RACA Journal I April 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 9
Background image supplied by York
DATA CENTRE FEATURE SERIES
YORK LAUNCHES NEXT-GENERATION AIR-COOLED MAGNETIC BEARING CHILLERS FOR DATA CENTRES
By Eamonn Ryan
Data centre operators are racing to meet escalating demand for compute capacity with higher rack densities and stricter sustainability targets.
This in turn is placing cooling technology under close scrutiny. In response, Johnson Controls, through its YORK brand, has introduced two new air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers purpose-built for hyperscale, co-location and high-density data centre applications: the YVAM and the YDAM.
Gert Deale, sales manager at Airotech, explains:“ Designed for outdoor installation and requiring zero on-site water consumption, both models address two of the sector’ s most pressing challenges – energy efficiency and footprint optimisation – while supporting modern, higher-temperature cooling strategies.”
YVAM: PROVEN MAGNETIC BEARING EFFICIENCY FOR HYPERSCALE APPLICATIONS The YORK YVAM air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller is engineered specifically for hyperscale and co-location data centres, offering cooling capacities from 250 – 475TR( 880 – 1 670kW).
Already installed in major data centres in the US, the YVAM is now being introduced more broadly, with growing interest locally.
Key features include:
• Magnetic bearing compressor technology for frictionless operation and high part-load efficiency
• AHRI-certified performance, assuring verified efficiency and capacity
• Variable speed drive( VSD) with active front end, delivering zero inrush current and compliance with IEEE-519 harmonic standards
• Low sound power levels( typically ≤96 dBA)
• Integrated UPS and Quick Start capability, enabling return to full load in as little as three minutes
• Refrigerant options: R-134a and low-GWP R-1234ze
• Packaged controls with full graphic display for system monitoring and trending
“ Magnetic bearing compressors eliminate mechanical contact within the compressor, reducing wear and maintenance requirements while significantly improving part-load performance – a critical advantage in data centre environments where load profiles fluctuate continuously.”
Efficiency is measured in terms of NPLV( Non Standard Part Load Value), reflecting real-world operating conditions rather than only full load performance. By reducing electrical consumption, the YVAM directly contributes to lower operational carbon footprints and supports ESG objectives, says Deale.
YDAM: HD COOLING IN A COMPACT FOOTPRINT Complementing the YVAM is the newly launched YORK YDAM aircooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller, developed specifically for high-density( HD) data centres operating at higher chilled water temperatures.
Offering capacities from 710 – 950TR( 2 500 – 3 350kW) – delivering up to 3.5MW of cooling in a single unit – the YDAM distinguishes itself through its exceptionally compact footprint of approximately 41.8m ². It is optimised for the use of low GWP refrigerant R-1234ze and R-515B.
Data centres
RACA Journal I April 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 9