Johnson Controls has announced the YORK YDAM air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller for data center thermal management. It is designed for high-density, multistory data centers and AI factories where space and site constraints make it difficult to scale cooling capacity without expanding the roofline. Johnson Controls says the system is built on the YORK YVAM chiller platform and targets faster scaling with no water consumption.
Johnson Controls reports the YORK YDAM delivers up to 3.5 MW of cooling and up to 20% higher capacity density than other available solutions, aiming to pack more cooling into a smaller footprint. The company also says the unit fits on a 53-foot standard flatbed trailer to simplify shipping and reduce transportation, rigging, and lifting costs. Johnson Controls says it will begin shipments in late 2026.
For high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) deployments, Johnson Controls says the YDAM uses YORK magnetic bearing compressors and supports high chilled-fluid setpoints, including 45 °C warm-water cooling for the latest generation of inference and training graphics processing units (GPUs). The company adds that the chiller can operate with wide temperature differences, which it says can reduce pump size and energy consumption to deliver capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expenditure (OpEx) savings.
“AI and high-performance computing are pushing data centers beyond traditional limits,” said Austin Domenici, VP and GM, Johnson Controls Global Data Center Solutions. “Vertical sites can unlock new growth opportunities, but they demand thermal management solutions that deliver maximum cooling outputs in minimum space.”
Johnson Controls says it developed the YDAM at the Johnson Controls Advanced Development and Engineering Center (JADEC) and tested it against extreme real-world conditions. It also says the product is supported by dedicated support teams and fast service and parts delivery.
Source: Johnson Controls
