Insider Spotlight
What’s new
LG Electronics has introduced an Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller aimed at AI data centers, adding to cooling technologies designed for increasingly demanding digital infrastructure.
The Philippine data-center market is experiencing robust growth amid rising demand for cloud computing, digital services and data-sovereignty requirements, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.
The Department of Energy has also highlighted the need for secure and increasingly sustainable energy resources as AI and data-center infrastructure expands.
Why it matters
Cooling is a significant operational requirement for data centers, particularly as AI workloads concentrate more computing power within facilities. Maintaining cooling during disruptions is also critical to keeping equipment within required operating temperatures.
LG said its new chiller offers cooling capacities ranging from 480 to 600 refrigeration tons per unit and uses an oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor, which suspends the rotating shaft without physical contact to reduce mechanical friction.
The system also uses refrigerant free-cooling technology, allowing cool outdoor conditions to reduce the compressor workload without an intermediate heat exchanger or glycol.
By the numbers
LG’s internal simulation found its refrigerant free-cooling system could consume about 30 percent less energy annually than waterside free-cooling under specified test conditions. Actual consumption can vary depending on installation and operating conditions.
The chiller is also designed to restore full cooling capacity within three minutes after power returns. An integrated uninterruptible power supply provides emergency power during outages to allow the compressor shaft to stop safely.
The bigger picture
LG is pairing the equipment with its Data Center Cooling Management software, which integrates monitoring and data-driven control across chillers, coolant distribution units and computer room air handlers.
The company plans to showcase a modular hydronic cooling solution at Data Centre World Asia 2026 in Singapore on Sept. 29 and 30.
“As AI data centers become increasingly dense and heat-intensive, energy-efficient, reliable cooling is more critical than ever,” LG ES Company president James Lee said. “With our Core Tech and data center cooling expertise, we will continue to expand our portfolio of solutions to meet these evolving requirements.” —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
