Johnson Controls has introduced its YORK YVAM air-cooled magnetic bearing chiller to the European market, aiming to support the region’s growing data centre industry. As artificial intelligence and cloud computing drive increased data centre capacity, the YVAM chiller offers an energy-efficient solution tailored to the sector’s evolving needs.
The YVAM chiller is designed for flexible and scalable deployment while aligning with European Union energy efficiency and water conservation regulations. It consumes 40% less power annually compared to conventional systems, operating within a broad temperature range of -29°C to +55°C while delivering chilled water between +15°C and +30°C. This flexibility allows it to support various cooling technologies, including cold air aisles, immersion cooling, and direct liquid cooling.
“As data storage demand rises and chip density increases, data centres face increasing challenges with cooling technologies, including broader temperature ranges, reduced energy and water use, noise reduction and limited space,” said Todd Grabowski, President of Data Centre Solutions at Johnson Controls. “At Johnson Controls, we work with our customers to offer solutions that enable data centres to scale rapidly, operate efficiently, minimize resource use and maintain reliability in a quickly changing landscape.”
Key Features and Benefits
- Water-Free Operation: The YVAM chiller eliminates onsite water use, aligning with industry efforts to improve water usage effectiveness (WUE).
- Low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Refrigerant: It incorporates an ultra-low GWP refrigerant to reduce environmental impact.
- Proprietary Magnetic-Bearing Technology: The chiller features Johnson Controls’ proprietary magnetic-bearing system, variable-speed drives, and active front-end technology, eliminating the need for free cooling coils while maximizing efficiency.
- Low Noise Emissions: Operating at 65 dBA at 10 meters, the YVAM produces less sound than traditional screw chillers.
- Lubrication-Free Design: By removing complex lubrication subsystems, the chiller simplifies maintenance and reduces operational costs.
- Quick Restart Capability: Its Quick Start technology and emergency power management system enable the unit to return to full load within three minutes of a power interruption.
- Designed for Easy Inspection and Service: The chiller’s flexible platform facilitates maintenance and system reliability.
“With its innovative design and industry-leading efficiency, YVAM is set to redefine thermal management in data centres across the region,” Grabowski added. “We’ve already seen great success for this technology in the North American market, and we’re excited to partner with our European customers as AI and data centre demand rapidly develops.”
Johnson Controls provides a range of air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, along with air handling units, to meet the needs of hyperscale and co-location data centres. These solutions are supported by fire safety, building automation, and digital monitoring services.
To meet rising global demand, Johnson Controls launched a dedicated Global Data Centre Solutions organization in June 2024. The initiative has increased production capacity in key regions, reducing lead times and ensuring tailored solutions for North America, EMEA, and APAC.