Description
The Atlas Copco GA 26 VSD is the 26 kW / 35 hp rating of the GA 18-37 VSD+ group, a variable speed machine that shares its upright frame with the GA 22 VSD below it. At the 4 bar(e) setting the drive spans 14.8 to 85.8 l/s, and the 12.5 bar(e) version still pushes 64.1 l/s at the top of its speed range. Four settings between 4 and 12.5 bar(e) are offered, and the platform carries a maximum working pressure of 13 bar(e).
Where a fixed-speed GA 26 loads and unloads in steps, the GA 26 VSD trims motor speed to the air that the plant actually consumes. That single difference removes the unloaded minutes from the energy bill and holds line pressure inside a narrow band for the tools downstream. The package stands 1590 mm high, weighs 373 kg as a standard unit and posts 67 dB(A), so it drops onto the floor space of the fixed-speed machine it replaces.
Atlas Copco builds this rating for plants whose demand sits between the two popular 22 kW and 30 kW duties. The GA 26 VSD keeps the flow of a larger fixed-speed unit at part load and the footprint of a smaller one at full load, which is why it fits both a new compressor room and a retrofit into an occupied workshop.
Where the GA 26 VSD Sits in the GA 18-37 VSD+ Group
The group runs from the GA 18 VSD at 18 kW through the GA 22 VSD, the GA 26 VSD, the GA 30 VSD and the GA 37 VSD at 37 kW. All five ratings share the vertical layout, the interior permanent magnet motor and the VSD+ cubicle, so a plant can standardise on one control logic as its demand grows. The 26 kW rating covers the step between the two most requested duties of the range.
One Frame, Four Kilowatts More
Against the GA 22 VSD, the GA 26 VSD adds 4 kW of motor rating and lifts the top of the flow window from 76.1 to 85.8 l/s at the 4 bar(e) setting. The package stays at 780 mm depth, 811 mm width and 1590 mm height, and the standard weight moves from 363 kg to 373 kg. A workshop that has outgrown a 22 kW machine gains the extra flow without touching the room, the foundation or the piping layout.
What the VSD and FF Names Cover
The GA 26 VSD is the standard build, feeding a network that treats the air downstream. The GA 26 VSD FF carries the refrigerant dryer inside the same frame and widens to 1273 mm, so dry air leaves the package without a separate dryer on the floor. Both builds keep the drive train, the sound level and the four pressure settings of the group.
Technical Specifications of the GA 26 VSD
Performance of the GA 26 VSD is measured to ISO 1217 edition 4, annex E, and the mean noise level follows ISO 2151 with a tolerance of 3 dB(A). Figures refer to an absolute inlet pressure of 1 bar and an intake air temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The table lists the standard build and the Full Feature build of the 26 kW rating side by side.
| Model | Motor rating | Noise | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA 26 VSD | 26 kW / 35 hp | 67 dB(A) | 373 kg |
| GA 26 VSD FF | 26 kW / 35 hp | 67 dB(A) | 490 kg |
FAD Across the Four Pressure Settings
The flow window opens between the lowest and the highest speed of the drive at every reference pressure. The figures below are the minimum and maximum free air delivery of the GA 26 VSD at each setting, and they show the reach of the machine from a light night program to a full production peak.
| Working pressure | FAD range (l/s) | FAD range (m³/h) | FAD range (cfm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 bar(e) / 58 psig | 14.8 – 85.8 | 53.2 – 309.0 | 31.3 – 181.8 |
| 7 bar(e) / 102 psig | 14.5 – 85.3 | 52.1 – 307.2 | 30.6 – 180.7 |
| 9.5 bar(e) / 138 psig | 16.9 – 77.9 | 60.7 – 280.5 | 35.7 – 165.1 |
| 12.5 bar(e) / 181 psig | 16.3 – 64.1 | 58.8 – 230.8 | 34.6 – 135.8 |
Dimensions and Weight
The GA 26 VSD uses the frame of the 18-37 VSD+ group: 780 mm depth, 811 mm width and 1590 mm height for the standard build, with the Full Feature version widening to 1273 mm to house the integrated dryer. At 373 kg the standard unit moves with a pallet truck, and the 490 kg FF package matches the weight of the fixed-speed GA 26 WorkPlace unit it can replace.
How the Drive Follows a Changing Demand
A Narrow Band Instead of Load Steps
The inverter of the GA 26 VSD raises and lowers motor speed so that delivered flow equals consumption at every moment. The machine covers 20 to 100 percent of its flow range without unloading, and pressure stays inside a band that the controller holds at the set point. The dual pressure set point function adds a second, lower band for night shifts and weekends, and the delayed second stop runs the drive only when the network calls for air.
Starting and Stopping Under Full Pressure
The drive brings the motor up from zero speed with a controlled current, so the GA 26 VSD starts against a pressurized network without the inrush peak of a direct-online motor. No unload start timer is needed, and the electrical installation of the workshop sees a smooth load instead of a current spike at every start. The same behaviour removes the peak current penalty that utilities charge to plants with frequent motor starts.
The iPM Motor and the VSD+ Cubicle
An Oil-Cooled Rotor in an IP66 Housing
The interior permanent magnet motor of the GA 26 VSD exceeds the IE3 efficiency class and is cooled by the oil circuit of the element, so no cooling air has to be routed to the rotor. The housing carries the IP66 rating against dust and water jets, and the motor bearings run in oil, which keeps grease points out of the service routine. The motor is designed and built in-house for this drive.
Direct Drive and the Sentinel Valve
A direct coupling joins motor and element without gears, belts or a shaft seal, and the vertical layout keeps the number of parts low. The Sentinel inlet valve works without an inlet arrestor, produces no blow-off losses and needs no maintenance. The VSD+ cubicle holds the dedicated drive and a 5 percent DC choke as standard, and the heat of the inverter leaves through a separate compartment.
Full Feature: The Dryer Inside the Frame
The FF build of the GA 26 VSD integrates a refrigerant dryer with a pressure dew point of 3 degrees Celsius, so the air leaves the package ready for general manufacturing. The Saver Cycle reads ambient conditions and shuts the dryer down once a normal dew point is reached, which recovers two thirds of the dryer power. The dryer uses R134a, and its global warming potential has been cut by 44 percent against the previous design.
The Condensate Path
Condensate from the dryer and the separator collects at one electronic no-loss drain, included as standard on the GA 26 VSD. The drain expels water without losing compressed air, and its manual bypass keeps the line open during a power failure. Plants that must treat the condensate add an oil-water separator downstream of that single point.
Control and Monitoring
The Elektronikon graphic controller regulates the drive motor and the fan of the GA 26 VSD, shows key parameters on a 3.5 inch colour display and indicates the next service in advance. Four week schedules can be programmed for a period of ten consecutive weeks, and the dual pressure set point follows the shift pattern of the plant. Remote control and connectivity are built in, and a licence upgrade extends the controller to central control of four machines through ES4i or six through ES6i.
Options That Extend the GA 26 VSD
The option list of the platform covers the duties that a standard package does not reach. Energy recovery captures the heat of compression as hot air or hot water, and the recovery system takes about 75 percent of the power input back as usable heat. Air treatment options range from an integrated Class 1 filter to a UD+ filter for plants with a strict dew point or oil carry-over limit.
- Energy recovery kit that turns the heat of compression into hot water or hot air
- Integrated filter Class 1 or Class 2, plus a dryer bypass for maintenance windows
- Food grade oil and Roto-Xtend duty oil for food plants and high duty cycles
- Heavy duty inlet filter, rain protection and pre-filter for dusty or outdoor rooms
- NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X cubicle, motor space heater and thermistors for harsh sites
- Central control licence for four or six machines on one network
Applications of the GA 26 VSD
The 26 kW rating suits packaging lines, plastics processing, textile plants and general manufacturing where demand moves through the day. The 4 bar(e) setting serves low pressure networks with the widest flow window, while the 12.5 bar(e) setting covers high pressure duties such as blow moulding and pressure testing. Plants that run a fixed-speed GA 26 at part load for most of the shift gain the largest saving from the variable speed version, and two small fixed-speed units can be replaced by one GA 26 VSD.
Service and Support Around the GA 26 VSD
The oil filter and separator of the GA 26 VSD form one service point with an integrated bypass valve, and the electronic drain removes condensate without attention. Oil-lubricated motor bearings and the direct drive keep grease and belts out of the maintenance plan, and the controller schedules the next intervention from the loaded hours. Seadweer supplies the original service parts for the GA 26 VSD, supports commissioning and keeps consumables available for plants in continuous production.
FAQ
What flow does the GA 26 VSD deliver at 7 bar?
At the 7 bar(e) setting the flow window spans 14.5 to 85.3 l/s, which equals 52.1 to 307.2 m³/h or 30.6 to 180.7 cfm between the lowest and the highest speed.
Which pressure versions does the GA 26 VSD offer?
The machine comes in 4, 7, 9.5 and 12.5 bar(e) versions, and the platform reaches a maximum working pressure of 13 bar(e). Each version keeps the full speed range of the drive.
Is the GA 26 VSD an oil-injected compressor?
Yes. The oil film lubricates and seals the screw element, and the separator removes the oil from the delivered air before it leaves the package.
What does FF add to the GA 26 VSD?
The FF build integrates a refrigerant dryer with a 3 degrees Celsius pressure dew point in the same frame, and the package widens from 811 mm to 1273 mm to hold it.
How heavy is the GA 26 VSD?
The standard build weighs 373 kg and the Full Feature build 490 kg. Both builds share the 780 mm depth and 1590 mm height of the group.
How does the GA 26 VSD compare with the fixed-speed GA 26?
The fixed-speed unit delivers 56.2 l/s at its 13 bar setting and runs at 69 dB(A). The 12.5 bar(e) version of the GA 26 VSD reaches 64.1 l/s at the top of its speed range and holds 67 dB(A).
- Atlas Copco GA 26 VSD: 26 kW / 35 hp variable speed machine of the GA 18-37 VSD+ group
- Flow window 14.8 to 85.8 l/s at 4 bar(e) and 16.3 to 64.1 l/s at 12.5 bar(e), maximum working pressure 13 bar(e)
- Up to 50 percent energy saving and a 37 percent lower lifecycle cost against fixed-speed running
- 67 dB(A), 373 kg standard and 490 kg as FF, in a frame of 780 by 811 by 1590 mm
- Full Feature build integrates a refrigerant dryer with a 3 degrees Celsius pressure dew point
- iPM motor above IE3 in an IP66 housing, direct drive, Sentinel valve and 5 percent DC choke as standard
Radim Kral –
We ran two 15 kW fixed-speed units in the same room for years, one for the packing line and one for the tool shop, and both spent most of the shift unloading. The GA 26 VSD now covers both networks from one package, and the pressure no longer swings when the second line starts. The 12.5 bar version was the reason we picked this rating over the GA 22, because our blow moulding station needs the higher setting and still gets 64 l/s. Commissioning took one day and the floor space we freed up now holds our spare parts rack.