ASC15-8-400FD Screw Compressor — 15 kW, 8 bar, 400 l Receiver, Air Dryer, Inverter

1. Purpose and operating principle

How it works:

• The screw block compresses air up to 8 bar. Operation is smooth, without pulsation or shock loads, unlike piston compressors.
• The inverter adjusts motor speed to actual air demand. Instead of a “load — idle” cycle, the compressor keeps network pressure almost constant and does not waste electricity running idle.
• The permanent magnet motor delivers high efficiency across a wide speed range, especially at partial load, where an induction motor loses efficiency.
• The 400 l receiver smooths out demand peaks and reduces the number of starts.
• The refrigerated dryer cools the compressed air so that moisture condenses and is removed through the condensate drain. The result is air with a lowered dew point that does not form condensate in the piping at normal workshop temperatures.

The unit is supplied as a ready-to-use solution: connect the power supply and the air line, and the compressor is ready to work.

2. Technical specifications

⚠️ Not confirmed — verify with the manager / datasheet before publishing and before selling:

• Free air delivery (FAD) at 8 bar, l/min or m³/min
• Supply voltage and number of phases (probably 380 V / 3 ph / 50 Hz — not confirmed), current draw, supply cable cross-section
• Screw block manufacturer and inverter brand
• Transmission type (direct via coupling or other)
• Noise level, dB
• Weight, kg
• Dryer capacity, dew point, refrigerant
• Outlet port size and thread type
• Motor protection class (IP) and insulation class
• Oil volume and service intervals
• Speed control range
• Warranty period

3. Design features

Decoding the designation ASC15-8-400FD

Design solutions

• Packaged layout: compressor, receiver and dryer on a single frame — no need to select and pipe separate units.
• Permanent magnet drive with inverter: soft start without the inrush current of a direct-on-line start, and operation at speeds matched to air demand.
• Integrated refrigerated dryer: air is dried right at the unit outlet.
• 400 l receiver: an air reserve for peak consumers and pressure stabilisation.

4. Installation recommendations

• Location. Level, horizontal base, dry room. The typical requirement for room temperature is not below +5 °C (at low temperatures the oil thickens and the dryer freezes); the exact range is given in the unit’s datasheet ⚠️.
• Ventilation. An air-cooled unit with a dryer produces a lot of heat. Do not push it against walls and do not block the cooling grilles; minimum clearances are given in the manual ⚠️. If the compressor is in a separate room, supply and exhaust ventilation is required, otherwise the compressor, the dryer and the permanent magnet motor will overheat.
• Electrical supply. Cable cross-section and circuit breaker rating are selected according to the datasheet (inverter current) ⚠️. Connection and earthing — by a qualified electrician only. Do not change inverter parameters without need.
• Connection to the air line. Check the outlet thread type in the datasheet ⚠️ and choose the sealing method according to the thread type:
  • BSPP (G, parallel) — sealed with a flat gasket/ring, no PTFE tape;
  • BSPT (R, tapered) — self-sealing, with PTFE tape;
  • metric parallel — rubber ring at the base, no PTFE tape.
• Flexible connection. Between the unit and the rigid piping use a high-pressure hose or a compensator so that vibration is not transmitted to the pipes.
• Pipe diameter. The pipe cross-section should not be smaller than the outlet port (and larger on long runs), otherwise pressure losses cancel out the benefit of the inverter.
• Condensate drainage. Route the condensate drains of the dryer and the receiver to a drain or an oil-water separator; condensate contains oil and must not be discharged into the sewer.
• Start-up. Check the oil level, tightness of connections and that the ventilation grilles are free. Let the dryer reach operating mode before applying full load (time — see the manual ⚠️).
• Receiver. This is a pressure vessel: the safety valve and pressure gauge must be in working order; requirements for registration and inspection should be checked against the regulations in force in the Republic of Moldova.

5. Alternatives and comparison

Cross-references. We have no verified part numbers of direct alternatives from other manufacturers for ASC15-8-400FD, so we do not list specific numbers. Select a replacement by parameters: 15 kW, 8 bar, receiver of about 400 l, integrated refrigerated dryer, permanent magnet motor + inverter, with mandatory verification of FAD and dimensions.

Comparison with neighbouring models on acvatron.md:

If you need 16 bar (for example, for laser cutting), an 8 bar unit will not be suitable — see MZB-20A-400FD.

6. Common mistakes

• Installation in an unheated room or without ventilation. Condensate freezes in the dryer and pipes, the oil thickens, and the protection trips on overheating.
• Blocking the air intake grilles with boxes, walls and shelving. The dryer loses efficiency and the dew point rises.
• A condensate drain that is not connected or is clogged: water accumulates in the receiver and returns to the air line.
• Piping smaller in diameter than the compressor outlet. Pressure at the consumer drops, and the operator raises the set point, wasting energy.
• Expecting “dry and sterile” air from the dryer alone. For painting, food and pharmaceutical processes, additional filters are needed (oil removal, fine filtration, sterile if required).
• Buying an 8 bar machine for equipment that needs higher pressure (laser cutting, blow-off, etc.).
• Changing inverter parameters yourself without agreement with the supplier.
• Neglecting scheduled maintenance (oil, oil and air filters, separator) — on a partly loaded inverter compressor it matters just as much as on a conventional one.

7. Applications

• Car services and tyre fitting shops
• Furniture and joinery production, CNC machines
• Paint shops (with additional filtration)
• Packaging lines and food production (with additional filtration)
• Workshops and small plants with variable air demand, where the inverter delivers the greatest savings

8. Expert opinion

“At 15 kW and 8 bar, what matters most is variable load: if air consumption changes a lot during a shift, an inverter and a permanent magnet motor pay back fastest. A ready-made solution with a receiver and dryer removes extra piping, but air for painting or food processes still needs final cleaning with filters.”

— Vitali Boluchevski, Lead Engineer, Acvatron SRL, 18 years of experience

9. FAQ

What are the inverter and the permanent magnet motor for? The inverter adjusts speed to actual air demand, so the compressor does not run idle and holds pressure more steadily. The permanent magnet motor keeps its high efficiency at partial load too.

Is a separate dryer still needed? No, the refrigerated dryer is already integrated. For painting, food and pharmaceutical tasks add fine filters; the parameters are selected for your process.

Is the compressor suitable for laser cutting? No, the unit’s pressure is 8 bar. Laser cutting usually requires 16 bar — see the 16 bar models in the catalogue.

What is the capacity of the ASC15-8-400FD? The datasheet FAD value at 8 bar is being confirmed with the supplier; the current figure will be given by an Acvatron manager.

Where can I buy it in Moldova? At Acvatron SRL (Chisinau). We will help you choose the configuration and tell you about availability and delivery times.