Gas turbine engine recuperator with floating connection

摘要

A gas turbine engine recuperator including a plurality of independent arcuate segments, each segment having an inlet connection member designed to sealingly engage a plenum in fluid flow communication with the compressor discharge, and an outlet connection member designed to sealingly engage a plenum containing the combustor. One of the inlet and outlet connection members is a rigid member forming a rigid connection to the respective plenum, and the other of the inlet and outlet connection members includes a flexible member and forms a floating connection to the respective plenum, the floating connection allowing relative movement between the segment and a remainder of the gas turbine engine.

主权项

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
an outer case containing first and second plenums; a compressor section having a discharge in fluid flow communication with the first plenum; a combustor contained in the second plenum; a turbine section in fluid flow communication with the combustor; an exhaust duct in fluid flow communication with the turbine section; and a recuperator, the recuperator including a plurality of independent annular segments, each segment defining:
exhaust passages contained in the exhaust duct and providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet and exhaust outlet extending across the exhaust duct with the exhaust inlet being in fluid flow communication with the turbine section,air passages contained in the exhaust duct in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust passages and providing fluid flow communication between an air inlet and an air outlet,an inlet connection member contained in the outer case of the engine, defining the air inlet and sealingly engaging the first plenum to receive pressurized air from the compressor, andan outlet connection member contained in the outer case of the engine, defining the air outlet and sealingly engaging the second plenum containing the combustor, withone of the inlet and outlet connection members defining a rigid connection with the corresponding one of the first and second plenums, and the other of the inlet and outlet connection members defining a floating connection with the corresponding one of the first and second plenums, the other of the inlet and outlet connection members being movable relative to the corresponding one of the first and second plenums about the floating connection along different, non-parallel directions with respect to a central axis of the gas turbine engine, the one of the inlet and outlet connection members defining the only rigid connection between the segment and all elements of the gas turbine engine not forming part of the recuperator.