Patent ID: 8656720

Claim:
A process for generating a motive work force, comprising the steps of: heating a first fluid stream in a first heat exchanger, said first heat exchanger producing a second fluid stream that has a higher temperature than the first fluid stream, said first heat exchanger receiving heat from a first external heat source generated from a low-grade heat source, providing said second fluid stream to a second heat exchanger where the temperature of the second fluid stream is increased, providing a first portion of the second fluid stream to a first vortex tube where that first portion of the second fluid stream is segregated into a hot second fluid stream and a cool second fluid stream, providing said hot second fluid stream to the second heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger receiving heat energy from the hot second fluid stream to increase the temperature of the second fluid stream, providing said second portion of the second fluid stream to a third heat exchanger where the temperature of the second portion of the second fluid stream is increased, providing the second portion of the second fluid stream to a second vortex tube where that first portion of the second fluid stream is segregated into a hot third fluid stream and a cool third fluid stream, providing said hot third fluid stream to the third heat exchanger, said third heat exchanger receiving heat energy from the hot third fluid stream to increase the temperature of the second fluid stream, providing the hot second and hot third fluid streams to a power turbine to generate a motive force in that turbine, said power turbine producing a fourth fluid stream that has a lower temperature and pressure than the hot second portion or hot third fluid stream, providing the fourth fluid stream to the first heat exchanger for re-heating of said first fluid stream.