Motivair MPC-FC-0500 Free Cooling Air Cooled Water Chiller 51800 BTU 230V 1PH

Motivair MPC-FC-0500 Free Cooling Air Cooled Water Chiller 51800 BTU 230V 1PH

The Motivair MPC-FC-0500 is a packaged, air-cooled water chiller with an integrated free cooling circuit. In free cooling mode, the unit bypasses the refrigeration compressor and uses ambient air directly to cool the process water when outdoor temperatures are low enough — reducing energy consumption significantly during cooler months. When ambient conditions require it, the unit switches to active mechanical refrigeration to maintain setpoint. The chiller is self-contained on a structural frame, designed for outdoor or semi-outdoor installation, and is controlled by a Carel pCO microprocessor controller.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Motivair Corporation, Amherst, NY USA
• Model: MPC-FC-0500
• Cooling Capacity: 51,800 BTU
• Supply Voltage: 230V / 1-Phase / 60Hz (1~/PE ±5%)
• Auxiliary Supply Voltage: 24–230V / 60Hz / 1~/PE ±5%
• Full Load Amps (FLA): 35A
• Minimum Circuit Ampacity (MCA): 39A
• Maximum Overcurrent Protection (MOP): 60A
• Compressor RLA / FLA: 20.1A / 125A
• Condenser Fan FLA: 3.8A
• Pump: 3 HP / 7.6A FLA
• Refrigerant: R-134a, 9.9 lbs/circuit
• Maximum Working Pressure: 377 PSI
• Minimum Working Pressure: 36 PSI
• Condenser: Air-cooled, with top-discharge axial fan
• Refrigerant Circuit: Single circuit (1 CIRC)
• Controller: Carel pCO microprocessor (firmware FLSTDMMCDE V.3.7, BIOS 4.30)
• Variable Frequency Drives: Allen-Bradley PowerFlex VFD; Invertek Optidrive VFD
• Additional VFD: Johnson Controls/PENN COMPRESS frequency drive
• Motor Protection: AEG Mbs 25 motor protection circuit breakers
• Contactors: AEG contactors in lower panel section
• Control Transformers: Two UL-listed control transformers (T1, T2) with Phoenix Contact terminals
• Pressure Gauges: WIKA discharge pressure and suction pressure gauges on exterior panel
• Electrical Connection: 230V 1-N/PE 60Hz
• Mounting/Shipping: Structural skid frame on original wood shipping pallet
• Included Documents: Motivair IOM manual (MPC-FC-0500 through MPC-FC-7200), Motivair warranty card, Allen-Bradley PowerFlex quick-start guide (Rockwell Automation), Belimo actuator documentation and hardware — all in original door-mounted sleeves

Applications

Packaged air-cooled water chillers like the Motivair MPC-FC series are used to provide precision cooling of process water in applications where a stable supply of chilled fluid is required. Common uses include data center cooling (cooling computer room air handlers or in-row coolers), laser and medical equipment temperature control, industrial process cooling, semiconductor manufacturing, and laboratory climate systems. The free cooling (or "economizer") function sets the MPC-FC apart from standard chillers: when ambient air temperature drops below the process setpoint, a heat exchanger transfers heat from the process water directly to the outdoor air without running the compressor, which can eliminate compressor energy consumption for extended periods in temperate climates. This makes the MPC-FC series particularly well-suited to data centers and continuous-process facilities where chillers run year-round and energy efficiency is a priority. Manufactured by Motivair Corporation of Amherst, New York, the MPC-FC-0500 was rated for single-phase power — less common at this capacity and useful in facilities that lack three-phase service.