Turbine recuperator

Abstract

A turbine recuperator includes a housing and a support member positioned within the housing. A passage extends between the housing and the support member. A plurality of heat transfer cells are secured to the support member. Each cell includes a corrugated sheet folded over onto itself, with the sides that are folded over being secured to the support member. The ends of the sheets are sealed to define a chamber. An inlet header is in fluid communication with each chamber through a plurality of inlets formed in the support header. An outlet header is in fluid communication with each chamber through a plurality of outlets formed in the support header.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A turbine recuperator comprising, in combination: 
 a housing;    a support member positioned within the housing and defining a passage between the support member and the housing;    a plurality of heat transfer cells secured to the support member, each heat transfer cell comprising a sheet of corrugated material having two opposed ends and two opposed sides, the sheet being folded over upon itself such that the sides are proximate one another, the sides being secured to the support member and the ends being sealed to define a chamber;    an inlet header;    a plurality of inlets formed in the support member; each inlet in fluid communication with the inlet header and a chamber;    an outlet header; and    a plurality of outlets formed in the support member, each outlet in fluid communication with the outlet header and a chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The turbine recuperator of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber defines a cold cell through which air to be preheated passes.  
     
     
         3 . The turbine recuperator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a cylindrical cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . The turbine of  claim 3 , wherein the support member has a cylindrical cross-section and extends coaxially with the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The turbine of  claim 4 , wherein the heat transfer cells are curved along their radial dimension with respect to the support member.  
     
     
         6 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the passage is configured to provide for a flow of hot exhaust air in a direction counter to a flow of cold air passing from the inlet header, through the inlets, the chamber and the outlets into the outlet header.  
     
     
         7 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated material is metal.  
     
     
         8 . The turbine of  claim 7 , wherein the sides are welded to the support member.  
     
     
         9 . The turbine of  claim 7 , wherein the ends are welded together to form a seal.  
     
     
         10 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated material is iron.  
     
     
         11 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated material is a nickelbased alloy.  
     
     
         12 . A turbine recuperator comprising, in combination: 
 a cylindrical housing;    a cylindrical support member positioned coaxially within the housing and defining an annular passage between the support member and the housing through which hot exhaust air travels;    a plurality of heat transfer cells secured to the support member, each heat transfer cell comprising a sheet of corrugated material having two opposed ends and two opposed sides, the sheet being folded over upon itself such that the sides are proximate one another, the sides being secured to the support member and the ends being sealed to define a chamber;    an inlet header;    a plurality of inlets formed in the support member; each inlet in fluid communication with the inlet header and a chamber to introduce cold air to be preheated into the chamber;    an outlet header; and    a plurality of outlets formed in the support member, each outlet in fluid communication with the outlet header and a chamber.    
     
     
         13 . The turbine recuperator of  claim 12 , wherein the heat transfer cells are curved along their radial dimension with respect to the support member.  
     
     
         14 . The turbine of  claim 11 , wherein the corrugated material is metal.  
     
     
         15 . The turbine of  claim 11 , wherein the corrugated material is iron.  
     
     
         16 . The turbine of  claim 11 , wherein the corrugated material is a nickel-based alloy.