Atlas Copco ZT 145 VSD (FF VSD⁺) Oil-free Air Compressor

ZT 145 VSD Technical Data

The Atlas Copco ZT 145 VSD is specified at a single working pressure, so the data sheet carries one variant read at three demand levels. Free Air Delivery spans 79 to 425 l/s at the minimum setting and still reaches 353 l/s when the network calls for the full 10.4 bar(e). Installed power stays at 145 kW (200 hp) across the whole envelope, and the package reads 67 dB(A) at the work station.

The effective row is the one most buyers anchor on: 79 to 409 l/s at 7 bar(e), which is where most plant headers settle in daily running. Because the output band is printed per level, a demand profile can be laid straight over the table instead of being estimated from one full-load point.

The pressure columns translate directly for buyers working in imperial units: the three levels correspond to 60, 100, and 150 psig, so a network specified in psi can be matched to a row without conversion. Motor rating appears as 145 kW or 200 hp depending on which side of the table is read, and both figures describe the same installed drive.

One Pressure Rating with a Wide Turn-Down

Offering the ZT 145 VSD at one 10.4 bar(e) rating keeps the selection simple: there is no variant ladder to climb, only the question of how low the machine can turn down. At the minimum setting it idles along at 79 l/s, roughly a fifth of its top end at the same pressure band, which is the property that lets one machine absorb demand swings that would push a fixed speed unit into unload cycling. Between shifts, during lunch breaks, or whenever a downstream section stops, output tracks the drop instead of venting it.

For a plant that currently runs two smaller fixed speed oil-free machines in cascade, this envelope often lets the ZT 145 VSD carry the whole load alone at part speed. The pressure band never leaves the printed rows: 4 bar(e) at the bottom, 10.4 bar(e) at the top, with the effective band in between.

The envelope of the ZT 145 VSD is produced by a two-stage oil-free compression path. Ambient air passes an inlet filter that removes airborne dust before the first compression stage lifts it to an intermediate pressure. An intercooler drops the temperature of the air between the stages, and a moisture separation system drains the condensed water before the second stage brings the pressure to its final level. Separating the work across two stages keeps discharge temperatures manageable at every point of the turn-down, which is what allows the output to sit at 79 l/s for hours without thermal penalties.

Because the compression chambers run completely oil-free, no oil aerosol ever touches the air stream, and the design removes the oil filters, oil separators, and oil changes that an injected machine would schedule. What remains on the service plan are the intake elements, the desiccant of the integrated dryer in the FF (iMD) build, and the standard wear items of the drive train.

Air-Cooled Architecture and the VSD+ Drive

The ZT 145 VSD rejects its compression heat through a cooler block fed by ambient plant air, so no cooling water circuit, pumps, or water treatment are needed. That single design choice removes an entire installation package and makes the machine portable between buildings, since only an electrical supply and an air main are required at the new spot.

The VSD+ drive end carries the dual NEOS drive arrangement of the range, the platform behind the widest turn-down in this class. Supervision runs on the Elektronikon Mk5 Touch controller, whose touch screen schedules service, raises warnings before they turn into trips, and keeps the operating history of the ZT 145 VSD available for review. Service items are grouped behind panels at one side of the canopy, so a technician works from a single position during a stop.

The controller also connects the machine to the wider plant. Hour counters, loaded hours, and controller-set parameters stay readable on the screen, and the event log records what happened before a warning appeared, which shortens the conversation with the service engineer. For buyers running several Atlas Copco packages on one site, the same controller logic across the fleet means an operator trained on one machine can walk up to the ZT 145 VSD and find the menus where they expect them.

Package Builds and Dimensions

Two builds leave the factory for this model. The Pack unit weighs 2795 kg and measures 3400 mm long, 1660 mm wide, and 2000 mm high. The Full Feature (iMD) build integrates the rotary drum adsorption dryer into the same frame; it extends the length to 4085 mm and brings the weight to 3445 kg. In imperial units the Pack reads 134 by 65 by 80 inches at 6162 lb, and the FF (iMD) form carries 7595 lb on the same footprint width and height.

Inside the FF (iMD) drum, roughly three quarters of the desiccant surface dries the air while the remaining quarter regenerates with hot compressed air drawn from the compressor itself. The dew point is therefore held continuously without purge air leaving the package, and the wiring and piping between the compression section and the dryer are completed before the unit is shipped.

Where the ZT 145 VSD Fits

Plants without a cooling water circuit are the natural home of the ZT 145 VSD: food and beverage packaging halls, textile mills, and electronics plants that need Class 0 air but cannot justify a water treatment loop for the compressor room. The 67 dB(A) reading places the machine close to work stations, which opens floor plans that a louder installation would rule out. Sites that dry-load a ZT 145 VSD through long weekend shifts also gain from the low idle flow, since the package keeps the header pressurized at a fraction of full output instead of switching off.

It also suits facilities consolidating several small oil-free units. One 145 kW (200 hp) machine replacing a pair of older packages cuts standing losses, halves the number of service positions, and leaves headroom in the envelope for a production expansion that the old pair could never absorb.

A third group is plants standardizing on a single header pressure. With one 10.4 bar(e) rating across the range, spare parts knowledge, service routines, and operator training stay identical as the machine room grows, and a later ZT 145 VSD can be added alongside the first without rethinking the network design.

Stepping Up to the ZT 160 VSD

When the demand profile outgrows the 425 l/s ceiling of the ZT 145 VSD at low pressure, the next machine in the same air-cooled family is the Atlas Copco ZT 160 VSD, which adds a second pressure variant, a wider standard VSD envelope, and a 3850 kg Pack frame in the 160 kW (215 hp) class.

ZT 145 VSD FAQ

How much air does the ZT 145 VSD deliver at full 10.4 bar(e) output?

At the maximum setting the ZT 145 VSD produces 76 to 353 l/s (161 to 749 cfm). The widest band, 79 to 425 l/s, is available at the minimum 4 bar(e) setting.

Does the ZT 145 VSD need a cooling water connection?

No. The ZT 145 VSD is air-cooled by design, Heat is rejected through an air-cooled cooler block, so the installation needs only an electrical supply and the air main.

What is the difference between the Pack and FF (iMD) builds?

The Pack build is the compressor alone at 2795 kg and 3400 mm long. The FF (iMD) build adds the integrated rotary drum adsorption dryer, growing to 4085 mm and 3445 kg, and ships with a treated-air outlet ready at the canopy.

Why does the machine turn down so far?

The dual NEOS drive arrangement of the VSD+ platform modulates motor speed across a wide band, so output follows demand from 79 l/s upward instead of cycling between load and unload.

How loud is the ZT 145 VSD?

The sound pressure level at the work station is 67 dB(A), measured with the cooling-air ducting on the outlet grating included. Conversation next to the enclosure stays practical, which is why the machine is often placed on the production floor itself.

Can one ZT 145 VSD replace two fixed speed oil-free compressors?

Frequently yes. If the combined demand of the two units stays inside the 79 to 425 l/s band at the header pressure, the ZT 145 VSD covers the load and eliminates the cascade control between them. a single ZT 145 VSD covers the load and eliminates the cascade control between them.