Atlas Copco GA 110 VSD (VSD⁺ FF) Oil-Injected Rotary Screw Air Compressor

Description

The Atlas Copco GA 110 VSD is the model where the GA 110-160 oil-injected platform enters variable speed drive territory. It pairs a SmartInjection compression element with an oil-cooled motor rated at 110 kW, and the Full Feature branch adds an integrated refrigerant dryer to the same package. The versions cover two pressure bands in 50 Hz and two ratings in 60 Hz, with free air delivery between 95 and 407 l/s depending on the setting.

Where the GA 110 VSD Fits in the Oil-Injected Range

The GA 110-160 platform forms the upper end of the oil-injected screw range, and the GA 110 VSD stands at its gate with 110 kW of installed power at 50 Hz and 150 hp at 60 Hz. For a plant that has outgrown the smaller GA frames, this is the step into the big-machine class: the same duty continuity that the larger GA 132 and GA 160 models deliver, in a package that carries the lightest footprint of the range. Thousands of GA compressors run around the world in this duty class, and the installations concentrate where compressed air works around the clock: general industry, mining, power plants, metal plants and cement works. The jobs range from pneumatic tools, actuators and valves to ventilation, packing and palletizing machinery, soot blowing, fly ash handling and the pneumatic conveying of raw materials.

Two cooling layouts share the same platform. The air-cooled package releases the compression heat into the ambient air through its cooler section, while the water-cooled package connects to a cooling-water loop on site. The rated figures of the GA 110 VSD apply across both layouts, so the choice comes down to the infrastructure the plant already has.

What the VSD and FF Names Cover

Two names describe the branches of the GA 110 VSD, and each adds one fact:

• VSD+ — variable speed drive: the drive adjusts the motor speed to the air demand, which holds the pressure band steady and brings energy savings of up to 35 percent at part load.
• FF — Full Feature: the package integrates a refrigerant dryer, so drying happens inside the compressor rather than beside it, with no additional installation work for wires and pipes.

The GA 110 VSD is built as the GA 110 VSD+ – 8.5 bar and GA 110 VSD+ – 10 bar versions at 50 Hz, and as the GA 110 VSD+ – 125 psi and GA 110 VSD+ – 150 psi versions at 60 Hz. Every version combines with both the Pack and the Full Feature scope, so a plant picks the pressure band first and the depth of air treatment second.

Technical Specifications of the GA 110 VSD

The table below condenses the GA 110 VSD into its headline figures:

Rated Data at 50 Hz

Each 50 Hz version of the GA 110 VSD is listed at three settings, and the FAD span inside every row covers the full VSD speed range at that setting. FAD is measured at 7 bar for the 8.5 bar version and at 9.5 bar for the 10 bar version:

The installed motor power stays at 110 kW across all settings, and the sound level holds at 77 dB(A) at the work station. The 8.5 bar version peaks at 407 l/s (862 cfm) on its minimum setting, and the 10 bar version peaks at 405 l/s (858 cfm). Moving from the minimum to the maximum pressure setting inside one version trims the peak flow by 51 to 80 l/s, which is the trade-off for the higher pressure band.

Rated Data at 60 Hz

The 60 Hz versions keep the three-setting structure, with the pressure bands written in psi and the motor rated at 150 hp:

The 125 psi version peaks at 407 l/s (862 cfm) on its minimum setting, and the 150 psi version peaks at 405 l/s (858 cfm). At 60 Hz reference conditions, the pressure dew point of the integrated refrigerant dryer sits between 2°C and 3°C (36°F to 37°F).

Dimensions and Weight

The footprint of the GA 110 VSD depends on the branch, and the integrated dryer of the Full Feature adds length to the package:

The Full Feature package is 400 mm longer and 400 kg heavier than the Pack, because the refrigerant dryer module rides inside the same canopy. Width and height are shared at 1,785 mm and 2,020 mm, so floor planning comes down to the length difference between the two branches.

VSD+ Flow Matching and Energy Efficiency

Energy dominates the operating bill of a compressor: over 80 percent of its lifecycle cost is the energy it consumes, and compressed air generation can account for more than 40 percent of a plant’s electricity bill. The GA 110 VSD attacks that share with variable speed drive. The motor speed follows the air demand automatically, energy savings reach up to 35 percent, and the average lifecycle cost of the compressor drops by 22 percent.

The flow table above shows what that means for a machine of this size. Inside every setting, the FAD span runs from about a quarter of the peak output up to the full figure, so the GA 110 VSD tracks a demand curve that swings between weekend idling and full production without stepping between fixed load points. Plants that replace a loaded-unloaded fixed speed machine with this drive concept feel the difference directly in the electricity meter, because the motor no longer burns power pushing air against a closed inlet valve.

Pressure Stability and Turndown

The integrated design holds the net pressure band within 0.10 bar (1.5 psi), and the compressor carries no speed windows that would jeopardize the savings or the stable net pressure. Turndown is maximized to 70-75 percent, so the GA 110 VSD keeps regulating deep into low demand instead of unloading early.

The highly efficient frequency converter sits in its own cubicle and stays stable in ambient temperatures up to 50°C / 122°F. The electric motor is designed for low operating speeds with dedicated attention to motor and compressor cooling, and the whole drive train is EMC tested and certified so compressor operation does not influence external sources and vice versa. Mechanical enhancements keep every component below critical vibration levels throughout the entire speed range.

Energy Recovery as Hot Water

The optional energy recovery system consists of a built-in stainless steel heat exchanger with a thermostatic controlled circuit. It recovers up to 78 percent of the energy from the integrated motor and element oil circuit in the form of warm water or hot water, without any adverse influence on compressor performance. For plants with a boiler feed, washing process or space heating load, that recovered heat displaces fuel or electricity that the plant would otherwise burn.

SmartInjection and the Sealed Drive Train

SmartInjection is the technology at the heart of the element. It provides the exact amount of oil the compression element requires, so the element works at peak efficiency across changing conditions instead of at a fixed compromise. Oil flows separately to the bearings for longer life and greater uptime, and the motor itself is oil-cooled, which removes the service interventions a conventional air-cooled motor needs. The drive train pairs the element with an IE4 class motor or better, and the air-cooled VSD FF branch carries an IE5 permanent magnet motor.

IP66 Protection and Ambient Capability

The drive train of the GA 110 VSD is IP66 rated, which seals it completely against environmental dust and moisture. That rating is what lets the compressor run reliably in the toughest conditions: cement dust, mine particulates and humid intake air stay outside the drive train. The package operates at ambient temperatures up to 55°C / 131°F, the high ambient variant extends the fixed speed pack to 55°C and the VSD pack to 50°C, and the air-cooled VSD FF runs at temperatures up to 46°C / 115°F as standard.

Full Feature: The Integrated Refrigerant Dryer

In the GA 110 VSD Full Feature, the refrigeration dryer is fully integrated in the compressor unit. The all-in-one layout reduces the floor space needed for the compressor room and removes the piping installation work a standalone dryer requires. The typical pressure dew point of the refrigerant dryer is 3°C (37.4°F) at reference conditions, and the dew point is continuously monitored while the machine runs.

Save Cycle Control and Oil Separation

The unique and patented Save Cycle Control stops the dryer whenever the compressor is stopped or in unload mode, which cuts the power consumption of the air treatment side. On the oil side, the separator uses multiple smaller cartridges instead of one large drum, which simplifies and shortens the service work and minimizes oil carry over into the air stream.

Monitoring and Control

The Elektronikon MK5 Touch controller runs the GA 110 VSD from one full-color touch display. Clear icons and intuitive navigation give fast access to all of the important settings and data, the controller monitors the running conditions and the maintenance status, and the built-in remote control and notification functions come with a simple integrated webpage as standard. Support covers 31 different languages, including character-based languages.

SMARTLINK and Optimizer 4.0

SMARTLINK monitors the compressed air installation over the ethernet: customized reports track the energy efficiency of the compressor room, components are replaced on time to keep uptime high, and early warnings avoid breakdowns and production loss. With the Elektronikon unit controller, a plant switches between two setpoints manually or automatically, and the sophisticated algorithm runs the drive motor only when needed while the desired setpoint is maintained.

Installations with several machines add Optimizer 4.0. It starts and stops compressors to minimize excess pressure, regulates the VSD so the output stays proportional to the demand, and adjusts the system pressure automatically to compensate for pressure drops caused by filters, piping and dryers. The result is the full energy saving potential of VSD across the whole compressor room instead of a single machine.

Options That Extend the Package

• High ambient variant — reliable continuous operation in hot and humid climates up to 55°C / 131°F for the fixed speed pack and 50°C / 121°F for the VSD pack.
• Shock Pulse Measurement — continuous SPM monitoring of the compressor element and motor bearings, with alarm and shutdown levels programmed during commissioning, so overhaul happens when the bearing condition calls for it.
• Motor thermal protection — five PT-1000 temperature sensors in the main motor, two on the bearings and three in the windings, displayed on the Elektronikon with alarms and shutdowns programmed to protect the motor.
• Food grade oil — the Roto-Foodgrade oil option for packaging, pharmaceutical and food and beverage plants where occasional contact is allowed in and around food processing areas.
• Witness and performance test — factory visit and witnessing of the standard performance test in accordance with ISO 1217:2009, annex C and E (4th edition).

Applications of the GA 110 VSD

The GA 110 VSD fits plants whose air demand moves with the production program: machining halls that idle between batches, bottling and packing lines that run campaign production, and blow molding or conveying duties that breathe with the schedule. In these profiles the drive pays for itself twice over, first through the part load savings and second through the stable pressure band that protects the downstream consumers.

Metal plants use it for instrumentation, plant air and the pneumatic conveying of raw materials or ash, and power plants keep a continuous supply of compressed air for soot blowing and fly ash handling. Mining operations run the GA 110 VSD for dust bag filtration, service air, ventilation air and pneumatic tools, where reliability and robustness decide the shift plan. Cement works are among the biggest consumers of compressed air, and this is exactly where the IP66 drive train, the grouped service area and the slide out coolers of the platform earn their place.

Service and Support Around the GA 110 VSD

Service parts are grouped together for ease of access, all components are designed for serviceability, and the patented portal design opens full access to every component when greater access is required. Each component is engineered to halve the service time compared to traditional designs, which keeps uptime high over the life of the machine. Optional service plans cover repairs, preventative maintenance and spare parts, and Atlas Copco fluids and lubricants are tailored to the equipment with anti-oxidation and anti-foaming additives.

Seadweer supplies genuine Atlas Copco spare parts and service kits for the installed base of the GA 110 VSD and its Full Feature branches. For the drive motor overhaul scope on the GA VSD+ platform, see the GA VSD+ Motor Overhaul Kit. Send us the compressor model together with the parts you need, and the correct items are confirmed with the quotation in one pass.

FAQ

What does VSD+ mean on the GA 110 VSD?

It marks the variable speed drive: the motor speed follows the air demand, which brings energy savings of up to 35 percent and holds the net pressure band within 0.10 bar. Turndown reaches 70-75 percent without speed windows.

Is the GA 110 VSD an oil-injected machine?

Yes. It is an oil-injected rotary screw compressor, and the oil seals and cools the compression element before the separator removes it from the air stream. Oil-free duty belongs to the separate ZR and ZT platforms.

How much air does the GA 110 VSD deliver?

The FAD spans 95 to 407 l/s (201 to 862 cfm) across all versions and settings. The 8.5 bar and 125 psi versions carry the highest output, peaking at 407 l/s on their minimum pressure setting.

What does FF add to the GA 110 VSD?

FF stands for Full Feature: the package integrates a refrigerant dryer with a 3°C / 37°F pressure dew point and patented Save Cycle Control. The branch adds 400 mm of package length and 400 kg of weight.

How loud is the GA 110 VSD?

The sound pressure level is 77 dB(A) at the work station in 50 Hz and 78 dB(A) in 60 Hz, across all versions and settings. The value is the A-weighted emission sound pressure level measured at the work station.

Which industries run the GA 110 VSD?

General industry, metal plants, power plants, mining and cement works form the base. All of them value the wide flow span of the VSD+ drive, the IP66 sealed drive train and the integrated dryer option in continuous duty.