Posted to News on 16th Nov 2021, 08:57
Atlas Copco launches ‘most advanced’ smart rotary screw compressor
Next-generation VSD said to deliver 60% energy savings
Atlas Copco has launched a new generation of its VSD compressors. With stated energy savings of 60%, the GA VSDS is described as “the most energy-efficient, sustainable compressor on the market today.
Thanks to its pioneering smart features, the GA VSDS compressor can adapt and optimise its operation for any application − innovative technology now embodied in Atlas Copco’s 22-37 kW GA oil-injected screw compressor range”, adds the company.
The GA VSDS is the third generation of Atlas Copco variable speed drive (VSD) compressors that are said to significantly reduce energy consumption by adjusting their motor speed to the fluctuations in compressed air demand.
“When Atlas Copco introduced the technology, a first-generation VSD compressor achieved energy savings of up to 35%, compared to a fixed-speed compressor. That number increased to 50% with the company’s VSD+ range. Now, the new GA VSDS offers energy savings of 60%.”
The GA VSDS also leads the way in sustainability, says Atlas Copco − the guiding principle of its innovative design. “For example, the new unit not only comprises the minimal number of components, but is the first compressor to feature an IE5 ferrite-assisted synchronous reluctance motor that does not rely on rare earth materials in its operation.”
Free Air Delivery boost
With a Free Air Delivery 21% higher than its fixed-speed counterparts, the VSDS is also said to introduce a host of smart features that allow it to adapt and optimise performance to user’s applications, requirements, and conditions. The most important example, says the company, is the Smart Temperature Control (STC) system, which ensures that the compressor operates with an optimal oil temperature at all times, “completely eliminating the risk of condensation, while ensuring maximum compression efficiency”.
The GA VSDS also comes with the all-new Boost Flow Mode, which gives customers the freedom to exceed their compressor’s maximum capacity temporarily and safely.
Small and silent, with sound levels as low as 63 dB, the GA 22-37 VSDS does not require a compressor room site. It can be installed on the production floor, occupying the minimum footprint, thanks to its vertical, compact design.
The GA VSDS concept incorporates advanced connectivity features, such as the Elektronikon Touch controller, the EQ2i multiple compressor control (integrated as standard), SMARTLINK remote monitoring and analysis and OPC UA integration for connected production environments.
Sustainable innovation
“The new VSDS offers true sustainable innovation,” says Stef Lievens, Vice President Marketing of the Atlas Copco Industrial Air Division. “As climate change affects us all, Atlas Copco has made sustainable productivity its number one focus. The GA VSDS set out to meet today’s standards, but also those of tomorrow. It’s a truly transformative compressor for a rapidly-changing industry.”
One logistics company that trialled the new GA 37 VSDS compressor reported potential reduction of its compressor CO2 emissions by 60 tonnes per year, adds Atlas Copco.
