Insulated housing for ceramic heat recuperators and assembly

A heat recuperator assembly comprising:

• (a) a core of a cross-flow ceramic recuperator having first and second pairs of opposing faces defining cell openings for the passage of first and second heat transfer fluids, respectively, in directions transverse to one another, the first fluid transferring heat to the second fluid during passage through the cells, whereby each pair of faces has in operation a hot face and a cold face, the hot face of the first pair being the inlet face for the first fluid, and the hot face of the second pair being the outlet face for the second fluid;
• (b) a metallic housing surrounding the core, the housing having apertured faces adjacent the operating faces of the core;
• (c) at least three conduit portions extending from the apertured faces, at least one of the conduit portions being tapered and having at least one dimension of its largest cross-section larger than the aperture of the apertured face from which it extends and having a substantial thickness of insulating means on its inner surface which does not decrease the size of the aperture of said apertured face;
• and
• (d) the internal metal surfaces of the assembly being insulated so that the first fluid contacts only insulation in passing through the assembly.