Atlas Copco GA 200 VSD (FF) Oil-injected Air Compressor

The Atlas Copco GA 200 VSD is the variable speed drive version of the GA 200, adjusting motor speed continuously so that compressed air output follows the demand of the plant. Atlas Copco builds and tests the screw element, motor, and frequency converter as one integrated unit. The machine comes in three pressure versions at 50 Hz (8.5, 10, and 14 bar) and three at 60 Hz (8.6, 10.4, and 13.8 bar), each documented with Minimum, Nominal, and Maximum performance figures.

Field measurements across many installations show that only around 8% of compressed air systems see a genuinely steady demand. In the remaining plants, output swings with shifts, weekdays, and seasons. A drive that follows those swings avoids unloaded running and cuts average energy use by up to 35%, with total spending across the compressor lifecycle falling by about 22% on average.

GA 200 VSD Technical Specifications

60 Hz Performance

Dimensions and Weight

The 8.5 bar version weighs 5682 kg (12527 lb) as a standard unit and 6221 kg (13715 lb) with Full Feature. The 10 bar and 13.8/14 bar versions weigh 4352 kg (9594 lb) standard and 4891 kg (10783 lb) with Full Feature. The installed motor is rated 200 kW at 50 Hz and 268 hp at 60 Hz.

How the Drive Follows Demand

The Elektronikon controller manages both the compressor and the integrated converter, holding the whole machine inside its designed parameters at every speed. When the plant draws less air, motor speed falls and the package stops producing unneeded flow; when consumption rises, speed climbs back within seconds.

Demand profiles collected across the industry explain where the benefit comes from. About 64% of installations run around the clock with low night demand, and another 28% work two shifts with erratically varying consumption. Only 8% run a genuinely steady profile. Tests confirm that even those steady sites save energy with a variable speed drive.

Below this capacity class, the same drive concept continues in the Atlas Copco GA90-160 (VSD⁺) Oil-injected Air Compressors.

Converter, Motor and Cooling Design

The converter and motor are engineered as a pair. The motor is built for low operating speeds with dedicated attention to motor cooling and compressor cooling, and its bearings run protected. Electronic gearing lets the pressure band of the installation be selected in the controller to match the application.

The frequency converter sits in a cool overpressure cubicle, which keeps it stable in ambient temperatures up to 50°C/122°F, above the standard machine limit of 46°C. A cubicle cooling booster extends the life of the electrical components. Every GA VSD unit is EMC tested and certified, so compressor operation neither disturbs external equipment nor suffers from it, and vibration levels stay below critical values across the entire speed range.

Full Feature Package and Air Quality

The Full Feature build adds an integrated ID refrigerant dryer to the package. All wires and pipes are assembled at the factory, the dryer holds a pressure dew point of 3°C/37°F, and its capacity tracks the compressor state: it keeps working when the machine unloads or stops, is monitored continuously, and restarts automatically with production.

With the integrated dryer alone, the package is rated ISO air quality class 3.4.4 with 3 microns of dirt particle removal. Adding the optional external filter set lifts the rating to class 2.4.2, with 1 micron particles and an oil concentration of 0.1 ppm. On every version, the integrated water separator with electronic drain removes all condensate from the package.

Energy Recovery

Compressed air production turns most of the input power into heat, and on a conventional machine that heat escapes through the coolers. The recovery system on the GA 200 VSD returns up to 94% of the shaft power as hot water at 85°C to 90°C (185°F to 194°F). The main heat exchanger is already built into the unit, so tying it into an existing water circuit is a small project with a short payback.

Where water systems are not in place, ducting the warm cooling air into workshops or storage areas provides straightforward space heating. Louver flaps discharge the air outdoors in summer, and a motorized, thermostatically controlled louver set regulates the flow across the seasons automatically.

GA 200 VSD FAQ

What do Minimum, Nominal, and Maximum mean in the tables?

They describe the drive speed range. Minimum is the flow at lowest drive speed, Maximum at full speed, and Nominal the typical duty point used for comparison.

Should I pick the 8.5, 10, or 14 bar version?

Choose the version that matches the highest working pressure your process genuinely needs. Electronic gearing then lets the pressure band be set in the controller, so the machine delivers what the network calls for without running overpressure.

Does a VSD still save energy if our demand is steady?

Yes. Around 8% of installations have a stable profile, and tests show measurable savings even on those sites, mainly because the machine no longer runs loaded and unloaded in cycles.

What ambient temperatures can the machine handle?

The standard package runs continuously up to 46°C, and the overpressure converter cubicle keeps the drive stable up to 50°C/122°F.

What air quality does the Full Feature version deliver?

A pressure dew point of 3°C/37°F and ISO class 3.4.4 as standard, rising to class 2.4.2 with 0.1 ppm oil carryover when the optional external filters are fitted.

How does the noise level vary across the range?

The 8.5 and 8.6 bar versions measure 77 dB(A) at the workstation, while the 10, 10.4, 13.8, and 14 bar versions measure 80 dB(A).