Schneider Electric launches WCDU for AI data center cooling
The expansion of artificial intelligence is leading data centers to combine cooling technologies to manage the heat generated by higher-power servers.
The growing demand for artificial intelligence computing is increasing pressure on data center cooling systems. Servers dedicated to these workloads consume more energy and generate levels of heat that, according to Schneider Electric, traditional air cooling systems can no longer manage on their own.
In this context, the company launched the WCDU, a coolant distribution unit that combines liquid and air cooling in a single solution for data centers.
The system is part of its Motivair line and is designed for different cooling infrastructure configurations.
One unit for different cooling configurations.
Specifically, the WCDU integrates pumps and heat exchangers and other critical components of a coolant distribution unit (CDU) into a single steel chassis. It can be used as a standalone unit or integrated with fan wall systems, and it does not require additional side clearance.
“As the only CDU that integrates liquid and air cooling into a single solution, we are offering a level of flexibility that the market has not seen before. This approach enables operators to deploy more efficiently, support a broader range of liquid cooling infrastructure configurations and significantly reduce deployment times,” said Andrew Bradner, senior vice president of Schneider Electric’s Cooling business.
A single WCDU can reach a capacity of up to 3.5 MW at 1.5 liters per minute per kW, and 2.5 MW at 2 liters per minute per kW. Up to 20 units can operate together in group mode to support computer rooms ranging from 30 to 40 MW.
Capacity and efficiency for data centers.
The unit supports higher temperatures in the facility water system and approach temperature differences of up to 2 °C. These conditions can help improve PUE and the energy efficiency of the cooling infrastructure and reduce overall operating costs.
The system incorporates hot-swappable pumps, PICV valves, 25-micron filters and a 15-inch HMI touchscreen. For deployments of up to 2.5 MW, it can be configured with N+1 redundancy, with backup pumps and valves to help maintain cooling availability during maintenance or in the event of an unexpected failure.
With the addition of the WCDU, Schneider Electric’s liquid cooling portfolio includes CDU units with capacities ranging from 105 kW to 3.5 MW.
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