Midea Building Technologies used MCE 2026 to show new HVAC equipment built around lower-GWP refrigerants and higher-efficiency architectures, including the V9 VRF system, an R290 heat pump portfolio, and a set of data center cooling components spanning liquid cooling distribution and chilled-water generation.
The V9 VRF system is built around two elements: the ShieldBox II electric control box and R32 refrigerant. ShieldBox II uses an automotive-grade die-cast aluminum housing and reduces the control box volume by 70%, a change intended to free space for a larger heat exchanger and improve outdoor-unit efficiency. MBT also describes a three-zoning design with IP68-rated protection, plus phase-change cooling that maintains a steady 30°C coolant temperature to extend component life in extreme environments. For safety certification, the V9 has passed TÜV’s first three-tier safety assessment for flammable refrigerant VRF systems.
For heat pumps, MBT highlighted an R290 lineup spanning 4 kW to 70 kW across residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The Mars Large R290 ATW Commercial Heat Pump was shown as an MCE Excellence Award winner, and is specified for up to 85°C leaving water temperature using R290. It includes full DC inverter operation and dual compressor backup, a 0.72 m² footprint, and an A+++ energy rating. MBT lists heating capacity retention of 100% at -10°C and 65% at -20°C. The Arctic Series M4 and Mars R290 ATW heat pumps were also shown as part of the broader R290 lineup.
Data center cooling: chillers, CDUs, and liquid loop hardware
On the data center side, MBT showcased liquid cooling through an interactive display that combined precision CDUs (coolant distribution units), fan walls, and magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers. The company said the architecture can reach an annual PUE as low as 1.2. Core products included the AirBoost Vera Air-Cooled Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller and a CDU.
MBT lists the AirBoost Vera chiller with dual-power switching and customizable THDi, and specifies outlet water up to 36°C with a 20°C temperature difference. The chiller also includes standard indirect natural cooling and is described as compatible with eco-friendly refrigerants. For the CDU, MBT calls out multiple redundancies, leak-proof protection, and 100% testing of core components.
For data center engineers, the most practical details here are the high chilled-water temperatures (up to 36°C outlet) and the stated 20°C delta T, both of which can materially change plant efficiency and pumping economics if the rest of the system is designed to run warm. But the claimed annual PUE figure will depend heavily on site climate, setpoints, and how much of the year “natural cooling” can actually carry the load.
Source: Midea Building Technologies
