Heat Exchanger for Engine

Abstract

A heat exchanger for an engine is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a vortex tube and a gas return path. Expansion media tubes, which have a working fluid therein, are located between the vortex tube and the gas return path. Hot gases in the vortex tube, along with warm gases in the return path, heat the working fluid. In one embodiment, the working fluid is delivered to a cylinder in which it expands, so as to move a piston. In one embodiment, the working fluid is fuel. In one embodiment, after the working fluid expands in the cylinder, it is recovered and burned in a combustion chamber, which is in fluid communication with the vortex tube. In one embodiment, the working fluid is water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for an engine comprising:
 a vortex tube;   expansion media tubes that are placed adjacent to and which are outside of the vortex tube, wherein hot gases in the vortex tube heat a working fluid in the expansion media tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is fuel. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further including:
 a combustion chamber adjacent to and in fluid communication with the vortex tube, wherein fuel is ignited in the combustion chamber to initiate a vortex of hot gases.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is delivered to a cylinder in which it expands, so as to move a piston. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein, after the working fluid expands in the cylinder, it is recovered and burned in a combustion chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 providing a working fluid that is heated and which expands in a cylinder in order to move a piston;   recovering the working fluid after it leaves the cylinder; and,   burning the working fluid to create a vortex of hot gases in a vortex tube.   
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger for an engine comprising:
 a first tube have a first diameter;   a second tube having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter;   a third tube having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is larger than the second diameter,   wherein a vortex of hot gases is created in the first tube and travels in a first direction, wherein cool gases travel in a direction opposite to the first direction in the first tube, and wherein warm gases travel in a direction opposite to the first direction between the second tube and the third tube.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , further including expansion media tubes between the first tube and the second tube. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the expansion media tubes have a working fluid therein and wherein the hot gases and warm gases heat the working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the working fluid is fuel. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the working fluid is water. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the working fluid is delivered to a cylinder in which it expands, so as to move a piston. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein, after the working fluid expands in the cylinder, it is recovered and burned in a combustion chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , further including a combustion chamber which is in fluid communication with the first tube. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the warm gases flow into the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the warm gases include unburned fuel. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , further including:
 the unburned fuel in the warm gases is ignited in the combustion chamber.