Description
The Atlas Copco GA 7 VSDS belongs to 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 7 VSDS modulates its speed continuously across four pressure settings from 4 to 13 bar(e), with a flow window from 5.8 to 23.0 l/s, and cuts energy use by up to 60 percent against comparable fixed speed models. With a package weight of 241 kg and a sound level of 62 dB(A), the GA 7 VSDS brings the newest drive technology into the smallest compressor rooms.
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 7 VSDS therefore lowers both its electricity bill and its emissions footprint at the same time.
Where the GA 7 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 7 VSDS sits beside the GA 5 VSDS at the small end, with the GA 11 VSDS, the GA 15 VSDS and the larger models above it. Workshops that know the earlier GA 7 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 squirrel-cage-free rotor design. The GA 7 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 7 VSDS
The table below condenses the GA 7 VSDS into its headline figures:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Installed motor power | 7.5 kW / 10 hp |
| Working pressure settings | 4, 7, 10, 13 bar(e); maximum working pressure 10 bar(e) or 13 bar(e) |
| Free air delivery | 5.8 to 23.0 l/s (12.3 to 48.7 cfm) |
| Noise level | 62 dB(A) |
| Weight, Pack / Full Feature | 241 kg / 331 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 7 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 | 6.7 – 23.0 | 24.1 – 82.8 | 14.2 – 48.7 |
| 7 bar(e) / 102 psig | 6.4 – 22.6 | 23.0 – 81.4 | 13.6 – 47.9 |
| 10 bar(e) / 147 psig | 5.9 – 18.6 | 21.2 – 67.0 | 12.5 – 39.4 |
| 13 bar(e) / 191 psig | 5.8 – 14.7 | 20.9 – 52.9 | 12.3 – 31.1 |
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 7 VSDS is 10 bar(e) or 13 bar(e) depending on the ordered version. The noise level of 62 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).
Dimensions, Weight and the 200 Liter Vessel
The Pack version of the GA 7 VSDS measures 700 mm wide, 700 deep and 1495 mm high, one of the smallest footprints in its class, and weighs 241 kg. The Full Feature branch deepens to 1095 mm to house the dryer and weighs 331 kg. 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 7 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 7 VSDS comes with Boost Flow Mode, which temporarily stretches the delivery beyond the nominal maximum without negative operational or reliability consequences. A workshop that hits a short peak, for example when several machines start at once, rides through it on the GA 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 a small plant. Together with the 60 percent saving of the drive itself, the GA 7 VSDS reaches a total energy performance that no fixed speed machine of this class can approach.
Applications of the GA 7 VSDS
The GA 7 VSDS serves workshops with fluctuating demand: garages and tire shops, small carpentries and metal shops, laboratories, bakeries and packaging benches. 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. The tank-mounted version suits plants that want a buffer at the point of use, and the side-mounted 200 liter vessel keeps the whole station within the footprint of a workbench. Plants that know the previous GA 7 VSD generation will find the same installation simplicity in the GA 7 VSDS with a new drive generation underneath.
Service and Support Around the GA 7 VSDS
The inlet filter of the GA 7 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 7 VSDS with original spare parts, service kits and technical documentation for every configuration.
FAQ
What does VSDS mean on the GA 7 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 7 VSDS deliver?
The flow window reaches from 5.8 l/s at idle to 23.0 l/s at full speed on the 4 bar(e) setting. At 7 bar(e) the machine covers 6.4 to 22.6 l/s, and at 13 bar(e) it covers 5.8 to 14.7 l/s depending on the actual demand.
Is the GA 7 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 7 VSDS belongs to the oil-injected GA 5-37 VSDS line.
What is the difference between Pack, Full Feature and TM versions?
The Pack version delivers untreated air for networks with external treatment, while the Full Feature version integrates the refrigerant dryer with a 3 degrees Celsius pressure dew point inside the same frame. The TM variants add the side-mounted 200 liter vessel, which deepens the package to 1200 or 1595 mm and raises the height to 1630 mm.
How loud is the GA 7 VSDS?
The mean sound pressure level is 62 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 7 VSDS can stand directly on the production floor, 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 7 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.
Fabio Conti –
We compared the VSDS against the previous VSD generation before ordering, and the numbers convinced us: the same air for visibly less electricity, and the machine stays cool and quiet through double shifts. The GA 7 VSDS sits beside our CNC cell on the 200 liter vessel version, so we even gained a buffer tank without losing floor space. The dryer inside the Full Feature package keeps the dew point where our painting line needs it. Seadweer delivered, installed and connected the machine in one day.