Solar Turbines Inc.

Michael E Ward

Bruce D Harkins

Charles T Darragh

Arthur G Metcalfe

Leonard Holman

Thomas M Luckett

Many recuperators have components which react to corrosive gases and are used in applications where the donor fluid includes highly corrosive gases. These recuperators have suffered reduced life, increased service or maintenance, and resulted in increased cost. The present header assembly when used with recuperators reduces the brittle effect of a portion of the ceramic components. Thus, the present header assembly used with the present recuperator increases the life, reduces the service and maintenance, and reduces the increased cost associated with corrosive action of components used to manufacture recuperators. The present header assembly is comprised of a first ceramic member, a second ceramic member, a reinforcing member being in spaced relationship to the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member. The header assembly is further comprised of a refractory material disposed in contacting relationship with the first ceramic member, the second ceramic member and the reinforcing member and having a strengthening member wrapped around the refractory material. The present header assembly provides a high strength load bearing header assembly having good thermal cycling characteristics, good resistance to a corrosive environment and good steady state strength at elevated temperatures.

High pressure ceramic heat exchanger

Many recuperators have components which react to corrosive gases and are used in applications where the donor fluid includes highly corrosive gases. These recuperators have suffered reduced life, increased service or maintenance, and resulted in increased cost. The present header assembly when used with recuperators reduces the brittle effect of a portion of the ceramic components. Thus, the present header assembly used with the present recuperator increases the life, reduces the service and maintenance, and reduces the increased cost associated with corrosive action of components used to manufacture recuperators. The present header assembly is comprised of a first ceramic member, a second ceramic member, a strengthening reinforcing member being in spaced relationship to the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member. The header assembly is further comprised of a refractory material disposed in contacting relationship with the first ceramic member, the second ceramic member and the strengthening reinforcing member. The present header assembly provides a high strength load bearing header assembly having good thermal cycling characteristics, good resistance to a corrosive environment and good steady state strength at elevated temperatures.

Prior art recuperators or heat exchangers have been restricted in use to only part speed and power application when adapted for use with high pressure gas turbine engine. The present recuperator or heat exchanger has been adapted for use with a high pressure ratio gas turbine engine. The recuperator includes a plurality of air cells being formed by a plurality of primary surface sheets. The primary surface sheets define a first surface and a second surface and has a plurality of corrugations formed therein. Each of the plurality of corrugations has a crest and a root extending from the respective first surface and second surface a preestablished axial distance. The preestablished axial distance from the crest to the first surface being unequal to that of the preestablished axial distance from the root to the second surface.

Primary surface heat exchanger for use with a high pressure ratio gas

Many recuperators have components which react to corrosive gases and are used in applications where the donor fluid includes highly corrosive gases. These recuperators have suffered reduced life, increased service or maintenance, and resulted in increased cost. The present joint when used with recuperators increases the use of ceramic components which do not react to highly corrosive gases. Thus, the present joint used with the present recuperator increases the life, reduces the service and maintenance, and reduces the increased cost associated with corrosive action of components used to manufacture recuperators. The present joint is comprised of a first ceramic member, a second ceramic member, a mechanical locking device having a groove defined in one of the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member. The joint and the mechanical locking device is further comprised of a refractory material disposed in the groove and contacting the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member. The present joint mechanically provides a high strength load bearing joint having good thermal cycling characteristics, good resistance to a corrosive environment and good steady state strength at elevated temperatures.

High pressure ceramic joint

A ceramic to metal joint particularly advantageous in a recuperator tube assembly, includes a ceramic tube and a spaced, circumferentially disposed metal sleeve. A bonding material is cast between the ceramic and metal members. A seal member has sufficient ductility within a predetermined thermal operating range to plastically deform and yet maintain an effective fluid seal between the ceramic and metal members. The present invention is particularly useful in the construction of a modular heat exchanger unit. Both individual tube assemblies and module units can be individually removed for cleaning, inspection, or replacement.

Growing community of inventors

Poway, CA, United States of America

Michael E Ward