Airedale by Modine Launches New 3+MW Air-Cooled Chiller
January 22, 2026
As the data center industry grapples with the thermal demands of next-generation AI and high-performance computing hardware, the debate between advanced liquid cooling and traditional air-cooled systems intensifies. Against this backdrop, Airedale by Modine has launched a new high-capacity chiller, arguing that mechanical cooling remains a critical component for reliable and flexible operations.
The company, a global provider of end-to-end cooling solutions owned by Modine Manufacturing Company, announced the TurboChill 3+MW chiller this week. This latest addition to the TurboChill range is designed for air-cooled data centers, offering both mechanical cooling and enhanced free-cooling capabilities. The system features an expanded operating range for free cooling, which the company states will reduce reliance on mechanical compressors and lower overall energy consumption.
The launch comes amid a broader industry shift towards servers and GPUs that can operate with higher coolant temperatures, sometimes up to 45°C (113°F). While this trend enables more efficient warm-water cooling architectures, Modine executives caution that a complete reliance on such systems is not universally practical. Art Laszlo, Group Vice President of Global Data Centers at Modine, addressed the speculation that chillers may become obsolete. "However, customers continue to demand proven cooling and reliability to protect their investments," Laszlo stated. He emphasized that "thermal architectures with dry coolers as the only form of heat rejection are not practical in many regions where varying ambient and recirculation conditions will still require refrigerant-based cooling for reliable data center operations."
Modine further explained that real-world challenges like ambient heat waves, parasitic system losses, and local air recirculation can overwhelm systems dependent solely on high-temperature liquid cooling. The company positions its new 3+MW chiller as a hybrid solution, capable of maximizing free cooling during favorable conditions while deploying mechanical cooling to manage unpredictable peak heat loads and ensure operational resilience. This is particularly relevant for facilities undergoing partial upgrades to higher-density racks, where traditional and advanced cooling systems must coexist.
The introduction of the 3+MW model follows the release of a 2MW TurboChill DCS compressor chiller in September 2025, underscoring Airedale's continued investment in scalable cooling infrastructure. The move signals a strategic bet on a diversified cooling market, where hybrid approaches that blend efficiency with guaranteed reliability are expected to serve a significant portion of the global data center fleet for the foreseeable future.
Source: datacenterdynamics
