Atlas Copco Engineers and Custom-Designs Its Own VSD for Heavy-Duty Air Compressors

Atlas Copco, a world-leading compressor manufacturer, engineered its pioneering in-house-designed inverter drive called the Neos, a smaller but equally powerful inverter for variable-speed drive (VSD) air compressors.

The Neos inverter is 70 kg lighter and less than half the size of the largest generic inverter. All GA 37-90 VSD compressors will now be equipped with the new inverters, which are also available for retrofitting unto existing GA models. Neos VSD compressor inverter units are being manufactured at their headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium.

Most off-shelf VSDs are designed for less demanding general applications including pump and fan purposes, and cannot handle heavy-duty applications. The off-shelf VSD market also caters to only 5% of compressor applications. To address these, the company decided to design and develop a compressor drive dedicated to VSD compressor applications.

The Neos inverter features a built-in torque-off function for safety, a relay output for the cubicle fan control, a motor temperature sensor input, and an IP 5x rated enclosure to protect drives from dust ingress.

The new inverter was tested in various working conditions from hot to humid and dusty to cold, spanning industrial sites in Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Bahrain, and Spain. During testing, the inverters ran for 10,000 hours with maximum load. Installed on 55, 75, and 90 kw compressors, the 16 Neos inverter drive units were compared performance-wise. From a harsh temperature range of 20°C to 50°C, the Neos units worked impressively and were able to operate smoothly even with continuous full load due to its IP 5X rated enclosure which protected it from dust infiltration all the way.

Atlas Copco offers the Neos inverter drive with a warranty period twice as long as other inverter drives available in the market. Inverter brands that require retrofitting can be interchanged with the Neos units. Because of their in-house manufacturing capability, the company can continually provide spare parts for the Neos VSDs today and in the future.

Industrial compressor innovations, similar to Atlas Copco’s in-house-designed inverter drive, are important for the improvement of industrial technology, as they offer more options in quality and sustainability. Supporting these advancements, Worthington Compressor Services supplies forward-thinking industrial machinery and expert solutions including genuine OEM parts, rebuilt air compressors, and aftermarket spare parts, among many others. services ideal for all. Learn more about Worthington Compressors Services’ and how our centuries’ worth of expertise can assist your industrial requirements when you visitwww.worthingtoncompressor.com/product-and-services today.