As technology use becomes increasingly integral to our daily lives, we need the growth of information technology (IT) infrastructure to keep pace with demand. Operating and maintaining sensitive IT equipment efficiently underlines the need for accurate and reliable control of space temperature and humidity. The humidity levels within data centers are particularly important because excessive humidity creates a risk of condensation, and inadequate humidity can promote electrostatic discharge at electronic equipment. Proper humidifier selection can also impact building cooling loads and total energy consumption within a data center.
Just as there are many ways to cool a data center, there are also numerous technologies available for humidification. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each solution lends to more robust system design decisions, and ultimately to a better operating environment. This article will outline and discuss a few humidification options so that engineers can evaluate their data center and choose the best humidification system based on their needs.