Hybrid Cooling Solution from Schneider Electric for AI Data Centers

Schneider Electric introduced the new Motivair WCDU cooling liquid distribution unit, which enables the combined use of liquid and air cooling in high-density AI data centers. The new solution offers up to 3.5 MW of cooling capacity in a single unit while adapting to different installation options.

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric has added a new addition to its data center cooling solutions for the increasing processing power requirements of AI applications. The new WCDU (Water-Cooled Cooling Distribution Unit) cooling liquid distribution unit, added to the company's Motivair by Schneider Electric portfolio, supports the combined use of liquid and air cooling systems in high-density data centers.

Designed to adapt to different installation options, the WCDU can operate integrated with fan wall air cooling systems. This structure allows the balance between liquid and air cooling to be changed without the need to redesign the data hall from scratch.

The solution helps data center operators gradually configure their infrastructure as workloads and cooling needs become clearer, while aiming to reduce oversized infrastructure investments and unused capacity.

Space efficiency with technical corridor placement

The new WCDU was developed in line with the tendency of large data center operators in particular to position cooling liquid distribution units in technical corridors outside the white space, in order to facilitate maintenance and service processes.

Optimized for technical corridor placements, the unit facilitates installation thanks to its top connections while reducing space usage in the data hall. The design, which does not require clearance on its sides, contributes to more efficient use of space in both existing and new data halls.

Andrew Bradner, Senior Vice President of Schneider Electric's Cooling Business Unit, drew attention to the flexibility provided by the new solution.

“With the only cooling liquid distribution unit on the market that brings together liquid and air cooling in a single solution, we are offering flexibility the industry has not seen before. This approach allows operators to carry out installations more efficiently, support a wider range of liquid cooling infrastructure configurations, and significantly shorten commissioning time.”

Up to 3.5 MW of cooling capacity in a single unit

The WCDU, which brings together pumps, heat exchangers and other core components on a single steel chassis, facilitates installation with its integrated design.

With a scalable and multi-mode architecture, the unit can operate integrated with fan walls as well as independently. This feature aims to facilitate the transition to next-generation liquid cooling technologies for data center operators that use fan walls in their existing cooling infrastructure.

The key technical features of the WCDU are listed as follows:

High cooling capacity: A single WCDU can provide up to 3.5 MW of cooling capacity at a flow rate of 1.5 liters per minute per kW, and up to 2.5 MW at a flow rate of 2.0 liters per minute per kW. Up to 20 WCDUs can operate together in group mode. This scale supports the cooling needs of data halls that can reach 30–40 MW of capacity.

Energy efficiency: The WCDU supports the facility water system operating at higher temperatures and approach temperature differences as low as 2 °C. These operating conditions help improve power usage effectiveness (PUE) and the energy efficiency of the overall cooling infrastructure, helping reduce operating costs.

Ease of maintenance: The system includes hot-swappable pumps, pressure-independent control valves (PICV), 25-micron filters, and a 15-inch touchscreen human-machine interface (HMI) to support operational continuity.

Redundancy: For installations up to 2.5 MW, the WCDU can be configured with an N+1 redundancy option. Backup pumps and valves help maintain cooling during maintenance or in the event of an unexpected component failure.

Motivair liquid cooling portfolio expands

The new WCDU complements Schneider Electric's Motivair by Schneider Electric liquid cooling solutions portfolio. The portfolio includes cooling liquid distribution units for different data center installation architectures, including row-based and row-based systems.

With the addition of the WCDU to the portfolio, Schneider Electric's end-to-end liquid cooling solutions now cover cooling liquid distribution units offering capacities ranging from 105 kW to 3.5 MW.

With the new solution, the company aims to offer data center operators more scalable and flexible cooling infrastructures against the increasing heat loads created particularly by AI and high-performance computing applications.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric contributes to industries, businesses and living spaces operating more efficiently and sustainably through electrification, automation and digitalization technologies.

The company's technologies transform buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructures and energy grids into integrated ecosystems with each other, supporting performance, resilience and sustainability.

With a portfolio ranging from smart devices to software-based architectures, AI-powered systems to digital services and expert consultancy, Schneider Electric operates with 160,000 employees and 1 million partners in more than 100 countries.