Gas turbine generator set

Abstract

A small gas turbine generator set comprising a rotating group and combustor contained within a circumferential recuperator. The rotating group comprises an alternator rotor on a common shaft with a turbine wheel and compressor impeller, supported by double acting complaint foil thrust bearings and a radial compliant foil bearing. The circumferential recuperator consists of a plurality of apertured boundary foils having embossments for structurally spacing the foils apart, arranged to provide the flow channels, manifolds, and structure to permit the existence of differential pressure between each surface of the foil. The circumferential recuperator is unitarily constructed surrounding the rotating group and combustor wherein the inflowing air is heated by the recuperator before entering the combustor. Due to the intercompatibility and modularity of the components, the air flow path associated with the compressor discharge and the turbine inlet is formed upon installation of the rotating group and the recuperator and by final assembly of the combustor unit which forms a final enclosure for the turbine inlet air. The configuration of the circumferential recuperator provides improvement in engine performance by improving heat transfer effectiveness and additionally acts to absorb sound as well as to safely insulate the surrounding environment should the rotating group fail and be centrifugally driven outside of its primary containment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.