Recuperator for use with turbine/turbo-alternator

An annular combustor/recuperator system comprising:

• a combustor having a combustion chamber and a product of combustion gas outlet in fluid communication with said combustion chamber;
• a fluid recuperator, comprising:
• a frame;
• an enclosure provided about said frame defining a recuperator chamber;
• a product of combustion gas inlet in fluid communication with said recuperator chamber and said products of combustion gas outlet;
• a product of combustion gas outlet in fluid communication with said recuperator chamber;
• a plurality of spaced sealed recuperator units received within said recuperator chamber, each of said recuperator units having a body with an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defines a recuperator unit fluid flow chamber;
• a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with said plurality of sealed recuperator units;
• and
• a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with said plurality of sealed recuperator units, whereby said recuperator is adapted to have the product of combustion gas flow through said product of combustion inlet, through said recuperator chamber across said sealed recuperator unit's outer surfaces and through said product of combustion outlet, respectively, while a second fluid passes through said second fluid inlet, through each of said recuperator unit fluid flow chambers contacting inner surfaces of said sealed recuperator units and through said second fluid outlet in a manner that the product of combustion gas and the second fluid do not mix while passing through said recuperator chamber and heat transfer takes place between the product of combustion gas and the second fluid through said bodies of said sealed recuperator units.

An energy system comprising:

• an annular combustor having an annular combustion chamber and a product of combustion gas outlet in fluid communication with said combustion chamber;
• a turbine in fluid communication with said combustor product of combustion gas outlet;
• a compressor driven by said turbine;
• and
• an annular fluid recuperator, comprising:
• a frame;
• an enclosure provided about said frame defining a recuperator chamber;
• a product of combustion inlet in fluid communication with said turbine and with said recuperator chamber;
• a product of combustion outlet in fluid communication with said recuperator chamber;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced sealed recuperator units received within said recuperator chamber, each of said recuperating units having a body with an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defines a recuperator unit fluid flow chamber;
• a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with said plurality of sealed recuperator units and said compressor;
• and
• a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with said plurality of sealed recuperator units and said combustor, whereby said recuperator is adapted to have the product of combustion gas flow through said product of combustion gas inlet, said recuperator chamber across said sealed recuperator unit's outer surfaces and through said first gas outlet, respectively, while a second fluid passes through said second fluid inlet, through each of said recuperator unit fluid flow chambers, contacting inner surfaces of said sealed recuperator units and through said second fluid outlet in a manner that the product of combustion gas and the second fluid do not mix while passing through said recuperator chamber and heat transfer takes place between the gases through said bodies of said sealed recuperator units.

A method for cleaning a recuperator that includes:

• a fluid recuperator, comprising:
• a frame;
• an enclosure provided about said frame defining a recuperator chamber;
• a first fluid inlet in fluid communication with said recuperator chamber;
• a first fluid outlet in fluid communication with said recuperator chamber;
• a plurality of spaced, sealed recuperator units received within said recuperator chamber, each of said recuperator units having a body with an outer surface and an inner surface said inner surface defines a recuperator unit fluid flow chamber;
• a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with said plurality of sealed recuperator units;
• a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with said plurality of sealed recuperator units, a plurality of open recuperator units positioned between said sealed recuperator units, respectively, each of said open recuperator units having a body defining flow passageways for the first fluid wherein at least one of the open recuperator units is fouled whereby said recuperation is adapted to have a first fluid flow through said first gas inlet, said recuperator chamber across said sealed recuperator unit's outer surfaces and through said first gas outlet, respectively, while a second fluid passes through said second fluid inlet, through each of said recuperator unit fluid flow chambers, contacting inner surfaces of said sealed recuperator units and through said second fluid outlet in a manner that the first fluid and the second fluid do not mix while passing through said recuperator chamber and heat transfer takes place between the gases through said bodies of said sealed recuperator units, said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) removing at least one of said open recuperator units which is fouled;
• and
• (b) replacing the removed open recuperator unit with a cleaned recuperator unit.