Pushing the Chiller Performance and Sustainability Envelope

Built for Data Center Reliability Standards

Uptime is critical in data center operations. It’s why computing power and chiller infrastructures are built with safeguards to minimize the potential negative impacts of a power outage. Oil-free centrifugal compressors are designed with built-in redundancy to ensure reliable performance, compared to oil-free compressors with magnetic levitation bearings.

In the event of a power disruption, the compressor can gradually come to a stop without the need for backup bearings or complex sensors and controls. A self-levitating fluid film provides frictionless performance in tens of thousands of power drop/restart scenarios, effortlessly withstanding disruptions while enabling a fast ramp-up and restart.

The fact that there are fewer moving parts both inside and outside the compressor means there are less potential failure points, resulting in improved reliability. Oil-free centrifugal technology is not sensitive to power interruptions, and mitigation technologies — such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) — are not required to maintain robust performance.

Maximizing Efficiency 

Data center chillers are designed to meet a wide range of application capacity requirements and operate efficiently in all ambient conditions — from part-load in cool climates to high-lift in hot ambient temperatures. Chiller OEMs strive to achieve these goals while minimizing applied costs.

For example, these types of compressors can support lighter load capacities and lower pressures to deliver significant energy efficiency gains — without the need for a refrigerant pump. These compressors can also scale to meet the chiller requirements at the higher side of the envelope. 

By combining multiple oil-free centrifugal compressors in their designs, OEMs can achieve a 400- to 500-ton capacity range on a single circuit.

Additionally, matching the VFD power rating to specific application requirements enables the compressor to meet OEM chiller specifications across the entire operating envelope — all while maintaining standardization of the same oil-free centrifugal compressor.