also possible to combine the air-conditioning box of the invention with a mixing box that allows a further optimization of the operating states. Such a mixing box comprises, for example, different flaps, namely, an outdoor air flap, a return air flap and a mixed air flap that permits a purposeful mixing of differently tempered air flows. Such a mixing box is described in the European patent application 09 005 824.9, which is referred to herewith. The combination of an air-conditioning box with this mixing box for a direct, free cooling is therefore also part of this disclosure.

[0024] The invention is described in the following using an exemplary embodiment schematically represented in the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1a shows an embodiment of the air-conditioning box 1 in accordance with the invention with a heat exchanger 9 in operating position. The air flowing in from the top of the air-conditioning box, that is characterized by arrows in FIG. 1, is accordingly completely transported through the heat exchanger 9 to the bottom 8 of the air-conditioning box. The heat exchanger 9 is connected at its lower end to an articulation 2 that functions as a point of rotation. The point of rotation can also be arranged in other, non-shown embodiments at another position along the heat exchanger. At its upper end the heat exchanger 9 is delimited by an upper frame 2 against which it leans. A lateral seal 5 that is fastened on the front side wall (not shown) runs parallel to the heat exchanger 9. It is ensured by the lateral seal 5, the upper frame 2 and a sealing groove 6 on the bottom that the air flow cannot be conducted past the heat exchanger on the side or above or below it. The bottom 8 is designed to be opened so that the air can flow through in an unimpeded manner. An electrical box 7 is arranged in the upper area of the air-conditioning box 1 that serves to control and regulate the air-conditioning box.

[0026] FIG. 1c shows a perspective view in which it can be recognized that the heat exchanger 9 extends over the entire width of the air-conditioning box and connects the two opposite corners to one another in an approximately diagonal manner. The heat exchanger 9 rests on the sealing groove 6 in the lower area.

[0027] FIG. 2a shows the air-conditioning box with heat exchanger 9 in the position of rest. The heat exchanger 9 is arranged here parallel to the side wall 4 and stands on the rail 3 located in the bottom of the air-conditioning box. Accordingly, the air flows, as can be seen in FIG. 2b, from the top of the air-conditioning box to the bottom 8 of the air-conditioning box without flowing through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger 9 extends here almost from the bottom 8 to the top of the air-conditioning box 1.

[0028] It can be recognized in FIG. 2c that the lateral seal 5 is arranged only on the two short side walls and does not extend over the entire width, as well as the heat exchanger 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0029] 1 air-conditioning box

[0030] 2 upper frame

[0031] 3 rail

[0032] 4 side wall

[0033] 5 lateral seal

[0034] 6 sealing grove

[0035] 7 electrical box

[0036] 8 bottom

[0037] 9 heat exchanger

[0038] 10 point of rotation

Claims

1. An air-conditioning box for temperature regulation through which at least one air flow can be conducted and that comprises at least one heat exchanger, characterized in that the heat exchanger is movably arranged in the air-conditioning box and can be moved about a point of rotation between at least one operating position and one position of rest.

2. The air-conditioning box according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger is arranged in the operating position in such a manner in the air-conditioning box that the entire air flow conducted through the air-conditioning box is conducted through the heat exchanger.

3. The air-conditioning box according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger is arranged in the rest position in such a manner in the air-conditioning box that the air flow is completely conducted past the heat exchanger.

4. The air-conditioning box according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger is arranged in the rest position vertically to the bottom and parallel to the side wall of the air-conditioning box.

5. The air-conditioning box according to claim 4, characterized in that the maximum height of the heat exchanger corresponds to the height of the air-conditioning box.

6. The air-conditioning box according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger is arranged in the operating state along a diagonal line between two opposite corners of the air-conditioning box.

7. The air-conditioning box according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger is an evaporator or a cooler.

8. A method for operating a system for temperature regulation with an air-conditioning box through which at least one air flow can be conducted and that comprises at least one heat exchanger, which air-conditioning box is characterized in that the heat exchanger is movably arranged in the air-conditioning box and can be moved about a point of rotation between at least one operating position and one position of rest, which method is characterized in that the air flow a. is conducted in the first operating state of the active cooling through the air-conditioning box with the heat exchanger in the operating position, b. is conducted in the second operating state of the mixed operation of the air flow through the air-conditioning box with the heat exchanger in the operating position, and c. is conducted in a third operating state of the air flow through the air-conditioning box with the heat exchanger in the rest position.

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