Industries Data Center
Liquid Cooling Solutions
Data Center Liquid Cooling Systems: Controls & Automation Solutions
Data center liquid cooling systems need precise, reliable controls. Mitsubishi Electric US, Industrial Automation manufactures the variable frequency drives (VFDs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and human machine interfaces (HMIs) that give coolant distribution units (CDUs) the precision and reliability liquid cooling systems need. We also supply pre-engineered, pre-programmed control panels that help liquid cooling OEMs and system integrators get systems built, tested, and shipped faster.
Across direct-to-chip and immersion systems, in both single-phase and dual-phase designs, our data center automation hardware and engineering services help lower your Total Installed Cost by cutting the labor, programming, and integration work that strain small engineering teams.
Why AI Data Centers Require Liquid Cooling
Traditional air-cooled data centers were built around racks drawing 15 to 20 kW. AI factories running today's most demanding GPU architectures now field racks exceeding 100 kW and nearing 1 MW in a rack, a density air cannot cool on its own. Liquid cooling has moved from a specialty technology to a requirement for high-performance computing and generative AI infrastructure.
Every liquid cooling architecture, direct-to-chip and immersion alike, depends on a CDU to move coolant and exchange heat. The CDU's control system determines how reliably and efficiently the loop performs, managing pump speed, coordinating redundancy, monitoring leaks and fluid levels, and reporting back to the facility's DCIM or BMS.
Challenges & Solutions
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Redundancy and Uptime for 24/7 Operation
Liquid cooling systems run around the clock, and a failed pump can take computing offline. Mitsubishi Electric VFDs include preventive maintenance features, and redundant PLC configurations with fiber optic communications keep control systems fault tolerant. Engineered for continuous duty, those PLC configurations support everything from a single backup unit to full system-wide redundancy.
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Faster Time to Market with Pre-Engineered Control Panels
Many liquid cooling OEMs run lean engineering teams, and controls programming, panel assembly, and quality control compete with core product work. Mitsubishi Electric delivers fully configured, pre-programmed backplanes, with the PLC, VFD, and HMI already wired and tested, ready to connect, and harmonics mitigation built in. Offloading controls integration reduces Total Installed Cost and lets you ship more systems without adding headcount.
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IEEE 519 Harmonics Compliance
VFD-driven pump systems can feed harmonic distortion back into facility power. IEEE 519 typically limits total harmonic distortion (THDI) to 5%, though the exact limit depends on your system's size and configuration. Mitsubishi Electric can evaluate your system's harmonic contribution and recommend mitigation, from line reactors to low-harmonic drive configurations. Estimate your system's THDI before installation with our Harmonics Estimator tool.
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Data Center Energy Efficiency and Scalable I/O
Cooling is one of the largest non-IT energy loads in a data center, and pump speed control is one of the most direct ways to improve energy efficiency and PUE. Mitsubishi Electric VFDs adjust pump output to match real-time cooling demand, rather than running pumps at a fixed speed around the clock. As systems add more sensors, our PLCs scale I/O to keep pace, so your design stays ready for the next generation of GPU hardware.
Controls Hardware for Liquid Cooling CDUs
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
These FR-800 Series drives range in size from compact units sized for a single rack-mounted pump to high-capacity models sized for facility-scale systems. Every VFD includes advanced PID control, support for both permanent magnet (PM) and induction motors, and built-in failure detection that compares live load data against stored fault signatures. Each one carries a five-year warranty.
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
I/O needs climb fast as CDUs add more sensors, and these controllers expand right along with them. Redundant iQ-R Series PLC configurations switch to a standby system almost instantly over a fiber-optic tracking cable, with control and backup panels kept physically separate for added protection. Integration with DCIM and BMS platforms also gives the data center's facility team full visibility into what's happening at the rack. Code, footprint, and wiring carry forward across generations too, so today's design doesn't need a redo when tomorrow's hardware arrives.
Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs)
These GOT3000-series touchscreens arrive pre-populated and pre-programmed for the application, ready for local CDU monitoring and control with no setup required. Because they're networked, data can be pulled from multiple sources and checked remotely, without requiring someone to stand at the panel. That's one more programming task handled before the panel ships, on top of the pre-configured backplane already doing the heavy lifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does liquid cooling reduce energy use in data centers?
What level of redundancy does a data center liquid cooling system need?
What is the difference between direct-to-chip and immersion cooling?
How do I meet IEEE 519 harmonics requirements in a liquid cooling system?
Why use an industrial PLC instead of a custom controller for CDU control?
Why choose Mitsubishi Electric US, Industrial Automation for liquid cooling controls?
Learning Tools
Harmonics Estimator Tool
Harmonics pose a constant threat to your power system's efficiency, often resulting in increased expenses, operational problems, and other disastrous issues. Our Harmonics Estimator tool empowers customers to effortlessly analyze and recognize the harmonics to comply with IEEE 519-2022 standards, defining your electric systems' harmonic contribution prior to installation.
Talk to a Liquid Cooling Controls Specialist
Tell us about your system. We will connect you with an engineer who knows CDU controls.
Resources
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eBook: Take Control of Liquid Cooling: Enabling next-generation cooling in data centers
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How VFDs Revolutionize Pump Speed Control, Energy Efficiency, and Reliability in Liquid Cooling Systems for Data Centers
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Why Industrial PLCs are the Right Fit for Liquid Cooling Control Systems
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Why Should I Use a PLC Instead of a DDC for Data Center Control?
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