Why is humidity important for electronic manufacturing plant?
Electronic devices, printed circuit boards and components are highly sensitive to electrostatic discharge. Among other preventative measures, correct humidity levels are essential to minimize the damage caused by ESD.
What is ESD?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the release of static electricity when two objects come into contact. Familiar examples of ESD include the shock we receive when we walk across a carpet and touch a metal doorknob and the static electricity we feel after drying clothes in clothes dryer. A more extreme example of ESD is a lightning bolt. While most ESD events are harmless, it can be an expensive problem during any electronic manufacturing process.
Recommended humidity level for your electronic manufacturing plant
The recommended humidity level for Electronic manufacturing facility is 40 to 50% RH.
(Reference: ASHRAE Handbooks)
How can you bring humidity to your electronic manufacturing plant?
Most of the humidifier technologies can be applied to humidify your electronic manufacturing and assembly plant.
Selection of the proper humidification solution should be based on the following:
- What is the required maximum humidification capacity (load) required?
- What sources of energy are available on site?
- How is the ventilation system installed and how is the air distributed?
- Which humidification system will require the least amount of energy – calculated for the overall HVAC system?
It is common for this application to require a 24/7 humidification, with no drop of humidity during a production process, as well as a quick response time. Those specific requirements will narrow the selection of humidification systems to isothermal humidifier supplied with pure water to eliminate regular and automatic drain of the steam generator.
Pure water is generally already used by some electronic production processes and available on site, care should be taken to ensure that the water purification capacity will be able to supply the humidifier.
IER electric steam humidifier is an easy and efficient solution to control precise to very precise humidity level (up to +/-1%RH) to electronic manufacturing plant.
IER can accept RO treated water without additional option.
ISE steam exchange or ILS Live steam humidifier are another solutions to be considered,
If raw steam from boiler is not contaminated and suitable for direct injection in the air stream, ILS humidifier is the easiest way to bring humidity to the building with a relatively low cost of ownership since minimal maintenance is required,
If raw steam from boiler is not suitable for direct injection, or if you need very safe, sterile and pure source of atmospheric steam then ISE humidifier is the best choice.
Gas fired humidifier or other technologies able to deliver large humidity capacity can be considered.
Contact us to locate our local steamOvap representative.