10 RACA Journal I April 2026
DATA CENTRE FEATURE SERIES
Data centres
“ For data centre developers where plant space is at a premium, this space-saving design enables greater cooling capacity per square metre without compromising performance,” says Deale.
Other key advantages include:
• Zero on-site water consumption
• Air-cooled configuration for rooftop or other outdoor locations
• Optimised for higher leaving water temperatures up to 45 ° C warm-water cooling of the latest generation of inference and training GPUs
Unlike traditional comfort cooling systems designed for low chilled water temperatures( 6 – 10 ° C), modern data centre environments increasingly operate at elevated water temperatures. By aligning with these requirements, the YDAM achieves high coefficients of performance( COPs) while supporting next-generation IT cooling architectures.
The YDAM is launching now, with production availability scheduled for the end of 2026.
DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY AND REDUNDANCY“ In mission-critical data centres, uptime is paramount. While redundancy is typically engineered at facility level( N + 1 or greater), both the YVAM and YDAM incorporate multiple compressors and fans, providing inherent resilience within each unit,” says Deale.
York has developed the magnetic bearing technology employed in its refrigerant compressors, which eliminate oil circuits and reduce machines’ physical footprints. Magnetic bearing technology further enhances reliability by reducing mechanical wear. The result is a robust solution engineered for continuous operation in environments where downtime is not an option.
“ Both chillers feature onboard microprocessor controls that manage internal operations. Beyond standalone performance, they are designed for seamless integration into broader building and data centre management systems.”
Compatibility with standard industry protocols – including BACnet and Modbus – enables straightforward connection to BMS platforms. Integration with Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue digital ecosystem and central plant optimisation solutions allows for:
• Remote monitoring and diagnostics
• Automated performance reporting
• AI-enabled analytics
• Predictive maintenance insights
These capabilities enable operators to identify performance deviations early, optimise plant efficiency and reduce unplanned downtime.
With increasing scrutiny on water usage effectiveness( WUE) and power usage effectiveness( PUE), air-cooled solutions are gaining traction in water-stressed regions. By eliminating on-site water consumption and maximising part-load efficiency, the YVAM and YDAM provide a new solution for sustainable data centre expansion. RACA
Background image supplied by York
10 RACA Journal I April 2026