Daikin Magnitude Magnetic-Bearing Centrifugal Chiller (WMC / WME / WMT)

The Daikin Magnitude is the company's flagship water-cooled centrifugal chiller family, distinguished by a permanent-magnet direct-drive motor suspended on oil-free magnetic bearings. Eliminating mechanical contact between rotating surfaces removes the lubrication system entirely: no oil pump, no oil separator, no oil heater, and no wear-induced degradation of heat-transfer surfaces over time. The practical result is that Magnitude units consistently maintain factory-level efficiency throughout a service life measured in decades, avoiding the gradual performance decay that accumulates in oil-lubricated centrifugal compressors as oil migrates into the refrigerant circuit.

The product family spans three model series. The WMC covers 75 to 400 tons in a single-stage centrifugal configuration. The WME scales from 400 to 1,500 tons using a two-stage arrangement, making it appropriate for the large central plants typical of international hub airports. The WMT introduces R-1233zd(E) — a next-generation A1-safety-class refrigerant with a GWP of 1 — in a two-stage format rated at 0.50 kW/ton full-load and 0.30 kW/ton part-load, figures Daikin states represent up to 40% better efficiency than a conventional centrifugal chiller.

For GCC central plant engineers, the combination of ultra-low GWP refrigerant, high part-load efficiency under variable occupancy loads, and the RapidRestore/RideThrough power-event capability makes the Magnitude WMT a technically defensible choice for new terminal developments seeking long-term lifecycle cost reduction and regulatory durability. Seismic certification is available for regions requiring it, and the MicroTech controller integrates with BACnet, Modbus, and LonWorks.