Recuperator for a gas turbine engine

A gas turbine engine, comprising:

• a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis defining proximal and distal directions;
• a compressor coupled to the rotor;
• a turbine coupled to the rotor and disposed distally from the compressor;
• a combustion chamber;
• a gas turbine exhaust;
• and
• a recuperator comprising:
• an annular heat exchanger comprising:
• an axial intake disposed at a distal end of the heat exchanger and an axial exhaust disposed at a proximal end of the heat exchanger;
• and a radial intake disposed at a proximal end of an inner radius of the heat exchanger and a radial exhaust disposed at a distal end of the inner radius of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger defines a first flow path between the axial intake and the axial exhaust and a second flow path between the radial intake and the radial exhaust;
• a first chamber comprising a region disposed radially outside the heat exchanger and providing a flow path between the compressor and the axial intake of the heat exchanger;
• a second chamber providing a flow path between the axial exhaust of the heat exchanger and the combustion chamber;
• a third chamber providing a flow path between the turbine and the radial intake of the heat exchanger;
• and
• a fourth chamber providing a flow path between the radial exhaust of the heat exchanger and the gas turbine exhaust.