Airsys has added a new model to its UniCool precision cooling lineup with the UniCool-Max, a precision vertical packaged unit aimed at modular data centers, telecom facilities, and equipment rooms. The company’s pitch is straightforward: higher air-cooling density per unit, plus better reliability by replacing fixed-speed compressor cycling with variable-speed operation.
UniCool-Max is built around “precise heat load matching,” using variable-speed components to reduce the mechanical stress associated with frequent compressor start-stop cycles. Airsys contrasts this approach with fixed-compressor units that can see frequent cycling—sometimes exceeding 30,000 start-ups per year—which it ties to wear on compressors and electronics and to less stable environmental control for sensitive equipment.
Cooling density, controls, and clustering
Airsys rates UniCool-Max at up to 60 kW of cooling capacity per unit. The company describes cluster designs reaching 240 kW for a typical 12 ft-wide modular building, or up to 960 kW for larger buildings when managed with the Airsys Multi-Unit Controller (ASMUC), which is designed to orchestrate up to 16 units. For multi-unit deployments, Airsys highlights a “Synchronized Cooling Mode” concept: running multiple units at partial speeds rather than pushing a single unit hard, with the example of two units at 45% capacity instead of one at 90%.
The unit includes built-in dehumidification, an “extreme low sensible mode,” and an optional reheat feature, which Airsys ties to gradual heat-load installation and modular deployment. The system also includes adaptive free cooling and multi-unit sequencing as part of its control set, and it’s described as using remote monitoring to support predictive maintenance. The unit is designed for a zero side-clearance installation and full front service access, and Airsys emphasizes that it doesn’t require onsite water.
Refrigerant and electrical startup behavior
On refrigerant, UniCool-Max uses R-454B, which Airsys positions as aligned with low-GWP environmental standards. On the electrical side, Airsys says the unit includes Soft Start technology intended to eliminate voltage spikes during startup and reduce the need to size upstream electrical infrastructure for Locked Rotor Amps (LRA). That matters in modular builds where generator and transfer-switch sizing can quickly become a cost and schedule driver, although real-world outcomes will depend on the site’s electrical architecture and operating profile.
“By eliminating the ‘takeoff and landing’ stress of traditional compressors, we are providing our clients with a system that isn’t just more efficient, but vastly more reliable over its entire lifecycle,” said Yunshui Chen, founder and CEO of Airsys. Steve Brock, senior vice president of sales at Airsys, added, “The UniCool-Max provides a high-density, air-cooled alternative for operators who need to deploy massive compute capacity quickly, without the complexity of onsite water or the electrical strain of traditional mechanical cooling.”
More information is available at airsysnorthamerica.com.
Source: Airsys
