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Italy’s high-speed rail infrastructure
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Milan-Venice route
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The STULZ WallAir
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Climate control for communication systems
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Outdoor monoblock air conditioning units
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Cooling capacity of 2500W
The project
The year 2026 will mark Italy’s hosting of the Olympic Games. In this context, strengthening infrastructure and transportation connections will be crucial, especially between Lombardy and Veneto, regions directly involved in the event. Among these developments is the construction of the new High-Speed/High-Capacity railway line between Brescia, Verona, and Padua, which is part of the Milan-Venice corridor. This line holds strategic importance at both national and European levels, as it will connect the Iberian Peninsula to Eastern Europe.
This project will enhance high-speed, regional, and freight transportation along the Milan-Venice route by improving the separation of traffic flows. As a result, it will increase capacity and service regularity, reduce travel times, and boost train frequency. All of this is combined with advanced, secure, and interoperable communication/signaling systems. And where there are communication systems, there is a need for climate control.
For this reason, STULZ was approached to define, supply, and deliver outdoor monoblock air conditioning units for the BS-VR and VR-VI sections.
The project required a monoblock backpack-type air conditioner with single-phase power, free cooling, emergency ventilation at 48VDC, and 600W of heating, with the following specifications taken directly from the requirements:
Cooling capacity of 2500W with Power consumption <1000W (nominal conditions: internal temperature 30°C / internal relative humidity 40% / external temperature 35°C) and a maximum total power consumption of 1100W under worst-case conditions (40°C external temperature).
The air conditioning system will be managed and regulated by an external PLC controller.
Custom RAL7032 color to ensure aesthetic uniformity with the shelter.
STULZ responded to this request by adapting an existing product from its portfolio, modifying its motors to meet the required performance and power consumption parameters. Specifically, the refrigerant, compressor, and condenser fan were altered to maximize efficiency.
For the same reason, the unit retained a displacement air supply system, which promotes cold air stratification at floor level. This allows the unit to intake air at a higher temperature compared to a top discharge unit, thereby increasing the number of hours the system can operate in free cooling mode.
Instead of the sophisticated electronic control systems typically used in STULZ machines, this project required a “back to basics” approach an electromechanical solution compatible with the customer’s customized PLC. The motherboard was replaced with relays, thermostats, and safety logic to prevent improper control of the system’s key components.
Thanks to its flexibility and customization capabilities, STULZ was able to design, manufacture, and deliver a highly specialized unit in a short timeframe, particularly from an electrical standpoint. For the first time, control of the unit’s main components was left to the customer while ensuring a level of safety that respects minimum compressor start-up cycles, machine pressure limits, and motor activation sequences.
Due to this adaptability and willingness to innovate, STULZ has secured orders for 100 WXD40HP200BZ00_1Y units, some of which have already been delivered, while others will be shipped in the coming months in accordance with the construction schedule for the Milan-Venice high-speed rail sections. Meanwhile, the developed unit has been proposed for other rail lines, and new orders are expected in early 2025.
WallAir
The STULZ WallAir units are compact and weatherproof precision air conditioning units that are mounted outside the container for cooling and so enable the container space to be used to the full.
