High Sensitivity Real-Time Corrosion Measurement Apparatus for Data Centers

Strategic Insights -

The increasing concern for corrosion risk in data centers has led to the development of a high sensitivity real-time corrosion measurement apparatus, system, and method for measuring corrosion rates based on real-time corrosion sensing in an environment. The apparatus, designed to provide accurate and reliable corrosion measurements, can be used to compare corrosion rates between facilities with similar or different pollution levels. The system includes a corrosion sensor device, multiple sensors to determine air flow, temperature, and humidity values, a fan device, a heating device, and a control device to modify the operation of the heating device or fan device to achieve a target air temperature and a target uniform air flow within the enclosure. The method involves providing a plurality of real-time corrosion measurement apparatuses at multiple environments, providing a common condition of target air flow, target air humidity, and target air temperature values within the enclosure of each measurement apparatus at each environment, and obtaining corrosion rate measurements while the common condition is provided.

Key Takeaways:

  • The high sensitivity real-time corrosion measurement apparatus is designed to provide accurate and reliable corrosion measurements in data centers.
  • The apparatus includes a corrosion sensor device, multiple sensors to determine air flow, temperature, and humidity values, a fan device, a heating device, and a control device.
  • The system provides a method for comparing corrosion rates between facilities with similar or different pollution levels.
  • The apparatus is designed to achieve a target air temperature and a target uniform air flow within the enclosure.
  • The method involves providing a plurality of real-time corrosion measurement apparatuses at multiple environments and obtaining corrosion rate measurements while a common condition is provided.
  • The system is designed to minimize the physical failure risks of IT equipment and achieve higher energy efficiency in data centers.

Statistics:

  • The ASHRAE guidelines suggest that copper and silver corrosion rates should be maintained less than 300 .ANG./month for a non-contaminated environment.
  • The ASHRAE publication 'Gaseous and Particulate Contamination Guidelines for Data Centers' states that reactivity should be measured both for copper and for silver.
  • The patent application was filed on April 4, 2012, and published online on August 18, 2015.
  • The inventors, Hamann, Hendrik F. and Klein, Levente I., are the assignees for patent number 9109989.

Sources:

  • ASHRAE publication "Gaseous and Particulate Contamination Guidelines for Data Centers" (2009)
  • U.S. Patent Number 9109989, "Corrosion Detector Apparatus for Universal Assessment of Pollution in Data Centers", filed April 4, 2012, and published online on August 18, 2015.
  • Computer Weekly News, "Patent Issued for Corrosion Detector Apparatus for Universal Assessment of Pollution in Data Centers" (2015)