Trane Debuts CDU for Liquid-Cooled Data Centres in APAC

Trane Technologies has launched a new coolant distribution unit designed specifically for liquid-cooled data centres in the Asia-Pacific region, as operators grapple with rising rack densities driven by AI and high-performance computing. 

The DCDA series is the first locally developed CDU from Trane Technologies for the regional market and reflects a growing focus on liquid cooling as air-based approaches reach their limits.

Announced in Shanghai, the DCDA series is positioned as a flexible and energy-efficient platform that can support hyperscale and AI-focused facilities.

The company says the system has been engineered to address both the thermal demands of high-density computing and the integration challenges that come with complex liquid cooling environments.

The launch comes as global demand for direct liquid cooling accelerates.

UBS forecasts a compound annual growth rate of 51% for the data centre direct liquid cooling market between 2024 and 2030, driven by the rapid expansion of AI workloads and power-hungry server architectures.

Designed for regional data centre needs

According to Trane Technologies, the DCDA series has been developed with close attention to the operational realities of Asia-Pacific data centres, where space constraints, energy efficiency targets and rapid deployment timelines are common challenges.

"The launch of our new CDU marks a technological breakthrough and a significant step in advancing high-density data centres in Asia Pacific," says Bruce Zhongping Gu, Vice President, Engineering and Technology, Trane Technologies Asia Pacific. 

"Building on more than a century of climate expertise and deep regional insights, our CDU series delivers outstanding efficiency, flexibility and customisation to meet the evolving needs of the market, further reinforcing our position as a leading innovator and trusted partner in the region."

The DCDA units are designed to align with standard server racks and can be deployed either in-row or in-room. A full front-access maintenance design allows units to be installed against walls or back-to-back, removing the need for rear service aisles. 

The company says this approach can reduce required floor space by up to 20%, an important consideration for urban data centres and retrofit projects.

Modular architecture and flexible integration

A key feature of the DCDA series is its modular platform design, which supports multiple pipe connection directions and a wide range of optional monitoring sensors. 

These include temperature, pressure, turbidity, pH levels and conductivity, allowing operators to closely track coolant conditions and adjust performance accordingly.

The CDU can also be equipped with integrated ATS, UPS and APF systems to support different power supply and harmonic control requirements.

This modularity is intended to give data centre operators flexibility to configure systems based on specific workload profiles, balancing performance and cost without overprovisioning.

Maintenance has also been a design focus. Rail-mounted water pumps and angled filters support online maintenance, reducing disruption to live environments and helping facilities maintain continuous operation.

High-capacity cooling for AI workloads

The DCDA series is available in three core models rated at 400kW, 800kW and 1350kW of cooling capacity, with configurations that can be expanded up to 1700kW.

Trane Technologies says this range is intended to meet both current requirements and future growth as AI clusters scale.

High-efficiency variable-frequency water pumps and intelligent control algorithms enable demand-based cooling, dynamically adjusting output in response to load changes.

This approach is designed to reduce energy consumption during partial load operation, which is increasingly common in AI data centres with fluctuating utilisation patterns.

The company claims the DCDA series can support liquid cooling systems achieving power usage effectiveness (PUE) as low as 1.1, contributing to lower overall energy consumption and reduced operating costs.

Cluster control and operational resilience

For large-scale deployments, the DCDA series supports coordinated operation of up to 16 units through integrated cluster control.

The system also offers compatibility with common building management protocols including Modbus, BACnet, SNMP and Ethernet TCP/IP, allowing integration into existing data centre control environments.

To support planning and system design, the company provides a selection tool based on its TSAP platform.

Rather than focusing on individual component specifications, the tool generates performance reports for the complete unit and simulates compatibility with existing systems, helping operators make more informed decisions.

The DCDA series has achieved CE and RoHS certification and has been validated under extreme operating conditions at Trane Technologies’ Asia-Pacific Engineering and Technology Center.

The firm expects the first customer orders in China to be delivered in the first quarter of 2026, marking the initial rollout of the platform in the region.