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Mechanical Technology — July 2015
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On the cover
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I
n April 2015, Atlas Copco launched
its pioneering GHS 350-900 VSD+
vacuum pump range; a range of new-
generation, highly efficient, intelli-
gent vacuum pumps with variable speed
drives. “Based on the well-known and
durable plug-and-play design principles
of Atlas Copco compressors, a series of
vacuum pumps have now been developed
to deliver peak performance at operating
pressures commonly found in industrial
applications,” says Dean Adriaanse, prod-
uct manager of the company’s Industrial
Air division in South Africa.
Also new is the company’s UD+
compressed air filter cartridge, which
replaces the combination of a general-
purpose (DD) filter in series with a high-
efficiency (PD) filter, which is currently
used in over 50% of oil-injected compres-
sor applications. “One of our new UD+
filters replaces two previous-generation
filters and, as a consequence of the new
Nautilus media technology, gives a 40%
lower pressure drop compared to the
two-filter solution,” he adds.
“And it doesn’t end there. We are
also launching the re-engineered GA
range of oil-injected rotary screw com-
pressors, which, following intensive
market research, have been tailored to
better meet the real needs of custom-
ers. Efficiency and reliability have been
further improved, and servicing has been
simplified to reduce operating costs,” Van
Wyk tells
MechTech
.
Atlas Copco’s vacuum solutions
Drawing a vacuum, explains Adriaanse,
involves creating suction pressures below
atmospheric pressure. “There are two
broad categories of vacuum, rough or
fine, depending on the vacuum being
drawn. We are currently focusing on
rough vacuum pumps, which produce
pressures from 1 000 down to 1.0 mbar.
Following Atlas Copco’s global acquisition of vacuum products specialist,
Edwards, Atlas Copco Compressor Technique in South Africa has access
to a comprehensive vacuum products range. In addition, the company is
introducing its patent pending UD+ cartridge filter solution, along with a
re-engineered range of GA compressors.
MechTech
talks to Pieter van Wyk
and Dean Adriaanse.
The most advanced
in Atlas Copco’s vacuum pump range is
the recently released GHS VSD series.
Atlas Copco’s single-stage oil-sealed rotary
vane pumps (GVS series) offer flows of
between 20 and 365 m
3
/h.
Compressor Technique embraces new
The Edwards range, however, gives us
access to the fine vacuum products,
which include three pressure ranges:
medium (1.0 to 10
-5
mbar); high (10
-5
to
10
-9
mbar) and ultra-high vacuum, which
involves pressures down to 10
‑12
mbar,”
he says.
Edwards’ fine vacuum pumps are
designed for dealing with scientific,
research and development, semiconduc-
tor manufacturing and thin film coating
applications.
“Rough or coarse vacuum pumps, on
the other hand, are much more widely
used in industry. Common applications
include: vacuum forming and packaging;
vacuum cooling; brick extrusion; auto-
motive handling, pneumatic conveying
of powders such as cement; vacuum
extraction of waste fluids; CNC loading
and unloading systems; and a host of
vacuum lifting and pick and place materi-
als handling applications.
“Industries that make use of com-
pressed air often also need vacuum
pumps. So we have common customers.
The compressor technology that we know
so well, notably; screw, vane, scroll or
claw compression principles, are also ap-
plicable to vacuum. So the vacuum pump
technology, although a new offering from
Atlas Copco, is an excellent fit with our
current business,” Adriaanse suggests.
“The two offerings overlap significantly
with respect to both customers and
technology,” he argues.
On the efficiency side, all of the ap-
plied technology in Atlas Copco compres-
sors is used in vacuum pump systems:
VSD technology; motor and drive train
systems; and control systems. “All of our
previous expertise developed for com-
pressors is directly applicable to vacuum
systems,” assures Adriaanse.