Recuperator for gas turbine engine
US6092361A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF05D2220/50
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The fuel efficiency of a gas turbine engine is enhanced by preheating compressed air before combustion by passing the compressed air through a heat exchange recuperator in thermal contact with hot exhaust gases. An integral recuperator/heat exchanger is defined by multiple diffuser pipes routed from a centrifugal compressor to extend radially across the hot gas duct through the inner and outer duct walls. As a result, a recuperative heat exchange air passage is defined by the compressor, diffusers, combustion chamber and hot gas duct, where the recuperative heat exchange air flow passage consists of a minimal simple single loop. Since many engines currently use a pipe diffuser, there is very little increase in air flow resistance by merely re-routing the pipe diffuser to cross the exhaust duct. In contrast, conventional heat exchange recuperators include structures which dramatically increase internal air flow resistance, engine weight and frontal area due to the relatively bulky and numerous convoluting ducts usually included.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.