Spring mounted recuperator
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Energy Systems Corporation
InventorMalcolm S. Child
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting the recuperator of a microturbine system in a vertical position above a turbine. The apparatus including a plurality of spring supports supporting the recuperator while simultaneously allowing thermal expansion of the turbine with a minimum amount of force being applied thereto. Thermal expansion of the turbine causes it to lift the recuperator while simultaneously decompressing the springs an amount equal to the amount of thermal expansion experienced by the turbine.
Claims10
A microturbine comprising:
- a frame;
- a recuperator having heat exchange cells and exhaust gas flow regions between said heat exchange cells;
- an air compressor in fluid communication with said heat exchange cells for the delivery of compressed air thereto;
- a combustor in fluid communication with said heat exchange cells for the delivery of the compressed air from said cells to said combustor, said combustor burning fuel with the compressed air to create products of combustion;
- a turbine in fluid communication with said combustor to receive the products of combustion therefrom, said turbine operating in response to the flow of products of combustion, said turbine including an exhaust gas outlet through which used products of combustion flow out of said turbine as exhaust gas;
- and
- a plurality of springs coupled to said frame and coupled to said recuperator, said recuperator being at least partially supported by said springs and coupled to the turbine;
- wherein said turbine expands in a thermal expansion direction in response to said flow of products of combustion therethrough, wherein said turbine lifts said recuperator as said turbine expands in said thermal expansion direction, and wherein the weight carried by said turbine during such thermal expansion is less than the weight of said recuperator due to said recuperator being at least partially supported by said springs.
A method of supporting a recuperator in a microturbine system having a frame, a combustor, and a turbine, the method comprising:
- coupling a plurality of posts to the frame, said posts having substantially vertical central axis;
- placing at least one spring over each of said plurality of posts such that the central axis of said at least one spring is substantially collinear with the post vertical central axis, said springs having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to the frame;
- placing the recuperator on the plurality of springs such that the second end of the springs is coupled to the recuperator and the springs compress, at least partially supporting the recuperator;
- and
- coupling the turbine to the recuperator and to the frame, said turbine having a minimum amount of thermal expansion, a maximum amount of thermal expansion and an equilibrium amount of thermal expansion between said minimum amount of thermal expansion and said maximum amount of thermal expansion, at said equilibrium amount of thermal expansion said plurality of springs totally support said recuperator;
- said turbine thermally expanding in response to the flow of products of combustion therethrough;
- such that said turbine expansion, when between said equilibrium and said maximum, lifts said recuperator a distance, uncompressing said springs an equal distance, such that the plurality of springs and the turbine support the recuperator, and said turbine expansion, when between said minimum and said equilibrium, pulls said recuperator down a distance, further compressing said springs an equal distance, such that the plurality of springs totally support the recuperator and a preload.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.