Patent Publication Number: US-2016223455-A1

Title: Container, evaluating method, and container type data center

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-017397, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiment discussed herein is related to a container, an evaluating method, and a container type data center. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A data center is a facility that manages information and communications technology (ICT) devices or the like. A data center is a facility that includes a high-speed communication line, electric power generating equipment, and air conditioning equipment and which can perform centralized management of ICT devices including a plurality of servers. 
     A related technology is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 05-296530 or Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-240666. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the embodiments, a container includes: a humidifier configured to humidify a room to a given humidity; a measuring instrument configured to measure humidity of the room for a fixed time from a point in time that the room is humidified to the given humidity; and an information processing device configured to obtain an opening area of the room based on an amount of decrease in absolute humidity in the fixed time. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a container type data center; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a functional configuration of an information processing device; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of hardware configuration of an information processing device; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of temperatures and absolute humidities; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example of opening area information; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of processing of an information processing device; 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  illustrate an example of a container type data center; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a method of identifying equipment having poor airtightness; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of test result information; and 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate an example of processing of identifying equipment having poor airtightness. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     A container type data center is provided as a data center using natural energy. The container type data center includes a container and an air conditioner. The air conditioner is disposed outside the container to cool the inside of the data center. Methods by which the air conditioner cools the inside of the data center include an indirect outside air cooling system that cools an air within a chamber by heat exchange using an outside air temperature. The container type data center reduces an amount of power consumed by the air conditioner by cooling the data center using an outside air. 
     As an example, a device controls the air pressure and ventilation of an air-conditioned environment, tests and measures airtightness, and has a warning function. 
     Quantities corresponding to absolute humidities inside and outside a sealed casing are obtained by using output signals of temperature sensors and humidity sensors arranged inside and outside the sealing casing, respectively. A degradation in airtightness is detected by outputting an alarm signal based on result of comparison between the quantities corresponding to the two absolute humidities. 
     When a harmful gas enters the inside of the container type data center, ICT devices or the like may be corroded. For operation of the ICT devices, it is desirable to maintain a substantially uniform airtightness within the container. 
     After the container type data center is assembled at an installation site, the airtightness of the container is measured. Depending on the installation site, the preparation, setting, and the like of a compression pump or a barometer that measures the airtightness of the container may be difficult. Therefore airtightness measurement may not be performed easily. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a container type data center. A container type data center  120  of  FIG. 1  includes a container  100  and an air conditioner  110 . The container  100  includes a server rack  102 . The server rack  102  houses a plurality of servers  101 . The air conditioner  110  is disposed outside the container  100  to cool the inside of the container  100 . As a method by which the air conditioner  110  cools the inside of the container  100 , an indirect outside air cooling system may be adopted which cools an air within a chamber by heat exchange using an outside air temperature. In the container type data center  120 , an amount of power consumed by the air conditioner  110  may be reduced by cooling the container  100  using an outside air. 
     The container type data center  120  of  FIG. 1  adopts the indirect outside air cooling system. As a system structure, the air conditioner  110  includes a fan  111  and a heat exchanger  112 . The container type data center  120  adopting the indirect outside air cooling system includes the fan  111  as a cooler so as to face the server rack  102 . Because the fan  111  is installed so as to face the server rack  102 , the fan  111  directly feeds a cool air to the servers  101 , and uniformly cools each of the servers  101 . The heat exchanger  112  cools the air within the container  100  using the outside air temperature. The heat exchanger  112  cools the air within the container  100  using the outside air and the outside air temperature so that the temperature of the air within the container  100  becomes a set temperature. The heat exchanger  112  may include a compressor. When the outside air temperature is high, the heat exchanger  112  cools the air using the compressor. 
     The container  100  includes a thermo-hygrometer  103 , a humidifier  104 , and an information processing device  106  that transmits control instructions. The air conditioner  110  includes a thermo-hygrometer  105 . The thermo-hygrometer  103  may be an appliance that measures humidity and temperature within the container  100 . The humidifier  104  may be a device that humidifies the air within the container  100  by using a water vapor. The humidification of the humidifier  104  may be performed within a range allowed based on the specifications of ICT devices, for example a range in which the ICT devices are not adversely affected. The humidifier  104  is controlled by the information processing device  106 . The thermo-hygrometer  105  may be an appliance that measures humidity and temperature outside the container  100 . The example of  FIG. 1  does not limit installation sites of the various kinds of devices installed within the container type data center  120 . 
     The information processing device  106  is coupled to the various kinds of devices within the container  100  and the air conditioner  110  via a communication channel (bus). For example, the information processing device  106  is coupled to each server via the communication channel, and obtains information on power consumption of the servers  101 . The information processing device  106  obtains environmental information such as temperature and humidity inside and outside the container  100  from the thermo-hygrometer  103  and the thermo-hygrometer  105 . The information processing device  106  is also coupled to the humidifier  104  via the communication channel. 
     The container type data center  120  is assembled at an installation site. The information processing device  106  performs processing of determining the airtightness of the container  100  from the environmental information based on a result of humidification. An opening area of the container  100  is obtained from a result of measurement of the various kinds of devices. The opening area refers to an area through which the air can pass from the inside of the container  100  to the outside of the container  100  or from the outside of the container  100  to the inside of the container  100 . The opening area is for example the area of a gap present in a boundary surface between a non-airtight external space and a highly airtight internal space. The following (1) to (7) illustrate a procedure that determines airtightness. The processing of (1) to (7) may hereinafter be referred to as airtightness determination processing. 
     (1) The information processing device  106  controls the humidifier  104  to humidify the inside of the container  100 . The humidifier  104  humidifies the inside of the container  100  so as to make relative humidity within the container  100  sufficiently high. 
     (2) The thermo-hygrometer  103  measures the relative humidity within the container  100 . The information processing device  106  obtains a result of the measurement from the thermo-hygrometer  103 . The processing of (2) may be performed in parallel with the processing of (1). 
     (3) When the relative humidity within the container  100  reaches a given threshold value, the information processing device  106  transmits an instruction to stop the humidification to the humidifier  104 . The humidifier  104  stops the humidification. 
     (4) The thermo-hygrometer  103  measures the relative humidity within the container  100  for a fixed time after the relative humidity within the container  100  reaches the given threshold value. The information processing device  106  obtains a result of the measurement from the thermo-hygrometer  103 . 
     (5) The information processing device  106  calculates an amount of decrease in absolute humidity within the container  100  in the period of the fixed time from the time point of the stop of the humidification by the humidifier  104  in (3). 
     (6) The information processing device  106  estimates the opening area of the container  100  on the basis of opening area information (for example information illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) associating the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity as a result of the calculation with the opening area. 
     (7) The information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100  when the opening area is equal to or more than a given value. When the opening area is equal to or more than the given value, the information processing device  106  may perform error display on a monitor or the like. 
     In a case where airtightness within the container is measured directly, it may be difficult to prepare and set a compression pump, a barometer, and the like. For example, the equipment such as the humidifier and the thermo-hygrometers described above may be low in cost and easy to set. The container type data center  120  may easily estimate and determine the airtightness by using the humidifier and the thermo-hygrometers described above. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a functional configuration of an information processing device. The information processing device  106  includes a transmitting and receiving unit  201 , a processing unit  202 , and a storage unit  203 . The transmitting and receiving unit  201 , the processing unit  202 , and the storage unit  203  are coupled to each other by a bus  15 . The storage unit  203  stores opening area information associating the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity in the period of the fixed time from the time point of the stop of the humidification by the humidifier  104  in (3) with the opening area. The transmitting and receiving unit  201  is a communication interface. The transmitting and receiving unit  201  obtains humidity, temperature, and equipment state information from the thermo-hygrometers  103  and  105  and the air conditioner  110  based on an instruction from the processing unit  202 . The transmitting and receiving unit  201  sends an instruction to control the humidifier  104  based on an instruction from the processing unit  202 . 
     The processing unit  202  sends the instruction to control the humidifier  104  to the transmitting and receiving unit  201 . For example, when the processing unit  202  determines airtightness within the container  100 , the processing unit  202  makes the humidifier  104  operate until the relative humidity within the container  100  reaches a given threshold value. For example, the processing of (1) to (3) is performed. The processing unit  202  calculates an amount of decrease in the absolute humidity within the container  100  in the period of the fixed time from the point in time that the humidifier  104  is stopped. For example, the processing of (5) is performed. The processing unit  202  estimates the opening area of the container  100  based on the opening area information associating the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity with the opening area. For example, the processing of (6) is performed. When the opening area is equal to or more than a given value, the processing unit  202  determines that there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100 . For example, the processing of (7) is performed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of hardware configuration of an information processing device. The information processing device  106  includes a processor  11 , a memory  12 , the bus  15 , an external storage device  16 , and a network connection device  19 . The information processing device  106  may include an input device  13 , an output device  14 , and a medium driving device  17 . The information processing device  106  may be for example a computer or the like. 
     The processor  11  may be an arbitrary processing circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). In the information processing device  106 , the processor  11  may operate as the processing unit  202 . The processor  11  for example executes a program stored in the external storage device  16 . The memory  12  operates as the storage unit  203 . The memory  12  retains the opening area information associating the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity with the opening area. The memory  12  may store data obtained by the operation of the processor  11  and data used for the processing of the processor  11  as appropriate. The network connection device  19  is used for communication with another device. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the bus  15  is a communication channel coupled to the transmitting and receiving unit  201 . 
     The input device  13  may be for example a button, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The output device  14  may be a display or the like. The bus  15  establishes coupling between the processor  11 , the memory  12 , the input device  13 , the output device  14 , the external storage device  16 , the medium driving device  17 , and the network connection device  19  so that data can be mutually transferred therebetween. The external storage device  16  stores a program, data, and the like. The external storage device  16  may be for example a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). The information stored in the external storage device  16  may be provided to the processor  11  and the like as appropriate. The medium driving device  17  may output data stored in the memory  12  and the external storage device  16  to a portable recording medium  18 , and read a program, data, and the like from the portable recording medium  18 . The portable recording medium  18  may be an arbitrary portable storage medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical (MO) disk, a compact disc recordable (CD-R) or a digital versatile disc recordable (DVD-R). The portable recording medium  18  may be a semiconductor memory card such as a flash memory or the like, and the medium driving device  17  may be a reader and writer for the memory card. The memory  12 , the external storage device  16 , and the portable recording medium  18  may each be an example of a tangible storage medium. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of temperatures and absolute humidities.  FIG. 4  illustrates an indoor temperature  301 , an outside air temperature  302 , an indoor absolute humidity  303 , and an outside air absolute humidity  304 . In  FIG. 4 , an axis of abscissas indicates time, an axis of ordinates (left) indicates temperature, and an axis of ordinates (right) indicates absolute humidity. The temperature on the axis of ordinates (left) is indicated in units of ° C. The temperature indicated by the axis of ordinates (left) is used to represent the indoor temperature  301  and the outside air temperature  302 . The absolute humidity on the axis of ordinates (right) is indicated in units of [kg/kg (dry air (DA))]. The absolute humidity on the axis of ordinates (right) is used to represent the indoor absolute humidity  303  and the outside air absolute humidity  304 . The term “indoor” refers to the inside of the container  100 . 
     The indoor temperature  301  is information indicating room temperature within the container  100  which is measured by the thermo-hygrometer  103 . The outside air temperature  302  is information indicating atmospheric temperature outside the container  100  which is measured by the thermo-hygrometer  105 . The indoor absolute humidity  303  is calculated by the information processing device  106  using the relative humidity and the indoor temperature  301  measured by the thermo-hygrometer  103 . The outside air absolute humidity  304  is calculated by the information processing device  106  using the relative humidity and the outside air temperature  302  measured by the thermo-hygrometer  105 . 
     When the information processing device  106  performs the processing of (1), the indoor absolute humidity  303  rises as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . When the indoor absolute humidity  303  reaches a given threshold value (dotted line part of (3)), the information processing device  106  stops the humidifier  104 . The thermo-hygrometer  103  thereafter measures the relative humidity within the container  100  for a fixed time (time (4) between two dotted lines), and sends measurement information to the information processing device  106 . 
     When the fixed time has passed since the stopping of the humidifier  104 , a value representing the indoor absolute humidity  303  approaches a value representing the outside air absolute humidity  304 . The absolute humidities are calculated by the information processing device  106  using the relative humidities, the room temperature, and the outside air temperature. It is understood that the shorter a time in which the value representing the indoor absolute humidity  303  approaches the value representing the outside air absolute humidity  304 , the larger the opening area of the container  100 . The longer the time in which the value representing the indoor absolute humidity  303  approaches the value representing the outside air absolute humidity  304 , the smaller the opening area of the container  100 . As an example, the magnitude of the opening area corresponding to an amount of decrease in the indoor absolute humidity  303  (difference in the indoor absolute humidity  303  between the two dotted lines) in the period of the fixed time from the stopping of the humidifier  104  may be estimated based on experimental data. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of opening area information. The opening area information may be information associating the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity with the opening area. The opening area information includes the amount of decrease [g/Kg] in the absolute humidity and the opening area [cm 2 ] corresponding to the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity. The amount of decrease in the absolute humidity is an amount of decrease in the absolute humidity within the container  100  in the period of the fixed time after the relative humidity within the container  100  reaches the given threshold value (after the processing of (3)). The opening area is an area that corresponds to the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity within the container  100  in the period of the fixed time and through which an air can pass from the inside of the container  100  to the outside of the container  100  or from the outside of the container  100  to the inside of the container  100 . For example, the opening area is an area representing a gap in the container  100 . 
     The opening area information illustrated in  FIG. 5  may be generated in advance based on experimental data, for example. The opening area information associating the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity with the opening area may be changed depending on for example the size of the container  100 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , for example, when the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity is 10 [g/Kg], the opening area is 1.5 [cm 2 ]. In  FIG. 5 , for example, when the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity is 6 [g/Kg], the opening area is 0.65 [cm 2 ]. In  FIG. 5 , for example, when the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity is 4.5 [g/Kg], the opening area is 0.2 [cm 2 ]. Thus, the larger the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity in the period of the fixed time from the stopping of the humidifier  104 , the larger the opening area of the container  100 . 
     The opening area information of  FIG. 5  assumes a container having a wall thickness L and a hole (opening portion) in one part, and may be generated by using Equation (1). 
       dP e /dt=− K (α/1)( P   e   −P )  Equation (1)
 
     In Equation (1), P e  denotes an internal water vapor density, K denotes the diffusion coefficient of water vapor, α denotes an effective opening area, and P denotes external water vapor density. The effective opening area is calculated by a fitting method between experimental numerical values and the integral curve of Equation (1). Thus, Equation (1) may be used to generate the opening area information.  FIG. 6  illustrates an example of processing of an information processing device. The processing unit  202  of the information processing device  106  activates the humidifier  104  (operation S 101 ). The processing unit  202  of the information processing device  106  obtains a result of measurement from the thermo-hygrometer  103 , and determines whether the relative humidity within the container  100  has reached a given threshold value (operation S 102 ). When the relative humidity within the container  100  has not reached the given threshold value (NO in operation S 102 ), the processing unit  202  repeats the processing of operation S 102 . 
     When the relative humidity within the container  100  has reached the given threshold value (YES in operation S 102 ), the processing unit  202  stops the humidification of the humidifier  104  (operation S 103 ). The processing unit  202  obtains a result of measurement from the thermo-hygrometer  103  after the passage of the fixed time from operation S 103  (operation S 104 ). The processing unit  202  calculates an amount of decrease in the absolute humidity within the fixed time from the measurement results (operation S 105 ). The processing unit  202  calculates an opening area corresponding to the amount of decrease in the absolute humidity by using the opening area information stored in the storage unit  203  (operation S 106 ). The processing unit  202  determines whether the opening area is equal to or more than a given threshold value (operation S 107 ). When the opening area is equal to or more than the given threshold value (YES in operation S 107 ), the processing unit  202  determines that there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100 , and performs error display on a monitor or the like (operation S 108 ). When the opening area is smaller than the given threshold value (NO in operation S 107 ), the processing unit  202  ends the processing. 
     The equipment such as the humidifier and the thermo-hygrometers is low in cost and easy to set. Therefore, in the container type data center  120 , airtightness may be estimated easily by using the humidifier and the thermo-hygrometers. 
       FIGS. 7A to 7C  illustrate an example of a container type data center.  FIGS. 7A to 7C  illustrate a container type data center that identifies equipment having poor airtightness. In the container type data center  120  of  FIGS. 7A to 7C , elements substantially identical or similar to those of  FIG. 1  may be identified by the same reference numerals, and description thereof may be omitted. A container type data center  120 A illustrated in  FIG. 7A  is a sectional view of the container type data center  120  as viewed in plan. A container type data center  120 B illustrated in  FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of the container type data center  120  as viewed from a side surface. The container type data center  120  includes a ventilating hole  411  and a ventilating hole  412  that couple the air conditioner  110  and the container  100  to each other. A container type data center  120 C illustrated in  FIG. 7C  is a sectional view of the ventilating hole  411  and the ventilating hole  412  taken along a dotted line  400 A of the container type data center  120 A and a dotted line  400 B of the container type data center  120 B. 
     The container type data center  120  includes three air conditioners  110  ( 110 A to  110 C). The container type data center  120  includes lids  410 A to  410 C. The lid  410 A closes a ventilating hole  412 A as a feeding port of an air fed by an air conditioner  110 A to cool the inside of the container  100  and a ventilating hole  411 A as an intake port that takes in the air after the cooling from the container  100 . The lid  410 B closes a ventilating hole  412 B as a feeding port of an air fed by an air conditioner  110 B to cool the inside of the container  100  and a ventilating hole  411 B as an intake port that takes in the air after the cooling from the container  100 . The lid  410 C closes a ventilating hole  412 C as a feeding port of an air fed by an air conditioner  110 C to cool the inside of the container  100  and a ventilating hole  411 C as an intake port that takes in the air after the cooling from the container  100 . The opening and closing of the lids  410 A to  410 C may be controlled by the information processing device  106 . The lids  410  may be lids that do not allow the air to pass through, and the lids  410  may not include an opening portion. The air conditioners  110 A to  110 C may include an opening portion. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a method of identifying equipment having poor airtightness. In the container type data center  120  of  FIG. 8 , elements substantially identical or similar to those of  FIGS. 7A to 7C  may be identified by the same reference symbols, and description thereof may be omitted. Equipment having poor airtightness may be identified by repeating the processing of the above-described airtightness (estimation) determination (1) to (7) in a plurality of test patterns in which the lids  410 A to  410 C are opened or closed. The airtightness determination processing is performed in the following test patterns in the container type data center  120  including the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C. 
     Test pattern A: the air conditioner  110 A (without the lid), the air conditioner  110 B (without the lid), and the air conditioner  110 C (without the lid) 
     Test pattern B: the air conditioner  110 A (without the lid), the air conditioner  110 B (with the lid), and the air conditioner  110 C (with the lid) 
     Test pattern C: the air conditioner  110 A (with the lid), the air conditioner  110 B (without the lid), and the air conditioner  110 C (with the lid) 
     Test pattern D: the air conditioner  110 A (with the lid), the air conditioner  110 B (with the lid), and the air conditioner  110 C (without the lid) 
     “With the lid” indicates that the ventilating hole  411  and the ventilating hole  412  are closed by closing the lid  410 . “Without the lid” indicates a state in which the lid of the air conditioner  110  is opened by control of the information processing device  106  and the air conditioner  110  is operating. The information processing device  106  controls the opening and closing of the lids  410 A to  410 C so that the settings of the test patterns A to D are made, and performs the airtightness determination processing in each of the test patterns A to D. 
     The equipment whose airtightness is to be determined in the test pattern A is the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C and the container  100 . The equipment whose airtightness is to be determined in the test pattern B is the air conditioner  110 A and the container  100 . The equipment whose airtightness is to be determined in the test pattern C is the air conditioner  110 B and the container  100 . The equipment whose airtightness is to be determined in the test pattern D is the air conditioner  110 C and the container  100 . The information processing device  106  stores, in advance, information on the test patterns representing patterns in which the lids  410 A to  410 C are opened or closed. The information on the test patterns is stored in the storage unit  203 . In  FIG. 8 , the number of air conditioners  110  is three, and therefore four test patterns are provided. When the number of air conditioners  110  is N, the number of test patterns is N+1. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example of test result information. The information processing device  106  identifies equipment having poor airtightness based on test results in the test patterns A to D and the test result information. The test result information may be stored in the storage unit  203 . In the processing of identifying equipment having poor airtightness, the information processing device  106  performs the airtightness determination processing in the test pattern A. When an opening area calculated as a result of performing the airtightness determination processing in the test pattern A is smaller than a given value, there is no problem with the airtightness of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C and the container  100 . 
     The result of the test pattern A indicates that there is no problem with the airtightness of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C and the container  100 , and therefore the other test patterns B to D are not executed. The information processing device  106  refers to a test result  1  having “∘” indicating that there is no problem with airtightness as the test result of the test pattern A, and determines that there is no problem with the airtightness of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C and the container  100 . 
     When the opening area calculated as the result of performing the airtightness determination processing in the test pattern A is equal to or larger than the given value, the information processing device  106  performs the airtightness determination processing in the test patterns B to D. When three tests are executed in the test patterns B to D, a test result is one of test results  2  to  8 . 
     The test result  2  is an example in which it is determined as a result of determination in the test pattern B that there is a problem with airtightness and it is determined as test results of the test patterns C and D that there is no problem with airtightness. In the test result  2  of  FIG. 9 , “x” denotes that there is a problem with airtightness as a result of determination in the test pattern B. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the result of the test pattern B is the air conditioner  110 A, the container  100 , or both thereof. In the test pattern C and the test pattern D, the container  100  is an object for determination and it is determined that the container  100  has no problem with airtightness. The container  100  therefore has no problem with airtightness. Then, when the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  2 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the air conditioner  110 A. The information processing device  106  notifies an administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The test result  3  is an example in which it is determined as a result of determination in the test pattern C that there is a problem with airtightness and it is determined as test results of the test patterns B and D that there is no problem with airtightness. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the result of the test pattern C is the air conditioner  110 B, the container  100 , or both thereof. In the test pattern B and the test pattern D, the container  100  is an object for determination and it is determined that the container  100  has no problem with airtightness. The container  100  therefore has no problem with airtightness. When the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  3 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the air conditioner  110 B. The information processing device  106  notifies the administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The test result  4  is an example in which it is determined as a result of determination in the test pattern D that there is a problem with airtightness and it is determined as test results of the test patterns B and C that there is no problem with airtightness. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the result of the test pattern D is the air conditioner  110 C, the container  100 , or both thereof. In the test pattern B and the test pattern C, the container  100  is an object for determination and it is determined that there is no problem with airtightness. The container  100  therefore has no problem with airtightness. When the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  4 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the air conditioner  110 C. The information processing device  106  notifies the administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The test result  5  is an example in which it is determined as results of determination in the test pattern B and the test pattern C that there is a problem with airtightness and it is determined as a test result of the test pattern D that there is no problem with airtightness. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the results of the test pattern B and the test pattern C is the air conditioner  110 A, the air conditioner  110 B, the container  100 , or all thereof. In the test pattern D, the container  100  is an object for determination and it is determined that the container  100  has no problem with airtightness. The container  100  therefore has no problem with airtightness. When the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  5 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the air conditioner  110 A and the air conditioner  110 B. The information processing device  106  notifies the administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The test result  6  is an example in which it is determined as results of determination in the test pattern C and the test pattern D that there is a problem with airtightness and it is determined as a test result of the test pattern B that there is no problem with airtightness. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the results of the test pattern C and the test pattern D is the air conditioner  110 B, the air conditioner  110 C, the container  100 , or all thereof. In the test pattern B, the container  100  is an object for determination and it is determined that there is no problem with airtightness. The container  100  therefore has no problem with airtightness. When the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  6 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the air conditioner  110 B and the air conditioner  110 C. The information processing device  106  notifies the administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The test result  7  is an example in which it is determined as results of determination in the test pattern B and the test pattern D that there is a problem with airtightness and it is determined as a test result of the test pattern C that there is no problem with airtightness. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the results of the test pattern B and the test pattern D is the air conditioner  110 A, the air conditioner  110 C, the container  100 , or all thereof. In the test pattern C, the container  100  is an object for determination and it is determined that there is no problem with airtightness. The container  100  therefore has no problem with airtightness. When the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  7 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the air conditioner  110 A and the air conditioner  110 C. The information processing device  106  notifies the administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The test result  8  is an example in which it is determined as results of determination in the test patterns B to D that there is a problem with airtightness. Equipment that may have a problem with airtightness in the results of the test patterns B to D is all of the equipment such as the air conditioner  110 A, the air conditioner  110 B, the air conditioner  110 C, and the container  100 . When the results of execution in the test patterns B to D are the test result  8 , the information processing device  106  determines that there is a problem with the airtightness of all of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C, or determines that there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100 . The information processing device  106  notifies the administrator of information on the equipment having a problem with airtightness. 
     The information processing device  106  thus makes the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C operate one by one and determines airtightness in each of the test patterns. It is thereby determined that one or a part or all of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C or the container  100  has a problem with airtightness. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate an example of processing of identifying equipment having poor airtightness. The processing unit  202  of the information processing device  106  makes all of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C that cool the container  100  start operation (operation S 201 ). The processing unit  202  of the information processing device  106  performs the airtightness determination processing (1) to (7) in the state in which all of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C are operating (test pattern A) (operation S 202 ). The processing unit  202  of the information processing device  106  determines whether there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100  or the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C (operation S 203 ). When there is no problem with the airtightness of the container  100  or the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C (NO in operation S 203 ), the processing unit  202  of the information processing device  106  ends the processing of identifying equipment having poor airtightness. 
     When there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100  or the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C (YES in operation S 203 ), the processing unit  202  selects one test pattern based on the information on the test patterns which is stored in the information processing device  106  (operation S 204 ). The test pattern may for example be selected in order in which the test patterns are stored in the information processing device  106 . The test pattern may be selected randomly from among the test patterns stored in the information processing device  106 . According to the selected test pattern, the processing unit  202  makes one air conditioner  110  operate, and stops the operation of the other air conditioners  110  (operation S 205 ). In operation S 205 , the processing unit  202  performs control processing that closes the ventilating holes  411  and the ventilating holes  412  of the stopped air conditioners  110 . The processing unit  202  may close the ventilating holes  411  and the ventilating holes  412  by controlling shutters, for example. When a shutter of the air conditioner  110  to be made to operate is closed, the processing unit  202  performs control to open the shutter closing the ventilating holes  411  and  412  of the air conditioner  110  to be made to operate. 
     The processing unit  202  performs the airtightness determination processing (1) to (7) in the state in which one of all of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C is operating (test pattern B) (operation S 206 ). The processing unit  202  determines whether all of the test patterns stored in the information processing device  106  have been executed (operation S 207 ). When not all of the test patterns have been executed (NO in operation S 207 ), the processing unit  202  repeats the processing from operation S 204 . 
     When all of the test patterns have been executed (YES in operation S 207 ), the processing unit  202  determines whether there is the air conditioner  110  having a problem with airtightness based on test results of the respective test patterns and the test result information (operation S 208 ). When there is no air conditioner  110  having a problem with airtightness (NO in operation S 208 ), the processing unit  202  determines whether there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100  based on the test results of the respective test patterns and the test result information (operation S 209 ). When there is no problem with the airtightness of the container  100  (NO in operation S 209 ), the processing unit  202  ends the processing of identifying equipment having poor airtightness. When there is the air conditioner  110  having a problem with airtightness (YES in operation S 208 ), the processing unit  202  determines whether the operation can be continued with the air conditioners  110  having no problem (operation S 210 ). The determination in operation S 210  may be made based on information indicating the number of the air conditioners  110  that are sufficient to continue the operation for the container  100 . The information is stored in the information processing device  106  in advance. When it is determined that the operation can be continued with the air conditioners  110  having no problem (YES in operation S 210 ), the processing unit  202  stops the air conditioner  110  having a problem with airtightness, and continues the operation of the container type data center  120  with the remaining air conditioners  110  (operation S 211 ). When there is a problem with the airtightness of the container  100  (YES in operation S 209 ), or when it is difficult to continue the operation with the remaining air conditioners  110  (NO in operation S 210 ), the processing unit  202  notifies the administrator of a warning (operation S 212 ). After the processing unit  202  ends the processing of operation S 212  or operation S 211 , the processing unit  202  ends the processing of identifying equipment having poor airtightness. The information processing device  106  thus makes the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C operate one by one and determines airtightness in each of the test patterns. It is thereby determined that one or a part or all of the air conditioners  110 A to  110 C or the container  100  has a problem with airtightness. 
     The equipment such as the humidifier and the thermo-hygrometers is low in cost and easy to set. Therefore, in the container type data center  120 , airtightness may be estimated easily by using the humidifier and the thermo-hygrometers. Whether there is a problem with the airtightness of an air conditioner may also be determined. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.