Abstract: An absorption cycle system uses a hydrokinetic amplifier as an absorber, and the hydrokinetic amplifier merges a working vapor stream with a working liquid stream to condense the vapor and absorb it in a working mixture that is output at a higher temperature and pressure than either input. Since the hydrokinetic amplifier absorber does not discard heat, the retained heat is used to help power the system and reduce heat waste that would otherwise occur.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic amplifier 10 having a primary liquid input formed into a primary liquid jet surrounded by a motivating vapor that transfers vapor momentum to the primary liquid jet and accelerates the primary liquid jet through a minimum cross-sectional area 20 upstream of a diffuser is provided with a secondary inlet that admits a secondary fluid to merge with the primary liquid jet in a diffuser 16 beyond the minimum cross-sectional area. Without varying the primary inflows of liquid and vapor, the secondary flow varies inversely with the fluid flow resistance of the output load; and this can be used to vary the volume, pressure, and temperature of the output. The product of the pressure and volume of the combined flows can exceed the product of the pressure and volume of the primary flow, and change in the load resistance can be used to turn the secondary flow on and off for adding a material to the primary flow.

Abstract: Automatic starting of a hydrokinetic amplifier 10 is accomplished by: an overflow pilot valve 32 responsive to output pressure for opening an overflow line 30 when output pressure drops below a predetermined level; and a start-up pilot valve 36 responsive to reduced pressure within amplifier 10 upon opening of overflow pilot valve 32 so that the reduced internal pressure opens the start-up pilot valve and admits vapor into the amplifier to merge with the already flowing liquid and start up the amplifier. Preferably a safety pilot valve 38 arranged in the vapor input line 13, in series with start-up pilot valve 36, closes the vapor input line whenever liquid input pressure to the amplifier falls below an adequate level.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic amplifier 10 that combines a liquid and vapor to produce an amplified liquid output pressure is used for compressing or liquifying gas by admitting gas to be compressed into a region where the liquid and vapor are in contact and the vapor is accelerating the liquid. The admitted gas is allowed to merge with the liquid and vapor and become compressed or liquified within the pressurized liquid output. A mixture of liquid and compressed gas can be used directly for purposes such as cleaning, or the liquid and compressed or liquified gas phases can be separated in the output so that either one or both can be used.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic amplifier 10 uses liquid and vapor input nozzles 11 and 12 discharging into an acceleration chamber 13 downstream from which a diverging diffuser 15 extends. Liquid nozzle 11 forms a free liquid jet 20 that extends for a substantial distance through acceleration chamber 13, and vapor flowing at a much higher speed into acceleration chamber 13 surrounds, impinges on, and condenses into free liquid jet 20. Collapse of the condensing vapor forms a suction into which more vapor flows. Acceleration chamber 13 gradually converges from an ingress region 14 receiving liquid and vapor to an egress region 16 flowing mostly liquid into diffuser 15. Vapor nozzle 12 has a throat region 12a arranged upstream of the discharge region 21 of liquid nozzle 11 and an expanding region 12b extending from throat region 12a downstream toward ingress region 14 of acceleration chamber 13 so that vapor is expanding when it contacts the liquid.

Abstract: Several expedients can start-up a hydrokinetic amplifier powered by operating vapor at subatmospheric pressure. One expedient connects an evacuated region to the discharge region of suction chamber 13 so that subatmospheric pressure vapor flows through vapor input nozzle 12 and into the suction chamber. At this time, liquid admitted through nozzle 11 forms a free liquid jet 20 so that vapor impinges on and condenses in jet 20. Once the collapse of condensing vapor produces a suction in chamber 13, the amplifier starts and the evacuated region disconnects from chamber 13. By another expedient, super atmospheric pressure vapor is condensed in jet 20 to establish a suction, whereupon the vapor supply is switched to subatmospheric pressure operating vapor that is drawn in by the suction produced by collapse of the start-up vapor. Another expedient uses high pressure liquid to produce a low pressure entrainment jet for drawing subatmospheric pressure operating vapor into suction chamber 13.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system heats a portion of a liquid from a reservoir to vaporize some of the liquid and use the vapor to power an injector. The injector pumps unvaporized liquid through a path leading from the reservoir and through a rotatably driven transducer that outputs energy from the system. Two immiscible liquids can be used so that a portion of one of the liquids is vaporized to power the injector, and the other liquid is pumped through the transducer. Also, a vortex tube is preferably arranged between the vaporizer and the injector for dividing the vaporized liquid into relatively hot and cold portions and feeding the hot portion to the injector to power the injector.

Abstract: The invention applies to a liquid/vapor energy cycle having a boiler for heating a liquid to produce a vapor for driving a transducer and a way of returning the transducer output to the boiler. A vortex tube receives the output from the transducer and divides the transducer output into relatively hot and cold portions, and an injector is powered by the vapor and arranged for pumping the cold portion of the transducer output back into the boiler. The hot portion of the transducer output is preferably used for powering the injector, and a portion of the vapor from the boiler can assist in this.