Description
The Atlas Copco GA 11 VSDS is the 11 kW member of the GA 5-37 VSDS generation, the third and most efficient step of the Atlas Copco variable speed technology. A Ferrite-Assisted Synchronous Reluctance motor of IE5 class, built without rare earth materials, drives the element through the Neos Next inverter, and the drive train reaches IP66 protection without gears or belts. The GA 11 VSDS modulates its speed continuously across four pressure settings from 4 to 13 bar(e), with a flow window from 6.3 to 38.8 l/s, and cuts energy use by up to 60 percent against comparable fixed speed models. With a sound level of 67 dB(A) and packages starting at 253 kg, the GA 11 VSDS serves production halls and workshops that need real air volume without a dedicated compressor room.
The savings figure is the headline, but the sustainability story behind it matters as much. The FASR motor needs no rare earth materials, the inverter and motor exceed the IES2 requirements of EN 50598, and an optional energy recovery system reuses up to 80 percent of the power input as hot water. A plant that chooses the GA 11 VSDS therefore lowers both its electricity bill and its emissions footprint at the same time.
Where the GA 11 VSDS Fits in the Oil-Injected Range
Atlas Copco positions the GA 5-37 VSDS line as the successor technology to the earlier VSD and VSD+ generations: savings rise from 50 to up to 60 percent, and the average free air delivery increases by 20 percent against fixed speed machines. Within that line the GA 11 VSDS stands in the middle, above the GA 5 VSDS and the GA 7 VSDS and below the GA 15 VSDS and the larger models. Workshops that know the earlier GA 11 VSD generation will recognize the duty class, while the drive technology, the control platform and the packaging are entirely new.
What the VSDS Name Covers
The VSDS designation marks the third variable speed generation: the S stands for the synchronous reluctance principle of the FASR motor, which combines ferrite assistance with a rotor design free of rare earth magnets. The GA 11 VSDS is offered as a Pack version for dry air networks and as a Full Feature version with an integrated refrigerant dryer, and the GA 5-11 VSDS models add a tank-mounted variant with a side-mounted 200 liter vessel that stores air without enlarging the footprint.
Technical Specifications of the GA 11 VSDS
The table below condenses the GA 11 VSDS into its headline figures:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Installed motor power | 11 kW / 15 hp |
| Working pressure settings | 4, 7, 10, 13 bar(e); maximum working pressure 10 bar(e) or 13 bar(e) |
| Free air delivery | 6.3 to 38.8 l/s (13.3 to 82.2 cfm) |
| Noise level | 67 dB(A) |
| Weight, Pack / Full Feature, 4 and 7 bar(e) versions | 318 kg / 408 kg |
| Weight, Pack / Full Feature, 10 and 13 bar(e) versions | 253 kg / 343 kg |
| Dimensions, Full Feature with 200 l vessel | 700 mm wide, 1595 mm deep, 1630 mm high |
FAD Across the Four Pressure Settings
Each pressure version covers a wide flow window because the drive modulates between a low idle and full speed. The figures below apply to the GA 11 VSDS in its four settings:
| Working pressure | FAD min-max (l/s) | FAD min-max (m³/h) | FAD min-max (cfm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 bar(e) / 58 psig | 15.3 – 38.8 | 55.1 – 139.7 | 32.4 – 82.2 |
| 7 bar(e) / 102 psig | 13.8 – 38.2 | 49.7 – 137.5 | 29.2 – 80.9 |
| 10 bar(e) / 147 psig | 6.4 – 32.3 | 23.0 – 116.3 | 13.6 – 68.4 |
| 13 bar(e) / 191 psig | 6.3 – 26.6 | 22.7 – 95.8 | 13.3 – 56.4 |
Unit performance is measured according to ISO 1217, annex E, edition 4:2009, and the FAD is measured at the effective working pressures of 4, 7, 10 and 13 bar(e). The maximum working pressure of the GA 11 VSDS is 10 bar(e) or 13 bar(e) depending on the ordered version. The noise level of 67 dB(A) is the mean value measured at a distance of 1 m at maximum working pressure according to ISO 2151:2004 using the ISO 9614/2 sound intensity method, with a tolerance of 3 dB(A).
Two Hardware Versions and Their Weights
The GA 11 VSDS is built in two hardware versions that match the pressure setting to the machine. The 4 and 7 bar(e) versions weigh 318 kg as a Pack and 408 kg as a Full Feature, while the 10 and 13 bar(e) versions weigh 253 kg and 343 kg respectively, and their flow floor at idle sits at 6.3 to 6.4 l/s instead of the 13.8 to 15.3 l/s of the low-pressure versions. Seadweer recommends matching the version to the actual network pressure during the quotation, so the machine is neither oversized in flow nor undersized in pressure.
Dimensions and the 200 Liter Vessel
The Pack version of the GA 11 VSDS measures 700 mm wide, 700 deep and 1495 mm high, one of the smallest footprints in its class. The Full Feature branch deepens to 1095 mm to house the dryer. The tank-mounted variants integrate the side-mounted 200 liter vessel: the Pack TM version reaches 1200 mm in depth and 1630 mm in height, and the Full Feature TM version 1595 mm in depth, so air storage is gained without giving up more than the vessel depth itself.
The FASR Motor and the Neos Next Inverter
IE5 Efficiency Without Rare Earth Materials
The Ferrite-Assisted Synchronous Reluctance motor of the GA 11 VSDS equals IE5 standards and is built without rare earth materials, which limits the supply risk and the environmental burden of the drive. The motor is oil-cooled for maximum efficiency, carries IP66 protection and connects to the element without gears or belts, so no transmission losses occur anywhere in the drive train. Inverter and motor together exceed the IES2 requirements of EN 50598 for power drive efficiency, which keeps the losses between the mains supply and the compressor shaft low across the whole speed range.
Boost Flow Mode
With conventional compressors, exceeding the maximum capacity means falling pressure and even a production stop. The GA 11 VSDS comes with Boost Flow Mode, which temporarily stretches the delivery beyond the nominal maximum without negative operational or reliability consequences. A plant that hits a short peak, for example when several machines start at once, rides through it on the GA 11 VSDS instead of buying a larger machine for a duty that lasts minutes per day.
Smart Temperature Control System
The GA VSDS is the first compressor family to offer full injection control: an algorithm in the Elektronikon controller combines multiple operating parameters to calculate the optimal oil temperature, and the Neos Next inverter implements it by regulating the variable speed fan and the Smart Thermostatic Control Valve. This eliminates the risk of condensation in the oil system and maximizes compression efficiency at every load point. The valve itself is maintenance free and routes the oil through the coolers to achieve the ideal injection temperature.
Full Feature: Air Quality Inside the Same Frame
The Full Feature version of the GA 11 VSDS integrates a refrigerant dryer with a pressure dew point of 3 degrees Celsius, based on cross-flow heat exchanger technology with a low pressure drop. Combined with the UD+ filter the package reaches ISO 8573-1 air quality Class 1.4.2, so particles, water and oil are controlled to the level that painting, laboratories and food-related applications demand. The dryer uses a refrigerant whose global warming potential has been lowered by an average of 50 percent, with zero ozone depletion, and the no-loss condensate drain wastes no compressed air while removing the water.
Intelligent Drains
The intelligent no-loss drain of the GA 11 VSDS removes condensate automatically, tracks the drain cycles and the maintenance schedule, and detects potential issues before they flood the network. Warnings are transmitted to the controller, so the service team sees the condition of the drain on the panel instead of discovering it through rust downstream.
Connectivity and Control
The Elektronikon Touch controller with its 4.3-inch display governs the GA 11 VSDS and handles warning indications, shutdowns and maintenance scheduling. SMARTLINK real-time remote monitoring is standard and reports the operating data to a computer or mobile device, and the integrated EQ2i multiple compressor control manages a second machine as standard, with EQ4i and EQ6i available as options. OPC UA connectivity integrates the GA 11 VSDS into the production monitoring system, which turns the compressor into a data point on the factory floor rather than a closed box in the corner.
Energy Recovery as an Option
As much as 90 percent of the electrical energy a compressed air system consumes is converted into heat, and the energy recovery system of the GA 11 VSDS can be built in to reuse up to 80 percent of the power input as hot water. The recovered heat feeds showers and changing rooms, cleaning lines and heating circuits, and offsets a noticeable share of the energy bill of the plant. Together with the 60 percent saving of the drive itself, the GA 11 VSDS reaches a total energy performance that no fixed speed machine of this class can approach.
Applications of the GA 11 VSDS
The GA 11 VSDS serves plants with fluctuating demand: workshops with CNC machine tools, food producers with batch cycles, laboratories, calibration benches and packaging lines. The 4 bar(e) setting fits dedicated low-pressure networks such as textile air and pneumatic conveying, while the 13 bar(e) version covers laser cutting assist air and small injection duties. Plants consolidating two small compressors replace the alternating control logic with the single modulating GA 11 VSDS, and plants that grow further step into the GA 15 VSDS on the same line. Workshops that know the previous GA 11 VSD generation will find the same installation simplicity in the GA 11 VSDS with a new drive generation underneath.
Service and Support Around the GA 11 VSDS
The inlet filter of the GA 11 VSDS was developed especially for the VSDS line, with enhanced filtration efficiency and a lower pressure drop, and a heavy duty version is available for dusty environments. The option list covers energy recovery, dryer bypass, freeze protection, pre-filters, FoodGrade oil, Roto Synthetic Xtend oil and a high ambient version, so the machine adapts to climates and duties from workshops to food plants. Seadweer supports the GA 11 VSDS with original spare parts, service kits and technical documentation for every configuration.
FAQ
What does VSDS mean on the GA 11 VSDS?
VSDS is the Atlas Copco designation for the third variable speed generation, built on the Ferrite-Assisted Synchronous Reluctance motor of IE5 class and the Neos Next inverter. The motor speed follows the air demand, which saves up to 60 percent energy compared with fixed speed operation.
How much air does the GA 11 VSDS deliver?
The flow window reaches from 15.3 l/s at idle to 38.8 l/s at full speed on the 4 bar(e) setting. At 7 bar(e) the machine covers 13.8 to 38.2 l/s, and on the 10 and 13 bar(e) versions it covers 6.4 to 32.3 l/s and 6.3 to 26.6 l/s respectively.
Is the GA 11 VSDS an oil-injected machine?
Yes. The element is lubricated and sealed by injected oil in the usual rotary screw manner, and the oil is separated from the delivered air inside the package. The GA 11 VSDS belongs to the oil-injected GA 5-37 VSDS line.
Why does the GA 11 VSDS come in two weights?
The 4 and 7 bar(e) versions and the 10 and 13 bar(e) versions are built on different hardware: the low-pressure versions weigh 318 kg as a Pack and 408 kg as a Full Feature, while the high-pressure versions weigh 253 kg and 343 kg. The version follows the network pressure that the plant runs.
How loud is the GA 11 VSDS?
The mean sound pressure level is 67 dB(A), measured at 1 m distance at maximum working pressure according to ISO 2151:2004 with a tolerance of 3 dB(A). The GA 11 VSDS can stand directly in the production hall, and the variable speed fan keeps the noise low at every load point.
Which air quality does the Full Feature version reach?
With the built-in dryer and the UD+ filter the GA 11 VSDS meets ISO 8573-1 Class 1.4.2, with a pressure dew point of 3 degrees Celsius at the reference conditions. Plants that need a defined air quality class for painting, laboratories or food-related work get it from the package without external treatment units.
Andrei Popescu –
Our compressed air demand swings between a trickle at night and a rush at midday, and the GA 11 VSDS follows that curve without unloading once. After three months the electricity meter shows a third less than with our previous fixed speed machine, even though we deliver more air now. The machine stands in the production hall next to the CNC line, nobody notices the noise, and the Full Feature dryer keeps the dew point stable for our calibration benches. Seadweer configured the 10 bar version and handled the whole commissioning.