AirBoost Screw Chiller 316-1449 kW with Free Cooling
The chiller that cools itself with free outdoor air, saving your team time and your budget money. Features T3 52°C certification and a 5-year warranty.
Product Overview
The Midea AirBoost Air Cooled Screw Chiller eliminates the traditional trade-off between air-cooled efficiency and water-cooled infrastructure. With triple free cooling, it uses cold outdoor air to cool the building's water loop directly when temperatures drop below 15°C, covering 2,000 to 4,000 hours annually in temperate climates. This results in dramatically lower electricity bills and significantly reduced compressor runtime, extending service intervals and reducing maintenance.
The variable-frequency screw compressor with 0.1 Hz precision control delivers IPLV exceeding 5.0 per AHRI 551/591, providing 30-40% lower annual energy consumption compared to fixed-speed alternatives. T3 climate certification ensures full cooling capacity at 52°C ambient, eliminating the need for oversizing. The -25°C to 52°C operating range and 60-second rapid recovery make it suitable for virtually every climate zone.
For maintenance teams, the semi-hermetic bolted compressor construction allows individual component replacement without removing the entire compressor. Up to 8 units can operate in parallel, reaching 11,600 kW of total plant capacity, with centralized controller management for sequencing, load balancing, and fault management.
Key Features
Triple Free Cooling – Let the Weather Do the Work
The AirBoost's three free-cooling modes reduce both energy costs and maintenance workload:
- Direct free cooling: zero compressor energy when outdoor conditions permit
- Indirect free cooling: plate heat exchanger isolates circuits for compressor-free operation
- Mixed mode: partial compressor blended with free cooling during shoulder seasons
- 2,000-4,000 hours of compressor-free operation annually in temperate climates
- 43% reduction in compressor runtime extends bearing life and delays major service intervals
- Automatic mode switching requires no operator intervention
Variable-Speed Precision – Stable Water Temperature, Stable Operations
The variable-frequency screw compressor's 0.1 Hz frequency resolution ensures energy input perpetually matches exact cooling requirements:
- Leaving water temperature holds steady – eliminates comfort-related maintenance tickets
- VFD soft-start reduces mechanical stress on compressor, bearings, and motor windings
- Eliminates starting inrush current – reduces peak demand charges
- Enables utility demand-response participation – generates building revenue automatically
- Extended component life through reduced mechanical stress over 20-year service period
60-Second Recovery – Protecting Operations After Power Interruptions
The AirBoost restores full setpoint within 60 seconds – three to five times faster than conventional machines:
- Maintains ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal envelope in data centers during power transitions
- Prevents hospital temperature excursions that trigger infection control reviews
- Eliminates tenant complaints following brief power interruptions
- Reduces need for backup generator capacity and associated maintenance
- VFD-controlled ramp-up prevents mechanical shock during restart
T3 Certified – Full Capacity Even on the Hottest Day
T3 certification at 52°C ambient ensures full rated capacity at the highest temperatures:
- No derating during heat waves – maintains comfort when needed most
- No oversizing required – eliminates cost of idle capacity
- Operational headroom during typical summer days reduces cumulative wear
- -25°C to 52°C operating range covers virtually every climate zone
- 60 Hz configuration available for Middle East, Southeast Asia, and African power grids
Semi-Hermetic Compressor – Field-Serviceable Without Workshop Visits
Semi-hermetic bolted construction allows on-site compressor service:
- Individual rotor, bearing, and shaft-seal replacement possible in the mechanical room
- 4-hour on-site repair vs. 4-week off-site overhaul – dramatically reduced downtime
- No brazed joint cutting, crane removal, or specialist workshop scheduling required
- Spare parts for semi-hermetic compressors are standardized and readily available
8-Unit Parallel Plant with Centralized Oversight
For large installations requiring multiple chillers:
- 7-inch touchscreen controller displays total plant status, efficiency, and alarms
- Intelligent sequencing distributes load to minimize total plant energy consumption
- Seamless load redistribution when any unit requires maintenance – no cooling interruption
- Maximum 8 units in parallel reaching 11,600 kW total plant capacity
- Same control interface across all installations – one training covers all
- Optional noise-reduction package lowers sound by 5-10 dB(A)
Technical Specifications
| Parameter |
R134a Configuration |
R513A Configuration |
| Cooling Capacity Range |
397-1,449 kW |
316-1,335 kW |
| Refrigerant |
R134a |
R513A |
| Compressor Type |
Variable-Frequency Screw |
Variable-Frequency Screw |
| Control Precision |
0.1 Hz |
0.1 Hz |
| COP |
3.4+ |
3.4+ |
| IPLV (AHRI 551/591) |
5.0+ |
5.0+ |
| Operating Range |
-25°C to 52°C |
-25°C to 52°C |
| Climate Certification |
T1 / T3 |
T1 / T3 |
| Free-Cooling Modes |
Direct / Indirect / Mixed |
Direct / Indirect / Mixed |
| Rapid Recovery Time |
60 seconds |
60 seconds |
| Maximum Parallel Units |
8 |
8 |
| Noise Reduction Option |
5-10 dB(A) |
5-10 dB(A) |
| Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |
| Origin |
China |
China |
Applications
- Data centers requiring rapid recovery and continuous cooling with minimal maintenance staffing
- Hospital campuses where T3 reliability and free-cooling energy savings support 24/7 operations
- District cooling energy stations serving multiple buildings from centralized plants
- Industrial process cooling in food, plastics, and chemical manufacturing
- Government and institutional campuses in extreme-climate zones
- Commercial complexes maximizing free-cooling hours for energy savings
- Airport terminal cooling plants where redundancy and rapid recovery are critical
- Telecommunications switching stations requiring year-round precision cooling
- University campuses with growing cooling demands served by expandable chiller plants
- Hotels and resorts in hot climates where T3 performance ensures guest comfort
Certifications & Standards
- AHRI 551/591 – Performance and IPLV rating for positive-displacement compressor water chillers
- T1 / T3 / FC AHRI – Tropical climate certification for extreme-ambient operation validation
- Eurovent – Independent European performance verification
- CE Marking – European Economic Area conformity
- ISO 9001/14001/45001 – Quality, environmental, and occupational health management systems
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