Rapid digital expansion and surging demand for cloud computing, digital services, and data sovereignty across the Philippines are pushing facility cooling demands to unprecedented levels.
To address the heat loads of modern artificial intelligence infrastructure, LG Electronics has launched its Air-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller (ACC). The high-efficiency system provides cooling capacities ranging from 480 to 600 RT per unit, targeting the operational stability and energy requirements of AI data centers.
The technological shift comes as the U.S. International Trade Administration reports robust growth in the Philippine data-center market, led by major local and international operators like ePLDT, Equinix, Digital Edge, and STT GDC Philippines. Concurrently, the Department of Energy has stressed the need for secure, sustainable power sources to support expanding computing facilities.
At the core of LG’s new chiller is an oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor. By using magnetic levitation to suspend the rotating shaft without physical contact, the unit eliminates lubricating oil, minimizes mechanical friction, and increases compression performance.
Key performance and design features of the new chiller include:
- Refrigerant free-cooling technology: Uses cool outdoor air to reduce compressor load by circulating refrigerant directly without intermediate heat exchangers or glycol, cutting annual energy consumption by approximately 30 percent compared to waterside free-cooling.
- Series counter flow (SCF) architecture: Balances operational load across compressors to sustain consistent system performance.
- Rapid power recovery: Re-establishes full cooling capacity within three minutes of power restoration following an outage.
- Grid outage protection: Utilizes an integrated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to bring the magnetic shaft to a safe halt during abrupt electrical failures, preventing bearing damage.
- Intelligent surge control: Employs gap sensors and machine-learning algorithms to monitor the rotation axis and adapt to real-time operational patterns.
To manage overall facility operations, LG introduced its Data Center Cooling Management (DCCM) software. The system provides unified, data-driven oversight across Coolant Distribution Units, Computer Room Air Handlers, and centrifugal chillers. DCCM leverages virtual sensor diagnostics, early anomaly detection, and workload-based real-time optimization to handle predictive maintenance and lower risk.
LG manufactures its core compressor, motor, inverter, and magnetic bearing components entirely in-house under its proprietary Core Tech umbrella, streamlining parts availability and maintenance response times. The equipment carries global compliance certifications, including AHRI performance validation for nine consecutive years, ASME pressure vessel standards, ETL North American electrical safety marks, and European CE compliance.
Expanding its data center portfolio further, LG plans to unveil a prefabricated modular hydronic cooling solution incorporating chilled-water pumps and a Thermal Energy Storage buffer tank at Data Centre World Asia 2026, taking place September 29–30 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
“As AI data centers become increasingly dense and heat-intensive, energy-efficient, reliable cooling is more critical than ever,” said James Lee, president of the LG ES Company. “With our Core Tech and data center cooling expertise, we will continue to expand our portfolio of solutions to meet these evolving requirements.”
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