AI computing is changing the cooling requirements of modern data centers.

As computing density increases, more heat must be removed from increasingly compact spaces. Cooling systems are therefore being asked to deliver higher capacity, better part-load efficiency, lower maintenance requirements, and reliable operation around the clock.

Against this background, magnetic bearing chillers are receiving growing attention in data center cooling.

In 2026, several major HVAC manufacturers introduced new magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller platforms aimed specifically at data centers and high-density computing facilities. This reflects a broader shift toward oil-free, high-efficiency cooling technologies for next-generation digital infrastructure.

Why Data Center Cooling Is Changing

Traditional building cooling systems were generally designed around relatively stable comfort cooling loads.

Data centers are different.

Servers operate continuously, cooling demand changes with computing load, and AI workloads can create significantly higher heat density. At the same time, operators are under pressure to reduce power consumption and make better use of available space.

These conditions are changing how chillers are selected.

For modern data centers, the question is no longer simply:

“Can the chiller provide enough cooling?”

It is also:

“Can it remain efficient when the load changes?”

This is one reason magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers are becoming increasingly relevant.

What Is a Magnetic Bearing Chiller?

A conventional centrifugal compressor normally relies on mechanical bearings and a lubrication system.

A magnetic bearing chiller takes a different approach.

Electromagnetic forces suspend the compressor rotor without direct mechanical contact. In Scopower’s maglev centrifugal chiller, a fully active magnetic bearing system supports the high-speed rotating components without physical contact.

This eliminates mechanical friction at the bearing interface and removes the need for a traditional compressor lubrication system.

The result is a fundamentally different compressor architecture:

• No mechanical bearing contact during normal operation
• No compressor lubricating oil circuit
• High-speed direct-drive operation
• Variable-speed control
• Reduced mechanical wear
• Lower routine maintenance requirements

For facilities operating continuously, these characteristics can become particularly important.

Oil-Free Operation Matters More Than It Seems

Removing compressor oil is not only a maintenance issue.

In conventional refrigeration systems, oil circulating with the refrigerant can affect heat transfer when it accumulates on heat exchanger surfaces. An oil-free magnetic bearing compressor avoids this lubrication circuit entirely.

For data center operators, the benefits can include a simpler compressor system and reduced oil-related maintenance requirements.

It also means there are fewer conventional mechanical components associated with lubrication and transmission.

For a cooling plant expected to operate throughout the year, simplifying these systems can support long-term operational reliability.

Part-Load Efficiency Is Critical

A data center rarely operates at exactly the same cooling load every hour of the year.

Server utilization changes. Outdoor conditions change. New computing equipment is installed gradually. Cooling capacity may therefore spend considerable time operating below its maximum design point.

This makes part-load performance particularly important.

Magnetic bearing centrifugal compressors combine high-speed permanent-magnet motors with variable-frequency control, allowing compressor speed to respond to changing cooling demand rather than relying only on fixed-speed operation.

Academic research published in August 2026 also compared magnetic bearing chillers with conventional centrifugal chillers in data-center applications. Under the specific climate and operating assumptions examined, the magnetic-bearing system reduced modeled annual cooling-system electricity consumption by 18.1% in Phoenix and 11.7% in Fairbanks compared with the conventional baseline. Actual savings, however, depend strongly on climate, plant design, operating temperatures and control strategy.

This is an important point:

Magnetic bearing technology is not simply about peak efficiency. It is about maintaining efficient operation across a wider range of real operating conditions.

Higher Chilled-Water Temperatures Are Creating New Opportunities

Data center thermal design is also changing.

Unlike conventional comfort air conditioning, newer data center cooling architectures can operate with significantly higher chilled-water temperatures.

Daikin noted in a June 2026 technical update that while conventional applied air-conditioning systems may typically use chilled water around 7°C, state-of-the-art data centers can require water temperatures of 20°C or higher.

Higher chilled-water temperatures can change compressor operating conditions and create opportunities for highly efficient centrifugal cooling systems.

This is particularly relevant as liquid cooling and warm-water cooling become more common in high-density computing facilities.

Reliability and Monitoring Are Becoming Just as Important as Efficiency

Energy consumption receives much of the attention in data center cooling, but efficiency alone is not enough.

Cooling infrastructure must also operate reliably.

Scopower’s maglev centrifugal chiller platform integrates several technologies designed around stable operation, including:

• Active magnetic bearing control
• Variable-frequency compressor operation
• Anti-surge protection
• Power-off protection
• Automatic fault diagnosis
• Remote operating monitoring
• Modular system design

The objective is not simply to reduce energy use, but to make the cooling system easier to monitor and maintain over its operating life.

For data centers and other mission-critical cooling applications, this combination of efficiency, control and reliability is increasingly important.

Magnetic Bearing Chillers Beyond Data Centers

The same characteristics that make magnetic bearing chillers attractive for data centers also apply to many other applications with long operating hours or variable cooling demand.

Typical applications can include:

• Industrial process cooling
• Commercial HVAC systems
• Hospitals and public buildings
• Electronics manufacturing
• District cooling
• Industrial facilities
• Large commercial complexes
• Heat pump systems

In each case, actual equipment selection should be based on cooling capacity, chilled-water temperatures, condenser conditions, operating profile and local climate.

There is no single chiller configuration suitable for every project.

The Future of High-Efficiency Cooling

The rapid development of AI infrastructure is putting unprecedented attention on cooling technology.

Recent product launches across the HVAC industry show that magnetic bearing centrifugal technology is moving further into high-capacity and mission-critical cooling applications.

For operators, however, the value of magnetic bearing technology goes beyond the word “maglev.”

Its real advantages come from the combination of:

oil-free compression, contact-free magnetic bearings, variable-speed operation, intelligent control and simplified mechanical architecture.

As cooling demand becomes more dynamic and energy efficiency becomes increasingly important, these characteristics are likely to play a larger role in the design of next-generation cooling plants.

Scopower develops magnetic levitation centrifugal chillers and heat pump systems for industrial and commercial cooling applications. With active magnetic bearing technology, direct-drive compression and intelligent control, Scopower provides solutions designed for efficient, low-maintenance and reliable operation.

Planning a new cooling system or evaluating an existing chiller plant?

Share your cooling capacity, inlet and outlet water temperatures, ambient conditions and operating requirements with the Scopower engineering team to evaluate a suitable system configuration.

Email: sale@scopower.com