Experimental investigation on hygrothermal behaviour and the surface condensation risk of a data centre

Condensation under the floor slabs of office rooms adjoining data centres is a serious concern because thermal comfort and information and communications technology equipment are both sensitive to high humidity levels. Surface condensation risk depends mainly on the surface energy balance and moisture content of ambient air. This paper describes an evaluation method for assessing condensation risk of indoor environment conditions and the effect of remedial measures and presents a strategy to solve the condensation risk problems using experimental measurements and numerical simulations. The condensation risks due to air temperature and humidity were calculated for two zones between information and communications technology server rooms and office areas. We analysed the structural insulation performance and space cooling conditions, supply air temperature of the information and communications technology server rooms. The change in indoor temperature of non-information and communications technology spaces was predicted to find the cause of the condensation state. The results show that application of floor slab insulation and high supply air temperature by the computer room air-conditioning unit can substantially increase the lowest temperature of the interior surfaces and the temperature factor and reduce indoor relative humidity, thus preventing surface condensation in the non-information and communications technology spaces adjacent to the information and communications technology server rooms.