Abstract: An engine power enhancement/pollution control system which utilizes a vortex air separator. The invention comprises a compressor for receiving air from the environment and providing high pressure air output. The high pressure air output is cooled to partially liquefied air having a mass fraction of less than 30% liquid. A vortex air separation apparatus is provided for separating the partially liquefied air into gaseous nitrogen enriched air and liquid oxygen enriched air. The oxygen enriched air is introduced to an internal combustion engine, thereby enhancing the power of the engine and minimizing pollution thereof.

Abstract: The invention is a contaminant removal system for purifying air. Incoming air is cooled to a cryogenic temperature. A vortex tube further cools the cooled air so as to solidify contaminants therein. A filter system then filters out the solidified contaminants from the air.Use of a vortex tube minimizes the amount of moving parts. This reduces maintenance and concommitant costs involved with operation. The present system has a long life. The vortex tube is relatively inexpensive.

Abstract: A pollution control system for an internal combustion engine comprises a mechanism for separating air from the environment into nitrogen enriched air and oxygen enriched air. The nitrogen enriched air is introduced to an internal combustion engine, thereby reducing engine combustion temperature and concomitantly reducing oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x). A mechanism is also provided for introducing oxygen enriched air to the exhaust products of the internal combustion engine, the mixing of the exhaust products with oxygen enriched air minimizes pollution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating chemical species of a mixture. A partially liquefied mixture having a mass fraction of less than 30% liquid is provided. This mixture is introduced in a tangential direction relative to and adjacent an inner surface of an elongated enclosure. The enclosure has a first end, an opposite second end, and a longitudinal axis. The inner surface has a substantially circular cross-section. The introduction of the mixture is at a sufficient velocity to form a vortex region in the enclosure. The vortex region contains at least two phases which interact. A first of the phases is a gas comprising a relative volatile chemical species, and the second of the phases is a relatively less volatile chemical species. The relatively volatile first gas phase exits from the first end of the enclosure and the relatively less volatile second phase exits from the second end of the enclosure. The present invention provides separation in an inexpensive, lightweight, low maintenance environment.

Abstract: A multipass heat exchanger comprising an arrangement of a plurality of heat exchanger modules, each module having a plurality of passes for passage of a first heat exchange fluid and a plurality of tubes across such passes for passage of a second heat exchange fluid. The heat exchanger modules are disposed in side-by-side relation, with each successive module adjoining the previous module in a stepped relation, the second exchanger module being positioned relative to the first module so that the first heat exchanger fluid leaving the first pass of the first heat exchanger module enters directly the second pass of the second module, and so on, in a straight through fashion, for as many passes as desired. The result is a highly efficient multipass heat exchanger of minimum weight and pressure loss in the flow path on the shell side of the exchanger, comprised of multiple heat exchanger units, with no reversal of flow in each pass in each exchanger unit.