Data Center Cooling

Efficiently Condition and Cool

Professional inspecting servers in a modern data center with a tablet

With data centers running hotter than ever, keeping air cool and at the right humidity is critical to prevent hardware failure or system downtime. MeeFog systems cool the air and add humidity, addressing both major environmental risks in data centers.

MeeFog technology delivers reliable cooling and humidity control for data centers and AI factories with high-density through three key applications:

Heat-Exchanger Pre-Cooling – lowers chiller workloads, makes it possible to avoid running chillers for more hours of the year and adds a safety margin during heat waves.
Inlet-Air Cooling – evaporatively cools the inlet air and adds humidity.
Humidification – maintains optimal humidity levels to reduce electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can damage sensitive equipment.

These applications work on their own, or can be combined into a powerful, multi-purpose solution for high-density data centers. The result is tighter humidity control and more energy-efficient cooling that can significantly lower operating costs.

Heat-Exchanger Pre-Cooling

Pre-cooling heat exchangers effectively reduces the workload on chillers. By cooling the condenser coils, the chiller doesn’t have to work as hard, which saves energy. Condenser cooling is particularly useful during heat waves, as it helps the cooling system maintain performance even when the outdoor temperatures are high.

Inlet-Air Cooling

Inlet-air cooling cools the air entering the building. This process uses the evaporation of water to lower the air temperature, which is especially effective in hot, dry climates.

Adiabatic Humidification for ESD Control

Maintaining proper humidity levels is crucial in data centers. The ideal humidity range for a data center is typically between 40% and 60% relative humidity. Low humidity can lead to static electricity buildup, which can cause electrostatic discharge (ESD) and damage sensitive electronic components. By humidifying the air, data centers can mitigate this risk.

A modern data center aisle lined with server racks under bright lights, with a digital network overlay effect.

Fog Cooling Benefits for Data Centers:

Precise humidity control
Allows for use of outside air for cooling while maintaining humidity levels.
Lower maintenance and operating costs

Read more about how fog can be used to cool rooftop condensers or contact a sales engineer today to find out how a MeeFog system can lower your operating costs.

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MeeFog HVAC Installation Diagram

Click the different areas of the diagram below to learn more information about our system.

System Overview

Nozzle Comparison

At an operating pressure of 2000 psi, the resulting average droplet size is roughly one tenth the diameter of a single strand of human hair.

MeeFog System Benefits for Data Centers

Increases system uptime and reliability.
Protects servers and IT hardware from overheating.
Extra cooling capacity during peak heat events
Supports high-density rack environments efficiently.
Cuts cooling energy consumption.
Maintains precise humidity and temperature levels.

Droplet Comparison

Small droplets have a larger surface to volume ratio compared to larger droplets. This allows them to evaporate much more rapidly than larger droplets.

Want Proof?

We’ll gladly supply a detailed payback analysis report for your Hospital or Medical Center including:

Installed MeeFog system cost.
Predicted process gains per year.

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Featured Case Study

National Center for Atmospheric Research

NCAR Uses MeeFog System to Prevent Electrostatic Damage to
its New Supercomputer

The Challenge:

When the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) decided to build a new supercomputing center, it wanted to take advantage of the free cooling available by the high, dry Wyoming environment. But using that dry air risked electrostatic damage to the $25-$35 million Yellowstone supercomputer, the data analysis and visual systems, and all the other storage, networking and ancillary equipment in the data center.

The Solution:

For reliable, energy-efficient humidification, NCAR installed a MeeFog system with two 1.5 HP ceramic plunger pumps delivering 2 gpm of fog into the air handlers, allowing NCAR to safely use outside air.

Data Centers FAQ

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Why is humidification critical in data centers?

Data centers contain sensitive servers, storage, and networking equipment that require stable environmental conditions. Low humidity increases the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can cause catastrophic damage to IT systems. Industry guidelines recommend maintaining around 45% RH to protect equipment and ensure uptime.

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How does MeeFog improve data center energy efficiency compared to steam humidifiers?

Steam humidifiers require large amounts of electricity or gas to boil water, adding unnecessary heat that increases cooling loads. In contrast, MeeFog uses high-pressure fogging, which cools the air as it humidifies. On average, MeeFog consumes 1/100th the energy of electric steam humidifiers, making it one of the most energy-efficient humidification solutions for data centers.

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What was the result of installing MeeFog at OneNeck IT Solutions?

At its Tier 3 data center in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, OneNeck IT Solutions installed MeeFog humidification to reduce energy use. Combined with UPS and BAS modifications, the system significantly cut power consumption. The MeeFog system provided: high-pressure fogging to reduce chiller load, full redundancy (two pumps, two power feeds, two controls), simple integration with existing AHUs — one fogging system per room handled the load. This approach provided robust reliability while lowering operational costs.

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How does MeeFog ensure redundancy and reliability for mission-critical IT facilities?

MeeFog systems are designed to meet Tier 3 redundancy standards, with dual pumps, dual power feeds, and independent controls. This ensures continuous operation even during component failures. By integrating into existing air handling units (AHUs), MeeFog delivers precise humidity control without compromising uptime.

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What is the ROI of switching from steam to MeeFog in data centers?

The ROI is typically very fast, as MeeFog reduces both humidification and cooling energy costs. With energy use up to 100x lower than electric steam, operators can achieve payback within 1–3 years depending on facility size and hours of operation. At the same time, MeeFog systems reduce operational complexity and maintenance compared to steam boilers.

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Can MeeFog systems integrate with data center building automation systems (BAS)?

Yes. MeeFog humidifiers integrate seamlessly with modern data center BAS and monitoring systems, enabling operators to control humidity levels with the same precision as temperature and airflow. At OneNeck IT Solutions, the MeeFog system worked alongside existing infrastructure while delivering measurable energy savings.

Opening in 2012, the NCAR Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) is a 170,000 square foot data center with two 12,000 square foot raised floor spaces. The site will house the IBM Yellowstone 1.6 Petaflop supercomputer in one of those modules, with the other set aside for future expansion.

In addition to the computing space, the NWSC has 6,000 square feet of data storage and archival space, a 2,500 square foot network operations center, administrative offices and a visitor center, with 100,000 square feet devoted to mechanical and electrical equipment.

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MeeFog Nozzle

Each MeeFog impaction-pin nozzle is made from high-grade stainless steel. The standard nozzle features a 0.006 inch (150 micrometer) diameter orifice which produces billions of ultra-fine droplets per second. At an operating pressure of 2000 psi, the average droplet size is below 10 micrometers, or one tenth the diameter of a single strand of human hair. The resulting fog provides fast evaporation and amazing special effects.

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