Schneider Electric has introduced the Uniflair XCA line of chillers for high-density, AI-driven, liquid-cooled data centers. The new family includes air-cooled models (Uniflair XCAC) and free-cooling models (Uniflair XCAF), built around oil-free centrifugal compressor technology aimed at improving energy performance and operational stability across varying thermal loads and ambient conditions.
The Uniflair XCA line uses oil-free centrifugal compressors with magnetic bearings and built-in variable-speed drives. Schneider Electric also specifies a high-efficiency spray-type evaporator, and says the design is intended to support a wide operating range with elevated water temperatures. The series includes six chiller sizes spanning 1,200 kW to 2,500 kW of cooling capacity, and the company lists an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 4.66 for the line.
For data center operators, the headline here is capacity and operating flexibility in an air-cooled/free-cooling platform, at a moment when liquid-cooled IT loads are pushing more heat into facility water loops. Higher allowable water temperatures can open up more hours of economization and reduce compressor runtime in many climates, but the real-world impact will depend on the site’s approach temperatures, control sequences, and how the plant integrates with CDUs and secondary loops.
Schneider Electric says the oil-free compressor architecture eliminates lubrication systems to reduce maintenance, contamination risks, and mechanical losses, and claims up to 25% higher efficiency along with “ultra-low acoustic levels.” The company also points to heat-exchange elements including V-shape microchannel coils and a heat-rejection design that uses a new V-shape coil design and a new generation of large-diameter EC fans.
On the free-cooling side, Schneider Electric says the XCAF models support water outlet temperatures up to 33° C and can operate from -20° C to +52° C ambient. In moderate climates, the company claims “up to 60% energy savings” versus mechanical cooling alone by extending free-cooling availability and reducing reliance on mechanical cooling.
The line also includes configurable electrical, hydraulic, noise-control, and performance options, plus a “quick restart” feature that Schneider Electric says restores full operational capacity within 3 minutes after a power outage. For controls, Schneider Electric lists variable-speed pump algorithms (constant flow, constant temperature differential, or constant head pressure), advanced fan modulation profiles (including low-noise and ultra-low-noise modes), and energy metering with real-time water flow measurement.
“Energy efficiency, adaptability and reliability are essential components of liquid cooling systems for AI-optimized data centers,” said Andrew Bradner, Senior Vice President, Cooling Business at Schneider Electric.
Schneider Electric says the first Uniflair XCA units begin shipping globally in June 2026. The company also states the platform uses ultra-low-GWP refrigerants as standard and is aligned with EU F-Gas Regulation 2024/573.
Source: Schneider Electric
