Nidec has developed a prototype of its next-generation “STC 1.0” liquid cooling system, designed to increase data center design flexibility through the stackability of OCP-compliant units.
The system allows up to five CDUs to be stacked in a rack to match the thermal load characteristics of the installed servers. According to Nidec, this provides a cooling capacity of up to 1 MW (approximately 3.41 million BTU/h), supporting configurations for containerized data centers and large facilities.
The company also claims that the flexible rack configuration supports high-performance cooling needs up to eight levels and a maximum of 1.6 MW (approximately 5.46 million BTU/h). CDU stands for Cooling Distribution Unit.
Each unit in the stack is independently configured to ensure system reliability and facilitate maintenance. A redundant CDU configuration allows for maintenance without powering down the servers.
Nidec stated that prototype exhibitions will be used to gather feedback from data center operators and server manufacturers as development progresses toward commercial release.
Nidec Develops 300 kW In-Rack CDU for AI Data Centers
Nidec Corporation has developed a prototype In-Rack CDU with a cooling capacity of up to 300 kW (approx. 1,024,000 BTU/h) to address rising thermal loads in data centers driven by the adoption of generative AI. The company says the unit is its highest-capacity In-Rack cooling solution to date.
The prototype can be installed inside server racks and is designed to support high-density implementation and stable operation of high-heat-generating AI servers.
The CDU includes internal and external leak sensors, as well as real-time monitoring of temperature, pressure, flow rate and liquid levels. These functions are intended to detect anomalies and notify operators.
Nidec says the system is compatible with industry-standard rack systems and conforms to OCP ORV3 standard rack specifications. The company states that it can be used in environments ranging from liquid cooling retrofits with existing infrastructure to new next-generation AI data center designs.
Nidec plans to use feedback from exhibition visitors and customers and aims to begin mass production in the first quarter of 2027 as a next-generation liquid cooling solution compatible with the industry’s latest chips. CDU stands for Coolant Distribution Unit.
