Vertiv expands cooling lineup with new CoolChip CDU models

Vertiv has introduced new models in its CoolChip CDU family for liquid cooling applications, now available in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The new additions to the Vertiv CoolChip CDU range include the Vertiv CoolChip CDU 70, Vertiv CoolChip CDU 100, and Vertiv CoolChip CDU 600. These coolant distribution units are designed to address the increasing need for higher rack densities and cooling requirements associated with artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads.

According to Sam Bainborough, Vice President, EMEA Thermal Business at Vertiv, "As workloads continue to drive higher rack densities and cooling demands, customers need liquid cooling solutions that adapt to their unique deployment strategies, whether retrofitting an existing environment or scaling a new build. The Vertiv CoolChip CDU family offers flexible, scalable solutions that simplify deployment and support long-term growth. By reducing integration complexity and adapting to a range of data centre environments, these CDUs help organisations scale liquid cooling more efficiently."

The expanded CoolChip CDU family features both in-rack and row-based configurations, as well as liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid cooling technologies. These options are designed to accommodate diverse data centre environments, whether upgrading existing facilities or developing new ones.

Vertiv states that its CoolChip CDU family forms part of its wider liquid cooling offering and is included within the Vertiv 360AI portfolio, which combines power, cooling, and services for AI deployment challenges. The products are supported by Vertiv Liquid Cooling Services, an end-to-end set of offerings covering design, installation, commissioning, fluid management, and maintenance. Vertiv sees these solutions as suitable for a variety of use cases, from retrofitting existing data centres to supporting new, high-density AI and HPC clusters.

The Vertiv CoolChip CDU 70 is an in-row, liquid-to-air model designed for use by data centres seeking to undertake retrofits or construct new facilities with liquid cooling capabilities, without requiring major infrastructure changes. The CDU 70 delivers up to 70 kW of cooling capacity and is built to be both agile and scalable. By utilising existing thermal infrastructure, it aims to minimise both the complexity of secondary fluid networks and its own physical footprint. The product features an integrated controller that provides real-time monitoring, group control, and unit-to-unit communication, supporting coordinated thermal management, simplified administration, and efficient scaling across multiple racks.

The Vertiv CoolChip CDU 100 delivers liquid-to-liquid cooling within a rack, targeting secure and space-efficient cooling for high-density workloads. It is designed to allow incremental growth, including support for the introduction or expansion of liquid cooling deployments on a rack-by-rack basis and for AI pilot programmes, without requiring widespread infrastructure upgrades.

The CDU 100 offers 100 kW of cooling in a 4U form factor and features a large-surface heat exchanger engineered for low approach temperatures to aid optimal heat transfer. Its integrated controller enables monitoring and control, aiming to streamline management and provide greater visibility. Additional design elements include built-in filtration, precise temperature control within ±1°C for fluid quality and thermal stability, and physical separation of facility and IT loops to enhance security and efficiency in mission-critical settings.

The largest of the new models, the Vertiv CoolChip CDU 600, is an in-row, liquid-to-liquid solution designed for robust, scalable cooling in high-density AI and HPC environments. With a 600 kW capacity, it is designed for hyperscale and colocation sites, offering support for in-row configurations that fit into raised floor or retrofit settings. The CDU 600 features design options, including top or bottom piping connections, as well as available internal manifolds, to streamline planning and expedite implementation. Redundant pumps and advanced monitoring for temperature and fluid quality are included, alongside a flexible deployment approach. Vertiv positions this model as offering reliability and visibility for customers expanding liquid cooling across larger IT estates.

Vertiv's expanded liquid cooling portfolio is designed to assist data centre operators at various stages of liquid cooling adoption. The company highlights its ability to deliver flexible options for operators managing rising capacity needs while facilitating the adoption of liquid cooling technologies across the region.