Air velocity sensors provide insight to cool data centres
Air velocity sensors in Posifa Technologies’ PAV1000 series are designed for data centre thermal management and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. The PAV1005V measures air velocity at 7m/s and the PAV1015V sensor performs at 15m/s. Both offer a fast response times of 125ms typical.
Housed in a compact, robust package, the PAV1000 series sensors are economical, high-performance air velocity sensor for thermal management and filter monitoring in even the most space-constrained locations, such as rack enclosures with air cooling in data centres, says Posifa Technologies. Unlike thermistor-based solutions, the Posifa MEMS sensor core is minimally affected by ambient temperature changes and provides instant real-time feedback on proper air flow at critical locations.
Air velocity data complements temperature information to provide the best insight into thermal efficiency. By identifying areas that require unusually high air flow to maintain stable temperatures, layouts can be modified to reduce cooling demands for increased energy savings. In HVAC applications, air velocity measurements can be used to determine when filters need to be replaced. This ensures hardware is adequately protected during heavy use, while allowing customers with light usage requirements to benefit from extended change intervals.
The sensors use Posifa’s third-generation thermal flow die, which uses a pair of thermopiles to detect changes in temperature gradient caused by mass flow. The result is repeatability of one per cent full scale (FS) and accuracy of five per cent FS. The solid-state thermal isolation structure on the sensor die eliminates the need for a surface cavity or fragile membrane, making the sensor resistant to clogging and pressure shock, explains Posifa.
The PAV1000 series offers an output voltage range from 0 to 4.5V DC, supply voltage from 5.0 to 5.5V DC, and supply current of 20mA. The devices operate over a temperature range of -25 to +85 degrees C.
Samples and production quantities of the PAV1000 series air velocity sensors are available now.