Ingersoll-rand Energy Systems Corporation

.engineering, Inc.

Northern Research

Malcolm S Child

James B Kesseli

Andrew J Olsen

James S Nash

Ernest J Sandoe

A radial flow turbine including a rotor having a plurality of vanes defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path therebetween. A shroud is positioned to cover at least a portion of the flow path and a housing is positioned to at least partially support the rotor for rotation about a rotational axis. The housing at least partially defines a chamber for the receipt of a flow of products of combustion. A plurality of nozzle guide vane assemblies are positioned to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the inlet. Each of the plurality of nozzle guide vane assemblies is positioned adjacent another nozzle guide vane assembly to at least partially define one of a plurality of converging flow paths. Each nozzle guide vane assembly includes a guide vane positioned between the shroud and the housing and including an aperture therethrough. A bolt engages with the shroud and extends through the aperture to sandwich the guide vane between the shroud and the housing. A resilient member having a stiffness less than the bolt cooperates with the bolt to apply a compressive force to the guide vane.

Nozzle bolting arrangement for a turbine

A microturbine engine comprising a turbine including a first housing and a turbine rotor. The engine also includes a generator having a second housing and a generator rotor. The generator rotor is supported for low-speed rotation by a low-speed bearing. The engine also includes a gearbox having a third housing connected to the first housing and the second housing, a pinion gear, and a low-speed gear connected to the generator rotor and at least partially supported by the low-speed bearing. A shaft is connected to the turbine rotor and the pinion gear and a first high-speed bearing and a second high-speed bearing are positioned to support the turbine rotor and the shaft for high-speed rotation.

Integrated microturbine gearbox generator assembly

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.

Spring mounted recuperator

A method of making a heat exchanger includes assembling one or more heat exchange cells. Each heat exchange cell is assembled by providing a top plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof, an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges; and providing a bottom plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof, an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The second surfaces of the top and bottom plates are juxtaposed with one another so that the inlet and outlet apertures of the plates are in substantial alignment with one another. The peripheral edges of the top and bottom plates are attached to form a high pressure chamber between the second surfaces of the plates. After being assembled, each individual heat exchange cell is tested before being attached to other heat exchange cells. The testing may include pressure testing of the heat exchange cell. The testing of each individual cell improves the quality and reliability of the fully assembled heat exchanger because each level of the heat exchanger has been pre-tested for defects (e.g. leaks) prior to further assembly steps.

Methods of making plate-fin heat exchangers

A heat exchanger for transferring heat between an external fluid and an internal fluid includes two or more heat exchange cells, each heat exchange cell having a top plate with an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, the top plate including a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The heat exchange cell also includes a bottom plate juxtaposed with the top plate, the bottom plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof. The bottom plate includes a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The peripheral edges of the top and bottom plates are attached to one another, the second surfaces of the top and bottom plates confronting one another and the inlet and outlet apertures of the top and bottom plates being in substantial alignment with one another. The attached top and bottom plates define a high pressure chamber between the second surfaces thereof. The inlet and outlet apertures of the top and bottom plates including substantially curvilinear S-shaped raised flange portions extending away from the first surfaces of the plates, the substantially curvilinear S-shaped raised flange portions terminating at interior edges bounding the apertures. Each heat exchange cell includes an internal finned member disposed between and attached to the second surfaces of the respective top and bottom plates, wherein the individual heat exchange cells are assembled one atop the other with the interior edges of adjacent heat exchange cells attached together for forming a compliant bellows structure capable of elastically absorbing deflections produced during thermal loading so that the heat exchange cells may move and flex relative to one another.

Growing community of inventors

South Berwick, ME, United States of America

Malcolm S Child