Schneider Electric has launched the WCDU (Water Coolant Distribution Unit), designed to integrate with fan‑wall air‑cooling systems and support hybrid air‑ and liquid‑cooling architectures in high‑density data centres running artificial intelligence workloads. The unit is intended to let operators adjust the mix of liquid and air cooling without needing to redesign an entire facility.
Capabilities of the WCDU
The WCDU is an all‑in‑one assembly that combines critical CDU components—integrated pumps, heat exchangers and other parts—within a single steel frame to simplify commissioning and installation. Its scalable, multimodal architecture supports integration into fan walls as well as standalone operation. The design also enables zero side‑clearance placement, helping to maximise rack density and server‑room usable space.
A single WCDU can deliver up to 3.5 MW of cooling at a flow rate of 1.5 litres/minute/kW; at a higher flow rate of 2.0 litres/minute/kW the capacity is 2.5 MW. Up to 20 WCDU units can operate together in a coordinated group, which Schneider Electric states can meet the 30–40 MW capacities expected in today’s data centres.
Efficiency and operating parameters
The unit supports higher‑temperature water systems and can achieve an approach temperature as tight as 2 °C, which helps improve PUE and increase the overall energy efficiency of the cooling infrastructure. The WCDU includes features such as hot‑swap capable pumps, PICVs, 25‑micron filters and a 15‑inch touchscreen HMI to provide operational flexibility and visibility.
For deployments up to 2.5 MW, the WCDU can be ordered with N+1 redundancy, providing spare pump and valve capacity to maintain cooling during maintenance or unexpected component failures.
Installation optimisation
Recognising that large data‑centre operators increasingly place CDU equipment in technical corridors rather than inside server halls to simplify service and maintenance, Schneider Electric optimised the WCDU for corridor installation. The unit provides top‑side connection points to streamline installation and preserve server‑room space for racks.
Portfolio impact and positioning
With the WCDU, Schneider Electric’s Motivair liquid‑cooling portfolio now covers CDU capacities from 105 kW up to 3.5 MW, broadening the range of supported deployment architectures. Andrew Bradner, Vice President of the Schneider Electric Cooling Business, said: “With the only CDU that combines liquid and air cooling in a single solution, we provide a level of flexibility the market has not yet seen. This approach enables operators to deploy more efficiently, significantly reduce deployment time, and offers more configuration options for liquid‑cooling infrastructure.”
The WCDU targets high‑density AI data centres that need flexible, space‑efficient and energy‑efficient cooling solutions.
