SELF-CONTAINED ENERGY CENTER FOR PRODUCING MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND HEAT ENERGY

摘要

Various forms of energy, such as mechanical, electrical, and/or heat energy are produced by an energy conversion mechanism (10) which includes a spool (16), the spool (16) including a shaft (22) on which a compressor (18) and turbine (20) are mounted. A generator (23) is operably connected to the energy conversion mechanism (10) for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Fuel and air are supplied separately to the compressor (18). A regenerator type heat exchanger (28) has a cold side for conducting compressed air traveling from an outlet of a compressor (18) to an inlet of the turbine (20), a hot side for conducting hot waste gas from the energy conversion mechanism (10), and a rotary core movable sequentially through the cold and hot sides for absorbing heat in the hot side and giving up heat in the cold side. A catalytic combustor (30) combusts the fuel at a location upstream of the turbine (20). During start-up, the catalytic combustor (30) is preheated independently of the heat exchanger (28) by an electric heater (40).