Split-architecture high-pressure gas compressor system and method

A method of operating a gas compressor system, the gas compressor system comprising:

• a first compressor section that includes:
• a first compressor configured to compress a gas from an inlet pressure to a first pressure, and
• a first compressor drive operably coupled to the first compressor;
• a first set of one or more pressure vessels fluidly coupled downstream of the first compressor section, the first set of pressure vessels comprising one or more first cylinders configured to store gas at the first pressure;
• a first booster section fluidly coupled downstream of the first set of pressure vessels, the first booster section comprising:
• a first booster pump configured to receive gas from the first set of pressure vessels and compress the gas from the first pressure to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure, and
• a first booster pump drive operably coupled to the first booster pump, the first booster pump drive being separate from the first compressor drive, the first booster pump drive and the first compressor drive being independently controlled such that one of the first booster pump drive and the first compressor drive can be in an ON configuration, while the other is in an OFF configuration;
• a second set of one or more pressure vessels fluidly coupled downstream of the first booster pump, the second set of one or more pressure vessels comprising one or more second cylinders configured to store the gas at the second pressure, wherein the one or more second cylinders are rated for a maximum working pressure greater than or equal to a maximum working pressure rating of the one or more first cylinders;
• and
• a fill control panel fluidly coupled to the second set of pressure vessels and comprising at least one fill outlet configured to deliver gas at the second pressure to one or more output pressure vessels,
• wherein the method of operating the gas compressor system comprises:
• compressing ambient air with the first compressor to generate compressed air at the first pressure;
• storing the compressed air at the first pressure in the first set of one or more pressure vessels in the one or more first cylinders;
• compressing, with the first booster pump, air obtained from the first set of one or more pressure vessels at the first pressure to generate boosted air at the second pressure;
• storing the boosted air in the second set of one or more pressure vessels in the one or more second cylinders at the second pressure;
• and
• dispensing the boosted air from the second set of pressure vessels through the fill control panel to fill at least one output pressure vessel with the boosted air at the second pressure.

A method of operating a gas compressor system, the gas compressor system comprising:

• a first compressor section;
• a first set of one or more pressure vessels;
• a first booster section that is separate and independent from the first compressor section;
• and
• a second set of one or more pressure vessels, wherein the second set of one or more pressure vessels is rated for a maximum working pressure greater than or equal to a maximum working pressure rating of the first set of one or more pressure vessels,
• wherein the method of operating the gas compressor system comprises:
• compressing gas with the first compressor to generate compressed gas at a first pressure;
• storing the compressed gas at the first pressure in the first set of one or more pressure vessels;
• compressing, with the first booster section, gas obtained from the first set of one or more pressure vessels at the first pressure to generate boosted air at a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure;
• storing the boosted air in the second set of one or more pressure vessels at the second pressure;
• and
• dispensing the boosted air from the second set of pressure vessels to fill at least one output pressure vessel with the boosted air at the second pressure.