LG Electronics launches oil-free inverter turbo chiller for AI data centers

LG Electronics has launched an air-cooled, oil-free inverter turbo chiller designed for AI data-center applications. The product uses LG-developed oil-free magnetic bearings, R-513A refrigerant, free-cooling functionality and pre-integrated hydronic modules housed in an ISO-standard container.

LG claims the chiller’s non-standard part-load value (NPLV) is more than 20% higher than that of inverter screw chillers commonly used in data centers. The company also says its free-cooling approach can reduce annual power consumption by approximately 30% further than conventional water-based free cooling. The compressor accounts for more than 80% of chiller power consumption during operation, according to the cited product information.

The Hydronic Modular configuration integrates required equipment in advance within a containerized package. This design is intended to accelerate installation and support capacity expansion in modular increments, which could be relevant to operators scaling cooling infrastructure alongside AI deployments.

For resilience, LG says the system can restore 100% of rated cooling capacity within 180 seconds after power is restored. The unit uses R-513A, which LG says has a global-warming potential more than 50% lower than R-134a.

The launch reflects intensifying competition in AI data-center cooling, where suppliers are targeting efficiency under variable load, faster deployment and tolerance of power disruptions. However, the commercial and operational significance will depend on site-specific conditions: the available information does not provide installed operating data, cooling capacity, electrical demand, efficiency coefficients, pricing, delivery terms or commercial-availability geography.