Which compressor type is best for me?
Now that you know all three compressor types, you might be wondering what the best option for you is. Let’s briefly look at all three technologies and examine in which circumstances each of them might be the optimal solution for your compressed air needs.
1
If your focus is on keeping investment costs as low as possible, a fixed-speed GA is the most economical to buy. That often makes it the preferred choice for small operations that use compressed air sparingly.
There are some situations in which the downsides of fixed-speed compressors have less of an impact. That is especially true when you have a very stable compressed air demand that is at the upper limit of what the fixed-speed compressor can produce. Do note that even in this best-case scenario, transient and unload losses will eat up a large percentage of the compressor’s energy consumption.
2
The GA FLX offers some of the benefits of both fixed-speed and VSD compressors. Its initial cost is lower than that of a VSD, but it also comes with much lower energy costs than the fixed-speed GA. Therefore, in all of the scenarios in which a fixed-speed compressor makes sense, a GA FLX is the better option.
3
For almost all applications, GA VSD compressors are the best choice. Apart from their higher initial investment, which can be recouped quickly thanks to their extreme efficiency, they are simply better in every way – beginning with their greater sustainability and reliability to their state-of-the-art connectivity options and the lowest total cost of ownership.
So, which compressor is best for you? Most likely, it will be a GA VSD. However, the GA FLX also has many benefits because it is so much better than a fixed-speed compressor.
Click here to read a more detailed comparison between fixed-speed, dual-speed and VSD compressors.
Contact us!This guide gave you a complete overview of dual-speed compressors, what they are, how they work and how they can benefit you. We also shared all the details on the very first dual-speed compressor, the GA FLX. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your local Atlas Copco representative will be happy to assist you.