New variants of the Blue e+ chiller series for industry, renewable energies and IT
With the expansion of its portfolio in the field of liquid cooling for industrial and IT applications, Rittal now offers cooling solutions that comply with the F-Gas Regulation for almost every area of application – from mechanical engineering and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to IT. The focus of the range expansion is on new power classes from 1.5 to 7 kW, outdoor models and a hybrid IT chiller with integrated free cooler for particularly high energy efficiency.
Rittal, the system provider for hardware, software and automation, is further expanding its liquid cooling portfolio in the Blue e+ Chiller series for industry and IT, focusing on future-proof refrigerants that comply with the F-Gas Regulation. New power classes from 1.5 to 7 kW and special outdoor models are available for this proven cooling solution. A new addition is a particularly energy-efficient hybrid IT chiller in 5.5 and 7 kW with integrated free cooling function. A key feature of the new Blue e+ chiller variants is their exceptionally high temperature stability with an accuracy of up to ±0.1 K in steady state. This precision contributes significantly to extending the service life of temperature-sensitive components and enables the production of high-precision workpieces – especially in demanding industrial applications.
The basis for the high energy efficiency is a central DC inverter, which intelligently controls the DC compressor, the DC condenser fan and the electronic expansion valve depending on the load. Particularly in partial load operation, this enables energy savings of up to 70 per cent compared to conventional cooling solutions. With hybrid IT chillers with free cooling function, the savings even rise to 90 per cent. In combination with the optional IoT interface, for example, integration into higher-level energy management systems for monitoring and controlling the cooling functions is possible. A touch display ensures intuitive operation directly on the device. All new devices have international approvals and offer multi-voltage capability for worldwide use.
Extended power classes for precise liquid cooling
For industrial applications, Rittal is expanding the standard version of the series to include the 1.5 and 7 kW power classes – in addition to the existing 2.5, 4 and 5.5 kW versions. This makes it even easier for users in the mechanical engineering sector to find the right device for their specific application. The Blue e+ Chiller scores particularly highly in mechanical engineering thanks to its high temperature accuracy, which ensures precise machine operation and compliance with tight material tolerances. The result: fewer production errors and downtimes, and a longer service life for components.
Robust outdoor version
In addition to the new power classes for indoor use, the Blue e+ Chiller is now also available as an outdoor version with 4, 5.5 and 7 kW as standard from stock. The robust aluminium housing with UV-resistant paint finish and the weather-protected touch display ensure reliable outdoor use. As the unit can pre-temper the cooling medium, it remains operational even at ambient temperatures as low as -20°C. The outdoor version can also withstand outside temperatures of up to +43°C, ensuring constant cooling to ideal operating temperatures when used outdoors. Rittal is thus opening up new applications for its climate control technology, for example for battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are increasingly in demand as part of the energy transition.
Highly efficient with free cooling
The portfolio expansion is rounded off by the Blue e+ Hybrid IT Chiller in the 5.5 and 7 kW power classes, which, in combination with an LCU CW, can be used primarily in smaller IT applications up to 30 kW. With a free cooler, this variant enables 90 per cent energy savings compared to conventional cooling solutions. The integrated free cooling function automatically uses low outside temperatures for passive heat dissipation via a heat exchanger. As soon as the ambient temperature is cooler than the target temperature inside, active cooling is deactivated. This significantly reduces energy consumption, especially in temperate climates or during seasonal low temperatures. The Blue e+ Hybrid IT Chiller is just as weather-resistant as the Blue e+ Outdoor Chiller as standard and is therefore ideal for outdoor use, for example in combination with the Rittal Datacenter Container. Together with the LCU CW from Rittal, the Hybrid IT Chiller also supports rapid conversion to future-proof, F-gas regulation-compliant cooling solutions in IT.
‘With the expansion of our chiller portfolio, we are responding specifically to current market requirements,’ explains Hakan Türe, Product Manager for Liquid Cooling at Rittal: ‘Whether it’s the desire for greater process reliability in mechanical engineering, the boom in BESS, increasing computing power in IT or the need for F-gas regulation-compliant equipment – our new models are ideally equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.’
