Verdon C Brinkerhoff
Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT

4295335, Oct 20, 1981

May 14, 1979

6/039035

VerDon C. Brinkerhoff - Salt Lake City UT

F01K 2506

60673

A regenative absorption engine apparatus and method, the apparatus including a closed cycle system having a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid having a relatively lower boiling point, the second fluid having a relatively higher boiling point and also a relatively high degree of absorptivity for the first fluid. The apparatus further includes a distillation column, a superheater, a mechanical expansion engine, an absorption column, and heat exchange apparatus. The distillation column is used to separate the first fluid from the second fluid with heat while the superheater increases the thermal energy of the first fluid prior to passing the first fluid through the mechanical expansion engine. The mechanical expansion engine converts thermal energy in the first fluid to mechanical energy. The backpressure in the first fluid on the downstream side of the mechanical expansion engine is lowered by absorbing the first fluid with the second fluid in the absorption column.

4195485, Apr 1, 1980

Mar 23, 1978

5/889166

VerDon C. Brinkerhoff - Salt Lake City UT

F01K 2506

60649

A distillation/absorption engine including apparatus for utilizing a lower boiling point, working fluid and a higher boiling point, absorption fluid, the absorption fluid having a relatively high degree of absorptivity for the working fluid. The apparatus includes a distillation column for separating the working fluid from the absorption fluid and a condenser/storage system for storage of the separated working fluid which is condensed and stored as a condensate. An absorption reboiler is used to revaporize the condensed working fluid. The revaporized working fluid is superheated in a superheater before producing mechanical energy in a mechanical expansion engine such as a turbine or the like. Thermal energy for the absorption reboiler is obtained from the heat of absorption generated by absorbing with the absorption fluid the spent working fluid from the mechanical expansion engine. Absorption of the spent working fluid also lowers the backpressure for improved efficiencies.

4307572, Dec 29, 1981

May 29, 1979

6/043300

VerDon C. Brinkerhoff - Salt Lake City UT

New Energy Dimension Corporation - Wilmington DE

F01K 2506

60649

An externally cooled, absorption engine apparatus and method, the apparatus including a closed cycle system having a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid constituting a working fluid and having a relatively lower boiling point while the second fluid constitutes a solvent for the first fluid and has a relatively higher boiling point and a relatively high degree of absorptivity for the first fluid. The apparatus further includes a distillation column, a superheater, a mechanical expansion engine, an externally cooled absorption column, and heat exchange apparatus. The distillation column separates the first fluid or working fluid from the solvent with heat energy supplied by an external combustion source and the superheater increases the thermal energy thereof prior to passing the working fluid through the mechanical expansion engine. The mechanical expansion engine converts thermal engine in the working fluid vapor to mechanical energy. Importantly, the backpressure to the mechanical expansion engine is significantly lowered by absorbing the working fluid with solvent from the distillation column and the efficiency of the same is substantially enhanced by cooling the solvent and also by removing heat of absorption through an external coolant source.

4242878, Jan 6, 1981

Jan 22, 1979

6/005415

VerDon C. Brinkerhoff - Salt Lake City UT

Split Cycle Energy Systems, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

F25D 1500

62119

An isothermal compressor apparatus and method, the apparatus including a compression chamber, a piston operable in the compression chamber and an evaporation chamber disposed in heat exchange relationship with the compression chamber, the evaporation chamber being interconnected with a closed refrigerant system. Valves control the flow of compressible gas through the compression chamber while heat exchange coils carry the compressed gas from the compression chamber through the evaporation chamber. The method includes compressing a gas and rapidly removing thermal energy imparted to the gas by the compression process with a refrigerant in the evaporation chamber.

4224798, Sep 30, 1980

Jul 5, 1979

6/054751

VerDon C. Brinkerhoff - Salt Lake City UT

F01K 300

60652

A split cycle engine apparatus and method, the apparatus including a combustion engine, a novel compressor apparatus driven by the combustion engine, a closed-cycle refrigeration system in cooperation with the compressor apparatus, and a pneumatic motor driven by compressed air from the compressor apparatus. Refrigerant in the compressor absorbs thermal energy from compressed air and assists in compressing the air. High pressure air from the compressor is stored in a storage tank and may be used to drive the pneumatic motor or other auxiliary equipment in addition to providing high pressure combustion air for the internal combustion engine.