LG Launches Oil-Free Centrifugal Air Cooling System for AI Data Centers

LG has introduced an air-cooled, oil-free centrifugal chiller aimed at the rapidly growing AI data center market, as operators seek more energy-efficient cooling solutions capable of handling increasingly dense and heat-intensive computing environments. The launch underscores a broader industry push to improve the efficiency of air cooling technologies, which remain widely deployed even as liquid cooling gains traction for high-density AI racks.

The new system is built around an oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor. By using magnetic force to suspend the rotating shaft without physical contact, the design eliminates the need for lubricating oil, reducing mechanical friction losses and improving compression performance, according to LG. The company said the system is designed "to improve energy performance and maintain cooling continuity."

The chiller is also refrigerant-free, relying on cool outdoor air to lower the compressor cooling load. "Unlike conventional free-cooling systems, it circulates refrigerant directly without an intermediate heat exchanger and does not require glycol, minimizing heat and pressure losses and simplifying maintenance," an LG statement said. According to the company, this architecture could consume as much as 30 percent less energy compared with traditional free cooling systems that require liquid.

LG has not disclosed the system's total heat removal capacity, but said it is available in 480 to 600 refrigeration tons per unit and can be configured to meet the specific cooling requirements of individual data centers. The company is positioning the product as part of a broader effort to expand its data center cooling portfolio.

"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 Electronics Eco Solution unit. "With our core tech and data center cooling expertise, we will continue to expand our portfolio of solutions to meet these evolving requirements."

The launch comes as many AI data center operators gravitate toward liquid cooling systems, which can handle far higher rack densities than air-based alternatives. Nevertheless, traditional air cooling systems remain in widespread use across the data center industry. Other vendors, including Schneider Electric, have also brought oil-free centrifugal systems to market in an effort to improve air cooling efficiency and extend the viability of air-based thermal management in modern facilities.