Self-contained refrigerant powered system

Abstract

A self-contained refrigerant powered system is provided having a plurality of boilers each for heating a liquid refrigerant to form a gaseous refrigerant; a motor in fluid communication with each of the plurality of boilers for receiving the gaseous refrigerant, wherein the gaseous refrigerant is used to power the motor; and a condenser in fluid communication with the motor for receiving the gaseous refrigerant and for converting the gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; and a return pipe in fluid communication with the condenser and the plurality of boilers for returning the liquid refrigerant to at least one of the plurality of boilers.

1 . A self-contained refrigerant powered system comprising:
 a plurality of boilers each for heating a liquid refrigerant to form a gaseous refrigerant;   a motor in fluid communication with each of the plurality of boilers for receiving the gaseous refrigerant, wherein the gaseous refrigerant is used to power the motor;   a condenser in fluid communication with the motor for receiving the gaseous refrigerant and for converting the gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; and   a return pipe in fluid communication with the condenser and the plurality of boilers for returning the liquid refrigerant to at least one of the plurality of boilers.   
   
   
       2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a control mechanism having a plurality of sensors and a controller for receiving data from said plurality of sensors and determining none or at least one boiler for returning the liquid refrigerant. 
   
   
       3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the controller controls a valve associated with a respective boiler of the plurality of boilers for controlling the amount of liquid refrigerant provided to said respective boiler. 
   
   
       4 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a storage unit for storing the liquid refrigerant if it is determined that none of the plurality of boilers can be used to return the liquid refrigerant. 
   
   
       5 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising at least one valve for controlling the flow of the liquid refrigerant to said storage unit. 
   
   
       6 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a sensor disposed within said storage unit and in operative communication with said controller. 
   
   
       7 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a return pump operatively associated with said storage unit for pumping the liquid refrigerant stored within said storage unit to a pipe in fluid communication with said return pipe. 
   
   
       8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid refrigerant is selected from a group consisting of freon, butane, helium and nitrogen. 
   
   
       9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the motor is selected from a group consisting of a turbine and an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       10 . A self-contained refrigerant powered system comprising:
 a boiler for heating a liquid refrigerant to form a gaseous refrigerant;   a motor in fluid communication with the boiler for receiving the gaseous refrigerant, wherein the gaseous refrigerant is used to power the motor; and   a condenser in fluid communication with the motor for receiving the gaseous refrigerant and for converting the gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; and   a return pump in fluid communication with the condenser for pumping the liquid refrigerant receiving from the condenser to the boiler via a return pipe.   
   
   
       11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a valve positioned between the boiler and the motor for controlling fluid flow to the motor. 
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a valve positioned between the return pump and the boiler for controlling fluid flow to the boiler. 
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the liquid refrigerant is selected from a group consisting of freon, butane, helium and nitrogen. 
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the motor is selected from a group consisting of a turbine and an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       15 . A method for operating a self-contained refrigerant powered system, the method comprising:
 heating a liquid refrigerant to form a gaseous refrigerant using at least one of a plurality of boilers;   powering a motor using the gaseous refrigerant;   converting the gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; and   returning the liquid refrigerant to at least one of the plurality of boilers.   
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising determining one of none and at least one of the plurality of boilers for returning the liquid refrigerant to. 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising storing the liquid refrigerant in a storage unit if it is determined that the liquid refrigerant can be returned to none of the plurality of boilers. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising providing a sensor within said storage unit. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the liquid refrigerant is selected from a group consisting of freon, butane, helium and nitrogen. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the motor is selected from a group consisting of a turbine and an internal combustion engine.