GB-K Gas Booster Package Operation and Maintenance Manual
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© 1998 - 2000
DH Instruments, Inc
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3.1
GENERAL OPERATING PRINCIPLE AND INFORMATION
Numerical references in this section refer to Figure 2.
The purpose of the GB-K is to provide two independent, regulated gas pressure outputs: 1) a low
pressure that is regulated down directly from the instrument high pressure gas supply; 2) a very high
pressure that is generated by the unit. The unit generates high pressure using a Pneumatically
Operated Gas Booster Pump (6), a Shop Drive Air Shut-off Valve (11), an accumulator volume (not
labeled), regulators (7), (10), (12), and gauges (4), (5), (9). Fittings on an attached panel provide
ports for supply input (3) and pressure outputs (1), (2). The system is contained in one compact unit
and is ready to operate once gas supplies are connected.
3.1.1
PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED GAS BOOSTER PUMP (6)
The booster pump is a Pascal press utilizing two pistons connected together on the same
axis having a normal area ration of 75:1 or 152:1. The booster is a two-stroke, single stage
reciprocating pump that generates gas pressures 75 or 152 times greater than the shop drive
air applied to the pump.
The pump operates automatically, provided shop drive air is supplied to the Shop Drive Air
Regulator (10) and the regulator is set to at least 140 kPa (20 psig). Operation is continuous
until the outlet pressure is 75 (GB-K-75) or 152 (GB-K-152) times the shop drive air pressure.
At this point, the opposing forces within the pump reach equilibrium and the pump stalls.
For example, using a GB-K-75 with the shop drive air pressure set to 0.35 MPa (50 psig), the
pump will run until the instrument gas pressure in the high pressure chamber reaches 75 x
0.35 = 26.3 MPa (3 750 psig).
1. The Shop Drive Air section (low pressure) consists of a piston, cylinder, air cycling valve,
pilot valve and vent section. This section provides the reciprocating action and
compression force needed to operate the booster and generate the high pressure gas.
Drive air is channeled to the appropriate side of the piston (compression or suction
stroke) by the air cycling valve. When the piston reaches full stroke, a pilot valve is
mechanically activated causing the air cycling valve to change position. Shop drive air is
routed to the opposite side of the piston reversing piston direction where a second pilot
valve is activated repeating the process.
