[go: up one dir, main page]

US20110259026A1 - Airflow driving device having function of measuring flow rate and air conditioner with same - Google Patents

Airflow driving device having function of measuring flow rate and air conditioner with same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20110259026A1
US20110259026A1 US13/048,620 US201113048620A US2011259026A1 US 20110259026 A1 US20110259026 A1 US 20110259026A1 US 201113048620 A US201113048620 A US 201113048620A US 2011259026 A1 US2011259026 A1 US 2011259026A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
airflow
opening
driving device
pressure
air conditioner
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/048,620
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Zhao-Wei Huang
Yung-Hung Tsou
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delta Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
Delta Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delta Electronics Inc filed Critical Delta Electronics Inc
Assigned to DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC. reassignment DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HUANG, Zhao-wei, TSOU, YUNG-HUNG
Publication of US20110259026A1 publication Critical patent/US20110259026A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/081—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates for guiding air around a curve
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/74—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/30—Velocity

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an airflow driving device, and more particularly to an airflow driving device having a function of measuring flow rate.
  • the present invention also relates to an air conditioner equipped with such an airflow driving device.
  • heat-dissipating efficacy of the electronic device influences the operating stability and the use life of the overall system.
  • a heat-dissipating mechanism is usually installed within the electronic device or the ambient environment to cool the electronic device.
  • An air conditioner is one of the common heat-dissipating mechanisms.
  • the air conditioner is usually installed in the ambient environment of the electronic device. During operation of the electronic device, the heat generated by the electronic device causes elevated temperature of the ambient air. The heat generated by the electronic device is transferred to the air cooler, and then a cooled airflow is exhausted from the air cooler to the ambient environment to cool the electronic device.
  • the air conditioner is usually equipped with a mechanism of measuring the airflow amount. For example, one or more air meters are disposed in the outlet of the cooled airflow or the airflow path for measuring the airflow velocities at many detecting points. The measuring results are then transmitted to a controlling circuit of the air conditioner. By the controlling circuit, airflow velocities at these detecting points are averaged to estimate the airflow amount at the outlet or the airflow path. In a case that the amount of the output airflow is insufficient, the controlling circuit may adjust the amount of the output airflow of the air conditioner or emit a prompt signal to notify the user.
  • the uses of many air meters are effective to measure the airflow velocities, there are still some drawbacks. For example, since the airflow amount is estimated by averaging the airflow velocities at many detecting points, the accuracy of the estimated airflow amount is usually undesired. In addition, the method of realizing the airflow amount by averaging the airflow velocities at many detecting points is time-consuming. Moreover, in a case that an air conditioner is applied to a data center containing plural electronic devices, the airflow amount should be accurately and quickly obtained because the operating condition of the air conditioner needs to be adaptively adjusted to comply with a stringent heat-dissipating requirement. In other words, the uses of many air meters to measure the airflow velocities by the conventional air conditioner are not applicable to the data center.
  • Another object of the present invention provides an air conditioner equipped with such an airflow driving device in order to accurately and quickly measuring the flow rate.
  • an airflow driving device of an air conditioner includes an airflow-guiding member for receiving and guiding an airflow.
  • the airflow-guiding member includes a first opening and a second opening. The open areas of the first opening and the second opening are different such that a pressure difference is generated between the first opening and the second opening. According to the pressure difference, a flow rate of the airflow passing through the airflow driving device is calculated.
  • an air conditioner in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner.
  • the air conditioner includes a casing, a heat exchanger, an airflow driving device, a first pressure-detecting device, a second pressure-detecting device and a controlling circuit.
  • the heat exchanger is disposed within the casing for transferring heat of a first airflow and producing a second airflow.
  • the airflow driving device is used for guiding the second airflow to be exhausted out of the air conditioner.
  • the airflow driving device includes an airflow-guiding member with a first opening and a second opening. The open areas of the first opening and the second opening are different.
  • the first pressure-detecting device is used for detecting a first pressure at the first opening.
  • the second pressure-detecting device is used for detecting a second pressure at the second opening. According to the first pressure and the second pressure, the controlling circuit calculates a flow rate of the second airflow passing through the airflow driving device.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the airflow driving device of the air conditioner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the air conditioner 1 is used for cooling a first airflow T1 and exhausting a cooled second airflow T2.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes a casing 10 , a heat exchanger 11 , an airflow driving device 12 , a controlling circuit 13 , a first pressure-detecting device 14 and a second pressure-detecting device 15 .
  • the casing 10 has an inlet 100 and an outlet 101 .
  • the first airflow T1 is introduced into the air conditioner 1 through the inlet 100 .
  • the second airflow T2 is exhausted out of the air conditioner 1 through the outlet 101 .
  • the heat exchanger 11 is disposed within the casing 10 , and arranged beside the inlet 100 . After the first airflow T1 is introduced into the air conditioner 1 through the inlet 100 , the heat of the first airflow T1 is transferred by a cooling medium (not shown) of the heat exchanger 11 , and thus the cooled second airflow T2
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the airflow driving device of the air conditioner of FIG. 1 .
  • An example of the airflow driving device 12 includes but is not limited to a centrifugal fan.
  • the airflow driving device 12 is disposed within the casing 10 and arranged beside the heat exchanger 11 for driving the second airflow T2, and forcing the second airflow T2 to be exhausted from the outlet 101 of the casing 10 .
  • the airflow driving device 12 includes an airflow-guiding member 120 , an impeller 121 and a volute 122 .
  • the airflow-guiding member 120 is arranged beside the heat exchanger 11 for guiding the second airflow T2 into the airflow driving device 12 .
  • the airflow-guiding member 120 has a first guiding channel 130 , a first opening 123 and a second opening 124 .
  • the first opening 123 and the second opening 124 are arranged in two opposite sides of the first guiding channel 130 , respectively.
  • the second airflow T2 is introduced into the first guiding channel 130 through the first opening 123 , and exited from the second opening 124 .
  • the open areas of the first opening 123 and the second opening 124 are different, so that the airflow-guiding member 120 has a neck-like or nozzle-like structure.
  • the second airflow T2 has different flow rates at the first opening 123 and the second opening 124 .
  • the air pressure at the first opening 123 and the air pressure at the second opening 124 are different from each other.
  • the open area of the first opening 123 is greater than that of the second opening 124 .
  • the second airflow T2 is gradually converged.
  • the flow rate of the second airflow T2 at the first opening 123 is lower than that at the second opening 124 , so that the air pressure at the first opening 123 is lower than the air pressure at the second opening 124 .
  • the open area of the first opening 123 is smaller than that of the second opening 124 .
  • the second airflow T2 is gradually diverged.
  • the flow rate of the second airflow T2 at the first opening 123 is higher than that at the second opening 124 , so that the air pressure at the first opening 123 is higher than the air pressure at the second opening 124 .
  • the impeller 121 is arranged beside the airflow-guiding member 120 .
  • the blade of the impeller 121 is driven by a motor (not shown).
  • the impeller 121 has a second guiding channel 125 and plural lateral channels 126 .
  • the second guiding channel 125 is aligned with the second opening 124 for receiving the second airflow T2 coming from the second opening 124 .
  • the lateral channels 126 are disposed in the periphery of the impeller 121 . As such, when the blade of the impeller 121 is driven to rotate by the motor, the second airflow T2 within the second guiding channel 125 will be exhausted out of the impeller 121 through the lateral channels 126 .
  • the volute 122 includes a receptacle 127 , a third opening 128 , an airflow path 129 and a fourth opening 131 .
  • the fourth opening 131 is arranged at a first side of the volute 122 and in communication with the receptacle 127 .
  • the size of the fourth opening 131 matches the size of the impeller 121 , so that the impeller 121 could be inserted into the receptacle 127 of the volute 122 through the fourth opening 131 .
  • the third opening 128 is in communication with the receptacle 127 and the airflow path 129 .
  • portions of the lateral channels 126 are in communication with the third opening 128 .
  • the second airflow T2 coming from the lateral channels 126 is introduced into the airflow path 129 through the third opening 128 .
  • the second airflow T2 exhausted out of the third opening 128 is perpendicular to the second airflow T2 coming from the second guiding channel 125 .
  • the airflow path 129 is directed to the outlet 101 of the casing 10 , so that the second airflow T2 is guided to the outlet 101 and exhausted out of the casing 10 through the outlet 101 .
  • the first pressure-detecting device 14 is arranged beside the first opening 123 of the airflow-guiding member 120 for detecting the air pressure at the first opening 123 .
  • the second pressure-detecting device 15 is arranged beside the second opening 124 of the airflow-guiding member 120 for detecting the air pressure at the second opening 124 .
  • the controlling circuit 13 is disposed within the casing 10 , and connected with the first pressure-detecting device 14 and the second pressure-detecting device 15 .
  • the air pressure at the first opening 123 and the air pressure at the second opening 124 are realized by the controlling circuit 13 .
  • the flow rate of the second airflow T2 passing through the airflow driving device 12 may be deduced according to the following formula built in the controlling circuit 13 :
  • Q is the flow rate of the second airflow T2 passing through the airflow driving device 12
  • Y is an expansion factor
  • ⁇ P is a pressure difference between the first opening 123 and the second opening 124
  • ⁇ is the air density
  • Cn is the flow rate coefficient at the n th differential distance from the first opening 123
  • An is the open area at the n th differential distance from the first opening 123 .
  • Y, ⁇ , Cn and An are constants, and may be preset in the controlling circuit 13 .
  • the controlling circuit 13 could realize the pressure difference between the first opening 123 and the second opening 124 .
  • the flow rate Q of the second airflow T2 passing through the airflow driving device 12 will be calculated according to the above formula.
  • the controlling circuit 13 may perform proper actions. For example, the controlling circuit may adjust rotating speed of the motor or emit a prompt signal to notify the user that the amount of the output airflow is too high or too low.
  • the flow rate of the second airflow T2 is measured by using the airflow driving device having the airflow-guiding member 120 . Since the open areas of the first opening 123 and the second opening 124 are different, there is a pressure difference between the first opening 123 and the second opening 124 . According to the pressure difference, the controlling circuit 13 could calculate the practical flow rate of the second airflow T2 passing through the airflow driving device 12 . As previously described, the conventional air conditioner use many air meters to measure the airflow velocities at many detecting points, and then the airflow velocities at these detecting points are averaged to estimate the airflow amount. By means of the air conditioner of the present invention, the airflow amount could be accurately and quickly obtained.
  • the airflow driving device of the present invention has a function of measuring flow rate. Since the open areas of the first opening and the second opening are different, there is a pressure difference between the first opening and the second opening. According to the pressure difference, the controlling circuit could calculate the practical flow rate of the second airflow passing through the airflow driving device. As a consequence, the air conditioner of the present invention is capable of accurately and quickly measuring the flow rate.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
  • Control Of Positive-Displacement Air Blowers (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
US13/048,620 2010-04-27 2011-03-15 Airflow driving device having function of measuring flow rate and air conditioner with same Abandoned US20110259026A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TW099113260 2010-04-27
TW099113260A TWI418751B (zh) 2010-04-27 2010-04-27 可量測流量之氣流驅動裝置及其適用之空調設備

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110259026A1 true US20110259026A1 (en) 2011-10-27

Family

ID=44814616

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/048,620 Abandoned US20110259026A1 (en) 2010-04-27 2011-03-15 Airflow driving device having function of measuring flow rate and air conditioner with same

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20110259026A1 (zh)
TW (1) TWI418751B (zh)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5586861A (en) * 1993-05-17 1996-12-24 Pace Company Airflow measuring centrifugal fan
US6450765B1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2002-09-17 Caterpillar Inc. Sealing system for a centrifugal fan
US8056409B2 (en) * 2006-08-29 2011-11-15 Richard Steven Hybrid flowmeter that includes an integral vortex flowmeter and a differential flow meter
US8308608B2 (en) * 2010-01-22 2012-11-13 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Hydraulic clutch fill control systems for a transmission of a vehicle

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3939854B2 (ja) * 1998-04-10 2007-07-04 東芝キヤリア株式会社 換気装置
KR200309477Y1 (ko) * 2003-01-16 2003-03-31 오상택 토출공기량 측정용 포터블 에어플로메타
WO2009091935A1 (en) * 2008-01-18 2009-07-23 Pivotal Systems Corporation Method and apparatus for in situ testing of gas flow controllers
CN201434752Y (zh) * 2009-04-13 2010-03-31 苏州工业设备安装集团有限公司 净化空调系统漏风量测试装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5586861A (en) * 1993-05-17 1996-12-24 Pace Company Airflow measuring centrifugal fan
US6450765B1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2002-09-17 Caterpillar Inc. Sealing system for a centrifugal fan
US8056409B2 (en) * 2006-08-29 2011-11-15 Richard Steven Hybrid flowmeter that includes an integral vortex flowmeter and a differential flow meter
US8308608B2 (en) * 2010-01-22 2012-11-13 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Hydraulic clutch fill control systems for a transmission of a vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW201137291A (en) 2011-11-01
TWI418751B (zh) 2013-12-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7751191B2 (en) Technique for cooling a device
US7315448B1 (en) Air-cooled heat generating device airflow control system
US8845188B2 (en) Apparatus state determination method and system
CN112105220B (zh) 浸没式冷却模块及具有其的电子设备
US8023265B2 (en) Heat dissipation device and centrifugal fan thereof
US8503172B2 (en) Supplementary cooling system
US8203837B2 (en) Cooling system
US8051671B2 (en) System and method for cooling computers
US7878007B2 (en) Monitoring method and system for determining airflow rate through and heat removal rate of an air-conditioning unit
US7251547B2 (en) Correlation of vent tile settings and rack temperatures
US9141155B2 (en) Cooling computing assets in a data center using a hot stack
US7249718B2 (en) Cooling system with a variable maximum operation level
US20120207618A1 (en) Cooling Fan and Housing Thereof
JP2011233849A (ja) 冷却装置、電子機器及びヒートシンク
US20120057301A1 (en) Heat dissipation apparatus and electronic device incorporating same
US20140036439A1 (en) Electronic device
US20070227699A1 (en) Method, apparatus and system for flow distribution through a heat exchanger
US20110259026A1 (en) Airflow driving device having function of measuring flow rate and air conditioner with same
JP2003209210A (ja) 電子装置
CN104717869A (zh) 电子装置及其散热模组
CN102204423B (zh) 无线电网络节点中的气候控制
KR101851873B1 (ko) 시스템에 장착된 원심형 송풍기의 유량 및 압력 측정장치 및 그 측정방법
US20130228325A1 (en) Ict equipment
KR20200027319A (ko) 모터 챔버의 공기 흐름을 이용한 배터리팩 냉각 구조를 가지는 청소기
CN102235386B (zh) 气流驱动装置及其适用的空调设备

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC., TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HUANG, ZHAO-WEI;TSOU, YUNG-HUNG;REEL/FRAME:025959/0166

Effective date: 20110302

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION