Schneider Electric has launched the WCDU, a new Motivair coolant distribution unit designed to integrate liquid cooling with fan wall air-cooling systems in high-density AI data centers. The unit is optimized for technical corridor installations and allows operators to adjust the balance between liquid and air cooling without fully redesigning the data hall.
A single WCDU provides cooling capacity of up to 3.5 MW at 1.5 liters per minute per kW and 2.5 MW at 2.0 liters per minute per kW. Up to 20 units can operate together in group mode as a coordinated system for 30–40 MW data halls. The unit uses top-entry connections and maintains zero lateral clearance.
The WCDU integrates pumps, heat exchangers and other CDU components in a single steel frame. It can operate with fan walls or as a standalone unit and supports approach temperatures as low as 2°C. Schneider Electric says these operating conditions support warmer facility water system temperatures and can improve PUE and cooling infrastructure energy efficiency.
The system incorporates hot-swappable pumps, PICVs, 25-micron filters and a 15-inch touchscreen HMI. For deployments up to 2.5 MW, an N+1 redundancy option provides pump and valve backup. With the WCDU, Schneider Electric’s liquid cooling portfolio includes CDUs ranging from 105 kW to 3.5 MW.
“As the only CDU that brings together both liquid and air cooling within a single solution, we’re delivering a level of flexibility the market hasn’t seen before,” said Andrew Bradner, Senior Vice President of the Cooling Business at Schneider Electric. “This approach allows operators to deploy more efficiently, support a wider range of liquid cooling infrastructure configurations, and significantly reduce time to deployment.”
The WCDU is scheduled to begin shipping in select regions in October 2026 and will be available for pre-order in the U.S. in early 2027.
