Trane Technologies has completed a laboratory demonstration of an 800-volt direct current (800 VDC) cooling architecture for next-generation AI and gigawatt-scale data centers. The proof-of-concept chiller delivered more than 1,000 tons (3.5 MW) of cooling capacity and demonstrated potential for up to a 2% improvement in system efficiency compared with conventional AC systems.
Working with Eaton Corporation and Danfoss, Trane Technologies modified an existing high-efficiency chiller to operate from an 800 VDC feed. According to the company, direct DC input reduces the power conversion losses associated with operating compressor drives, pumps and fans in traditional AC-powered cooling systems.
Trane Technologies said that in a typical 200 MW data center, the demonstrated efficiency gain could make up to 1.8 MW of additional capacity available for computing. The company said this would be enough to support up to fifteen 120 kW racks or up to three 600 kW racks.
The demonstration is intended to support the development of DC-powered mechanical cooling infrastructure and integrated chiller plants. Trane Technologies’ data center thermal management portfolio also includes air- and water-cooled chillers, modular and liquid cooling infrastructure, Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs), Computer Room Air Handlers (CRAHs), fan coil walls, digital twin architectures and automated chiller plant controls.
“As AI workloads push data center power densities to higher levels, optimizing every link in the energy chain is vital,” said Mauro J. Atalla, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies. “This demonstration marks an important step forward in rethinking how cooling infrastructure can integrate with emerging DC power architectures. By eliminating conversion losses and designing for higher DC voltage architectures, we are helping data center operators reduce the power needed by non-IT equipment and maximize compute capacity per megawatt.”
