Coil unit, air conditioner equipped with the same, and air conditioning management system using the air conditioner.

Abstract

To provide a coil unit that comprises a redundant function that allows a refrigerant flowing through a coil to flow at a constant flow rate even when a malfunction occurs in the coil, and continuously generates cooling air stably, that can be installed in a small space and that is excellent in economical efficiency and maintainability such as repair work.SOLUTION: A coil unit has a coil unit case, and a coil serving as a circulation flow path for a refrigerant. The coil is constructed by arranging a plurality of coil elements in a fixed direction to divide the circulation flow path into a plurality of independent flow path parts within the unit case, and comprises a constant flow device that controls a total flow rate of a refrigerant flowing into the coil to a constant flow rate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coil unit, an air conditioner including the same, and an air conditioning management system using the air conditioner.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a management room such as a server room where a plurality of precision devices such as servers that operate continuously for 24 hours are installed, heat generated due to the operation of the precision devices accumulates.

[0003] The heat generated from such precision devices becomes an excessive heat load on the devices themselves and causes failures. Therefore, an air conditioner for cooling is installed in the management room, and the precision devices are constantly cooled by sending cooling air to suppress failures.

[0004] Specifically, a plurality of racks in which a plurality of precision devices are stored are erected in the management room, and a large air conditioner is assigned to the plurality of racks. While sending cooling air to the racks by the air conditioner, the indoor air is circulated by air cooling to address the problem of heat load.

[0005] This air conditioner basically includes a coil through which a refrigerant flows and a blower fan that blows air against the coil. As a result, the air that comes into contact with the coil of the air conditioner is heat-exchanged and changed into cooling air, and the cooling air ventilates around the plurality of precision devices placed on the rack, taking away the heat generated by the precision devices and lowering the temperature of the precision devices.

[0006] However, if a problem due to aging deterioration such as cracks or blockages occurs in the coil and the air conditioner stops, the temperature of the precision devices placed on the corresponding rack does not drop, and there is a risk that the precision devices will experience excessive heat load and break down.

[0007] To address the problem of precision equipment failures resulting from malfunctions in such air conditioners, an air conditioner has been proposed that consists of multiple small air conditioners, each composed of a coil and a blower fan, arranged in a dense configuration (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this air conditioner, even if one small air conditioner malfunctions, the other small air conditioners can operate independently to generate cooling air. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-122683 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] However, the conventional air conditioners described above, due to their structure, inevitably become large overall, requiring extra installation space, and also have the disadvantage of being cost-intensive in terms of equipment costs and energy costs due to the large number of components required.

[0010] In other words, conventional air conditioners are composed of various small air conditioners, each consisting of a coil and a blower fan. As a result, the air conditioner as a whole is large and heavy, requiring heavy towing equipment and a large installation space with a load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, there are problems with the high cost of electrical energy required for operation and the components of each blower fan.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a coil unit that has a redundant function to stably and continuously generate cooled air while circulating the refrigerant flowing through the coil at a constant flow rate even if a malfunction occurs in the coil, and that can be installed in a small space and has good economy and maintainability such as repair work, an air conditioner equipped with the coil unit, and an air conditioning management system using the air conditioner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a coil unit characterized in the following points (1) to (3). (1) A coil unit comprising a coil unit case and a coil that serves as a circulation path for refrigerant within the coil unit case, wherein the coil is constructed by arranging a plurality of coil elements in a certain direction within the unit case to divide the circulation path into a plurality of independent flow path sections, each of the plurality of coil elements is connected at its starting end to a supply header that supplies refrigerant via a plurality of branch supply pipes and merges therewith, and each of the terminals is connected to a discharge header that discharges refrigerant via a plurality of branch discharge pipes and merges therewith, and the supply header is equipped with a constant flow device located upstream of the point where the plurality of branch supply pipes are connected, which controls the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the coil to a constant flow rate. (2) In order to handle the heat load of a space in which a maximum heat load Q is defined, the number of coil elements required to constitute the coil is n, the maximum flow rate of the refrigerant by the constant flow device is q, and the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is P(q×1 / n), the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is set such that P(q×1 / (n-1))>Q / (n-1) or P(q×1 / (n-2))>Q / (n-2). (3) The branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe each have a water-stopping means that enables the supply of the refrigerant to the corresponding coil element, and a detachable joint that can be attached to the coil element, and the water-stopping means of the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe are each provided at least on the supply header side and the discharge header side from the position where the detachable joint is provided.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention also provides an air conditioner characterized in the following points (4) to (6). (4) The air conditioner comprises an air conditioner body, a cooling device for cooling a refrigerant, an inlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device for sending the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device to the coil unit of the air conditioner body, and an outlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device for returning the refrigerant that has passed through the coil unit and undergone heat exchange to the cooling device, wherein the air conditioner body is composed of a coil unit as described in any of (1) to (3) above, a blower fan for blowing air to the coil unit and causing it to come into contact with and pass through the outer surface of the coil unit, and a purification filter for purifying the air blown by the blower fan, wherein the coil unit, the blower fan and the purification filter are arranged side by side along the air passage of the blower fan. (5) The coil has a maximum outer surface area which is maximized by a plurality of coil elements arranged in a certain direction, and the maximum outer surface is arranged facing the air passage for the blower fan. (6) Multiple air conditioner units are arranged in parallel at regular intervals, and each coil unit of each air conditioner unit is connected to the inlet pipe via the supply header and to the outlet pipe via the discharge header.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention also provides (7) an air conditioning management system for a data center that manages information and communication data, comprising an air conditioner as described in any of (4) to (6) above, wherein the data center comprises a server room of a certain size and a plurality of racks that house a plurality of servers and are erected upright in the server room, and the air conditioner is positioned in the server room with the direction of airflow from the blower fan directed toward the racks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The coil unit according to the present invention comprises a coil unit case and a coil that serves as a refrigerant circulation path within the coil unit case, wherein the coil is constructed by arranging a plurality of coil elements in a certain direction within the unit case to divide the circulation path into a plurality of independent flow path sections, and each of the plurality of coil elements is connected at its starting end to a supply header that supplies refrigerant via a plurality of branch supply pipes and merges thereto, and each of the terminals is connected to a discharge header that collects and discharges refrigerant via a plurality of branch discharge pipes and merges thereto, and the supply header is equipped with a constant flow rate device located upstream of the connection point of the plurality of branch supply pipes to control the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the coil to a constant flow rate, thereby providing a redundant function that allows for stable and continuous generation of cooling air while circulating the refrigerant flowing through the coil at a constant flow rate even if a malfunction occurs in the coil, and it can be installed in a space-saving manner, while also providing good maintainability and economic efficiency in terms of replacement work and repair work.

[0016] In other words, by composing the coil with multiple coil elements, the circulation channel can be made into multiple independent channels. Therefore, by simply adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing into the coil with the constant flow device on the upstream side, a constant amount of refrigerant can be distributed and flowed almost equally to each coil element corresponding to the branch channel.

[0017] Furthermore, even if a malfunction occurs in some of the coil elements, stopping the supply of refrigerant to the malfunctioning coil element will increase the overall pipe pressure of the coil, thereby creating a partial pressure effect on the other coil elements.

[0018] In this case, because the constant flow device maintains a constant total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the entire coil, the flow rate of refrigerant to each other normal coil element increases steadily by a constant amount.

[0019] As a result, the amount of refrigerant flowing into the entire coil can be continuously and stably distributed, and the cooling function of the entire coil, that is, the heat load processing capacity of the coil unit, can be complemented to perform continuous operation. In addition, the replacement and repair work of the defective coil elements can be carried out as quickly and easily as possible, reducing the work burden and significantly shortening the replacement / repair work time and the operation stop time of the air conditioner.

[0020] In addition, in the coil unit of the present invention, in order to process the heat load of a space where the maximum heat load Q is determined, when the number of the coil elements required to form the coil is n, the maximum flow rate of the refrigerant by the constant flow rate device is q, and the heat load processing capacity of each coil element is P(q×1 / n), if the heat load processing capacity of each coil element satisfies P(q×1 / (n - 1))×(n - 1)>Q or P(q×1 / (n - 2))×(n - 2)>Q, the setting condition when one coil element fails is set as P(q×1 / (n - 1))×(n - 1)>Q, and the setting condition when two coil elements fail is set as P(q×1 / (n - 2))×(n - 2)>Q. Accordingly, redundancy can be surely ensured according to the number of defective coil elements.

[0021] In addition, in the coil unit of the present invention, the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe each have a water stop means capable of stopping the supply of the refrigerant to the corresponding communicating coil element, and have a detachable joint for the coil element. The water stop means of the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe are provided on the supply header side and the discharge header side, respectively, at least from the position where the detachable joint is provided. Therefore, even if a defect occurs in some coil elements, while stopping and blocking the refrigerant flowing into the defective coil element by the water stop means, the heat load processing capacity of the coil unit can be stably maintained by other coil elements, and redundancy can be maintained. Also, during the replacement / repair work, only the defective coil element can be quickly and easily replaced / repaired, so the work burden can be reduced, and the replacement / repair work time and the operation stop time of the air conditioner can be significantly shortened.

[0022] Moreover, according to the air conditioner of the present invention, there are provided an air conditioner main body, a cooling device for cooling a refrigerant, an inflow pipe interposed between the air conditioner main body and the cooling device for sending the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device to the coil unit of the air conditioner main body, and an outflow pipe interposed between the air conditioner main body and the cooling device for returning the refrigerant that has flowed through the coil unit and undergone heat exchange to the cooling device. The air conditioner main body Having any of the characteristics (1) to (3) mentioned above comprises a coil unit, a blower fan for blowing air to the coil unit and allowing the air to pass through in contact with the outer surface of the coil unit, and a purification filter for purifying the air blown by the blower fan. The coil unit, the blower fan, and the purification filter are arranged side by side along the air ventilation path by the blower fan. Therefore, the blower fan can blow air against the coil unit to effectively cause a heat exchange action and stably generate cooled air.

[0023] In addition, since the purification filter can trap dust contained in the air and constantly generate clean cooled air, for example, when cooling precision equipment, it is possible to effectively avoid the risk of equipment failure such as dust in the air adhering to the electrical circuit part due to static electricity generated during the operation of the precision equipment and causing a failure.

[0024] In the air conditioner of the present invention, if the coil has a maximum outer surface with the largest surface area formed by a plurality of the coil elements arranged in a certain direction, and the maximum outer surface is arranged facing the air ventilation path by the blower fan, the contact area between the air blown by the blower fan and the coil can be maximally expanded, the heat exchange efficiency between the air and the refrigerant can be improved, and thus the generation efficiency of the cooled air can be improved.

[0025] Furthermore, in the air conditioner of the present invention, if the air conditioner bodies are arranged in parallel at regular intervals, and the coil units of each air conditioner body are connected to each other by branching off from the inlet pipe via the supply header and also by branching off from the outlet pipe via the discharge header, the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device can be distributed individually and evenly to each air conditioner body, thereby maintaining the heat absorption energy of the refrigerant and enabling stable generation of cooled air in each air conditioner body. In addition, when replacing or repairing a faulty coil element, the replacement or repair work can be carried out quickly by stopping only the blower fan of the air conditioner body containing the faulty coil element while other air conditioner bodies B1 that are not faulty continue to operate normally, thereby replacing or repairing the faulty coil element with a new one.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the air conditioning management system of the present invention, in a data center that manages information and communication data, Having any of the characteristics described in (4) to (6) above An air conditioning management system equipped with an air conditioner, wherein the data center comprises a server room as a space with a defined maximum heat load, and a plurality of racks erected within the server room, each housing a plurality of servers, and the air conditioner is positioned within the server room with the direction of airflow from its blower fan directed toward the racks, thereby allowing the entire substantially sealed server room to be filled with cooling air while effectively cooling the plurality of servers housed in the racks by bringing them into contact with the cooling air from the air conditioner.

[0027] Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the coil that is the main cooling component in the air conditioner unit is composed of multiple divided coil elements, even if a malfunction occurs in some of the coil elements, the constant flow device can increase the amount of refrigerant flowing to the other coil elements, thereby compensating for the overall cooling function of the coil, that is, the heat load handling capacity of the coil unit.

[0028] Furthermore, during replacement and repair work, only the faulty coil element can be quickly and easily replaced or repaired, reducing the workload and significantly shortening the replacement and repair time and the downtime of the air conditioner unit. Consequently, the risk of communication failures caused by excessive heat load on servers can be avoided as much as possible, and the stable management of information and communication data in data centers can be ensured. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the air conditioning management system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the air conditioner according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the coil unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a branch supply pipe or branch discharge pipe according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] The gist of the present invention is to provide a coil unit having a coil unit case and a coil that serves as a circulation path for a refrigerant within the coil unit case, wherein the coil is constructed by arranging a plurality of coil elements in a certain direction within the unit case to divide the circulation path into a plurality of independent flow path sections, each of the plurality of coil elements is connected at its starting end to a supply header that supplies refrigerant via a plurality of branch supply pipes and merges therewith, and each of the terminals is connected to a discharge header that discharges refrigerant via a plurality of branch discharge pipes and merges therewith, and the supply header is equipped with a constant flow device located upstream of the point where the plurality of branch supply pipes are connected, which controls the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the coil to a constant flow rate.

[0031] Furthermore, in order to handle the heat load of a space with a defined maximum heat load Q, the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is set such that, when the number of coil elements required to constitute the coil is n, the maximum flow rate of the refrigerant by the constant flow device is q, and the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is P(q×1 / n), P(q×1 / (n-1))>Q / (n-1) or P(q×1 / (n-2))>Q / (n-2).

[0032] Furthermore, the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe are each characterized by having a water-stopping means that enables the cessation of the supply of the refrigerant to the corresponding coil element, and by having a detachable joint that can be attached to or detached from the coil element.

[0033] Furthermore, the present invention comprises an air conditioner body, a cooling device for cooling a refrigerant, an inlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device for sending the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device to the coil unit of the air conditioner body, and an outlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device for returning the refrigerant that has flowed through the coil unit and undergone heat exchange to the cooling device, wherein the air conditioner body is Having any of the characteristics (1) to (3) mentioned above The present invention also provides an air conditioner comprising a coil unit, a blower fan that blows air towards the coil unit and causes it to pass through contact with the outer surface of the coil unit, and a purification filter that purifies the air blown by the blower fan, wherein the coil unit, the blower fan, and the purification filter are each arranged in parallel along the air passage of the blower fan.

[0034] Furthermore, the coil unit is characterized by having a maximum outer surface area due to a plurality of coil elements arranged in a certain direction, and having this maximum outer surface positioned opposite the air passage for the air blower fan.

[0035] Furthermore, the air conditioner units are arranged in parallel at regular intervals, and each coil unit of each air conditioner unit is connected to the inlet pipe via the supply header, and also connected to the outlet pipe via the discharge header.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention also provides an air conditioning management system for a data center that manages information and communication data, comprising an air conditioner according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the data center comprises a server room as a space with a defined maximum heat load, and a plurality of racks that house a plurality of servers and are erected within the server room, and the air conditioner is positioned within the server room with the direction of airflow from the blower fan directed toward the racks.

[0037] The coil unit of the present invention is a unit in which a coil for air cooling through which a refrigerant circulates is assembled from multiple small coils as coil elements, and is designed to ensure redundancy and ease of replacement and repair.

[0038] In other words, by dividing the coil into multiple coil elements and modularizing it, multiple independent flow paths for refrigerant are formed within the air conditioner. This ensures redundancy while compensating for the heat load handling capacity even if a malfunction occurs, and allows for the replacement of the faulty part as quickly as possible during replacement and repair work.

[0039] Furthermore, a notable feature of the present invention is that, even if the supply of refrigerant to some coil elements is stopped, a constant flow device is provided on the upstream side of the refrigerant circulation path to increase the amount of refrigerant flowing to other normal coil elements, thereby ensuring the overall heat load handling capacity of the coil.

[0040] In other words, this is a groundbreaking invention that features a special design in which the refrigerant flow rate in the circulation path is controlled by a constant flow device to ensure and supplement the heat load processing capacity without relying on electrical control. Because the coil elements are small, even if a malfunction occurs, it does not require large heavy machinery or labor for transporting replacement parts, and the downtime of the air conditioner can be minimized, allowing for quick and complete recovery.

[0041] The following describes embodiments of the coil unit, the air conditioner equipped with the coil unit, and the air conditioning management system equipped with the air conditioner according to the present invention. Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the air conditioning management system of this embodiment, Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the air conditioner of this embodiment, Figure 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the coil unit of this embodiment, and Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are schematic explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of the branch supply pipe or branch discharge pipe of this embodiment.

[0042] The air conditioning management system C according to this embodiment, in general terms as shown in Figure 1, is equipped with multiple air conditioners B in a data center C1 that manages information and communication data.

[0043] Data center C1 comprises a server room C10, which is a space with a defined maximum heat load, and multiple racks C11 that house multiple servers and are erected within the server room C10. Multiple air conditioners B (three in this embodiment) are placed within the server room C10, with the direction of airflow from the blower fans B10 facing towards the racks.

[0044] In this embodiment, the air conditioning management system C is described as being applicable to a data center C1, but it is not limited to facilities with a space where a maximum heat load is defined. Examples of facilities with a space where a maximum heat load is defined include, for example, a machine shop with a workshop equipped with lathe machinery that operates 24 hours a day, or a research institute with an analysis room equipped with analytical instruments such as radioisotopes that operate 24 hours a day.

[0045] Furthermore, in the air conditioning management system C, the installation location of the air conditioner B in the server room C10 is sufficient as long as the air conditioner B's ventilation direction is oriented towards the racks. For example, the air conditioner B can be embedded in the top or floor of the server room C10 near the racks C11, or it can be erected from the floor of the server room C10.

[0046] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, such an air conditioner B comprises an air conditioner body B1 having a coil unit A, a cooling device B2 for cooling a refrigerant, an inlet pipe B3 interposed between the air conditioner body B1 and the cooling device B2 to send the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device B2 to the coil unit A of the air conditioner body B1, and an outlet pipe B4 interposed between the air conditioner body B1 and the cooling device B2 to return the refrigerant that has flowed through the coil unit A and undergone heat exchange back to the cooling device B2.

[0047] As shown in Figure 2, the air conditioner unit B1 consists of a coil unit A that performs a cooling function, a blower fan B10 that blows air to the coil unit A and causes it to come into contact with and pass through the outer surface of the coil unit A, and a purification filter B11 that purifies the air blown by the blower fan B10. The coil unit A, the blower fan B10, and the purification filter B11 are all arranged side by side along the air passage of the blower fan B10.

[0048] The air conditioner unit B1 is configured with a coil unit A at its center, a blower fan B10 positioned opposite the exhaust port 11 on the front side of the coil unit case 1, and a purification filter B11 positioned opposite the intake port 10 on the rear side of the coil unit case 1.

[0049] A notable feature of the present invention is that the coil unit A constituting the air conditioner body B1 is configured with a special unit structure that improves the ease of installation and cost-effectiveness of the air conditioner B, ensures redundancy in the event of a malfunction, and facilitates replacement and repair work, thereby shortening the downtime of the air conditioner B and enabling its complete restoration as quickly as possible.

[0050] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the coil unit A in this embodiment includes a coil unit case 1 and a coil 2 that serves as a refrigerant circulation path within the coil unit case 1. The coil 2 is constructed by arranging a plurality of coil elements 3a to 3c in a certain direction, which divide the circulation path within the coil unit case 1 into multiple independent flow path sections.

[0051] The refrigerant used in coil unit A is not particularly limited as long as it has good cooling cycle efficiency, but water is preferable from an economic and safety standpoint.

[0052] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the coil unit case 1 is a hollow rectangular box shape with an air intake 10 at the rear for drawing air into the interior and an exhaust port 11 at the front for blowing out the internal air. In other words, the coil unit case 1 functions as a duct, forming an air passage through which air from the blower fan B10 communicates in the front-to-back direction.

[0053] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the coil 2, which serves as a circulation channel, is modularized within the coil unit case 1 by being divided into multiple (three in this embodiment) coil elements 3a to 3c. By arranging each coil element 3a to 3c, which serves as an independent channel section, adjacent to each other in the width or height direction, the refrigerant flowing into the coil 2 is evenly distributed to each coil element 3a to 3c.

[0054] Multiple coil elements 3a to 3c each connect to a supply header 5 that supplies refrigerant via corresponding branch supply pipes 4a to 4c at their starting ends, and each connects to a discharge header 7 that discharges refrigerant via corresponding branch discharge pipes 6a to 6c at their ending ends.

[0055] In other words, the circulation channel of coil 2 is divided into multiple independent channel sections, each branching off from the supply header 5 at the starting point to multiple coil elements 3a to 3c, and then merging at the end.

[0056] As shown in Figure 3, the supply header 5 and the discharge header 7 are each made of pressure-resistant pipes, with one end formed as a header opening 51, 71 that connects to the inlet pipe B3 and the outlet pipe B4, and the other end formed as a closed end 52, 72, and with multiple branch openings 50a-50c and 70a-70c (three each in this embodiment) formed at regular intervals in the extension direction.

[0057] Furthermore, each branch outlet 50a to 50c of the supply header 5 is connected to the corresponding branch supply pipes 4a to 4c at the starting end, and each branch outlet 70a to 70c of the discharge header 7 is connected to the corresponding branch discharge pipes 6a to 6c at the ending end.

[0058] Furthermore, the corresponding coil elements 3a to 3c are connected at the starting end of each branch supply pipe 4, and the corresponding coil elements 3a to 3c are connected at the starting end of each branch discharge pipe 6a to 6c.

[0059] Each coil element 3a to 3c is composed of the same size and structure. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, coil element 3 is composed of a rectangular frame-shaped coil frame 31, a plurality of thin aluminum fins arranged in a stack with a constant spacing between them and facing each other within the coil frame 31, a plurality of serpentine-shaped (meandering curve-shaped) heat transfer tubes 30 that penetrate the aluminum fins within the coil frame 31 and are bent and extended in the vertical and horizontal directions, and upstream and downstream coil headers 32 and 33 connected to the starting and ending ends of the heat transfer tubes 30, respectively, forming a roughly rectangular small fin coil.

[0060] The heat transfer tube 30 is fixed opposite the coil frame 31 and consists of multiple bent sections that are curved in a U-shape, and multiple tube sections that are connected between the starting and ending ends of the opposing bent sections and extend in a straight line.

[0061] In other words, each coil element 3a to 3c is configured as a small coil with multiple independent flow paths formed by arranging multiple heat transfer tubes 30 in conjunction between the upstream and downstream coil headers 32 and 33 at the starting and ending ends of each respective coil element.

[0062] Specifically, the heat transfer tube 30 is composed of a so-called multi-row coil, which consists of a front vent section and a rear vent section arranged on opposing side walls of the coil frame 31 with their phases offset from each other in the depth direction on one side wall, a middle vent section arranged on the other side wall with its starting opening facing the terminal opening of the front vent section and its terminal opening facing the starting opening of the rear vent section, and a plurality of tube sections that are connected to the openings of each vent section and extend in a substantially straight line.

[0063] Multiple such heat transfer tubes 30 are arranged on the coil frame 31 in a constant width direction, so that each heat transfer tube functions as the smallest independent flow channel element, further dividing the coil element and forming an independent flow channel section. In Figures 3 to 4(b), reference numerals 32a and 33a indicate connection ports indirectly connected to the peripheral walls of the upstream and downstream coil headers 32 and 33.

[0064] Furthermore, each coil element 3a to 3c has a maximum surface area 34 on one side in the thickness direction, where the outer surface of the heat transfer tube 30, which is bent and arranged in a serpetine shape, has the largest surface area.

[0065] In other words, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the coil 2 is constructed by a plurality of coil elements 3a to 3c arranged adjacent to each other within the coil unit case 1, with the direction of their maximum surface portions 34 facing the intake port 10 and exhaust port 11 of the coil unit case 1, thereby forming the maximum outer surface 20 that maximizes the contact area with the circulating air inside the coil unit case 1.

[0066] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the supply header 5 is equipped with a constant flow rate device 8 located upstream of the point where the multiple branch supply pipes 4 are connected, which controls the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the coil 2 to a constant flow rate.

[0067] The number of coil elements 3a to 3c that constitute the coil 2 (the number of coil divisions) is determined as follows in order to handle the heat load of a space with a defined maximum heat load Q. When the required number of coil elements is n≧3, the maximum flow rate of the refrigerant by the constant flow device 8 is q, and the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is P(q×1 / n), the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is set such that P(q×1 / (n-1))>Q / (n-1) or P(q×1 / (n-2))>Q / (n-2).

[0068] As an example of calculation, the following will be explained in detail. When performing heat load processing on a space with a heat load of 48kW, the air taken into the coil unit case 1 has a temperature (DB 35℃, WB 21.8℃), a wind speed of 2m / s, and an air volume of 15000m³. 3 Assuming an airflow of 5000 m³ / h, with a refrigerant inlet temperature of 15°C to coil 2, a refrigerant flow rate of 60 L / min, and 3 coil elements 3, then each coil element 3a to 3c will have an airflow of 5000 m³. 3 With a load of 16kW, a refrigerant flow rate of 20L / min, and an airflow speed of 2m / s, it has a processing capacity of approximately 110% of the heat load.

[0069] Here, assuming that one of the three coil elements 3a to 3c, coil element 3c, fails, the constant flow device 8 is set to increase the refrigerant flow rate of the remaining two coil elements 3a and 3b by 1.5 times. In this case, the airflow rate of the two coil elements 3a and 3b will be 7500 m³ each. 3 With a load of 24kW, a refrigerant flow rate of 30L / min, and an airflow speed of 3m / s, it achieves a processing capacity of approximately 105% of the heat load.

[0070] As a constant flow device 8 for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant, it is not limited to any device that reduces the inner diameter of the supply header 5 to maintain a constant flow rate of refrigerant even if there are pressure fluctuations in the flow path. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or physical devices can be used, but mechanical or physical devices are preferred from the viewpoint of stability.

[0071] As an example of a constant flow device 8, a constant flow valve 80 can be employed, which consists of a valve body disposed on the upstream side inside the supply header 5 pipe and an orifice downstream of the valve body having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the supply header 5, and which has a check valve function that allows refrigerant to flow from downstream to downstream with the valve body and prevents backflow of refrigerant.

[0072] The constant flow valve 80 could be, for example, a mechanical one, which would have a biasing spring that constantly biases the valve body upstream, and in response to fluctuations in the water pressure of the incoming refrigerant, the biasing spring would contract, automatically bringing the valve body closer to the orifice and thus narrowing the opening ratio; or a physical one, which would have an orifice made of an elastic material that would elastically deform in response to water pressure and narrow the opening ratio.

[0073] This ensures that the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the entire coil 2 remains constant. If the supply of refrigerant to the faulty coil element 3c among the multiple coil elements 3a to 3c is stopped, the flow rate of refrigerant to the other functioning coil elements 3a and 3b will inevitably increase steadily, and these coil elements 3a and 3b will compensate for the heat load of the malfunctioning coil element 3c. As a result, the heat load handling capacity of the entire coil unit A is reliably ensured, and redundancy is improved.

[0074] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the branch supply pipes 4a to 4c and the branch discharge pipes 6a to 6c each have water-stopping means 430 and 630 that enable the cessation of refrigerant supply to the corresponding coil elements 3a to 3c, as well as detachable joints 431 and 631 that can be attached to and detached from the coil elements 3a to 3c.

[0075] Specifically, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the branch supply pipe 4 and the branch discharge pipe 6 each consist of four pipe sections that can be divided from the upstream side to the downstream side, and are composed of a manifold connection pipe section 41, 61 that communicates with the supply header 5 or discharge header 7 at one end, a header-side intermediate pipe section 42, 62 that communicates with the other end of the manifold connection pipe section 41, 61 at one end, a coil-side intermediate pipe section 43, 63 that communicates with the other end of the header-side intermediate pipe section 42, 62 at one end, and a coil connection pipe section 44, 64 that communicates with the other end of the coil-side intermediate pipe section 43, 63 and also communicates with the coil element 3 at the other end.

[0076] In the branch supply pipe 4 and branch discharge pipe 6 configured in this way, the water-stopping means 430 and 630 of this embodiment are configured to enable the supply and cessation of refrigerant from the branch supply pipe 4 and branch discharge pipe 6 by providing a water-stopping valve such as a ball valve in the middle of the coil-side intermediate pipe section 43 and 63.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(a), the detachable joints 431 and 631 in this embodiment are union joints (flange joints) 431a and 631a, which consist of male and female fitting parts that fit together at the joint between the coil-side intermediate pipe sections 43 and 63 and the coil connecting pipe sections 44 and 64, and nuts that screw together the male and female fitting parts, and are configured to be detachable between the coil-side intermediate pipe sections 43 and 63 and the coil connecting pipe sections 44 and 64.

[0078] In addition, as shown in Figure 4(b), the detachable joints 431 and 631 can also be replaced with quick joints 431b and 631b, which are integrated with the water-stopping means 430 and 630.

[0079] Specifically, as quick joints 431b and 631b, as shown in Figure 4(b), a joint can be used that integrates water-sealing means 430 and 630, which are fitted together in a watertight manner at the joint between the coil-side intermediate pipe sections 43 and 63 and the coil connecting pipe sections 44 and 64, and also has a check valve that stops the outflow of refrigerant from the branch supply pipe 4 and the branch discharge pipe 6 when detached.

[0080] In other words, the water-stopping means 430 and 630 of the branch supply pipes 4a to 4c and the branch discharge pipes 6a to 6c are configured to be provided at least on the supply header 5 side and the discharge header 7 side of the location where the detachable joints 431 and 631 are provided, respectively, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b).

[0081] Furthermore, the branch supply pipe 4 and the branch discharge pipe 6 each have bendable flexible pipe sections 420 and 620 on the supply header 5 side and the discharge header 7 side, respectively, from the position where the water-stopping means 430 and 630 are provided. Specifically, the flexible pipe sections 420 and 620 are constructed with flexible joint pipes for the header-side intermediate pipe sections 42 and 62.

[0082] This makes it easier to adjust the length and position of the branch supply pipe 4 and branch discharge pipe 6 that connect to the new coil element located between the supply header 5 and discharge header 7 at the tip of the flexible pipe section 420, 620 when replacing a faulty coil element, thereby improving the efficiency of the replacement work.

[0083] As described above, coil unit A has a redundant function that allows for the stable and continuous generation of cooling air while circulating the refrigerant flowing through coil 2 at a constant flow rate, even if a malfunction occurs in coil 2. This allows for space-saving installation and provides good cost-effectiveness and maintainability.

[0084] The air conditioner B, which is equipped with the coil unit A having the above configuration, is configured by arranging the purification filter B11, the coil unit A, and the blower fan B10 in order from the intake side to the exhaust side of the air passage.

[0085] The blower fan B10 is attached to the tip of a rotating shaft B101, which is driven by an electric motor B100, and is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft B101. The rotating shaft B101 is positioned at the center of gravity of the maximum outer surface 20 of the coil 2 inside the coil unit case 1, and is installed to close the exhaust port 11 of the coil unit case 1.

[0086] The blower fan B10 is configured to be assigned to one or more coils 2, i.e., multiple coil elements 3a to 3c. In this embodiment, two blower fans are assigned to three coil elements 3a to 3c. In other words, the air conditioner unit B1 is configured with fewer blower fans B10 than the number of coil elements 3a to 3c.

[0087] The purification filter B11 is not particularly limited as long as it has an area approximately the same as the opening area of ​​the air intake port 10 and can effectively trap and filter dust in the air, and is installed so as to close the air intake port 10 of the coil unit case 1.

[0088] In this way, the coil unit A is configured such that the maximum outer surface 20 formed by the coil 2 inside the coil unit case 1, which is made up of multiple coil elements 3a to 3c, receives the maximum air pressure of the air blown inside the coil unit case 1 by the blower fan B10, by arranging the maximum outer surface 20 so as to face the air passage of the blower fan perpendicular to it.

[0089] This maximizes the contact area between the circulating air, which has been drawn in and blown by the blower fan B10, and the coil 2, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the air and the refrigerant, and consequently improving the cooling air generation efficiency.

[0090] Furthermore, the air conditioner unit B1 is configured to include a damper B12 for adjusting the airflow from the blower fan B10. The damper B12 is interposed between the coil unit A and the purification filter B11.

[0091] The damper B12 is divided into multiple damper sections B120a to B120c, corresponding to each coil element 3a to 3c that constitutes coil 2 in coil unit A, and the amount of air flowing into each coil element 3a to 3c can be controlled independently.

[0092] Multiple air conditioning units B1, i.e., air conditioners B, with this configuration, are installed side-by-side at regular intervals in server room C10 of data center C1.

[0093] Furthermore, each coil unit A of the air conditioner unit B1 is connected via a supply header 5, branching off from the inlet pipe B3, and also connected via a discharge header 7, branching off from the outlet pipe B4.

[0094] Cooling device B2 is not particularly limited as long as it can continuously cool a large volume of refrigerant, and is installed in the boiler room outside server room C10 in data center C1.

[0095] Furthermore, a pump P is installed in the middle of the inlet pipe B3, which is interposed between the air conditioner unit B1 and the cooling device B2, to continuously send the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device B2 to the downstream air conditioner unit B1 at a constant flow rate.

[0096] In other words, the flow pressure of the refrigerant from the pump P is regulated by the constant flow device 8 of each air conditioner unit B1, so that it is at least greater than the flow pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the multiple coil elements 3a to 3c that make up the coil 2 downstream by the constant flow device 8.

[0097] In other words, each air conditioner B is equipped with a pump P that constantly increases the refrigerant flow pressure on the upstream side of the constant flow device 8 of each air conditioner unit B1 compared to the downstream side, and is configured to continuously supply the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device B2 to the coil unit A of each air conditioner unit B1 using the pump P.

[0098] The air conditioning management system C configured in this way will continuously and stably generate cooled air even if a malfunction occurs in the air conditioner B, as follows. Note that the case where a malfunction occurs in some of the air conditioner B units refers to a case where a malfunction occurs in some of the coil elements 3a to 3c in the coil unit A within the air conditioner B.

[0099] In other words, if a malfunction occurs in one of the coil elements 3a to 3c through which refrigerant flows continuously, the operator can shut off the water supply means 430 and 630 provided on the branch supply pipe 4 and branch discharge pipe 6 connected to the malfunctioning coil element 3c, thereby blocking the outflow of refrigerant from the supply header 5 and discharge header 7 located upstream and downstream of the coil element 3c, and also closing the damper section B120c corresponding to the coil element 3c to block airflow to the coil element 3c.

[0100] This allows the refrigerant, maintained at a constant flow pressure by the constant flow device 8, to be supplied from the branch supply pipe 4 to the other normal coil elements 3a and 3b, while also increasing the airflow rate, thereby supplementing the heat load handling capacity of the air conditioner B.

[0101] Normally, in a continuous fluid path, stopping the fluid flow in a portion of a branched path can cause a water hammer phenomenon, where the fluid pressure within the path fluctuates unpredictably, leading to instability such as unpredictable increases or decreases in the fluid flow rate to other branched paths.

[0102] In this embodiment, before the refrigerant is divided into each coil element 3a and 3b, a constant flow device 8 is installed upstream of each coil element 3a and 3b, which are independent branched flow paths, to keep the flow pressure constant. This ensures that the flow pressure is regulated without causing a water hammer phenomenon.

[0103] Furthermore, the refrigerant, which has been pressure-regulated by the identification flow device 8, is temporarily stored in the branch supply pipe 4, where it undergoes further pressure regulation. The portion that flows from the branch supply pipe 4 to coil element 3c is then evenly distributed to the other normal coil elements 3a and 3b for circulation.

[0104] As a result, the flow velocity and flow rate of the refrigerant to the other normal coil elements 3a and 3b increase, automatically improving the heat load function of the other normal coil elements 3a and 3b. Moreover, it is possible to suppress unintentional pressure loads on the other normal coil elements 3a and 3b without causing a water hammer phenomenon.

[0105] In other words, even if the faulty coil element 3c cannot be immediately replaced with a new coil element, the remaining normal coil elements 3a and 3b can compensate for the heat load handling function of the faulty, unused coil element 3c, thus preventing a decrease in the heat load handling capacity of coil unit A.

[0106] Therefore, even if some coil elements 3c malfunction, the air conditioner B can be operated continuously to stably generate cooling air corresponding to the space with a defined maximum heat load, thereby cooling the servers in rack C11 installed in server room C10 of data center C1.

[0107] When replacing a faulty coil element 3c with a new one, the worker stops the operation of the air conditioner unit B1, i.e., the blower fan B10, while the pump P is running, and removes the faulty coil element 3c via the detachable joints 431 and 631 of the corresponding branch supply pipe 4c and branch discharge pipe 6c, and replaces it with a new coil element.

[0108] Furthermore, if multiple air conditioner units B1 are installed side by side, the pump P can be operated while the blower fan B10 of the air conditioner unit B1 containing the faulty coil element 3c is stopped, and the other air conditioner units B1 without the fault can be operated continuously and normally while the replacement and repair work is performed.

[0109] Thus, because the replacement of the coil element 3c is simple, the worker can perform the work quickly, shortening the downtime of the air conditioner unit B1, which includes the faulty coil element 3c, and allowing the air conditioner unit B to be fully restored as quickly as possible.

[0110] As described above, the coil unit of the present invention comprises a coil unit case and a coil that serves as a refrigerant circulation path within the coil unit case, wherein the coil is coilThe unit is constructed by arranging multiple coil elements in a certain direction within the unit case to divide the circulation path into multiple independent flow path sections. Each of the multiple coil elements connects to a supply header that distributes and supplies refrigerant via multiple branch supply pipes at its starting end and merges there, and each of the coil elements connects to a discharge header that collects and discharges refrigerant via multiple branch discharge pipes at its end and merges there. The supply header is equipped with a constant flow rate device located upstream of the connection point of the multiple branch supply pipes, which controls the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the coil to a constant flow rate. This provides a redundant function that allows for stable and continuous generation of cooling air while circulating the refrigerant flowing through the coil at a constant flow rate, even if a malfunction occurs in the coil. This allows for space-saving installation and improves economic efficiency and maintainability during replacement.

[0111] Furthermore, in the coil unit of the present invention, if the number of coil elements required to constitute the coil in order to handle the heat load of a space with a defined maximum heat load Q is n, the maximum flow rate of the refrigerant by the constant flow device is q, and the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is P(q×1 / n), then if the heat load handling capacity of each coil element satisfies P(q×1 / (n-1))×(n-1)>Q or P(q×1 / (n-2))×(n-2)>Q, then the setting condition when there is one faulty coil element is P(q×1 / (n-1))×(n-1)>Q, and the setting condition when there are two faulty coil elements is P(q×1 / (n-2))×(n-2)>Q, thereby ensuring redundancy according to the number of faulty coil elements.

[0112] Furthermore, in the coil unit of the present invention, the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe each have a water-stopping means that enables the supply of the refrigerant to the corresponding coil element, and a detachable joint that can be attached to the coil element. The water-stopping means of the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe are provided at least on the supply header side and the discharge header side from the position where the detachable joint is provided. As a result, when replacing a faulty coil element, the refrigerant flowing into the coil element can be stopped and blocked by the water-stopping means while stably maintaining the heat load processing capacity of the coil unit. This facilitates the replacement and repair of faulty coil elements and improves redundancy.

[0113] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the air conditioner comprises an air conditioner body, a cooling device for cooling a refrigerant, an inlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device for sending the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device to the coil unit of the air conditioner body, and an outlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device for returning the refrigerant that has flowed through the coil unit and undergone heat exchange to the cooling device, wherein the air conditioner body is Having the aforementioned characteristics The system consists of a coil unit, a blower fan that blows air towards the coil unit and causes it to come into contact with and pass through the outer surface of the coil unit, and a purification filter that purifies the air blown by the blower fan. The coil unit, the blower fan, and the purification filter are all arranged side by side along the air passage of the blower fan, so that the blower fan blows air onto the coil unit, effectively creating a heat exchange effect and enabling the stable generation of cooling air.

[0114] Furthermore, in the air conditioner of the present invention, the coil has a maximum outer surface area due to a plurality of coil elements arranged in a certain direction, and if this maximum outer surface is arranged facing the air passage for the air blown by the blower fan, the contact area between the air blown by the blower fan and the coil can be increased as much as possible, improving the heat exchange efficiency between the air and the refrigerant, and thus improving the efficiency of generating cooled air.

[0115] Furthermore, in the air conditioner of the present invention, if the air conditioner bodies are arranged in parallel at regular intervals, and the coil units of each air conditioner body are connected to each other by branching off from the inlet pipe via the supply header and also by branching off from the outlet pipe via the discharge header, the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device can be distributed individually and evenly to each air conditioner body, thereby maintaining the heat absorption energy of the refrigerant and enabling the stable generation of cooled air in each air conditioner body.

[0116] Furthermore, according to the air conditioning management system of the present invention, in a data center that manages information and communication data, Having the aforementioned characteristics An air conditioning management system equipped with an air conditioner, wherein the data center comprises a server room as a space with a defined maximum heat load, and a plurality of racks erected within the server room, each housing a plurality of servers, and the air conditioner is positioned within the server room with the direction of airflow from its blower fan directed toward the racks, thereby allowing the entire substantially sealed server room to be filled with cooling air while effectively cooling the plurality of servers housed in the racks by bringing them into contact with the cooling air from the air conditioner.

[0117] In other words, the present invention provides a coil unit equipped with a coil unit, an air conditioner equipped with the coil unit, and an air conditioning management system using the air conditioner, which have a redundant function that ensures a constant flow rate of refrigerant through the coil and stably generates cooling air even if a malfunction occurs in the coil, and which can be installed in a small space while providing good economy and maintainability such as repair work. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] A Coil Unit B Air conditioner C Air Conditioning Management System 1. Coil Unit Case 2 coils 3a~3c Coil elements 4 Branch supply pipes 5. Supply Header

Claims

1. A coil unit comprising a coil unit case and a coil that serves as a refrigerant circulation path within the coil unit case, The coil is constructed by arranging a plurality of coil elements in a certain direction within the coil unit case to divide the circulation channel into a plurality of independent channel sections. The multiple coil elements are, Each pipe connects to a supply header that distributes and supplies refrigerant via multiple branch supply pipes at its starting point, and each pipe connects to a discharge header that collects and discharges refrigerant via multiple branch discharge pipes at its end, The supply header is located upstream of the point where the multiple branch supply pipes are connected. The coil is equipped with a constant flow rate device that controls the total flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the coil to a constant flow rate. In order to handle the heat load of a space with a defined maximum heat load Q, if the number of coil elements required to constitute the coil is n, the maximum flow rate of the refrigerant by the constant flow device is q, and the heat load handling capacity of each coil element is P (q × 1 / n), P(q×1 / (n-1))>Q / (n-1) or P(q×1 / (n-2))>Q / (n-2) A coil unit characterized by setting the thermal load handling capacity of each coil element to such an extent.

2. The branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe each have a water-stopping means that enables the cessation of the supply of the refrigerant to the corresponding coil element, and also have a detachable joint that can be attached to the coil element. The coil unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-stopping means of the branch supply pipe and the branch discharge pipe are provided at least on the supply header side and the discharge header side from the position where the detachable joint is provided.

3. The air conditioner unit and A cooling device for cooling the refrigerant, An inlet pipe interposed between the air conditioner body and the cooling device, which sends the refrigerant cooled by the cooling device to the coil unit of the air conditioner body, The air conditioner unit body and the cooling device are interposed between them, and the outlet pipe is provided to return the refrigerant, which has passed through the coil unit and undergone heat exchange, back to the cooling device. The air conditioner body comprises a coil unit as described in claim 1 or claim 2, a blower fan that blows air to the coil unit and causes it to come into contact with and pass through the outer surface of the coil unit, and a purification filter that purifies the air blown by the blower fan. An air conditioner characterized in that the coil unit, the blower fan, and the purification filter are each arranged in parallel along the air passage of the blower fan.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that the coil unit has a maximum outer surface area due to a plurality of coil elements arranged in a certain direction, and the maximum outer surface is positioned opposite the air passage for the air blower fan.

5. The aforementioned air conditioning units are arranged in a row at regular intervals. The air conditioner according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each coil unit of the air conditioner body is connected to the inlet pipe via the supply header and to the outlet pipe via the discharge header.

6. An air conditioning management system in a data center that manages information and communication data, comprising an air conditioner according to any one of claims 3 to 5, The aforementioned data center comprises a server room as a space with a defined maximum thermal load, and multiple racks erected within the server room, each containing multiple servers. The air conditioning management system is characterized in that the air conditioner is positioned in the server room with the direction of airflow from the blower fan directed toward the rack direction.

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