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Summary

Personnel and Cable Grounding to Allow Lower Humidity in a Data Center

Minimum Humidity in a Data Center: Personnel and Cable Grounding to Allow Lower Humidity in a Data Center vs. Traditional Humidity Minimums

Personnel and cable grounding to guard against damage to the equipment due to electrostatic discharge (ESD), allowing lower IT equipment intake humidity in a data center.

Synopsis:

Too much humidity in supply air can lead to condensation, which can in turn cause corrosion or—in sufficient amounts—electrical shorts that trip circuit breakers, damage equipment, or harm electrical circuits within the data center. High humidity and condensation can also cause rust and corrosion in servers, leading to machine failures.  But too little humidity promotes buildup of electrostatic charge, and discharges of static electricity can damage or destroy sensitive electronics.  Recent studies indicate that high humidity is rarely an issue in most data centers as the temperature of IT equipment is significantly higher than that of the cooling coil operating dew-point. Furthermore, most IT equipment is rated for operation up to 80% RH.

Low humidity during the cold winter season can be problematic as individuals working with circuit boards need to be grounded to prevent static discharge on to the board and damaging the circuitry.  Static potential increases as the relative humidity decreases.  To reduce the potential for electro-static discharge (ESD), data centers can be equipped with humidification.  Humidification system can use a lot of energy, from 25 to 380 watts-hours per pound of mist, depending on the type of equipment used to introduce moisture into the air stream. 

This ET proposes to ground the racks, floors and people thereby allowing the relative humidity to decrease below 40%.  A study done several years showed that whenever relative humidity dipped below 30%, there would be a measurable increase in equipment failures over the next several weeks (Ground, 2013).  The grounding products should be used in conjunction with other humidity control strategies, such as using outdoor air, enthalpy controlled economizer, coil temperatures above 55 degrees, use lower power humidification technologies, etc. for the most energy efficient design.

 

Energy Savings: 1%
Energy Savings Rating: Not rated.  What's this?
LevelStatusDescription
1Concept not validatedClaims of energy savings may not be credible due to lack of documentation or validation by unbiased experts.
2Concept validated:An unbiased expert has validated efficiency concepts through technical review and calculations based on engineering principles.
3Limited assessmentAn unbiased expert has measured technology characteristics and factors of energy use through one or more tests in typical applications with a clear baseline.
4Extensive assessmentAdditional testing in relevant applications and environments has increased knowledge of performance across a broad range of products, applications, and system conditions.
5Comprehensive analysisResults of lab and field tests have been used to develop methods for reliable prediction of performance across the range of intended applications.
6Approved measureProtocols for technology application are established and approved.

Status:

Details

Personnel and Cable Grounding to Allow Lower Humidity in a Data Center

Minimum Humidity in a Data Center: Personnel and Cable Grounding to Allow Lower Humidity in a Data Center vs. Traditional Humidity Minimums

Personnel and cable grounding to guard against damage to the equipment due to electrostatic discharge (ESD), allowing lower IT equipment intake humidity in a data center.
Item ID: 499
Sector: Commercial
Energy System: Power Systems--Building Power Distribution
Technical Advisory Group: 2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)
Average TAG Rating: 1.85 out of 5
TAG Ranking Date: 10/25/2013
TAG Rating Commentary:
  1. Difficult to quantify savings
  2. ESD is not a problem.  All IT equipment is qualified to withstand ESD.  Unless equipment is being opened and worked on, there should be no need for grounding straps.
  3. Certainly not emerging!
  4. Not an ET.

Synopsis:

Too much humidity in supply air can lead to condensation, which can in turn cause corrosion or—in sufficient amounts—electrical shorts that trip circuit breakers, damage equipment, or harm electrical circuits within the data center. High humidity and condensation can also cause rust and corrosion in servers, leading to machine failures.  But too little humidity promotes buildup of electrostatic charge, and discharges of static electricity can damage or destroy sensitive electronics.  Recent studies indicate that high humidity is rarely an issue in most data centers as the temperature of IT equipment is significantly higher than that of the cooling coil operating dew-point. Furthermore, most IT equipment is rated for operation up to 80% RH.

Low humidity during the cold winter season can be problematic as individuals working with circuit boards need to be grounded to prevent static discharge on to the board and damaging the circuitry.  Static potential increases as the relative humidity decreases.  To reduce the potential for electro-static discharge (ESD), data centers can be equipped with humidification.  Humidification system can use a lot of energy, from 25 to 380 watts-hours per pound of mist, depending on the type of equipment used to introduce moisture into the air stream. 

This ET proposes to ground the racks, floors and people thereby allowing the relative humidity to decrease below 40%.  A study done several years showed that whenever relative humidity dipped below 30%, there would be a measurable increase in equipment failures over the next several weeks (Ground, 2013).  The grounding products should be used in conjunction with other humidity control strategies, such as using outdoor air, enthalpy controlled economizer, coil temperatures above 55 degrees, use lower power humidification technologies, etc. for the most energy efficient design.

 

Baseline Example:

Baseline Description: Humidifiers in Data Centers
Baseline Energy Use: 1108 kWh per year per pound of steam

Comments:

 A computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit is a device that monitors and maintains the temperature, air distribution and humidity in a network room or data center.  CRAC units can use different approaches for humidity control with humidifier energy use dependent upon the selected approach.  Energy Star notes that ultrasonic humidifiers use only 25 watts-hours of electricity for each pound of mist generated versus 380 watts-hours for electric steam generators/boilers.  In addition, ultrasonic humidifiers produce a free-cooling effect as they absorb heat from the supply air as the water droplets evaporate.  Assume that a conventional steam generator is in use for the four winter months.    Energy use/pound = 0.38 kW x (.333) x 8760 hours/year = 1,108 kWh/year

Manufacturer's Energy Savings Claims:

"Typical" Savings: 1%
Savings Range: From 1% to 1%

Comments:

Savings must be determined on a site by site basis.  Many variables weigh into the savings.   Affecting the humidity is significant, but, grounding the people and cabinets is the zero energy way to address static discharge disruptions.

Best Estimate of Energy Savings: Currently no data available.
Energy Use of Emerging Technology:
Currently no data available.
Technical Potential:
Units: pound of steam
Currently no data available.
First Cost: Currently no data available.

Cost Effectiveness:

Simple payback, new construction (years): N/A

Simple payback, retrofit (years): N/A

What's this?

Cost Effectiveness is calculated using baseline energy use, best estimate of typical energy savings, and first cost. It does not account for factors such as impacts on O&M costs (which could be significant if product life is greatly extended) or savings of non-electric fuels such as natural gas. Actual overall cost effectiveness could be significantly different based on these other factors.

Reference and Citations:

Panduit Ground, 01/01/2013. Structured Ground
Panduit , 1
Special Notes: Catalog of all the parts and pieces needed for ESD elimination strategy.

Energy Star, 02/05/2015. Server Inlet Temperature and Humidity Adjustments
EPA

Rank & Scores

Personnel and Cable Grounding to Allow Lower Humidity in a Data Center

2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)


Technical Advisory Group: 2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)
TAG Ranking: 50 out of 57
Average TAG Rating: 1.85 out of 5
TAG Ranking Date: 10/25/2013
TAG Rating Commentary:

  1. Difficult to quantify savings
  2. ESD is not a problem.  All IT equipment is qualified to withstand ESD.  Unless equipment is being opened and worked on, there should be no need for grounding straps.
  3. Certainly not emerging!
  4. Not an ET.


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