Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure solutions, announced today the expansion of its range of Vertiv™ Liebert® AFC chillers, incorporating high-capacity models that use refrigerant with low global warming potential (GWP). These chillers are specifically designed to meet the growing demands of high-density data centers, especially those implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications.
With a capacity of up to 2.2 MW in a single frame, the new chillers allow data center operators to reduce both the number of units required and installation and maintenance costs. This efficiency is key at a time when operators are seeking to comply with European Union regulatory requirements, while optimizing cooling in colocation and cloud environments.
George Hannah, Vertiv’s Senior Global Director of Chilled Water Systems, commented: “With the increasing demand for AI and HPC (high-performance computing) applications, customers need solutions that offer greater cooling capacity in compact spaces. Liebert AFC chillers with low GWP provide that solution, reducing implementation time and costs without compromising performance.”
Innovation and sustainability in cooling
The Vertiv™ Liebert® AFC models are free-cooling chillers that can operate outdoors, allowing for an energy savings of up to 20% annually compared to traditional solutions with fixed screw compressors. This energy saving is facilitated by inverter compressor technology, which regulates energy consumption, especially during peak activity, improving the availability of electrical power for IT equipment.
Furthermore, these chillers are equipped with advanced algorithms that ensure precise temperature control, enhancing both reliability and operational continuity of cooling systems. To ensure a more environmentally friendly approach, the chillers use R1234ze HFO refrigerant, which complies with EU Regulation 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases. This advancement reinforces Vertiv’s commitment to sustainability and helping its customers meet carbon footprint reduction goals.
Integrated solutions for data centers
The new chillers are just one part of Vertiv’s strategy to offer comprehensive cooling solutions. Combined with systems like Vertiv™ Liebert® PCW, which manages perimeter cooling, and Vertiv™ Liebert® XDU, which efficiently distributes refrigerant, operators can effectively meet the cooling needs for both AI and colocation. Additionally, the intelligent controller Vertiv™ Liebert® iCOM™ CWM provides optimized and autonomous management of these systems.
Future-ready
The new line of Vertiv™ Liebert® AFC chillers not only meets the current needs of the industry, but is designed to facilitate future innovations, such as liquid cooling, increasingly demanded by high-density data centers and artificial intelligence applications.
About Vertiv
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) combines hardware, software, analytics, and services to ensure that its customers’ critical applications run uninterrupted. The company offers power, cooling, and IT infrastructure solutions for data centers, communication networks, and industrial facilities in more than 130 countries.
Source: Vertiv