Water Blow-Off During Humidification
Water Blow-Off During Humidification
(OP)
We are getting excessive water build up under one of our DATA AIRE CRAC Units (model# DAAD-2034)during humidification (the humidifier in the CRAC Unit is a Nortec MES-U series). We have changed out the cylinder which helped a little; have also checked the drain line, which is clear; and the Capacity Pot is turned down as low as it can go (25%). I believe the issue is more of a design flaw, the steam is distributed (or dumped) to just one of the two blower fans causing water to build up in our sub-floor. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.
BMitch
BMitch





RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
Best is to measure the air quantity and adjust the fan speed by changimng the Motor pulley of the air handler.
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
The air speed in the CRAC (Computer Room Air Conditioner) is ok. There are two blower fans and water is only coming out of the one that the humidifier's steam dispenser is connected to and only leaks when the humidifier is on.
BMitch
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
We did call out our Mechanical contractor and he is stumped. Other than redesigning the factory built steam distribution system they do not know what to do. Our Mechanical contractors have a lot of experience with CRAC units and Data Center cooling but are new to Data Air CRAC units.
BMitch
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
Without knowing very much it sounds like your absorption distance for the humidifier is too short and it's condensing on some surfaces and getting blown through the fan.
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
Yes that is my guess.
ChrisConley, tys90,
I have attached pics that show the blower fan and steam distribution manifold. The first pic shows the manifold size, about 8in (the blower fan is 14in); and where water is building up on the inside of the fan housing.
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
Other note: the larger copper pipe appears to have the disch. nozzles so the smaller pipe would be the drain back to to the cylinder? Looks like the drain line opening would be very small - could try a blast up the drain line with compressed air to dislodge anything stuck in there.
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
I'm not sure what you meant by "That's a good condenser design if you wanted to heat the air rather than humidify it.", could you elaborate.
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
We also have Liebert and AirFlow CRAC units. The AirFlow (this company no longer exist) units have similar a humidification design but the steam is distributed into the blower section of the unit,not into just one fan. This allows the fans to pull steam into the supply air, these also work well but are now are rusting out. The Liebert units use a humidifier pan with an infrared bulb, which works very well.
BMitch
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
BMitch
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
You should also make sure that steam injection stops immediately when the blowers stops. Preferably before the blower is stopped, so that the ducts stay dry.
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
I have called Data Aire again and asked to speak with a different person; hopefully this one will be more helpful and continue to return my calls.
BMitch
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
If the velocity across the filter is measured when the steam humidifier is in operation it will give clear clue where the issue lies.
Immediate solution may be to add a w eliminator so the moisture /water droplets does not carried .
RE: Water Blow-Off During Humidification
Though we had determined that the drain line on the steam distribution manifold was not clogged we decided to cut the copper line to see for our self. We found a green slime that was restricting the flow of water. We are not sure where this slime came from; we do have very hard water here but the CRAC unit is only 1 and 1/2 to 2 years old. Since removing the slime (1 week ago) we have not had any water build up under the CRAC unit.
BMitch