AquaEdge 19MV Water-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller

The AquaEdge 19MV is Carrier's oil-free water-cooled centrifugal chiller, distinguished by active magnetic bearings that suspend the compressor shaft without mechanical contact. Eliminating oil from the refrigeration circuit removes the most common source of heat-exchanger fouling in centrifugal chillers — oil film on tube surfaces degrades heat transfer and accumulates over years of operation — and removes the oil management system (separator, pump, heater, filter) as a maintenance item entirely.

The EquiDrive two-stage back-to-back compressor arrangement maintains balanced radial loads on the impellers across the operating range, which is critical to magnetic bearing stability. The result is a compressor that can operate down to near-zero lift — exploiting cold condenser water or free-cooling mode — without the surge margins that constrain conventional oil-lubricated centrifugals at low load.

The 19MV accepts R-513A, R-515B, or R-1234ze(E) — the last being an ultra-low GWP HFO that satisfies the most stringent F-gas phase-down schedules currently projected. Refrigerant choice affects pressure levels and compatible accessories; the procurement engineer should confirm the project's regulatory roadmap before specifying. The modular bolt-together construction, sized to pass through standard doorways, is a practical attribute for retrofit projects in existing airport terminal mechanical rooms where equipment must be brought in assembled sections. ASHRAE 90.1-2022 compliance and compatibility with the PIC6/Greenspeed Intelligence controls platform enable both new-build and upgrade applications.