Abstract:
Apparatus, systems and methods for coordinated detecting condensation utilizing a wet bulb and dry bulb temperature differential are disclosed. According to exemplary embodiments, a condensation detector may include; a first temperature sensor which generates a first temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor which generates a second temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the second temperature sensor, a connector having a first end connected to the first temperature sensor, and a detector which receives the first and the second temperature signals and determines the presence of condensation at a second end of the connector based on differences between the first and second temperature signals.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a device and method for detecting the presence of condensation on cooling apparatus. Particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for detecting the presence of the condensation using measurements from a wet bulb and a dry bulb and determining a temperature differential. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The current state of high power density computing has reached a stage where forced air is no longer feasible or practical for computer cooling needs. Forced air cooling does not provide a sufficient thermal capacity to adequately cool the various heat-producing components of today&#39;s high power density computers. 
   In order to provide a greater cooling capacity the use of a relatively low temperature cooling liquid, usually water, has been introduced. The low temperature cooling liquid is pumped through piping which runs throughout the high temperature regions of the computer. The cooling liquid has a greater thermal capacity than air and therefore can adequately absorb and remove thermal energy from the various heat-producing components of the computer. The cooling liquid is then transported to a lower temperature environment, e.g., a heat exchanger, where it radiates the absorbed thermal energy before it is returned to the heat producing components of the computer. 
   Unfortunately, the use of relatively low temperature cooling liquid gives rise to the potential for condensation to occur. When a data center environment&#39;s effective dew point temperature is at or below the cooling liquid temperature, condensation of water from the air in the data center environment will form on the cooling liquid piping. The accumulation of water from condensation in a high power density computer is not desirable as it could cause equipment failures, or, in an extreme situation, even cause a potential safety concern. 
   One method of preventing condensation is to place insulation around the cooling liquid piping. While the insulation can help to minimize condensation, it is bulky and requires space that is generally not available in a high power density computer. Insulation may also be relatively expensive and difficult to apply. Furthermore, use of insulation generally eliminates any radiative cooling through use of ambient air. 
   Therefore, what are needed are apparatus and methods for operating a cooling liquid system in a data center that alerts a user to the presence of condensation, and/or reactively eliminates such condensation, such as those disclosed therein. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The shortcomings of the prior art may be overcome and additional advantages may be provided through the provision of a condensation detector utilizing a wet bulb and dry bulb temperature differential. 
   According to exemplary embodiments, a condensation detector includes; a first temperature sensor which provides a first temperature signal corresponding to one of a dry bulb temperature and a wet bulb temperature measured at the first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor which provides a second temperature signal corresponding to a dry bulb temperature measured at the second temperature sensor, and a detector which receives the first and the second temperature signals, compares the first and second temperature signals and determines the presence of condensation based on the comparison of the first and second temperature signals. 
   According to exemplary embodiments, a cooling liquid system includes; cooling liquid piping, a first temperature sensor which generates a first temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the first temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is connected to the cooling liquid piping, a second temperature sensor which generates a second temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the first temperature sensor disposed substantially adjacent to the first temperature sensor, and a detector which receives the first and the second temperature signals and determines the presence of condensation on the cooling liquid piping based on differences between the first and second temperature signals. 
   According to exemplary embodiments, a method of detecting condensation on a surface includes; generating a first temperature signal from a first temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature measured at the first temperature sensor, generating a second temperature signal from a second temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature measured at the second temperature sensor, and determining the presence of condensation on the surface based on differences between the first and second temperature signals. 
   Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating one example of a cooling liquid system including a condensation detector that can be implemented within embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is a magnified view of the region “A” shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
   Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that in  FIG. 1  there is a diagram illustrating one example of a cooling liquid system  100  including a condensation detector  110  that can be implemented within the embodiments of the present invention. 
   The cooling liquid system  100  includes cooling liquid piping  200  which transports a cooling liquid (not shown) to a high temperature region of a computer  300 . The cooling liquid piping  200  may be any pathway for transporting the cooling liquid. Exemplary embodiments of the cooling liquid include water, ammonia, carbinol, acetone, heptane or any combination thereof. In addition, exemplary embodiments of the cooling liquid may include thermally conductive particles disposed in suspension therein. Other cooling liquids, such as other commercially available refrigerants, may be used. 
   The cooling liquid of the cooling liquid system  100  absorbs heat from the high temperature region of the high-density computer  300  (which may be, for example, a high power density computer) thereby cooling the high temperature region. Subsequently, the heated cooling liquid is transported away from the high temperature region and towards a heat exchanger  400  along the direction of the arrows as shown in  FIG. 1 . The heated cooling liquid is cooled in the heat exchanger  400  before again being transported to the high temperature region of the computer  300 . This configuration allows for the same cooling liquid to be used repeatedly to cool the high temperature region of the high-density computer  300 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  the heat exchanger  400  allows for the exchange of heat from the heated cooling liquid to a secondary cooling liquid (not shown) transported by a secondary loop of cooling liquid piping  500 . The heat exchanger  400  and the secondary loop of cooling liquid piping  500  may be used to regulate the temperature of the cooling liquid input to the computer  300 . However, alternative exemplary embodiments include configurations wherein the heat exchanger  400  and/or the secondary loop of cooling liquid piping  500  are omitted. In such an alternative exemplary embodiment, the cooling liquid in the cooling liquid piping  200  may be cooled simply by transporting the cooling liquid to a lower temperature region of the computer  300  before again being transported to the high temperature region. In another alternative exemplary embodiment cooling liquid may be passed through the high temperature region in an open loop wherein little or none of the cooling liquid is recycled. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cooling liquid system  100  includes a condensation detector  110 . The condensation detector  110  includes a first temperature sensor  120  and a second temperature sensor  130 . In the current exemplary embodiment the first and second temperature sensors are thermistors which have a resistance which varies with temperature. Alternative exemplary embodiments include configurations wherein the temperature sensors  120  and  130  are other temperature measuring devices such as thermocouples. Other temperature sensors are known in the art and may be used as appropriate. 
   In the present exemplary embodiment the first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  are disposed on first and second mounting brackets  140  and  150 , respectively, which are in turn mounted on the cooling liquid piping  200 . The mounting brackets  140  and  150  insulate the first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  from the cooling liquid piping  200 . In one exemplary embodiment, the first and second mounting brackets  140  and  150  are made from an insulating material, exemplary embodiments of which include plastic. In another exemplary embodiment the first and second mounting brackets  140  and  150  may be formed together in a single unit. 
   The first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130 , and their corresponding mounting brackets  140  and  150 , may be disposed within a temperature zone wherein the temperature exhibits substantial uniformity. 
   A connector  160  is formed between the first temperature sensor  120  and the cooling liquid piping  200 . This connector  160  allows condensation, if present, to flow from the cooling liquid piping  200  to the first temperature sensor  120 . In one exemplary embodiment, the connector  160  is a wick formed from a wicking material; in such an embodiment capillary action of the wick draws any condensation which may be present to the first temperature sensor  120 , thereby creating a wet bulb temperature sensor. In such an exemplary embodiment, the wick may be wrapped substantially around the cooling liquid piping  200  and the first temperature sensor  120 . In another exemplary embodiment the first temperature sensor  120  may be disposed below the cooling liquid piping  200  and wicking action of the wick may be assisted by gravity, e.g., the first temperature sensor  120  may be formed at a lesser gravitational potential than the cooling liquid piping  200  and the wick. 
   In one exemplary embodiment the wick material can be mounted and kept in contact with the cooling liquid piping  200  via a mounting structure (not shown) which can snap around the cooling liquid piping  200 , thereby pinching the wicking material between the plastic structure and the cooling liquid piping  200  with adequate space to allow wicking. In one exemplary embodiment the mounting structure may be formed of plastic. In one exemplary embodiment the mounting structure may be formed unitarily with either or both of the mounting brackets  140  and  150 , thereby forming a structure capable of mounting the wick and the temperature sensors  120  and  130  all in one structure. In one exemplary embodiment the wick material may be a high absorbency hydroentangled non-woven cellulose/polymer material. In another exemplary embodiment the wick material may be any suitable material as known in the art. 
   The wick material at the surface of the cooling liquid piping  200  collects any condensation from the cooling liquid piping  200  and by capillary action moves that condensation through the wicking material to the first temperature sensor  120 . The wick material and its structure therefore bridges from the surface of the cooling liquid piping  200  to the surface of the first temperature sensor  120 . Therefore, any potential condensation present on the local cooling liquid piping  200  may become a source of water to create a wet bulb temperature sensor as described in more detail below. 
   In the exemplary embodiment wherein the connector  160  is a wick, the condensation detector  110  may further include an air baffle  170  disposed between the wick and an airflow path within the condensation detector  110 . The air baffle  170  minimizes contamination of the wick material from the environment surrounding the condensation detector  110 . The air baffle  170  basically prevents the surrounding air from prematurely drying the wick through evaporation and prevents contaminants from attaching to the wick material. In one exemplary embodiment, the air baffle  170  may be disposed on the cooling liquid piping  200 . Alternative exemplary embodiments include configurations wherein the air baffle  170  is disposed in connection with one of the mounting brackets  140  or  150 . In another exemplary embodiment the air baffle  170  may be formed as part of the unitary plastic structure described above. Alternative exemplary embodiments include configurations wherein the air baffle  170  is omitted. 
   The first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  are electrically connected to a detector  180  via first and second wiring  181  and  182 , respectively. The detector  180  receives a first temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the first temperature sensor  120  via the first wiring  181  and receives a second temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the second temperature sensor  130  via the second wiring  182 . After receiving the first and second temperature signals, the detector then compares the first and second temperature signals and determines the presence of condensation as will be described in more detail below. Exemplary embodiments of the detector  180  may be digital or analog. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and tables 1-3, an exemplary method of detecting condensation on a surface of the cooling liquid piping  200  will be described in more detail. 
   Data center environments in which computers operate may exhibit a range of ambient temperatures and ambient relative humidities as shown in Table 1. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
               DEWPOINT TEMPERATURE (C.) 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               AMBIENT 
               50 
               10.08 
               20.88 
               27.65 
               32.66 
               36.69 
               40.07 
               42.99 
               45.57 
               47.89 
               50.00 
             
             
               TEMP. 
               45 
               6.37 
               16.84 
               23.29 
               28.25 
               32.14 
               35.41 
               38.23 
               40.73 
               42.97 
               45.00 
             
             
               (C.) 
               40 
               2.63 
               12.78 
               19.12 
               23.82 
               27.58 
               30.74 
               33.47 
               35.88 
               38.04 
               40.00 
             
             
                 
               35 
               −1.00 
               8.71 
               14.84 
               19.38 
               23.02 
               26.07 
               28.70 
               31.02 
               33.11 
               35.00 
             
             
                 
               32 
               −3.00 
               6.25 
               12.27 
               16.72 
               20.28 
               23.26 
               25.84 
               28.11 
               30.15 
               32.00 
             
             
                 
               30 
               −4.35 
               4.61 
               10.55 
               14.94 
               18.45 
               21.39 
               23.93 
               26.17 
               28.18 
               30.00 
             
             
                 
               25 
               −7.74 
               0.50 
               6.24 
               10.48 
               13.86 
               16.70 
               19.15 
               21.31 
               23.24 
               25.00 
             
             
                 
               20 
               −11.18 
               −3.21 
               1.92 
               6.01 
               9.27 
               12.01 
               14.37 
               16.45 
               18.31 
               20.00 
             
             
                 
               15 
               −14.66 
               −6.90 
               −2.14 
               1.52 
               4.67 
               7.31 
               9.58 
               11.58 
               13.37 
               15.00 
             
             
                 
               10 
               −18.18 
               −10.63 
               −6.01 
               −2.63 
               0.06 
               2.60 
               4.79 
               6.71 
               8.44 
               10.00 
             
             
                 
               5 
               −21.74 
               −14.43 
               −9.92 
               −6.64 
               −4.03 
               −1.87 
               −0.01 
               1.84 
               3.50 
               5.00 
             
             
                 
               0 
               −25.34 
               −18.23 
               −13.87 
               −10.69 
               −8.16 
               −6.06 
               −4.26 
               −2.68 
               −1.27 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
                 
               10 
               20 
               30 
               40 
               50 
               60 
               70 
               80 
               90 
               100 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               AMBIENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY % 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Optimal data center environmental conditions range from about 20° C. to about 25° C. and from about 40% relative humidity to about 60% relative humidity, however a typical data center environment may range beyond these optimal conditions to anywhere from about 10° C. to about 32° C. and from about 20% relative humidity to about 80% relative humidity. As shown in Table 1, condensation may form on any surface which is at or below the dew point temperature for a given ambient temperature and relative humidity, e.g., if the ambient temperature and the ambient relative humidity in the data center environment are 25° C. and 40%, respectively, any surface with a temperature below 10.48° C. will tend to form condensation thereon. 
   In order to detect such condensation, the first temperature sensor  120  and the second temperature sensor  130  send the first and second temperature signals to the detector  180 . When there is substantially no detectable condensation on the cooling liquid piping  200 , the first and the second temperature sensors both act as dry bulb thermometers measuring dry bulb temperatures substantially equal to the ambient temperature, and therefore because the first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  are disposed within a substantially uniform temperature zone, the first and second temperature signals sent by the first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  are substantially equal. In such a situation, the detector  180  interprets the lack of a sufficient temperature differentiation between the first and second temperature signals as an absence of condensation. 
   However, when condensation is present on the cooling liquid piping  200  the moisture from the condensation is transported via the connector  160  to the first temperature sensor  120 . The moisture from the condensation transforms the first temperature sensor  120  into a wet bulb thermometer. As shown in Table 2, at any relative humidity less than 100% a wet bulb temperature measured by a wet bulb thermometer is significantly less than the ambient temperature due to evaporation of the moisture from around the wet bulb thermometer, e.g., if the ambient temperature and the ambient relative humidity in the data center environment are 25° C. and 40%, respectively, the wet bulb thermometer will measure a temperature of 16.33° C. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 2 
             
             
                 
             
             
               WET BULB (C.) 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               AMBIENT 
               50 
               24.15 
               28.72 
               32.58 
               35.93 
               38.87 
               41.52 
               43.92 
               46.10 
               48.12 
               50.00 
             
             
               TEMP. 
               45 
               21.50 
               25.50 
               28.90 
               31.95 
               34.65 
               37.09 
               39.30 
               41.35 
               43.23 
               45.00 
             
             
               (C.) 
               40 
               18.87 
               22.30 
               25.30 
               28.00 
               30.43 
               32.65 
               34.70 
               36.60 
               38.35 
               40.00 
             
             
                 
               35 
               16.21 
               19.10 
               21.71 
               24.08 
               26.26 
               28.26 
               30.12 
               31.85 
               33.47 
               35.00 
             
             
                 
               32 
               14.58 
               17.19 
               19.58 
               21.75 
               23.77 
               25.64 
               27.39 
               29.02 
               30.56 
               32.00 
             
             
                 
               30 
               13.48 
               15.91 
               18.15 
               20.20 
               22.11 
               23.90 
               25.57 
               27.13 
               28.61 
               30.00 
             
             
                 
               25 
               10.68 
               12.69 
               14.58 
               16.33 
               17.99 
               19.54 
               21.02 
               22.41 
               23.74 
               25.00 
             
             
                 
               20 
               7.79 
               9.44 
               10.99 
               12.47 
               13.87 
               15.21 
               16.49 
               17.71 
               18.88 
               20.00 
             
             
                 
               15 
               4.77 
               6.09 
               7.36 
               8.58 
               9.75 
               10.88 
               11.97 
               13.01 
               14.02 
               15.00 
             
             
                 
               10 
               1.60 
               2.65 
               3.66 
               4.65 
               5.61 
               6.53 
               7.44 
               8.32 
               9.17 
               10.00 
             
             
                 
               5 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               5.00 
             
             
                 
               0 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
                 
               10 
               20 
               30 
               40 
               50 
               60 
               70 
               80 
               90 
               100 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               AMBIENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY % 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Therefore, the first temperature sensor, which in the presence of condensation acts like a wet bulb thermometer, will measure a temperature significantly less than the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor which continues to act as a dry bulb thermometer. The temperature differential between a dry bulb thermometer and a wet bulb thermometer is shown in Table 3 for a variety of data center environmental conditions. As can be seen in Table 3, the difference between a dry bulb temperature measurement and a wet bulb temperature measurement in typical data center environmental conditions ranges from about 1.7° C. to about 14.81° C. and in optimal data center environmental conditions the difference ranges from about 4.8° C. to about 8.7° C. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 3 
             
             
                 
             
             
               DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WET BULB AND DRY BULB (C.) 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               AMBIENT 
               50 
               25.85 
               21.28 
               17.42 
               14.07 
               11.13 
               8.48 
               6.08 
               3.90 
               1.88 
               0.00 
             
             
               TEMP. 
               45 
               23.50 
               19.50 
               16.10 
               13.05 
               10.35 
               7.91 
               5.70 
               3.65 
               1.77 
               0.00 
             
             
               (C.) 
               40 
               21.13 
               17.70 
               14.70 
               12.00 
               9.57 
               7.35 
               5.30 
               3.40 
               1.65 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               35 
               18.79 
               15.90 
               13.29 
               10.92 
               8.74 
               6.74 
               4.88 
               3.15 
               1.53 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               32 
               17.42 
               14.81 
               12.42 
               10.25 
               8.23 
               6.36 
               4.61 
               2.98 
               1.44 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               30 
               16.52 
               14.09 
               11.85 
               9.80 
               7.89 
               6.10 
               4.43 
               2.87 
               1.39 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               25 
               14.32 
               12.31 
               10.42 
               8.67 
               7.01 
               5.46 
               3.98 
               2.59 
               1.26 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               20 
               12.21 
               10.56 
               9.01 
               7.53 
               6.13 
               4.79 
               3.51 
               2.29 
               1.12 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               15 
               10.23 
               8.91 
               7.64 
               6.42 
               5.25 
               4.12 
               3.03 
               1.99 
               0.98 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               10 
               8.40 
               7.35 
               6.34 
               5.35 
               4.39 
               3.47 
               2.56 
               1.68 
               0.83 
               0.00 
             
             
                 
               5 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
             
             
                 
               0 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
               N/A 
             
             
                 
                 
               10 
               20 
               30 
               40 
               50 
               60 
               70 
               80 
               90 
               100 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               AMBIENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY % 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Similar to when there is substantially no condensation present, the first temperature sensor  120  transmits the first temperature signal corresponding to the temperature measured at the first temperature sensor  120  to the detector  180  and the second temperature sensor  130  transmits the second temperature signal corresponding to the temperature measured at the second temperature sensor  130 . However, when condensation is present, the first temperature signal may be significantly different from the second temperature signal due to the first temperature sensor  120  acting as a wet bulb thermometer and the second temperature sensor  130  acting as a dry bulb thermometer. 
   The detector  180  then receives the first and second temperature signals, compares them and determines whether condensation is present based on the difference between the first and second temperature signals. The detector  180  may be calibrated to determine that condensation is present whenever the difference between the first and second temperature signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. In one exemplary embodiment, the threshold corresponds to a temperature difference of about 1.6° C. In another exemplary embodiment the threshold corresponds to a temperature difference of equal to or less than 0.75° C. 
   In one exemplary embodiment, the first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  may be calibrated to adjust for small temperature variations due to the slightly different positioning of the first and second temperature sensors  120  and  130  within the condensation detector  110 . 
   In one exemplary embodiment, when the detector  180  detects a temperature differential equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold and determines that condensation is present on the cooling liquid piping  200 , the detector  180  may notify a user that condensation is present. The detector  180  may notify the user through various means well known in the art such as audio and/or visual signals or error codes delivered to the user through graphical interfaces. 
   In another exemplary embodiment, when the detector  180  detects a temperature differential equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold and determines that condensation is present on the cooling liquid piping  200 , the detector  180  may adjust the temperature of the liquid flowing through the secondary cooling liquid piping  500  to increase the temperature of the liquid flowing through the cooling liquid piping  200 . The temperature of the liquid in the secondary liquid piping  500  may be increased to the point where the temperature of the cooling liquid piping  200  is above the dew point within the data center environment, thus preventing the formation of additional condensation and eliminating the condensation which is already present. Similarly, the condensation detector  110  would detect situations wherein the temperature in the secondary liquid piping  500  is too low. 
   In another exemplary embodiment, when the detector  180  detects a temperature differential equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold and determines that condensation is present on the cooling liquid piping  200 , the detector  180  may activate a fan (not shown) or may turn off the computer  300 . Alternative exemplary embodiments include configurations wherein the detector  180  initiates a procedure wherein the condensation is eliminated or wherein the danger to the computer  300  is otherwise eliminated, e.g., by turning off the sections of the computer  300  wherein the condensation is detected. 
   Although the previous description has related to a cooling liquid system  100  including a single condensation detector  110 , alternative exemplary embodiments include configurations wherein the cooling liquid system  100  includes a plurality of condensation detectors  110 . In such alternative exemplary embodiments the plurality of condensation detectors  110  may be disposed throughout the cooling liquid piping  200  and also may be disposed on the secondary cooling liquid piping  500 . 
   Although the condensation detector  110  has been described with reference to the cooling liquid system  100  including a computer  300 , it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the condensation detector  110  may be applied to any situation wherein the detection of condensation on a surface is desirable. 
   While the preferred embodiments to the invention have been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.