IEC LV Motors for Data Centre Cooling

IEC LV MOTORS FOR DATA CENTER COOLING

ABB IEC LV Motors supports the entire data center cooling chain, from traditional HVAC and water-cooling systems to next-generation liquid cooling architectures. With one of the industry's broadest motor portfolios, ABB IEC LV Motors help data center operators improve energy efficiency, reliability and uptime while scaling sustainably, driving the pumps, fans and compressors at the heart of modern data centre cooling.

160%

Increase in data center power demand by 2030

40%

Of the total energy used in data centers, around 40% is consumed by cooling, with 90% of that cooling energy used by motor-driven equipment

~13%

Of data center outages are attributable to cooling system failure

UP TO 35%

Energy savings through high-efficiency motors and variable speed drives for pumps, fans and compressors

WHY ABB IEC LV MOTORS

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Full cooling chain coverage

From traditional air cooling to next-generation liquid cooling, ABB provides a comprehensive solution for every stage of the data center journey. With one global partner supporting specification, deployment and long-term operation, customers can benefit from fast, scalable delivery and accelerated time to market, wherever their data center is built.

One partner across the entire cooling ecosystem

Efficiency at Scale

Industry-leading IE5 and IE6 motor technologies help optimise critical cooling applications, reducing energy consumption and operating costs while improving Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). By increasing cooling efficiency, they can also help free up more available power and space for valuable IT workloads.

Turn cooling efficiency into compute capacity

Integrated Simplicity

Integrated motor-drive solutions simplify engineering, installation and commissioning by reducing the number of components, interfaces and potential failure points. This helps accelerate deployment while reducing project complexity, risk and potential downtime.

Reduced complexity across the project lifecycle

Reliability

Designed for continuous 24/7 operation, ABB motors combine digital condition monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities to help identify potential issues before they lead to failures. Specialised designs, including open drip-proof motors, are built for continuous, mission-critical indoor operations, helping reduce the risk of downtime and strengthen overall operational resilience.

Protect mission-critical uptime

Sustainability

Magnet-free SynRM technology eliminates the need for rare-earth materials and offers motors that are up to 98% recyclable. By reducing energy consumption and lifecycle emissions, this technology helps data center operators improve efficiency while supporting their sustainability targets and evolving regulatory requirements.

Support sustainable growth and future-ready operations

ABB IEC LV MOTORS - ONE PARTNER ACROSS THE FULL COOLING CHAIN

ABB IEC LV Motors supports the entire data center cooling chain, from traditional HVAC and water-cooling systems to next-generation liquid cooling architectures.

Cooling Towers (Gray Space)

Keeping heat moving out of the data center   ABB IEC LV motors support cooling towers, dry coolers and other heat-rejection systems that are essential for maintaining thermal performance and energy efficiency across large-scale data center campuses. Designed for continuous operation, they help improve reliability while reducing maintenance requirements.   Recommended motors <ul> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/process-performance-motors.html">Process performance motors</a></li> </ul>

Air Handling & White Space Cooling

Delivering the right airflow where compute happens   ABB motors power CRAC, CRAH and AHU systems that regulate temperature and airflow around critical IT equipment. High efficiency and compact solutions help maximize cooling performance while supporting lower operating costs.   Recommended motors <ul> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/lv-titanium-variable-speed-motors.html">LV Titanium variable speeed motors</a></li> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/general-performance-motors.html" title="General Performance motors">General performance motors</a></li> </ul>

Liquid Cooling Infrastructure

Enabling the next generation cooling   As facilities transition from traditional air cooling to liquid cooling, ABB motors support CDU circulation pumps and other liquid-cooling applications that improve heat transfer and enable higher rack densities for AI and high-performance computing workloads.   Recommended motors <ul> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/synchronous-reluctance-motors/ie6-synchronous-reluctance-increased-safety-motors.html">IE5 / IE6 SynRM motors</a></li> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/lv-titanium-variable-speed-motors.html">LV Titanium variable speed motor</a></li> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/process-performance-motors/permanent-magnet-motors.html">Permanent magnet motors</a></li> </ul>

Chillers (compressors, condensers fans, water pumps)

The backbone of data center cooling infrastructure   From compressors and condenser fans to chilled-water and condenser-water pumps, ABB IEC LV motors help operators improve cooling efficiency, reduce energy consumption and support reliable 24/7 operation across central plant systems.   Recommended motors <ul> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/synchronous-reluctance-motors/ie5-synchronous-reluctance-safe-area-motors.html">SynRM 1E5 / 1E6 motors</a></li> <li><a rtestyle="none" href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/motors-for-industries-and-specific-applications/iec-lv-ip23-open-drip-proof-motors.html">IP23 Open-Drip proof motors</a></li> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/process-performance-motors.html">Process performance motors</a></li> <li><a href="/content/aot/global/en/areas/motion/motors-generators/low-voltage-motors/iec-low-voltage-motors/general-performance-motors.html">General performance motor</a>s</li> </ul>

SELECT THE RIGHT MOTOR FOR YOUR APPLICATION

IE5 & IE6 Synchronous reluctance motors

Power range 0.75 - 450 kW, Voltage 230 – 400 V, Efficiency class Up to IE6, Frame sizes IEC 90–315

LV Titanium variable speed motors

Power range 1.5 – 30 kW, Frame sizes 71 – 160, Efficiency class Up to IE5, Enclosure IP55 std · IP65 option, Drive Built-in — no separate VFD, Commissioning Factory pre-commissioned

IEC LV IP23 Open-Drip Proof motors

Power range 90 – 900 kW, Voltage 230 – 400 V, Efficiency class Up to IE4, Max speed Up to 4,500 RPM, Enclosure IP23 / IC01 — open ventilated, Frame sizes IEC 280–355 (stocked EU)

Process performance motors

Power range 0.75 – 1,000 kW, Voltage 230 – 690 V, Efficiency classes Up to IE6, Enclosure IP55 standard, Frame Cast iron / aluminium, Customisation High — purpose-built options

General performance motors

Power range 71 – 355 kW, Voltage 230 – 690 V, Efficiency classes Up to IE4, Enclosure IP55, C3 paint standard, Frame Cast iron, Availability Off-the-shelf / fast delivery,

At a glance: which motor for which duty?

Data centre cooling systems span a wide range of load profiles, duty cycles and ambient conditions — from continuously running chilled-water pumps to the cyclical demands of cooling tower fans.

Application	Key requirement	ABB Recommended products	ABB advantage
White-space air handling (CRAC, CRAH, fan walls, AHU plug fans)	Variable airflow, high efficiency at part load, compact multi-fan integration (0.2–24 kW)	LV Titanium Variable Speed Motor	Compact, high-efficiency motors ideal for fan arrays and EC-type applications
Chilled/condenser-water, glycol & facility-loop pumps (2–75 kW)	Stable flow, efficient operation, normal speed	SynRM, General Performance Motors	Proven reliability and efficiency across standard pump applications
Large chiller-plant pumps (75–500+ kW)	High power, continuous duty, robust performance	SynRM, General Performance Motors	Scalable solutions for high-power cooling infrastructure
Chiller / refrigerant compressors (20 kW–1+ MW)	Continuous duty, high reliability, wide operating range	SynRM, IP23 Open‑drip‑proof , General Performance Motors	Designed for demanding compressor applications with strong operating stability
High-speed compressors scroll / screw (3000–6000 rpm)	High-speed operation, variable speed capability	General Performance & Process Performance Motors	Optimized for high-speed compressor performance and efficiency
Dry cooler / condenser fans (1–30 kW)	Outdoor operation, variable airflow, energy efficiency	LV Titanium Variable Speed Motor, General Performance Motors	Flexible fan solutions with efficient speed control capability
Cooling tower direct drive systems	Elimination of gearbox, direct low-speed drive	Permanent Magnet Motors	High efficiency, reduced maintenance, direct-drive capability

DATA CENTER COOLING: KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The rapid growth of AI and cloud services is driving an unprecedented expansion in data center capacity. As computing demand increases, so does the need for reliable, high-performance cooling infrastructure to manage the heat generated by increasingly powerful IT equipment.

Data center cooling systems can contain hundreds or even thousands of motors driving fans, pumps and compressors, often operating continuously. Even small improvements in motor efficiency can significantly reduce energy consumption and operating costs at hyperscale.

In many regions, access to available power is becoming a major constraint on data center expansion. Improving the efficiency of cooling infrastructure can reduce overall power demand, helping operators make better use of available electrical capacity and potentially redirect more power towards IT equipment.

Improving the efficiency of cooling systems is an important way for data centers to reduce energy consumption, operating costs and associated carbon emissions. Increasing pressure from customers, investors and regulators is also making energy efficiency and resource efficiency increasingly important.

AI is driving higher-density computing, increasing the demands placed on data center cooling infrastructure. Liquid cooling and emerging 800 V DC architectures are also creating demand for new cooling and power solutions, including Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) pumps.

Data centers are mission-critical facilities where cooling system failures can contribute to significant downtime and operational costs. Operators therefore need cooling infrastructure that combines energy efficiency with reliability, uptime and predictive maintenance to support continuous operation.