What's Happening?
Daikin Applied, a prominent provider of commercial and industrial HVAC solutions, has introduced its Reference Architecture D60-W Water-Cooled Chillers with Dry Coolers. This new blueprint offers a 60-megawatt (MW) cooling solution specifically designed
for AI factories, integrating with the NVIDIA DSX AI Factory Platform and NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72. The architecture aims to streamline the design and implementation of cooling systems for data centers, connecting rack cooling, facility equipment, heat rejection systems, and controls into a unified system. The D60-W supports a 60 MW IT load, with liquid cooling handling 92% and air cooling managing the remaining 8%. It utilizes two temperature loops for improved efficiency: a high-temperature loop for coolant distribution units (CDUs) and a low-temperature loop for air-cooling rack containment units. The system incorporates Daikin Applied's oil-free Magnitude® WME magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers, which can operate up to 10 MW, and dry coolers to manage cooling loads, reducing maintenance and standby energy use.
Why It's Important?
The introduction of Daikin Applied's D60-W cooling architecture is significant for the rapidly expanding AI and data center industries in the U.S. As AI factories scale, the demand for efficient and reliable cooling solutions becomes critical for operational speed and reliability. This integrated design addresses the complexity of coordinating various cooling components and suppliers, potentially accelerating project engineering and deployment for data center developers. The use of oil-free chiller technology reduces maintenance requirements and startup delays, which is crucial for maintaining GPU availability and overall system uptime. Furthermore, the system's ability to switch between dry, hybrid, and full mechanical cooling modes based on outdoor conditions, and its reliance on dry coolers instead of evaporative cooling towers, contributes to lower water usage effectiveness (WUE), aligning with growing environmental sustainability concerns in the tech sector. This innovation could lead to more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible data center operations across the country.
What's Next?
Daikin Applied's D60-W cooling architecture is expected to be a foundational element for future AI factory developments. The company plans to make its CDU and data center dry cooler components available in the second half of 2027. This phased rollout suggests a strategic approach to market integration, allowing for further refinement and adoption. The blueprint provides a framework for engineering teams to manage the interdependencies of cooling decisions, from rack to heat rejection, which will likely influence industry standards for AI data center infrastructure. Daikin Applied will also offer commissioning, planned maintenance, and 24/7 emergency response services, indicating a comprehensive support model for its clients. The success and widespread adoption of this architecture could set new benchmarks for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in the U.S. data center market, potentially driving further innovation in cooling technologies.
