Atlas Copco Offers New Screw Vacuum Pumps

The new screw vacuum pumps underline a commitment to sustainable glass production, said company officials. The GHS VSD+ vacuum pump series features a robust design, long service life and greatly improved oil cooling and retention, which contribute to savings in production processes and results in significantly reduced life cycle costs, compared to the economics of competing vacuum systems.

High efficiency

The GHS VSD+ series was designed as a durable plug-and-play system in a single housing. “The energy-efficient units deliver higher volume flows per hour and kilowatt power consumption than vacuum pumps with comparable performance,” explained Christoph Angenendt, communications manager for Industrial Vacuum at Atlas Copco. It therefore makes sense to convert several decentralized pumps to a central vacuum supply, he said.

With a GHS VSD+ system, users can significantly increase their productivity. Atlas Copco reports energy savings of up to 50% in glass production compared to applications with conventional rotary vane vacuum pumps. “The payback time for a converted system is correspondingly short,” added Angenendt.

During development of the GHS 3800-5400 VSD+ Atlas Copco’s design engineers drew from the experience with the established GHS 350-900 VSD+ and GHS 1300-1900 VSD+ series. They also feature high efficiency and reliability and are available as a compact, user and service-friendly package. The screw element at the heart of the pumps offers a lifetime guarantee, while intelligent turbo and humid versions ensure trouble-free performance even in difficult application environments. The coarse vacuum pumps are optionally equipped with air or water cooling. An energy recovery option makes it possible to recycle energy losses from the IE3 high-efficiency motor. And excellent oil retention improves the quality of exhaust air compared to alternative technologies. “This results in a cleaner and cooler working environment,” said Angenendt, which clearly benefits the users.

The Elektronikon Mk5 control system and speed-controlled drive system (VSD+) make pump operation extremely economical. The pressure setpoint control function ensures that the pumps deliver the lowest possible vacuum flow to maintain the required vacuum. This minimizes energy consumption and reduces operating costs over the lifecycle.

Low maintenance requirements of the series also contribute to efficiency. “There are no rotary vanes that need to be replaced, and the screw element is also maintenance-free for years. In addition, suction filters and oil separators can be replaced without dismantling the piping,” Angenendt explained.

The unit’s SMARTlink software keeps the operator informed about necessary maintenance work. The system displays all relevant information on an intuitively understandable, graphical user interface. The operating vacuum can be adjusted or changed by pressing a key. This lets users easily adapt the pump’s performance to the respective process requirements.