Crestchic debuts 600kW liquid-cooled data centre load bank

Crestchic has launched a 600kW liquid-cooled load bank for commissioning and testing cooling and power systems in data centres that use direct liquid cooling.

The unit targets sites where rack power densities have risen, and operators are deploying liquid cooling to manage heat from IT equipment. As commissioning practices evolve, engineers increasingly need test equipment that can validate thermal and electrical performance under controlled conditions.

Load banks simulate electrical loads on power infrastructure, such as generators, uninterruptible power supplies, and switchgear. In data centres, they are used during commissioning to verify resilience and performance before live IT loads are introduced. Liquid-cooled load banks extend this approach to cooling loops and heat rejection systems by generating heat and controlling coolant temperatures during tests.

The 600kW platform delivers up to 648kW at 415V, according to Crestchic. It is aimed at data centre projects where space constraints, repeatable results and reporting requirements shape commissioning schedules.

Thermal control

A key specification is ΔT thermal control to within ±0.5°C. Crestchic said the unit maintains this accuracy regardless of flow variation, supporting more repeatable testing.

Protection features cover flow, pressure, overload, underload, and thermal shock. These functions are intended to reduce the risk of damage to the load bank and connected infrastructure during commissioning.

At 600kW, load banks can become physically large when built around multiple vessels. Crestchic said the new unit uses a single-vessel architecture, removing the need for multi-vessel configurations common at this power level.

The company also highlighted the footprint for plant rooms where access and layout can limit equipment movement. It described the platform as smaller and easier to position, with flush-mounted connections, heavy-duty castors and forklift pockets on both sides.

The stackable unit can be transported double stacked within a standard-height ISO shipping container, Crestchic said. Storage and handling are often significant factors in large projects, where commissioning equipment must be moved between sites or staged ahead of test windows.

Software and reporting

The load bank integrates with Crestchic's VCS software, which provides a digital dashboard with live data from supply and hydraulic instrumentation. Crestchic said it also supports real-time monitoring and automatic load profiling.

VCS supports clustering of up to 240 load banks, according to Crestchic, including hybrid air-cooled and liquid-cooled test configurations. Large data centre builds can require multiple load banks running in parallel to simulate heat and power demand at scale.

Automated compliance reporting is provided through the Crestchic Portal, the company said. Output is described as audit-ready documentation aligned with ISO 8528-5/22514, NEMA MG1, EN60150, IEEE 141 and ASHRAE G22 standards.

Liquid cooling is moving from niche deployments to wider use in facilities hosting high-density computing, including AI and high-performance computing. This shift changes how operators validate readiness, as cooling circuits and heat exchangers must be commissioned alongside electrical systems.

Crestchic linked the launch to those market dynamics. "The move toward liquid cooling is accelerating as rack densities increase, particularly with AI and high-performance computing workloads," said Paul Brickman, Commercial Director at Crestchic.

"Our new 600kW Liquid Cooled Loadbank has been designed from the ground up to serve this market, giving commissioning engineers the precision, reliability and control they need to bring critical infrastructure online with confidence," Brickman said.

The 600kW liquid-cooled load bank is available for sale and rental through Crestchic's offices across the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Germany, Belgium, France, China and the UAE.