Thermodynamic apparatus and methods

Abstract

A thermodynamic method employs a refrigerant liquid that is immiscible to a motive liquid. The refrigerant vapor is compressed and condensed by the action of the motive liquid that comes in contact with the refrigerant vapor directly. Since the two liquids are immiscible to each other and have different specific gravity, they can be separated for recirculation.

1 . A thermodynamic system comprising: 
 an evaporator that produces a refrigerant vapor;    a hydrokinetic compressor connected to said evaporator, wherein said refrigerant vapor is compressed and condensed to refrigerant liquid by the action of a motive liquid that comes into direct contact with said refrigerant vapor, wherein said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid are substantially immiscible; and    a separator, connected to said evaporator and said hydrokinetic compressor, wherein said separator receives a blend of said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid from said hydrokinetic compressor and enables separation of said refrigerant liquid and said motive fluid, wherein said refrigerant liquid is re-circulated to said evaporator.    
   
   
       2 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , wherein said separator enables a natural separation of said refrigerant liquid and said motive fluid by gravity.  
   
   
       3 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , wherein said thermodynamic system is a cooling system.  
   
   
       4 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , further comprising an expander connected to said separator and said evaporator, wherein said expander controls the flow of said refrigerant liquid from said separator to said evaporator.  
   
   
       5 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 4 , wherein said expander includes an expansion valve which controls the flow of said refrigerant liquid.  
   
   
       6 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical pump that pumps said motive liquid into said hydrokinetic compressor.  
   
   
       7 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger that receives a blend of said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid from said hydrokinetic compressor, dissipates heat from said blend, and returns cooled blend to said separator.  
   
   
       8 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant liquid includes a hydrocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, chlorinated hydrofluorocarbon, or halogenated hydrocarbon, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and wherein said motive liquid includes water, glycol, triethylene glycol or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 8 , wherein said refrigerant liquid includes butane and said motive liquid includes water or a mixture of water and glycol.  
   
   
       10 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , further including a heat-driven vaporizer that receives said motive liquid from said separator and generates the action of said motive liquid by heating and vaporizing a portion of said motive liquid.  
   
   
       11 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 10 , wherein said heat-driven vaporizer uses waste heat.  
   
   
       12 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , further comprising a solar powered device that receives said motive liquid from said separator and generates the action of said motive liquid by heating and vaporizing a portion of said motive liquid.  
   
   
       13 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrokinetic compressor comprises a central liquid nozzle, a constricted throat, and a diffuser.  
   
   
       14 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , wherein said motive liquid is re-circulated from said separator to said hydrokinetic compressor via a power device.  
   
   
       15 . The thermodynamic system of  claim 1 , wherein said power device is powered by electricity, heat or solar power.  
   
   
       16 . A thermodynamic method comprising: 
 generating a refrigerant vapor from a refrigerant liquid;    compressing and condensing said refrigerant vapor into refrigerant liquid by the action of a motive liquid that comes into direct contact with said refrigerant vapor, wherein said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid are substantially immiscible;    releasing heat from said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid;    separating said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid; and    re-circulating said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid to complete a cooling cycle.    
   
   
       17 . The method  claim 16 , wherein said refrigerant liquid includes a hydrocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, chlorinated hydrofluorocarbon, or halogenated hydrocarbon, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and wherein said motive liquid includes water, glycol, triethylene glycol or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method  claim 17 , wherein said refrigerant liquid includes butane and said motive liquid includes water or a mixture of water and glycol.  
   
   
       19 . The method  claim 16 , wherein said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid are separated naturally by gravity  
   
   
       20 . The method  claim 16 , wherein the action of the motive liquid is generated by mechanical force.  
   
   
       21 . The method  claim 16 , wherein the action of the motive liquid is generated by waste heat or solar power.  
   
   
       22 . A thermodynamic method comprising: 
 generating a refrigerant vapor from a refrigerant liquid;    compressing and condensing said refrigerant vapor into refrigerant liquid by the action of a motive liquid that comes into direct contact with said refrigerant vapor, wherein said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid are substantially immiscible; wherein the heat of condensing of said refrigerant increases the temperature of the motive liquid;    separating said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid; and    re-circulating said refrigerant liquid and said motive liquid to complete a cooling cycle.    
   
   
       23 . A method of vapor compression refrigeration comprising: 
 transferring part of the kinetic energy of a motive fluid to a refrigerant vapor in a passive blending device, the energy transfer thereby resulting in compression and liquification of the vapor within the blending device, wherein mechanical work is performed upon the motive liquid to impart kinetic energy on the motive liquid, but no mechanical work is performed on the vapor refrigerant.