Raised floor panels

Abstract

To provide a double floor panel for easily performing increase suppression of a space and cost required for establishment and increase suppression of cost required for control by suppressing a controllability deterioration in suction temperature of an electronic apparatus.SOLUTION: A double floor panel includes: a stationary part 101 having a plate shape in which a plurality of first openings 104 are formed; a movable part 102 having a plate shape in which a plurality of second openings 105 are formed to make an area of overlapping parts of the first openings 104 on the second openings 105 vary by relatively moving with respect to the stationary part 101; a storage part 115 for storing and releasing gas on the basis of a temperature in a server chamber; a cylindrical cylinder part 111 attached to one of the stationary part 101 and the movable part 102 to make the gas circulate between the storage part 115 and itself; and a piston part 112 having an attachment part 120 to be attached to the other of the stationary part 101 and the movable part 102 to relatively move with respect to the cylinder part 111 on the basis of the gas circulating between the storage part 115 and itself.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a raised floor panel. [Background technology]

[0002] Server rooms (also referred to as computer rooms), which house electronic equipment such as information processing devices and communication devices, are equipped with air conditioning systems to cool the electronic equipment. For example, one known method involves supplying cool air for cooling electronic equipment via the underfloor space of the server room.

[0003] Specifically, the server room will have a raised floor, with the upper floor serving as the space for electronic equipment and the lower floor as the space through which cool air flows. Cool air supplied from the air conditioning equipment will be directed into the lower floor space. The cool air will then flow out from the lower floor space into the upper floor space through openings formed in the raised floor.

[0004] Furthermore, a method for maintaining an appropriate intake temperature for electronic equipment in a server room is known, which involves adjusting the opening ratio of the raised floor panels (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a method for adjusting the opening ratio of a raised floor panel, which involves adjusting the opening ratio using a control device. In addition to the method of adjusting the opening ratio using a control device, a method of manually adjusting the opening ratio is also known. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-206565 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] As mentioned above, manually controlling the opening ratio of the raised floor panels was problematic because it required manual labor. Furthermore, manual operation made it difficult to keep the intake temperature of electronic equipment within a specified range.

[0007] Furthermore, as mentioned above, when adjusting the opening ratio of the raised floor panels using a control device, equipment such as a temperature measuring device, a network, and power wiring for the control device are required. In other words, compared to manual control, there was a problem in that the space and cost required for installing the raised floor panels increased, as did the cost required for controlling the opening ratio.

[0008] The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a raised floor panel that suppresses deterioration in the controllability of the intake temperature of electronic equipment, and that makes it easier to suppress increases in the space and cost required for installation and the cost required for control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides the following means. The present invention provides a double floor panel for installation in a server room, comprising: a fixed portion having a plate shape with a plurality of first openings; a movable portion having a plate shape with a plurality of second openings, the area of ​​the overlapping portion between the first and second openings changing as it moves relative to the fixed portion; a storage portion for storing and releasing gas based on the temperature of the server room; a cylindrical portion attached to one of the fixed portion and the movable portion, through which the gas flows between the storage portion and the fixed portion; and a piston portion having a mounting portion attached to the other of the fixed portion and the movable portion, which moves relative to the cylinder portion based on the gas flowing between the storage portion and the piston portion.

[0010] According to the double-floor panel of the present invention, the area of ​​the overlapping portion between the first and second openings changes as the storage section stores or releases gas due to temperature changes in the server room. The opening is defined as the opening formed by the overlap of the first opening located in the fixed section and the second opening located in the movable section. In other words, when the storage section stores gas, the gas inside the cylinder section flows out into the storage section, causing the piston section to move relative to the cylinder section. When the storage section releases gas, the gas flows from the storage section into the cylinder section, causing the piston section to move relative to the cylinder section. As the piston section moves relative to the cylinder section, the fixed section and the movable section move relative to each other, causing the area of ​​the overlapping portion between the first and second openings to change.

[0011] In the above invention, it is preferable that the storage unit is located in one of the two locations. If the storage unit is located in the fixed location, the movable unit moves based on the temperature around the first opening. If the storage unit is located in the movable location, the movable unit moves based on the temperature around the second opening. In other words, the movable unit moves based on the ambient temperature of either the fixed location or the movable location.

[0012] In the above invention, it is preferable that the storage section is located on the suction surface (hereinafter also referred to as the front surface) of a rack for housing electronic equipment installed in the server room, and that a conduit section through which the gas flows is located between the storage section and the cylinder section.

[0013] By installing the storage unit on the intake surface of a rack in the server room, the mobile unit moves based on the temperature of the air drawn in by the rack. Furthermore, by providing a conduit, the gas stored and released from the storage unit is guided by the conduit to the remote cylinder unit. In other words, the storage unit can be located at a distance from the moving unit.

[0014] In the above invention, the storage section includes a first storage section and a second storage section, the first storage section is located on the suction surface of a rack for housing electronic equipment installed in the server room, the second storage section is located on one of the suction surfaces of the rack at a different temperature, the cylinder section includes a first cylinder section and a second cylinder section, the first cylinder section is guided to the first gas released by the first storage section, the second cylinder section is guided to the second gas released by the second storage section, a first conduit section is provided between the first storage section and the first cylinder section through which the first gas flows, the piston section is positioned between the first cylinder section and the second cylinder section, and preferably moves relative to the first piston section and the second piston section based on the pressure difference between the first gas and the second gas.

[0015] By providing two storage units, a first storage unit and a second storage unit, the units can be positioned at the suction surface of the rack installed in the server room and at either a fixed or movable section with a different temperature than the suction surface of the rack installed in the server room. Since the first and second storage units are located at points with different temperatures, a difference arises between the amount of gas stored and released by the first storage unit and the amount of gas stored and released by the second storage unit. In other words, a pressure difference arises between the gases stored and released by the first and second storage units.

[0016] Furthermore, the gas stored and released by the first storage unit is guided to the first cylinder unit, and the gas stored and released by the second storage unit is guided to the second cylinder unit. The pressure difference between the gases guided to each cylinder unit causes the piston unit to move, and consequently, the moving unit moves. In other words, the moving unit moves due to the temperature difference between the locations where the first and second storage units are installed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the double-floor panel of the present invention, the gas stored and released by the storage unit varies the area of the overlapping portion between the first opening and the second opening, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the controllability of the suction temperature of the electronic device, and it is possible to provide a double-floor panel that is easy to suppress an increase in the space and cost required for installation and an increase in the cost required for control.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the server room. [Figure 2] It is a plan view for explaining the arrangement of the double-floor panel of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a schematic diagram of the double-floor panel viewed from the underfloor space for explaining the arrangement of the fixed part and the moving part when the temperature of the storage unit decreases. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram of the double-floor panel viewed from the underfloor space for explaining the arrangement of the fixed part and the moving part when the temperature of the storage unit increases. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the arrangement of the fixed part and the moving part in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement of the fixed part and the moving part in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the actuator part in FIG. 3. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the actuator section. [Figure 15] This graph illustrates the change in the opening ratio due to the change in temperature difference between the first and second storage sections. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the actuator section of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the actuator section of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] This graph illustrates the pressure difference and spring operation due to the temperature difference between the first and second storage sections of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 19] This graph illustrates the operation of the piston section based on the spring and the temperature difference between the first and second storage sections in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] This graph illustrates how the opening ratio of the double floor panel is changed by the spring in the fourth embodiment and the temperature difference between the first and second storage sections. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] [First Embodiment] A double floor panel 100 according to the first embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The double floor panel 100 of this embodiment is to be installed in a server room as shown in Figure 1.

[0020] The server room is equipped with multiple racks 910. Electronic equipment 903 is placed in each rack 910. The electronic equipment 903 contains computing units such as CPUs and GPUs (not shown) and cooling fans (not shown). The cooling fans are configured to blow cooling air from inside the server room to the computing units.

[0021] The electronic device 903 has a configuration that draws in air from the server room from the front and exhausts the drawn-in air from the rear. The drawn-in air cools the computing units such as the CPU and GPU by exchanging heat with them.

[0022] Multiple racks 910 are arranged adjacent to each other in a row to form a rack row. Multiple rack rows are arranged so that the fronts of adjacent rack rows face each other, and the backs face each other. A cold aisle space 602 is formed on the front side of the rack row, and a hot aisle space 603 is formed on the back side.

[0023] The air conditioner 900 has a configuration that draws in air from the above-floor space 600, cools it, and supplies the cooled air to the under-floor space 601. Specifically, it has a configuration that cools the air by circulating a refrigerant with an outdoor unit (not shown) to perform heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant. The outdoor unit has a configuration in which the refrigerant that has absorbed heat from the air releases the heat into the outside air.

[0024] The air conditioner 900 is equipped with a heat exchange unit 901 that cools the intake air by heat exchange, and an air conditioner fan 902 that draws in air from the above-floor space 600 and sends it to the under-floor space 601. The heat exchange unit 901 and the air conditioner fan 902 are of known configurations.

[0025] The double floor panel 100 is a component that divides the interior space of the server room into an upper floor space 600 and an lower floor space 601. Multiple racks 910 and an air conditioner 900 are arranged in the upper floor space 600. Communication lines and power lines connected to electronic equipment 903 are arranged in the lower floor space 601. As shown in Figure 2, the entire floor surface of the cold aisle space 602 may be formed with the double floor panel 100 of this embodiment, or a part of the floor surface of the cold aisle space 602 may be formed with the double floor panel 100 of this embodiment. Figure 2 shows double floor panels 100 with different opening areas, which will be described later. Specifically, a double floor panel 100 with a relatively high opening area is shown on the lower side of Figure 2, and a double floor panel 100 with a relatively low opening area is shown on the upper side of Figure 2.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the raised floor panel 100 comprises a fixed part 101, a movable part 102, and an actuator part 110. The fixed part 101 is a rectangular plate-shaped member that forms the outer shape of the raised floor panel 100 and is a member that supports the movable part 102 so that it can move relative to it. The fixed part 101 is provided with a first opening 104 and a rail part 103.

[0027] The first opening 104 is a through hole provided in the fixing portion 101. The first opening 104 may be a rectangular through hole, or it may be a circular through hole or other shape. In this embodiment, the description will be applied to an example where the first opening 104 is a rectangular through hole with its corners formed in an arc shape.

[0028] The number of first openings 104 only needs to be at least one. In this embodiment, the example in which there are 28 first openings 104 will be described. The 28 first openings 104 are arranged in a matrix of 4 vertically and 7 horizontally. Here, the vertical direction is the direction in which the rail portion 103 extends, and the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the rail portion 103 extends. The arrangement of the multiple first openings 104 may be in a matrix or other arrangement.

[0029] The rail section 103 is an elongated member that is positioned on the fixed section 101 at least once. The rail section 103 is a member that supports the movable section 102 so that it can move relative to the fixed section 101, and is a member that determines the direction in which the movable section 102 moves relative to the fixed section 101. The rail section 103 may be positioned at the end of the fixed section 101, or at another position such as the center of the fixed section 101. In this embodiment, the description will apply to an example where two rail sections 103 are positioned. The two rail sections 103 are positioned parallel to each other with a gap between them, and each is positioned near two parallel sides of the fixed section 101. The movable section 102 is positioned so as to be movable between the two rail sections 103. Regarding the rail section 103, known technology can be used.

[0030] The movable part 102 is a rectangular plate-shaped member positioned on the underfloor space 601 side of the fixed part 101, and is a member that moves relative to the fixed part 101 and the rail part 103. The movable part 102 is provided with a second opening 105.

[0031] The second opening 105 is a through-hole provided in the movable part 102, and by overlapping with the first opening 104, it forms a flow path connecting the underfloor space 601 and the above-floor space 600. The second opening 105 may be a rectangular through-hole, or it may be a circular through-hole or another shape. The second opening 105 may have the same shape as the first opening 104, or it may have a different shape. In this embodiment, the explanation will be applied to an example where the second opening 105 is a rectangular through-hole similar to the first opening 104, with its corners formed in an arc shape.

[0032] The number of second openings 105 is limited to at least one. The number of second openings 105 may be the same as the number of first openings 104, or it may be more or less than the number of first openings 104. In this embodiment, the example in which the number of second openings 105 is the same as the number of first openings 104, 28 in total, will be described. The 28 second openings 105 are arranged in a matrix of 4 rows vertically and 7 rows horizontally. The arrangement of the multiple second openings 105 may be the same matrix arrangement as the first openings 104, or it may be another arrangement that can form a flow path by overlapping with the first openings 104.

[0033] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the actuator unit 110 comprises a cylinder unit 111, a piston unit 112, and a spring 116. The cylinder unit 111 comprises a cylinder unit 111 body and a storage unit 115. The piston unit 112 comprises a piston head 114, a piston rod 113, and a mounting unit 120.

[0034] The cylinder part 111 is a cylindrical member through which the gas stored and released by the storage part 115 flows in and out. The cylinder part 111 is arranged on either the fixed part 101 or the moving part 102. In this embodiment, the case where the cylinder part 111 is arranged on the fixed part 101 will be described. In this embodiment, the gas is hydrogen, but any gas that can be stored and released by the storage part 115 may be used. The material of the cylinder part 111 is preferably a material having resistance such as corrosion resistance to the gas (hydrogen in this embodiment). Regarding the cylinder part 111, known techniques can be used.

[0035] The storage part 115 is a member that stores and releases gas due to temperature changes. The storage part 115 is arranged inside the cylinder part 111. For example, it is arranged in a space different from the space where the piston rod 113 is arranged among the two spaces partitioned by the piston head 114 described later. A material that absorbs and releases gas may be used for the storage part 115, or a material that adsorbs and releases gas may also be used.

[0036] In this embodiment, an example in which the storage part 115 uses a material that absorbs and releases gas will be described. The material used for the storage part 115 preferably has the property of absorbing and releasing gas within the temperature range in the server room (for example, in the range of 10°C or more and 40°C or less).

[0037] In this embodiment, an example in which a hydrogen storage alloy is used as the material for the storage part 115 will be described. A hydrogen storage alloy is a substance that has the property of storing or releasing hydrogen based on changes in pressure and temperature. As the hydrogen storage alloy, for example, it is preferably used for nickel compounds and titanium compounds. Specifically, LaNi 4.7 Al 0.3 , CaNi5, LaNi5, MmNi 4.5 AL 0.5 , TiFe 0.9 Mn 0.1 , TiFe, TiMn 1.5 , MmNi5, Ti 1.2 Cr 1.2Mn 0.8 , or TiCr 1.8 It is even more preferable to use the following. The storage section 115 may use a material that adsorbs and releases gases, for example, silica gel or zeolite.

[0038] The piston portion 112 divides the internal space of the cylinder portion 111 into two spaces and is a component that moves relative to the cylinder portion 111 based on the pressure difference between the two spaces. The material forming the piston portion 112 is preferably a material that has resistance to gas (hydrogen in this embodiment), such as corrosion resistance.

[0039] The piston head 114 is a plate-shaped or columnar member positioned inside the cylinder portion 111, dividing the inside of the cylinder portion 111 into two spaces. The piston rod 113 is a rod-shaped member positioned between the piston head 114 and the mounting portion 120. The piston rod 113 protrudes from the inside to the outside of the cylinder portion 111. The piston head 114 is positioned at the inner end of the piston rod 113, and the mounting portion 120 is positioned at the outer end. The mounting portion 120 is a member positioned outside the cylinder portion 111 and is attached to the side of the fixed portion 101 and movable portion 102 where the cylinder portion 111 is not positioned.

[0040] The spring 116 is a component positioned between the piston portion 112 and the cylinder portion 111. The spring 116 may be positioned inside the cylinder portion 111 or outside the cylinder portion 111. For example, it may be positioned between the cylinder portion 111 and the piston head 114, or between the cylinder portion 111 and the mounting portion 120. In this embodiment, the spring 116 will be described in the example where it is positioned between the cylinder portion 111 and the mounting portion 120. The spring 116 may bias the piston portion 112 in the direction of ejecting it from the cylinder portion 111, or it may bias the piston portion 112 in the direction of being pulled into the cylinder. If the spring 116 comes into contact with a gas (hydrogen in this embodiment), it is preferable that the spring 116 be made of a material that has resistance to gas, such as corrosion resistance. Known technology will be used for the spring 116.

[0041] The spring 116 may be positioned between the piston portion 112 and the cylinder portion 111 in the actuator portion 110, or between the fixed portion 101 and the movable portion 102. Alternatively, the spring 116 may be positioned between the fixed portion 101 and the movable portion 102. The spring 116 may be biased in a direction that increases the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105, or in a direction that decreases the opening area. In this embodiment, the example in which the spring 116 is biased in a direction that decreases the opening area will be described.

[0042] Next, we will explain the operation of the raised floor panel 100, which is composed of the above components. First, we will explain the air conditioner 900 in the server room with reference to Figure 1. The air conditioner 900 draws air from the floor space 600 into its interior by rotating the air conditioner 900 fan. The air is drawn into an intake port in the air conditioner 900 that opens towards the floor space 600. The drawn-in air is the air discharged from the electronic equipment 903, and its temperature has risen due to the cooling of the computing unit and other components of the electronic equipment 903.

[0043] The inhaled air is cooled in the heat exchange unit 901. Specifically, the inhaled air loses heat to the refrigerant circulating between the outdoor unit (not shown) and the heat exchange unit 901, causing its temperature to decrease. The refrigerant that has absorbed heat from the inhaled air releases the absorbed heat into the outside air in the outdoor unit. The refrigerant that has released heat then absorbs heat from the inhaled air again in the heat exchange unit 901.

[0044] The air cooled in the heat exchange section 901 is sent to the underfloor space 601 by the fan of the air conditioner 900. The air is sent out from an opening formed on the bottom surface of the air conditioner 900 that opens towards the underfloor space 601.

[0045] The air sent into the underfloor space 601 flows from the area on the side of the air conditioner 900 toward the area on the side of the rack 910. The air that reaches the area on the side of the rack 910 flows out through the opening in the double floor panel 100 toward the upper floor space 600. Specifically, it flows out toward the cold aisle space 602 of the server room.

[0046] Air flowing into the cold aisle space 602 is drawn into the electronic equipment 903 housed in the rack 910. The air flows into the interior of the electronic equipment 903 through an opening formed on the side of the electronic equipment 903 facing the cold aisle space 602. Specifically, the air flowing into the interior absorbs heat generated in the computing unit and other components of the electronic equipment 903, causing its temperature to rise.

[0047] The heat-exchanged air flows out from the inside of the electronic equipment 903 to the outside. The air flows out from an opening formed on the side of the electronic equipment 903 opposite to the cold aisle space 602. Specifically, it flows towards the hot aisle space 603 of the server room. The air that has flowed out into the hot aisle space 603 is then drawn back into the air conditioner 900.

[0048] Next, the operation of the double floor panel 100 will be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 8. The storage section 115, located at the fixed portion 101 of the raised floor panel 100, is in contact with the air supplied from the air conditioner 900. The temperature of the storage section 115 fluctuates based on the air it is in contact with. Depending on the air temperature, the temperature of the storage section 115 may decrease or increase. The raised floor panel 100 operates differently when the temperature of the storage section 115 decreases and when it increases, so each operation will be explained separately.

[0049] First, the case where the temperature of the storage unit 115 decreases will be explained with reference to Figures 3, 5, and 7. As shown in Figure 7, when the temperature of the storage unit 115 decreases, it absorbs gas. The gas absorbed is the gas in the space where the storage unit 115 is located, which is one of the two spaces partitioned by the piston unit 112 in the cylinder unit 111. As the storage unit 115 absorbs gas, the pressure in the space where the storage unit 115 is located decreases.

[0050] When the pressure in the space where the storage unit 115 is located decreases, the biasing force of the spring 116 causes the piston unit 112 to move relative to the cylinder unit 111. Specifically, the piston unit 112 moves toward the storage unit 115. In other words, the piston unit 112 moves relative to the cylinder unit 111 from the outside toward the inside.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3, the piston portion 112 is attached to the movable portion 102 via the mounting portion 120, and the cylinder portion 111 is attached to the fixed portion 101. Therefore, the relative movement between the piston portion 112 and the cylinder portion 111 is transmitted to the movable portion 102 and the fixed portion 101. In other words, as the piston portion 112 moves, the movable portion 102 moves relative to the fixed portion 101 and the rail portion 103 in the direction in which the piston portion 112 moves. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the piston portion 112 and the cylinder portion 111 move in a direction that reduces the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105.

[0052] Next, the case where the temperature of the storage unit 115 rises will be explained with reference to Figures 4, 6, and 8. As shown in Figure 8, when the temperature of the storage unit 115 rises, it releases gas. Specifically, the gas is released into the space in which the storage unit 115 is located, which is one of the two spaces partitioned by the piston part 112 in the cylinder part 111. As the storage unit 115 releases gas, the pressure in the space in which the storage unit 115 is located increases.

[0053] When the pressure in the space where the storage unit 115 is located increases, the force pushing the piston unit 112 due to this pressure becomes greater than the biasing force of the spring 116, causing the piston unit 112 to move relative to the cylinder unit 111. Specifically, the piston unit 112 moves toward the mounting unit 120. In other words, the piston unit 112 moves relative to the cylinder unit 111 from the inside out.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, the piston portion 112 is attached to the movable portion 102 via the mounting portion 120, and the cylinder portion 111 is attached to the fixed portion 101. Therefore, the relative movement between the piston portion 112 and the cylinder portion 111 is transmitted to the movable portion 102 and the fixed portion 101. In other words, as the piston portion 112 moves, the movable portion 102 moves relative to the fixed portion 101 and the rail portion 103 in the direction in which the piston portion 112 moves. Specifically, the piston portion 112 and the cylinder portion 111 move in a direction that increases the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. The opening ratio of the double floor panel 100 is determined by the balance between the force transmitted by the actuator portion 110 to the movable portion 102 and the restoring force of the spring 116.

[0055] As shown in Figure 9, the upper limit of the opening range of the double floor panel 100 is limited by the operating range of the piston section 112. In other words, if the length of the piston rod 113 is shorter than the vertical length of the first opening 104, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 100 will be 100% or less.

[0056] The lower limit of the opening range of the double floor panel 100 is limited by the relative position of the movable part 102 with respect to the fixed part 101. In other words, when the actuator part 110 is not operating, the movable part 102 can be positioned relative to the fixed part 101 such that the opening ratio formed by the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 is at least greater than 0%.

[0057] In this embodiment, if the temperature of the storage section 115 is 27°C or higher, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 100 becomes 50%. If the temperature of the storage section 115 is between 18°C ​​and 27°C, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 100 decreases from 50% in proportion to the decrease in the temperature of the storage section 115. When the temperature of the storage section 115 falls below 18°C, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 100 becomes 10%.

[0058] With the double floor panel 100 configured as described above, the storage section 115 stores or releases gas due to temperature changes in the server room, causing the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 to fluctuate. In other words, when the storage section 115 stores gas, the gas inside the cylinder section 111 flows out into the storage section 115, causing the piston section 112 to move relative to the cylinder section 111. Also, when the storage section 115 releases gas, the gas flows from the storage section 115 into the cylinder section 11, causing the piston section 112 to move relative to the cylinder section 111. As the piston section 112 moves relative to the cylinder section 111, the fixed section 101 and the movable section 102 move relative to each other, causing the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 to fluctuate.

[0059] Because the gas stored and released by the storage section 115 causes the area of ​​the overlapping portion between the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 to fluctuate, it is possible to provide a double floor panel 100 that suppresses deterioration in the controllability of the intake temperature of the electronic equipment 903, as well as suppresses increases in the space and cost required for installation and increases in the cost required for control.

[0060] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. The basic configuration of the double floor panel 200 in this embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the actuator unit 210 is different. Therefore, in this embodiment, only the configurations that differ from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same configurations will be omitted.

[0061] The double floor panel 200 of the second embodiment includes a fixed part 101, a movable part 102, and an actuator part 210, as shown in Figure 10. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the actuator unit 210 includes a cylinder unit 211, a piston unit 112, a storage unit 215, and a conduit unit 217. The storage unit 215 includes a storage unit body 215A and a container unit 215B.

[0062] The cylinder portion 211 of the actuator portion 210 in this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that a storage portion 215 is not arranged inside it. The storage unit body 215A is a component that stores and releases gas in response to temperature changes. The storage unit body 215A is located inside the container unit 215B. Similar to the storage unit 115 in the first embodiment, the storage unit body 215A may be made of a material that absorbs and releases gas, or it may be made of a material that adsorbs and releases gas. In this embodiment, the storage unit body 215A is made of the same material as the storage unit 115 in the first embodiment.

[0063] As shown in Figure 10, the container section 215B is positioned away from the raised floor panel 200 and is connected to the cylinder section 211 via the conduit section 217, allowing gas to flow through it. Specifically, the container section 215B is positioned in front of the rack 910 on which the electronic equipment 903 is located. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the container section 215B has a hollow shape in which the storage section body 215A is housed, and is a component through which gas flows in and out with the conduit section 217. The material forming the container section 215B is preferably a material with thermal conductivity equivalent to aluminum or copper. Furthermore, a material that has resistance to gas (hydrogen in this embodiment) compared to aluminum or copper, such as corrosion resistance, is also preferred. The container section 215B may be equipped with components to increase the surface area for heat exchange with the air blown from the air conditioner 900, for example, fins are preferred. Regarding the fins, known technologies can be used.

[0064] The conduit section 217 is a pipe-shaped member positioned between the storage section 215 and the cylinder section 211. The conduit section 217 is a member that guides the gas in the container section 215B to the space on the side where the piston rod 113 is not located, which is partitioned by the piston section 112, and guides the gas in the space on the side where the piston rod 113 is not located back to the container section 215B. As shown in Figure 10, the conduit section 217 extends downward from the storage section 215 along the rack 910. Furthermore, the conduit section 217 may be bent in a direction along the surface of the fixing section 101 and extended along the surface of the fixing section 101. The material forming the conduit section 217 is preferably a material that has resistance to gas (hydrogen in this embodiment), such as corrosion resistance. Note that the conduit section 217 can be used according to known technology.

[0065] Next, the operation of the raised floor panel 200 with the above configuration will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. The cooling of the electronic equipment 903 housed in the rack 910 of the server room, the movement of the movable part 102, and the change in the opening ratio of the raised floor panel 200 are the same as in the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0066] As shown in Figure 10, the container portion 215B of the storage unit 215, which is located in front of the rack 910 on which the electronic equipment 903 is placed, is in contact with the air drawn in by the electronic equipment 903. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the temperature of the container portion 215B fluctuates based on the air it is in contact with, and the temperature of the storage unit body 215A housed in the container portion 215B also fluctuates. Depending on the temperature of the air, the temperature of the storage unit body 215A may decrease or increase. The raised floor panel 200 operates differently when the temperature of the storage unit body 215A decreases and when it increases, so each operation will be explained separately.

[0067] First, the case where the temperature of the storage unit body 215A decreases will be explained with reference to Figure 11. When the temperature of the storage unit body 215A decreases, it absorbs gas. Specifically, the storage unit 215 absorbs gas from the container section 215B. Furthermore, the storage unit body 215A absorbs gas from the space where the piston rod 113 is not located, which is one of the two spaces partitioned by the piston section 112 in the cylinder section 211, through the conduit section 217 and the container section 215B. As the storage unit body 215A absorbs gas, the pressure in the space where the piston rod 113 is not located decreases.

[0068] Next, the case where the temperature of the storage unit body 215A rises will be explained with reference to Figure 12. When the temperature of the storage unit body 215A rises, it releases gas. Specifically, the storage unit 215 releases gas into the container unit 215B. Furthermore, the storage unit body 215A releases gas through the conduit unit 217 and the container unit 215B into the space where the piston rod 113 is not located, which is one of the two spaces partitioned by the piston unit 112 in the cylinder unit 211. As the storage unit body 215A releases gas, the pressure in the space where the piston rod 113 is not located increases. The subsequent operations in the second embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0069] According to the double floor panel 200 with the above configuration, by installing the storage unit 215 in front of the rack 910 installed in the server room, the movable unit 102 is moved based on the temperature of the air drawn in by the rack 910.

[0070] Furthermore, by providing the conduit section 217, the gas stored and released from the storage section 215 is guided by the conduit section 217 to the remote cylinder section 211. In other words, the storage section 215 can be located at a distance from the moving section 102.

[0071] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 15. The basic configuration of the double floor panel 300 of this embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that it is equipped with the actuator unit 110 of the first embodiment and the actuator unit 210 of the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 14. Therefore, in this embodiment, only the configurations that differ from the first and second embodiments will be described, and the descriptions of the same configurations will be omitted.

[0072] The raised floor panel 300 of the third embodiment includes a fixed part 101, a movable part 102, an actuator part 110, and an actuator part 210, as shown in Figures 13 and 14. The actuator parts 110 and 210 are arranged such that the direction in which the actuator part 110 moves the movable part 102 relative to the fixed part 101 due to a predetermined temperature change is opposite to the direction in which the actuator part 210 moves the movable part 102 relative to the fixed part 101 due to the same temperature change.

[0073] Specifically, the storage unit 115 provided in the actuator unit 110 shown in Figure 14 is positioned such that the direction in which the piston unit 112 moves relative to the cylinder unit 111 when it absorbs gas from the cylinder unit 111 is opposite to the direction in which the piston unit 112 moves relative to the cylinder unit 211 when it absorbs gas from the cylinder unit 211.

[0074] In other words, the storage unit 115 provided in the actuator unit 110 may be arranged such that the direction in which the piston unit 112 moves relative to the cylinder unit 111 when it releases gas from the cylinder unit 111 is opposite to the direction in which the piston unit 112 moves relative to the cylinder unit 211 when it releases gas from the cylinder unit 211.

[0075] Next, the operation of the raised floor panel 300 with the above configuration will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. The cooling of the electronic equipment 903 housed in the rack 910 of the server room, the storage and release of gas between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215, and the movement of the mobile section 102 are the same as in the first and second embodiments, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0076] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 14, the actuator unit 110 is configured to move the movable part 102 relative to the fixed part 101 so that the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105, increases when the temperature of the storage unit 115 decreases (see Figure 4). The actuator unit 210 is configured to move the movable part 102 relative to the fixed part 101 so that the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105, decreases when the temperature of the storage unit 215 decreases (see Figure 5).

[0077] As shown in Figure 13, the storage unit 115 and the storage unit body 215A are located at separate locations. Specifically, the storage unit 115 is located on the underfloor space 601 side of the raised floor panel 300, and the storage unit body 215A is located on the cold aisle space 602 side of the rack 910. When the air conditioner 900 and electronic equipment 903 are operating, the temperature of the air near the raised floor panel 300 in the underfloor space 601 is often lower than or equal to the temperature of the air near the rack 910 in the cold aisle space 602.

[0078] The temperature difference between the storage unit 115 and the storage unit body 215A may be large or small. Below, we will explain the operation of the double floor panel 300 when the temperature difference between the storage unit 115 and the storage unit body 215A is large, and when it is small.

[0079] First, let's explain the case where the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section body 215A becomes large. For example, let's explain the case where the temperature of the air near the double floor panel 300 decreases and the temperature of the air near the rack 910 increases. The actuator section 110 generates a force in the direction that increases the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 (see Figure 4).

[0080] As shown in Figure 14, the actuator unit 210 generates a force in a direction that reduces the opening area, which is the overlapping area between the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 (see Figure 5). As shown in Figure 14, the movable part 102 receives force from both the actuator part 110 and the actuator part 210. The direction of the force transmitted by the actuator part 110 to the movable part 102 is opposite to the direction of the force transmitted by the actuator part 210 to the movable part 102. Since the force transmitted from the actuator part 110 is greater than the force transmitted from the actuator part 210, the movable part 102 moves relative to the actuator part 110 in the direction of the force transmitted from the actuator part 110.

[0081] In other words, the difference between the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage unit 115 and the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage unit 215 causes the movable unit 102 to move relative to the fixed unit 101. This relative movement increases the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105. In other words, the temperature difference between the storage unit 115 and the storage unit 215 can increase the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105.

[0082] Next, we will explain the case where the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section body 215A becomes small. For example, we will explain the case where the temperature of the air near the double floor panel 300 rises and the temperature of the air near the rack 910 falls. The actuator section 110 generates a force in the direction that reduces the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 (see Figure 3).

[0083] As shown in Figure 14, the actuator unit 210 generates a force in the direction that increases the opening area, which is the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 (see Figure 6). As shown in Figure 14, the movable part 102 receives forces from both the actuator unit 110 and the actuator unit 210. The direction of the force transmitted by the actuator unit 110 to the movable part 102 is opposite to the direction of the force transmitted by the actuator unit 210 to the movable part 102. Since the force transmitted from the actuator unit 110 is smaller than the force transmitted from the actuator unit 210, the movable part 102 moves relative to the actuator unit 210 in the direction of the force transmitted from the actuator unit 210.

[0084] In other words, the difference between the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage unit 115 and the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage unit 215 causes the movable unit 102 to move relative to the fixed unit 101. This relative movement reduces the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105. In other words, the temperature difference between the storage unit 115 and the storage unit 215 can reduce the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105.

[0085] The opening ratio of the double floor panel 300 is determined by the balance between the force transmitted by the actuator unit 110 to the movable unit 102 and the force transmitted by the actuator unit 210 to the movable unit 102. Specifically, it is determined by the balance between the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage unit 115 and the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage unit body 215A.

[0086] The predetermined temperature difference and the relationship between the temperature difference and the opening ratio will be explained later with reference to Figure 15. The upper limit of the opening range of the double floor panel 300 is limited by the movement range of the piston part 112. Specifically, if the length of the piston rod 113 is shorter than the vertical length of the first opening 104, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 300 will be 100% or less.

[0087] The lower limit of the opening range of the double floor panel 300 is limited by the relative position of the movable part 102 with respect to the fixed part 101. In other words, when both the actuator part 110 and the actuator part 210 are not operating, the opening ratio formed by the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 can be arranged to be at least greater than 0%.

[0088] In this embodiment, if the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215 is 5°C or more, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 300 becomes 50%. If the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215 is between 1°C and less than 5°C, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 300 decreases from 50% in proportion to the decrease in the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215. When the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215 becomes less than 1°C, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 300 becomes 10%.

[0089] With the double floor panel 300 configured as described above, by providing storage section 115 and storage section 215, they can be positioned at the suction surface of the rack 910 installed in the server room and at one of the fixed section 101 and movable section 102, which are at different temperatures from the suction surface of the rack 910 installed in the server room. Since storage section 115 and storage section 215 are located at points with different temperatures, a difference occurs between the amount of gas stored and released by storage section 115 and the amount of gas stored and released by storage section 215. In other words, a pressure difference occurs between the gases stored and released by storage section 115 and storage section 215.

[0090] Furthermore, the gas stored and released by the storage unit 115 is guided to the cylinder unit 111 of the actuator unit 110, and the gas stored and released by the storage unit 215 is guided to the cylinder unit 211. The pressure difference between the gases guided to the cylinder unit 111 and the cylinder unit 211 causes the piston unit 112 to move, and consequently the moving unit 102 to move. In other words, the moving unit 102 is moved by the temperature difference between the locations where the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 215 are installed.

[0091] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 16 and 17. The basic configuration of the double floor panel 400 in this embodiment differs from that of the first, second, and third embodiments in the configuration of the actuator unit 410. Therefore, in this embodiment, only the configurations that differ from those of the first, second, and third embodiments will be described, and the descriptions of the same configurations will be omitted.

[0092] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the double floor panel 400 comprises a fixed part 101, a movable part 102, a spring 116, an actuator part 410, and a stopper 418. The actuator part 410 comprises a cylinder part 111, a cylinder part 211, a piston part 412, a storage part 215, and a conduit part 217. The piston part 412 comprises a piston rod 413, a piston head 414A, a piston head 414B, and a mounting part 420.

[0093] The piston portion 412 is a component that divides the internal space of the cylinder portion 111 into two spaces, and the internal space of the cylinder portion 211 into two spaces. The piston portion 412 is a component that moves relative to the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211 based on the pressure difference between the two spaces of the cylinder portion 111 on the side where the storage portion 115 is located and the two spaces of the cylinder portion 211 on the side where the storage portion 215 is located.

[0094] In other words, the movable part 102 moves relative to the fixed part 101 due to the pressure difference between the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage part 115 and the pressure generated by the gas absorbed and released by the storage part 215. To put it another way, the movable part 102 can be moved relative to the fixed part 101 due to the temperature difference between the storage part 115 and the storage part 215.

[0095] The piston portion 412 receives force from both the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211. The direction of the force transmitted by the cylinder portion 111 to the piston portion 412 is opposite to the direction of the force transmitted by the cylinder portion 211 to the piston portion 412. The piston portion 412 moves in the direction of the greater force transmitted from the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211.

[0096] The piston head 414A is a plate-shaped or columnar member positioned inside the cylinder portion 111 and dividing the inside of the cylinder portion 111 into two spaces. The piston head 414B is a plate-shaped or columnar member positioned inside the cylinder portion 111 and dividing the inside of the cylinder portion 111 into two spaces.

[0097] The piston rod 413 is a rod-shaped member positioned between the piston head 414A and the piston head 414B. The piston head 414A is positioned at one end of the piston rod 413, and the piston head 414B is positioned at the other end. One end of the piston rod 413 protrudes from the outside to the inside of the cylinder portion 111, and the other end protrudes from the outside to the inside of the cylinder portion 211. A mounting portion 420 is positioned in the portion of the piston rod 413 between the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211.

[0098] The mounting portion 420 is positioned on the piston rod 413 and is a component positioned between the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211. The mounting portion 420 is a component attached to the side of the fixed portion 101 and the movable portion 102 where the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211 are not positioned.

[0099] The spring 116 may be positioned between the mounting portion 420 and the cylinder portion 111 in the actuator portion 410, or between the mounting portion 420 and the cylinder portion 211. In this embodiment, the spring 116 is positioned between the mounting portion 420 and the cylinder portion 211, and the example described applies to a case where the spring 116 is biased in a direction that pulls the piston portion 412 from the cylinder portion 111.

[0100] The stopper 418 is a member that restricts the range of movement of the mounting portion 420 by contacting the mounting portion 420. The stopper 418 is positioned on both the cylinder portion 111 and the cylinder portion 211. Specifically, it is positioned on the surface of the cylinder portion 111 facing the mounting portion 420 and on the surface of the cylinder portion 211 facing the mounting portion 420.

[0101] Next, the operation of the raised floor panel 400 with the above configuration will be described with reference to Figures 16 and 17. The cooling of the electronic equipment 903 housed in the rack 910 of the server room, the storage and release of gas between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215, and the movement of the mobile section 102 are the same as in the first, second, and third embodiments, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0102] The storage section 115 located in the cylinder section 111 of the raised floor panel 400 is in contact with the air supplied from the air conditioner 900, and the temperature of the storage section 115 fluctuates based on the air it is in contact with. The container section 215B of the storage section 215 located in the cylinder section 211 of the raised floor panel 400 is in contact with the air drawn in by the electronic equipment 903, and the temperature of the container section 215B fluctuates based on the air it is in contact with (see Figure 10).

[0103] The piston 412 receives force from both the cylinder 111 and the cylinder 211. Depending on the magnitude of the force transmitted from each of the cylinders, the piston 412 may move toward the cylinder 111 or toward the cylinder 211. Since the piston 412 behaves differently when moving toward the cylinder 111 and toward the cylinder 211, each case will be explained separately.

[0104] First, let's explain the case where the piston moves toward the cylinder portion 111. The piston portion 412 moves toward the cylinder portion 111 if the force transmitted from the cylinder portion 211 is greater than the sum of the force transmitted from the cylinder portion 111 and the biasing force of the spring 116. When the piston portion 412 approaches the cylinder portion 111 to a predetermined distance, the mounting portion 420 located on the piston portion 412 comes into contact with the stopper 418B. In other words, the range of movement of the piston portion 412 is limited by the stopper 418B. The predetermined distance is the distance that the stopper 418B protrudes from the outside of the cylinder portion 111.

[0105] Next, we will describe the case where the piston moves toward the cylinder portion 211. The piston portion 412 moves toward the cylinder portion 211 if the sum of the force transmitted from the cylinder portion 111 and the biasing force of the spring 116 is greater than the force transmitted from the cylinder portion 211. When the piston portion 412 approaches the cylinder portion 111 to a predetermined distance, the mounting portion 420 located on the piston portion 412 comes into contact with the stopper 418A. In other words, the range of movement of the piston portion 412 is limited by the stopper 418A. The predetermined distance is the distance that the stopper 418A protrudes from the outside of the cylinder portion 211.

[0106] Next, we will explain the relationship between the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215, and the pressure difference between the cylinder section 111 and the cylinder section 211, as shown in Figure 18. We will also explain the relationship between the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215 and the magnitude of the biasing force of the spring 116.

[0107] In Figure 18, the horizontal axis represents the temperature difference (°C) between storage section 115 and storage section 215. In other words, it represents the temperature difference between the high-temperature side and the low-temperature side. The vertical axis represents the pressure difference (Pa) between cylinder section 111 and cylinder section 211. It also represents the magnitude of the biasing force (N) of spring 116.

[0108] Graph A in Figure 18 shows the temperature difference between storage section 115 and storage section 215. Graph B shows the magnitude of the biasing force of spring 116. The magnitude of the biasing force C is the initial magnitude of the biasing force in spring 116.

[0109] In Figure 18, the temperature difference between storage section 115 and storage section 215 (horizontal axis) and the pressure difference between cylinder section 111 and cylinder section 211 (vertical axis) are proportional; the larger the temperature difference, the larger the pressure difference.

[0110] The relationship between the displacement of the piston portion 412 and the temperature difference between the storage portion 115 and the storage portion 215 shown in Figure 19 will be explained. Furthermore, the relationship between the opening ratio and the temperature difference between the storage portion 115 and the storage portion 215 shown in Figure 20 will be explained.

[0111] In Figure 19, the horizontal axis represents the temperature difference (°C) between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215. The vertical axis represents the displacement of the piston section 412 from a predetermined reference position. In Figure 20, the horizontal axis represents the temperature difference (°C) between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215. The vertical axis represents the opening ratio (%), which is the area of ​​the overlapping portion of the first opening 104 and the second opening 105.

[0112] The actuator unit 410 operates differently depending on three temperature differences between the storage unit 115 and the storage unit 215: less than 1°C, 1°C or more but less than 5°C, and 5°C or more. In this embodiment, the operation will be explained for each of the three cases: when the temperature of the storage unit 115 is 18°C ​​and the temperature of the storage unit 215 is less than 19°C (temperature difference less than 1°C); when the temperature of the storage unit 115 is 18°C ​​and the temperature of the storage unit 215 is 19°C or more but less than 23°C (temperature difference 1°C or more but less than 5°C); and when the temperature of the storage unit 115 is 18°C ​​and the temperature of the storage unit 215 is 23°C or more (temperature difference 5°C or more).

[0113] First, let's explain the case where the temperature of the storage section 115 is 18°C ​​and the temperature of the storage section 215 is less than 19°C (a temperature difference of less than 1°C). As shown in Figure 19, when the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215 is less than 1°C, the displacement of the piston section 412 is constant because the range of relative movement of the piston section 412 is limited by the stopper 418A. The force with which the piston section 412, whose displacement is limited, pulls the spring 116 is also limited by the stopper 418A and remains constant. In other words, as shown in Figure 18, the strength of the biasing force of the spring 116 remains constant.

[0114] Because the displacement of the piston portion 412 is restricted, the range of movement of the movable portion 102, which moves in conjunction with the movement of the piston portion 412, is also restricted and remains constant (see Figure 6). In other words, as shown in Figure 20, the opening ratio formed by the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 (see Figure 3) remains constant. Specifically, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 400 remains constant at 10%.

[0115] Next, we will explain the case where the temperature of the storage section 115 is 18°C ​​and the temperature of the storage section 215 is 19°C or higher but less than 23°C (a temperature difference of 1°C or higher but less than 5°C). As shown in Figure 19, the displacement of the piston section 412 increases in proportion to the increase in the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215. Specifically, the piston section 412 moves relative to the cylinder section 111. The greater the displacement of the piston section 412, the stronger the force with which the piston section 412 pulls the spring 116. In other words, as shown in Figure 18, the strength of the biasing force of the spring 116 increases in proportion to the increase in the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215.

[0116] The movable part 102 moves in conjunction with the movement of the piston part 412. In other words, as shown in Figure 20, the opening ratio (see Figure 3) formed by the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 increases in proportion to the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215. Specifically, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 400 varies from 10% to 50% in proportion to the temperature difference between the storage section 115 and the storage section 215.

[0117] Next, we will explain the case where the temperature of the storage section 115 is 18°C ​​and the temperature of the storage section 215 is 23°C or higher (a temperature difference of 5°C or more). As shown in Figure 19, the displacement of the piston section 412 is constant because the range of relative movement is limited by the stopper 418B. The force exerted by the piston section 412, whose displacement is limited, on the spring 116 is also limited and constant by the stopper 418B. In other words, as shown in Figure 18, the strength of the biasing force of the spring 116 remains constant.

[0118] Because the displacement of the piston portion 412 is restricted, the range of movement of the movable portion 102, which moves in conjunction with the movement of the piston portion 412, is also restricted and remains constant (see Figure 6). In other words, as shown in Figure 20, the opening ratio formed by the overlapping area of ​​the first opening 104 and the second opening 105 (see Figure 3) remains constant. Specifically, the opening ratio of the double floor panel 400 remains constant at 50%.

[0119] According to the double floor panel 400 with the above configuration, by providing two storage units, the storage unit 115 and the storage unit 215 can be positioned at either the suction surface of the rack 910 installed in the server room or at one of the fixed unit 101 and the movable unit 102, which are at different temperatures from the suction surface of the rack 910 installed in the server room. Since the storage unit 115 and the storage unit 215 are located at points with different temperatures, a difference occurs between the amount of gas stored and released by the storage unit 115 and the amount of gas stored and released by the storage unit 215. In other words, a pressure difference occurs between the gases stored and released by the storage unit 115 and the storage unit 215.

[0120] Furthermore, the gas stored and released by the storage unit 115 is guided to the cylinder unit 111 of the actuator unit 410, and the gas stored and released by the storage unit 215 is guided to the cylinder unit 211. The pressure difference between the gases guided to the cylinder unit 111 and the cylinder unit 211 causes the piston unit 412 to move, and consequently the moving unit 102 to move. In other words, the moving unit 102 is moved by the temperature difference between the locations where the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 215 are installed.

[0121] It should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to those applied to the embodiments described above, but may also be applied to embodiments that appropriately combine these embodiments, and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0122] 100, 200, 300, 400…Double floor panel, 101…Fixed part, 102…Moving part, 103…Rail part, 104…First opening, 105…Second opening, 110, 210, 410…Actuator part, 111, 211…Cylinder part, 112, 412…Piston part, 113, 413…Piston rod, 114, 414A, 414B…Piston head, 1 15, 120, 215…Storage section, 116…Spring, 215A…Storage section body, 215B…Container section, 217…Conduit section, 418A, 418B…Stopper, 600…Above-floor space, 601…Below-floor space, 602…Cold aisle space, 603…Hot aisle space, 900…Air conditioner, 901…Heat exchange section, 902…Air conditioner fan, 903…Electronic equipment, 910…Rack

Claims

1. A raised floor panel installed in a server room, A fixing part having a plate shape with multiple first openings formed therein, A movable part having a plate shape with multiple second openings formed therein, the area of ​​the overlapping portion between the first and second openings changes as it moves relative to the fixed part, A storage unit that stores and releases gas based on the temperature inside the server room, A cylindrical cylinder portion is attached to one of the fixed portion and the movable portion, and through which the gas flows between it and the storage portion, A piston portion having a mounting portion attached to the other of the fixed portion and the movable portion, and moving relative to the cylinder portion based on the gas flowing between it and the storage portion, A double floor panel characterized by having the following features.

2. The storage section is arranged on one of the two sides of the double floor panel according to claim 1.

3. The storage unit is located on the suction surface of a rack that houses electronic equipment installed in the server room. The double floor panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a conduit section through which the gas flows is arranged between the storage section and the cylinder section.

4. The storage unit includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit. The first storage unit is located on the suction surface of a rack that houses electronic equipment installed in the server room. The second storage section is located on one of the racks at a temperature different from the suction surface. The cylinder section includes a first cylinder section and a second cylinder section. The first gas released by the first storage unit is introduced into the first cylinder section. The second cylinder section is into which the second gas released by the second storage section is guided, and a first conduit section is arranged between the first storage section and the first cylinder section through which the first gas flows. The double floor panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston portion is positioned between the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion and moves relative to the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion based on the pressure difference between the first gas and the second gas.

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