Elliott Energy Systems, Inc.

Elliot Energy Systems, Inc.

David W Dewis

The annular recuperator for use with a microturbine includes an involuted shaped inner member with a portion thereof being corrugated and an involuted shaped outer member also with a portion thereof being corrugated and spaced therefrom to define a cell. The end portions of both the inner and outer members is planar and define a header for admitting and discharging the fluid flowing in the cell. The edges of the inner and outer members are sealed and an inlet and outlet are fluidly connected to the respective headers. The cells are circumferentially mounted side by side and abut each other but leaving sufficient space for another medium to flow through the space and be place in indirect heat exchange with the fluid flowing in the cell. The cells when mounted define an annular configuration so that compressor discharge air from the compressor of the microturbine flows through the cells and turbine discharge engine working fluid flows between the cells for preheating the compressor discharge air prior to being admitted into the combustor. The recuperator has utility as a heat exchanger for other applications.

Heat transfer apparatus

The microturbine engine that is typically utilized to power an electrical generating system and/or boiler, chiller and the like includes a second boiler and a by-pass system for providing heated water at two different levels or where one of the boilers provides steam. The turbine exhaust is utilized as the heat transport medium and is directly connected to one of the boilers while the other is connected to the recuperator. The system can optionally provide cooling to the electrical and electronic components of the system by providing a water circuit for leading water into the electric and electronic components prior to feeding the boilers. The system is designed to assure that the delta heat difference between the medium being heated and the waste heat of the turbine is sufficient so that the heat exchange will be done efficiently.

Microturbine exhaust heat augmentation system

A segmented seal plate supporting a brush seal mounted in the space between the compressor and turbine and bearing against the shaft of a microturbine engine form a barrier in this cavity and serves to control flow in this space. A plurality of circumferentially spaced discretely sized holes in the seal plate judiciously located above the brush seal bearing against the shaft interconnecting the back-to-back mounted compressor/turbine controls the amount of cooling air so that the combination of the brush seal, segmented plate and discretely sized holes controls the leakage from the compressor of each engine of a given model and controls cooling flow to the turbine for reducing efficiency scatter from engine to engine.

Split seal plate with integral brush seal

The flow path of the exhaust of a recuperator of a microturbine engine system is routed to insulate the turbine exhaust in the recuperator. The recuperator is encapsulated for defining a passage for flowing the exhaust over the outer diameter of the recuperator so as to insulate the heat within the recuperator. A by-pass system that is operable mechanically or automatically directs turbine exhaust to by-pass the recuperator is disclosed in another embodiment. The by-pass serves to trim the efficiencies of the original manufactured microturbine engines so that all the engines attain a given preselected matching efficiency level. The by-pass can also be utilized to control the temperature of a boiler, chiller or other elements incorporated in the microturbine system by controlling the turbine exhaust to by-pass the recuperator.

Recuperator configuration

A method for gas turbine light-off that utilizes a fixed or secondary fuel line that provides a substantially constant flow of fuel to the combustor primarily upon light-off.

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Stuart, FL, United States of America

David W Dewis