Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller 

LG’s Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller delivers oil-free operation through magnetic bearing technology. Using a centrifugal compressor-based refrigerant cycle, it removes heat and rejects it to the outdoor air through an air-cooled condenser. With technologies such as an oil-free magnetic bearing compressor and refrigerant free cooling, it is well suited for data center environments that demand large-capacity cooling, high energy efficiency, and streamlined maintenance. 

The system operates in a continuous cycle:

• Step 1. Evaporation (Heat Absorption)

Chilled water transfers heat to the refrigerant in the evaporator, causing the refrigerant to evaporate.

• Step 2. Compression (Compressor)

The compressor raises the refrigerant’s pressure and temperature to support stable operation.

• Step 3. Condensation (Heat Rejection)

Heat is discharged to the outdoor air through condenser fans, and the refrigerant condenses.

• Step 4. Expansion (Pressure Reduction)

The refrigerant pressure is reduced before it returns to the evaporator.

Continuous cycle ensures stable chilled water supply for cooling demand.

LG’s Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller improves energy efficiency by reducing compressor runtime through Refrigerant Free Cooling and optimizing compressor structure and operation.

Key efficiency technologies include :

Oil-free magnetic bearing compressor

- Uses electromagnetic force to levitate and rotate the compressor rotor, maximizing efficiency with a EER of 4.0(based on a microchannel heat exchanger) under under full load conditions.

- Delivers high-performance, low-power cooling for data centers that require powerful cooling capacity, helping improve energy efficiency and reduce lifecycle costs.

Refrigerant Free cooling technology

- Refrigerant Free Cooling utilizes the outdoor air temperature difference to reduce compressor operation compared to conventional mechanical cooling.

- By lowering compressor operation, it improves power efficiency while reducing mechanical wear, helping lower maintenance costs.

LG’s Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller provides proactive and rapid-response system management both before and after issues occur through a range of advanced technologies. This makes it especially well suited for environments that require continuous 24/7 operation, such as data centers.

Before issues occur

- The oil-free magnetic bearing compressor minimizes mechanical friction, helping reduce the risk of failures while limiting impact on sensitive components.

- Its machine-learning-based surge avoidance function proactively helps prevent surge events, reducing potential repair costs and improving operational reliability.

- Free cooling technology reduces compressor operating hours, helping extend the overall lifespan of the system.

After issues occur

- The Fast Recovery option utilizes an oil-free magnetic bearing compressor to enable immediate operation, reaching full load in just 180 seconds. This is ideal for mission-critical environments that require uninterrupted operation.

Many data centers and industrial facilities operate in coastal environments where corrosion resistance is important for long-term reliability. LG Air-cooled Centrifugal Chiller applies corrosion protection technologies designed to support durability in environments up to ISO 9223 corrosivity category C3.

Key corrosion protection features include : 

• Black Fin Heat Exchanger with anti-corrosion coating

• Anti-corrosion coating applied to the micro-channel condenser

• TCP coating applied as standard

• Electrodeposition and Blygold coating options available 

* Based on ISO 9223 classification. Performance may vary depending on installation distance from the coastline and site-specific environmental conditions. Standard TCP coating included; electrodeposition and Blygold coatings available as additional options

Data centers contain sensitive electronic equipment, such as semiconductor components, that can be affected by even minor harmonic distortion. To address these demanding environments, LG’s Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller is equipped with a Harmonic Clean Inverter that helps minimize harmonic impact.

LG’s Harmonic Clean Inverter is designed to maintain TDDi, or Total Demand Distortion, below 5%, helping reduce potential impact and risks on surrounding equipment in harmonic-sensitive environments.