Spoiler alert: Assumptions about stable airflow are often wrong. An audit is the only reliable way to understand your actual air demand – and in most cases, a variable speed drive (VSD) compressor will deliver better efficiency, regardless of how 'stable' your usage seems.
Fact: Most compressed air systems do not have stable demand
Only 8% of compressor installations operate with truly stable air demand. Many users believe their airflow is consistent, but real-world data tells a different story. Fluctuations are caused by shift patterns, production cycles, seasonal changes, and system leaks.
Conducting a compressed air audit is the only reliable way to uncover these variations. Tools like Atlas Copco’s SMARTLINK provide real-time insight into usage patterns, particularly during low-demand periods – where VSD compressors provide the most efficiency gains.
Fact: Fixed-speed compressors waste energy when demand drops
A fixed-speed compressor’s motor runs at full speed regardless of demand. Even during low-load periods, it consumes significant energy. While unloading reduces power use slightly, it still burns through more electricity than a VSD.
Atlas Copco’s VSD compressors avoid these start-stop energy losses. Instead, they dynamically adjust motor speed to meet real-time demand – minimizing wasted energy both during operation and stop/start transitions.
Fact: Compressed air production rarely matches demand exactly
Although air demand may seem consistent, it seldom aligns perfectly with compressor output — even with an air receiver in place. Air is stored in the vessel until pressure drops enough to trigger a restart, creating an on/off cycling pattern.
This cycle is similar to a thermostat in a heating system: it activates only when needed. However, for compressors, this cycling leads to frequent unloading and start/stop energy losses – particularly for fixed-speed machines. Atlas Copco VSD compressors respond more precisely, maintaining pressure without the energy penalties of traditional cycling.
Fact: Air demand is inherently variable – plan for it
Demand variability is the norm, not the exception. Instead of assuming stability, it’s better to design systems for flexibility and efficiency. With smart control, speed modulation, and advanced diagnostics, modern VSD compressors adapt to fluctuations without energy waste.
Atlas Copco’s latest VSD generation shows that 80% of users save at least 25% on energy compared to fixed-speed alternatives – often more in applications with variable demand. They even offer double-digit energy savings for facilities with a stable air demand.
Fact check summary
Claim: Stable airflow means a fixed-speed compressor is the best choice
Verdict: False. Most facilities have more variation in air demand than they realize. A VSD compressor, combined with proper auditing, offers better efficiency and control.
