Energy recovery system for absorption heat pumps

In an absorption refrigeration and/or heating system having components connected in series, including at least one generator, a condenser, an evaporator, and an absorber, wherein refrigerant is absorbed and desorbed or expelled in an absorbent solution, and the application of heat and externally supplied mechanical energy is combined and converted to pressure energy that is applied to, or removed, from a solution of refrigerant and absorbent, and having means to recover a portion of the pressure energy for addition to the mechanical energy, the improvement comprising:

• (a) means to convert the pressure energy and/or phase change energy in the solution and/or refrigerant to mechanical energy,
• (b) means to replace or supplement the externally supplied mechanical energy in the system with the converted mechanical energy,
• (c) said system including first positive displacement pump means for conveying the absorbent solution from the absorber to the at least one generator means, with said first pump means driven by a motive means that is activated by the externally supplied mechanical energy, and
• (d) a second pump means driven and controlled by the system pressure energy, as determined by the first positive displacement pump means with each pumping means independently driven, and connected to the other, only by fluid connection means.