Company says YK-HT’s capabilities translate into reductions in both water use and noise

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, United States, 2 February 2026:

Johnson Controls announced the preview of its YORK YK-HT two-stage economised centrifugal chiller at AHR Expo 2026 in Las Vegas. Making the announcement through a Press Release, Johnson Controls said the product has been engineered for data centres and large industrial, pharmaceutical and healthcare campuses.

Johnson Controls said the YK-HT delivers what it describes as the industry’s widest operating range from a single driveline, operating with condenser leaving fluid temperatures of up to 165 degrees F (73 degrees C) and up to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) of lift.

Johnson Controls said the expanded operating range supports closed-loop heat rejection with dry coolers and enables heat pump and heat recovery applications. The company added that, by reusing thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted, such systems can offset more than 35 MMBtu per hour, which it said is equivalent to the heating demand of approximately 350 single-family homes per hour, while lowering carbon emissions and reducing energy costs.

Aaron Lewis, Vice President and General Manager, Applied Equipment, Johnson Controls, said: “Water conservation, energy efficiency and decarbonisation are priorities for our customers. The YK‑HT expands what is possible by enabling high‑temperature operation in a compact and efficient platform, helping customers move beyond traditional water‑intensive heat rejection and unlock new opportunities for efficient electrified heating. With its expanded operating range, mission‑critical facilities can scale with confidence while advancing sustainability, performance and long‑term operating efficiency.”

Johnson Controls said the YK-HT’s capabilities translate into reductions in both water use and noise. The company stated that a typical 2,000-tonne chiller operating in Las Vegas consumes approximately eight to nine million gallons of cooling tower water annually and that, when paired with dry coolers, the YK-HT eliminates that water use entirely.

Johnson Controls added that, for large data centres, including AI factories facing water conservation constraints and strict noise limits, the YK-HT’s enhanced lift capability enables up to a 60% reduction in dry coolers and enough fan power reduction to lower onsite noise by as much as 20 dBA.

Johnson Controls said the YK-HT is positioned as a unified heating and cooling platform for large buildings, capable of producing 44 degrees F (6.6 degrees C) chilled water and 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) hot water at the same time, which it described as a normal operating condition for heat pumps, while delivering efficiency levels that it said exceed ASHRAE requirements.

Johnson Controls said this unified feature eliminates the need for cascaded systems, additional electrical infrastructure or major mechanical room redesigns. The company added that the single-driveline design reduces rotating components by 50%, which it said simplifies installation and service while improving uptime amid skilled-labour shortages.

Johnson Controls further said the YK-HT has a footprint nearly 30% smaller than most alternatives, making it suitable for existing legacy chiller spaces and helping reduce retrofit investment in cost, time and labour.

Johnson Controls listed additional features of the YK-HT as including support for low-GWP refrigerants R-1234ze and R-515B, an integrated lubrication system, dual variable geometry diffuser control, a flash tank economiser, optional variable speed drives for increased efficiency, battery energy storage system compatibility and factory-equipped Smart Ready connectivity for integration.

Johnson Controls said YK-HT chillers are tested against what it described as extreme real-world conditions at its Advanced Development and Engineering Center in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, as well as in Wuxi, China. The company added that the chillers are planned for global distribution and will be manufactured in San Antonio, Texas and Wuxi, China.