Clean rooms are typically used for manufacturing electronics, laboratory research or any other activity that requires a sterile environment free from dust and other airborne contaminants. There are federal and global standards for clean rooms rating their cleanliness according to concentration levels of airborne particulates. A commercial humidifier is one of the key pieces of equipment used to control air quality.
Why Control Air Quality
If precision matters to your industry then a clean room is essential for production to meet the highest standards of quality. Such work areas would invariably be indoors thus requiring an HVAC system for heating and cooling control. HVAC systems reduce humidity levels creating dry air conditions. The most serious issue in a clean room arising from dry air is an environment primed for static electricity. Some of the problematic effects of static electricity are:
- Static attracts dust.
- Dust interferes with electrical contacts.
- Human interaction with electronic devices can generate an electrical discharge that can cause damage to the device.
How Humidity Control Works
The static is caused by imbalances between the negative and positive charges of particulates in the air. As the particles accumulate they will eventually release their charges when they come into contact with any conductive material. Since water is a conductor, by introducing controlled humidity levels into the air the particles of moisture come into contact with the imbalanced particulates. The excess static electricity charge is then absorbed into the particle of water rather than discharging through human contact with work materials.
Today’s Smart Humidifiers
State-of-the-art technology in today’s commercial humidifiers provides reliable humidity control that not only maintains consistent levels of moisture in the air but also collects and records data about air quality. Environmental variables are constantly affecting a clean room’s air quality. Rapid changes can occur unobserved. However a smart humidifying system has the information that allows it to automatically compensate.
Smart technology allows precise control of the size of water droplet and algorithms that monitor the target area of a clean room. This results in consistent humidity levels with water droplet size measured so that droplets evaporate before reaching the floor. This smart design eliminates the problem of wet spots.
Productivity
In addition to protecting products from the negative effects of static electricity, another benefit of a commercial humidifier is increased productivity. Ergonomic studies indicate that air quality affects productivity levels in workers. Humidity and temperature work together to create the climactic conditions of a work environment.
Optimum temperature for highest productivity is 66-77 degrees Fahrenheit. As temperature increases or decreases by even a few degrees, productivity can be affected negatively by as much as 5%. However, to create the best environmental conditions for productivity, there is more to the formula than dialing in the right temperature on a thermostat.
Humidity affects how the body perceives environmental temperature. Too much humidity inhibits the human body from sweating which is how a body cools its self. High humidity then makes a person feel warmer, more uncomfortable. Drier air can have the opposite affect, causing a person to feel colder than the actual ambient temperature. It also causes physical feelings of discomfort in the throat, nasal passages and surface of the skin. On average a 40% relative humidity level is considered optimal for human comfort.
Quality Control & Productivity
Industry has two key issues that are always at the forefront: quality control and productivity. For companies who require clean room environments a commercial humidifier is a tool that will address and improve conditions for both issues. Companies who seek superior controls for their production environment should opt for Smart Fog humidifiers that will provide these benefits:
- Humidifying fog that will not promote the growth of mold.
- Controlled humidifying that eliminates the creation of wet spots.
- Lower maintenance costs as compared to traditional steam systems.
- Energy efficient design which reduces operation cost.
- Versatile system to meet the needs of any size operation.
- Increased productivity by creating and controlling optimal work environment conditions.
To get your non-wetting humidifying solution, please contact us. Our experienced professionals can help you select a Smart Fog product that will meet the needs of your clean room and achieve the highest quality standards.
