Data centers are the brains of almost any company whose success depends on efficient and reliable software operations. As there is quite a bit of powerful hardware sitting in one place, data centers must be safeguarded against both external and internal environmental influences, while the buildings also require sufficient cooling.

Data centers are energy-intensive facilities, currently consuming more than 1.3% of the world's total electricity production. This energy is transformed into heat that has to be conveyed and dissipated away from the equipment racks in order to maintain the correct operating temperature. It's also important to monitor the server room temperature to keep it at an optimal level. Cooling and air conditioning is one of the most important processes in any data center. Data center cooling can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the location and the local climate.

Refrigerant cooling consumes a lot of energy, but its usage can be reduced by taking the climate into consideration when choosing the location for the data center. In dry climates evaporative cooling is effective at dissipating heat. In cold climates direct cooling with dry, cold air can be used. Locations near water offer the possibility to dissipate the heat into the water.

Increasing demand for data processing and storage capacity has led to major companies investing in new facilities that provide web-based services to an ever-higher number of users. In these facilities, having the correct conditions – such as temperature and humidity – is vital for maintaining the equipment and securing operations.

The right temperature

The ASHRAE 2011 guidelines for conditions in data centers recommend an inlet air temperature and humidity envelope of 18…27 °C and 25…80%RH (dew point temperature 5...15 °C) respectively. In a traditional setup the equipment room is air conditioned by dividing the equipment into rows (hot aisles) and feeding conditioned, cool air between the rows (cold aisles), usually through the floor. When cool air travels through the equipment racks from a cold aisle to a hot aisle, it conveys the heat generated by the equipment through the ceiling. Temperature is controlled using a Computer Room Air Conditioner unit (CRAC), which performs both heating and cooling functions (though not simultaneously). For heating, the CRAC recirculates warm air from the hot aisles with cool make-up air; for cooling, incoming air is chilled to achieve the correct temperature.

Maintaining humidity levels

In addition to temperature, monitoring and controlling the humidity of the equipment room is also critical. Especially in cool climates where air-side economizers are used, the absolute water content of the air is naturally low. The relative humidity of air decreases when it is heated, meaning that it may fall below the desired level. Air that is too dry increases the risk of static electricity and requires additional humidification by means of spray or evaporative humidifiers.

When the outdoor temperature exceeds acceptable limits, the incoming air has to be cooled. In order to minimize the need for energy-consuming mechanical refrigeration, cooling can be achieved by spraying water mist – which instantly evaporates – into the incoming air. When the humidity of the air before and after the humidifier is known, the control system is able to adjust the humidifiers to ensure maximum adiabatic cooling efficiency while maintaining the relative humidity limits and avoiding possible corrosion problems related to too high relative humidity. In systems where liquid is used as the heat carrier, the coolant may be cooled in cooling towers, which are heat exchangers that employ a similar evaporative cooling principle. Efficient control of a cooling tower requires accurate humidity and temperature measurements, which in turn enable maximum cooling efficiency with minimized energy usage and also provides a means for monitoring the cooling power of the tower.

Vaisala HUMICAP® — reliable humidity measurements

The Vaisala offering for data center management includes instruments for measuring temperature, relative humidity, wet bulb temperature, dew point temperature, enthalpy, and weather parameters.

The wide range of Vaisala HUMICAP® relative humidity and temperature instruments includes industrial grade and HVAC transmitters that are suitable for use in data centers. Vaisala HUMICAP® sensors are known for their accuracy, excellent long-term stability, and negligible hysteresis.

Monitoring temperature and humidity

Temperature is monitored and controlled using a Computer Room Air Conditioner unit (CRAC), which performs both heating and cooling functions (though not simultaneously). For heating, the CRAC recirculates warm air from the hot aisles with cool make-up air; for cooling, incoming air is chilled to achieve the correct temperature.

In addition to temperature, monitoring and controlling humidity in the equipment room is also critical. Especially in cool climates where air-side economizers are used, the absolute water content of the air is naturally low. The relative humidity of air decreases when it is heated, meaning that it may fall below the desired level. Air that is too dry increases the risk of static electricity and requires additional humidification by means of spray or evaporative humidifiers.

Benefits of accurate and reliable monitoring and measurements

Critical environments require high-performance environmental monitoring and measurements in order to operate consistently and within specifications. As data centers are expected to run 24/7 all year round, failures are not an option. In addition, even small measurement errors can increase the energy bill significantly.

Vaisala offers the widest selection of measurement devices, data loggers, and monitoring systems for use in data center facility management to monitor temperature, relative humidity, CO2, wet bulb temperature, dew point temperature, enthalpy, and weather parameters. The instruments include industrial grade and HVAC transmitters that are suitable for use in data centers.

Vaisala HUMICAP® sensors are known for their accuracy, excellent long-term stability, and negligible hysteresis. You can get high-quality instruments that measure the conditions with high accuracy -  devices with 0.1°C and 1%RH accuracy are readily available.

For reliability, stability, and accuracy, Vaisala's high-quality measurement and monitoring devices are an investment that pays off in the long run,

Learn more about our sensors suitable for use in data center humidity and temperature monitoring: HMT330, HMDW110, HMT120/130, and HMW90 or contact us for more information.

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