LG Electronics Targets AI Data Center Cooling Market With New Large-Capacity Turbo Chiller
TECHWORLD ·
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LG Electronics has launched a new large-capacity air-cooled turbo chiller, the "Air-Cooled Oil-Free Inverter Turbo Chiller," for AI data centers.
The new product applies oil-free magnetic bearings, refrigerant free cooling, R-513A refrigerant, and Hydronic Modular technology.
LG Electronics said it delivers more than 20% higher part-load efficiency, about 30% additional annual power savings, and a function that restores 100% of rated cooling capacity within 180 seconds.
LG Electronics has stepped up its push into the global data center cooling market by launching a new large-capacity air-cooled turbo chiller optimized for AI data centers (AIDC). On the 20th, LG Electronics unveiled the "Air-Cooled Oil-Free Inverter Turbo Chiller," expanding its AIDC cooling solution portfolio by adding a turbo chiller capable of large-capacity cooling compared with existing screw chillers.
The new product is designed to provide greater cooling capacity than existing screw chillers. It also focuses on reducing power consumption and total cost of ownership (TCO), responding to global environmental regulations, and enabling rapid deployment and flexible expansion of data centers.
The core technology behind the product is LG Electronics' in-house "oil-free magnetic bearing." Using electromagnetic force to levitate the compressor shaft, the technology reduces mechanical friction loss and helps improve cooling performance.
It also does not use lubricating oil, eliminating the need for an oil circulation pump and piping. In addition, it prevents an oil film from forming inside the heat exchanger, helping avoid a decline in cooling efficiency.
LG Electronics said the new product improves part-load efficiency (NPLV) by more than 20% compared with existing inverter screw chillers used in data centers. The company said this could extend compressor lifespan.
The company also said it can reduce maintenance costs, including oil changes and filter management, and lower the risk of data center downtime caused by maintenance. The new product was introduced as improving part-load efficiency while reducing maintenance burden and downtime risk compared with existing inverter screw chillers for data centers.
LG Electronics applied "refrigerant free cooling," a compressor-free cooling method, under low ambient temperature conditions during the shoulder seasons and winter. "Refrigerant free cooling" is a compressor-free cooling method that uses the natural circulation of condensed refrigerant chilled by outside air when external temperatures are low.
LG Electronics explained that compressors account for more than 80% of chiller power consumption, and that applying "refrigerant free cooling" can reduce unnecessary power use by cutting compressor operation. According to LG Electronics, annual power consumption can be reduced by about 30% further compared with conventional water-based free cooling methods, and that annual power savings contribute to improving the data center power usage effectiveness (PUE).
LG Electronics applied the R-513A refrigerant to the new product in response to tightening refrigerant-related environmental regulations in North America and Europe and to meet ESG demands from global hyperscalers. It said R-513A has a global warming potential (GWP) that is more than 50% lower than that of the existing R-134a, making it suitable for applications aimed at responding to environmental regulations.
LG Electronics also introduced Hydronic Modular technology to improve the speed and scalability of data center deployment. Previously, supplying chilled water produced by the chiller to server rooms required on-site welding and assembly of equipment such as pumps and piping, but LG Electronics changed the process by pre-integrating essential equipment such as pumps, valves and emergency buffer tanks inside ISO standard containers. On site, installation is carried out by connecting the chiller unit with the containerized module.
This approach reduces deployment time and costs. It also allows standardized modules to be added as needed in line with data center expansion plans, enabling flexible increases in cooling capacity.
The new product includes a non-stop operation function for AI data centers. Under normal conditions, machine learning-based technology analyzes real-time operating data to detect abrupt changes in chilled water flow and pressure as well as signs of anomalies in advance, and to operate in a way that avoids abnormal situations.
In emergencies such as power outages, the system is designed to maintain chilled water circulation even during such situations by using a UPS for control power and an integrated buffer tank. Once power is restored, it supports stable operation of AI servers through an ultra-fast restart function that restores 100% of rated cooling capacity within 180 seconds.
Lee Jae-sung, head of LG Electronics' ES Business Division, said the new product is a solution that combines the value demanded by AI data center customers, including overwhelming efficiency and rapid on-site deployment based on a modular design. He also said the company plans to strengthen its leadership in the global AI data center cooling market with differentiated technological capabilities.
Source: TECHWORLD · Park Gyu-chan
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=407184
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Source: TECHWORLD
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