Vertiv TPE-29S 29kW Precision Cooling Unit with Variable EC Fans and Liebert iCOM Controls
Overview
The Vertiv TPE-29S is a 29kW (98.9 kBtuh) precision cooling unit designed for equipment rooms, data centers, and dense server environments where standard HVAC cannot maintain the tight temperature and humidity tolerances that compute infrastructure demands. With a 29-inch-wide cabinet profile and knockout provisions for flexible field installation, the TPE-29S fits into constrained mechanical footprints without requiring a full room redesign. If you're specifying Vertiv precision cooling for a mid-density compute environment, this unit addresses the capacity range where most enterprise server rooms operate. (Also searched as TPE 29S.)
The unit ships rated at 98.9 kBtuh (29kW) total nominal sensible cooling capacity, with a net sensible capacity of 91.4 kBtuh (26.8kW) — meaning the overwhelming majority of its output goes directly toward removing heat from equipment, not managing latent (moisture) loads. For a typical server room where the heat load is almost entirely sensible, that ratio matters: you're not wasting capacity on humidity correction when you need degrees of temperature reduction.
Key Features
- 29kW Total Nominal Cooling Capacity: At 98.9 kBtuh (29kW), the TPE-29S covers mid-density rows and equipment rooms running 20–30kW of IT load — the range where many enterprise deployments sit before requiring a second unit or a higher-capacity frame.
- 91.4 kBtuh Net Sensible Capacity: A net sensible figure of 91.4 kBtuh (26.8kW) means cooling output is strongly skewed toward temperature control rather than dehumidification — exactly what sealed server rooms with internal recirculation need.
- 4,300 CFM Nominal Airflow: Moving 4,300 CFM through the unit means it can maintain consistent supply temperatures even when hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment isn't perfect. Higher airflow volume gives more thermal headroom when rack loads spike during peak compute cycles.
- Upflow and Downflow Airflow Directions: Support for both upflow and downflow configurations means the TPE-29S can be commissioned into raised-floor environments (downflow into plenum) or overhead/perimeter setups (upflow) without specifying a different unit — one SKU covers both installation geometries.
- Variable-Speed EC Fan Capacity Modulation: Electronically commutated (EC) variable-speed fans adjust output to match actual load rather than running at fixed speed continuously. This directly reduces fan energy consumption during partial-load periods — which, in most data centers, is most of the time. EC fan retrofits in comparable units typically deliver 20–40% fan energy savings over fixed-speed alternatives.
- R-410A Refrigerant: R-410A is a widely available refrigerant with established service infrastructure. Technicians familiar with Liebert and comparable precision cooling lines will have the tools and certification to service this unit without specialty refrigerant sourcing delays.
- Liebert iCOM Unit Control: The integrated Liebert iCOM controller handles unit-level monitoring, alarms, and setpoint management. iCOM is part of Vertiv's broader controls ecosystem, which means the TPE-29S can be integrated into centralized monitoring platforms alongside other Vertiv infrastructure — reducing the number of separate management interfaces in a mixed-equipment room.
- 29-Inch Cabinet Width with Knockouts: The 29-inch width and cabinet knockout provisions allow field routing of refrigerant lines, power, and control wiring without cutting new penetrations on-site. For retrofit installations into existing mechanical rooms, this reduces install labor and keeps the mechanical envelope predictable.
Integration and Compatibility
The Liebert iCOM control system on the TPE-29S is designed to integrate with Vertiv's monitoring and management ecosystem. In environments that already operate Vertiv power and cooling infrastructure, iCOM enables unified visibility across cooling units from a single interface. For facilities teams managing multiple units, this centralized control capability reduces the overhead of site-level monitoring and supports alarm escalation workflows without adding third-party middleware.
The unit's dual airflow direction support (upflow/downflow) makes it compatible with both raised-floor and non-raised-floor data center designs. Consult your mechanical engineer on refrigerant line routing requirements — the knockout provisions provide flexibility, but the specific R-410A circuit design and line sizing should be validated against the installed capacity and ambient conditions for your site. For sites planning broader infrastructure buildouts, confirm that the iCOM version installed supports your intended BMS or DCIM integration path before commissioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the total cooling capacity of the Vertiv TPE-29S?
A: The TPE-29S is rated at 98.9 kBtuh (29kW) total nominal cooling capacity, with a net sensible capacity of 91.4 kBtuh (26.8kW).
Q: Does the TPE-29S support both upflow and downflow airflow configurations?
A: Yes. The TPE-29S supports both upflow and downflow airflow directions, making it compatible with raised-floor (downflow into plenum) and non-raised-floor (upflow) installation environments.
Q: What refrigerant does the TPE-29S use?
A: The TPE-29S uses R-410A refrigerant, a widely available refrigerant with established service infrastructure across most commercial HVAC and precision cooling service organizations.
Q: What fan technology does the TPE-29S use for capacity modulation?
A: The unit uses variable-speed electronically commutated (EC) fans, which adjust airflow output to match actual load. EC fans consume significantly less energy than fixed-speed alternatives during partial-load operation, which describes most data center environments most of the time.
Q: What control system does the TPE-29S use?
A: The TPE-29S uses the Liebert iCOM unit control system, Vertiv's integrated controller for monitoring, alarms, and setpoint management. iCOM supports integration with Vertiv's broader monitoring ecosystem and is compatible with centralized facilities management workflows.
Q: What is the nominal airflow rating of the TPE-29S?
A: The TPE-29S is rated at 4,300 CFM nominal airflow, providing the thermal headroom needed to manage rack load spikes in environments without full hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment.
The TPE-29S sits in the 29kW range where a lot of enterprise server rooms land — big enough to handle a real compute load, compact enough at 29 inches wide to fit in mechanical rooms that weren't originally designed around precision cooling. The variable-speed EC fan system is the spec I'd lead with in any capacity conversation: in environments where IT load fluctuates across the day, fixed-speed fan operation wastes energy constantly. EC variable-speed control means the fans are only working as hard as the load demands, which in practice translates to meaningfully lower operating costs over a multi-year run.
Technical Highlights:
- 91.4 kBtuh Net Sensible Capacity: At 26.8kW net sensible, almost all of the unit's output goes toward temperature reduction rather than latent load management — the right profile for sealed server rooms with high-density heat sources and little or no moisture ingress.
- 4,300 CFM Airflow: The airflow volume gives you thermal buffer against load spikes. In rows without perfect containment, that buffer matters — it keeps supply temperatures from climbing when a chassis suddenly ramps all cores under load.
- Liebert iCOM Controls: iCOM is a real monitoring platform, not a basic thermostat. If you're running other Vertiv gear on-site, iCOM gives you a common control interface and alarm path rather than another siloed management screen to watch.
Deployment Considerations:
- The dual upflow/downflow capability is valuable at spec time, but confirm the airflow direction with your mechanical contractor before delivery — field-switching after installation is possible but adds labor cost and schedule risk.
- R-410A is serviceable but is being phased out under newer refrigerant regulations in some jurisdictions. Confirm local service availability and any applicable timeline requirements for your region before committing to an R-410A unit for a long-horizon installation.
The TPE-29S is the right fit for an enterprise equipment room or mid-density server environment in the 20–30kW IT load range where you need precision temperature control, a manageable footprint, and a control system that integrates into a broader Vertiv monitoring stack rather than running as a standalone appliance.
