7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

1/16

What is Air Corrosion?

Corrosion is the gradual destructionof material, usually metal, bychemical reaction with its immediateenvironment

Corrosion is a natural process which

cannot be stopped, but interventionwith correct measures can control it

Corrosion by Air (Gases) has largelybeen neglected in almost all IT andData center companies, till recently

Extremely low levels of contaminantgases can cause corrosive damage toelectronic equipment (IT andComputer Systems)

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

2/16

Symptoms in IT & Data Centre

Failures & Outages of DiscreteElectronic Components & PCBBoards

Sporadic Circuit Failure

Lower Energy Efficiency ofInstalled IT Equipment

Inconsistency of Critical Data& Loss of Data

Requirement for Frequent

Replacement of DamagedElectronic Components

Substantial Increase of DataCenter Maintenance Costs

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

3/16

Who are Behind These Problems?

Environmental threats posed byContaminant Gases, AirborneParticulates, Humidity &Temperature

Even low levels of contaminant

gases can cause corrosivedamage to electronic equipment

Contaminants, both internal &external (Gases) are responsiblefor causing problems related toCorrosion in the critical IT

equipment These gases seep into data

processing facilities from outsideair, and cause damage

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

4/16

Where does this Problem Occur?

Data Centers

IT Companies & IT enabledservices

BPOs/KPOs

Telecom Companies News & Media

Semi-conductors

Distributed Control System(DCS)

Motor Control Centers andSwitch Rooms ofPetrochemical units

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

5/16

How Does Corrosion Occur?

Corrosion is defined as the deterioration of a base metalresulting from a reaction with its environment

In the context of electronic equipment, it refers to the

reactions between the Copper and Silver surfaces thatare present in the IT equipment

When corrosive gases along with water vapor come in

contact with a base metal, the reactions result in variouschemical products, thus permanently damaging theproperties of the component parts

Continued

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

6/16

How Does Corrosion Occur

Corrosion on a thin film disk may have serious results

Because of accumulation of reaction products on theequipment, mechanical failures (head crashes, wear &

tear) can occur on data tracks which were not corrodedpreviously

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

7/16

Three Types of Corrosive Gases

Acidic Gases

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

Sulfur Oxides (SOX)

Chlorine (Cl2)

Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)

Alkaline (Caustic) Gases

Ammonia (NH3)

Oxidizing Gases

Ozone (O3)

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

8/16

How Gases Generate?

External generation from auto emissions, heavyindustrial pollution, heat and power generation

Offices are more prone to air pollution from gaseousairborne contamination if it is situated near:

Landfill sites

Sewerage / Drains

Swamp / Marshy Lands

High density traffic

Process Industry (emanating industrial effluents)

Contaminants are very often generated in DataProcessing and Computer Printing Facilities

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

9/16

Understanding the Risk

Data centers are generally diversified across multiplegeographical areas

Areas with higher atmospheric and air contamination

requires greater attention into air quality management indata centers Requirement of Air Side Economization

Major concern of Air Side Economization is the increase

in the air contamination leading to corrosion of the metalcomponents of the IT equipment

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

10/16

Understanding the Risk

Temperature Variation and Humidity act along with thegaseous contaminants, and potentially increase thethreat of Air Corrosion

Ensuring that IT Equipment are exposed to minimum risk

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

11/16

What Are The Environmental StandardFormulated?

Standards specifying the typeand concentration of airbornecontaminants that computerscould be exposed to weredeveloped by The InstrumentSociety of America (ISA)

ISA standard defines orcharacterizes environments interms of their overall corrosionpotential

Quantitative measure ofcorrosion potential can beestablished by using reactivitymonitoring

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

12/16

Steps Involved in ISA

Reactivity monitoring involves placing strips of coppermetal, called Corrosion Classification Coupons, into an

environment for 30 days

Coupons are then analyzed in a qualified laboratory todetermine how much corrosion copper film formation in

angstroms has occurred

Data is used determination for the corrosion severitylevel of the environment

Analyzed severity level refers to the potential damagethat the corrosive gases in the air could cause

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

13/16

How to Measure the Corrosion?

Corrosion Management Strategy has three goals: Measuring the Composition of the Air in the Data

Centre

Establish the risk levels for the IT Equipment operated

in the contaminated atmosphere (Metal ReactivityMonitoring)

Design strategies to mitigate Corrosion effects.

It has to be analyzed in the context of data centeroperating conditions

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

14/16

Four Levels of Corrosion Severity

Classification of Reactive Environments

SeverityLevels

EnvironmentalDescription

Copper ReactivityLevel

EnvironmentalReliability

EquipmentLife

G1 Mild < 300 Corrosion not a factor Normal

G2 Moderate < 1000 Corrosion may be a factor < 5 Years

G3 Harsh < 2000

High possibility of attack ofCorrosion. Evaluate

Environmental Monitoring& Control.

< 2 Years

GX Severe > 2000

Extremely High rate ofCorrosion. Only designedpackaged equipmentwould be expected to

survive.

< 1 Year

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

15/16

When Monitoring Should be done?

Before selection of site for setting up Data Centre

After construction of the building structure

After Setting up of the Data Centre Infrastructure, prior tocommissioning

Post commissioning, once every quarter, since Air qualitychanges every time along with seasons

7/31/2019 Air Corrosion

16/16

Thank You

Contact Us AtPhone: +91 22 24220999

+91 22 24220555

Helpline : +91 9833613377

info@equinoxlab.com