Gas turbine engine recuperator with floating connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016298541-A1
Application number	US-201615188277-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Feb 28, 2011
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of installing a segment of a recuperator within an exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine, including positioning the segment such that its exhaust inlet is in fluid flow communication with the turbine section and its exhaust outlet is adapted to deliver an exhaust flow to atmosphere, engaging its air inlet to a plenum in fluid flow communication with the compressor discharge, and engaging its air outlet to another plenum containing the combustor. One of engaging the air inlet and engaging the air outlet includes forming a rigid connection providing sealed fluid flow communication with the corresponding plenum, and the other of engaging the air inlet and engaging the air outlet includes forming a floating connection providing sealed fluid flow communication with the corresponding plenum. The floating connection allows relative movement of the segment within the exhaust duct.

First claim

1 . A method of installing a segment of a recuperator within an exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine, the recuperator having exhaust passages extending between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet and air passages in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust passages and extending between an air inlet and an air outlet, the method comprising:
positioning the segment such that the exhaust inlet is in fluid flow communication with a turbine section of the engine and the exhaust outlet is adapted to deliver an exhaust flow to atmosphere; engaging the air inlet to a plenum in fluid flow communication with a compressor discharge of the gas turbine engine; and engaging the air outlet to another plenum containing a combustor of the gas turbine engine; wherein one of engaging the air inlet and engaging the air outlet includes forming a rigid connection providing sealed fluid flow communication with the corresponding plenum, and the other of engaging the air inlet and engaging the air outlet includes forming a floating connection providing sealed fluid flow communication with the corresponding plenum, the floating connection allowing relative movement of the segment within the exhaust duct.

2 . The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a preliminary step of detaching and removing an exhaust scroll of the gas turbine engine, the segment being installed through an opening previously covered by the exhaust scroll.

3 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein engaging the air outlet includes forming the rigid connection and engaging the air inlet includes forming the floating connection.

4 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein forming the floating connection includes rigidly attaching a flexible duct member of the segment to the corresponding plenum.

5 . The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising positioning a control surface of the segment against a wall of the exhaust duct without impeding relative movement between the control surface and the wall.

6 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the plenums are contained in an outer case of the engine.

7 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein positioning the segment includes positioning the exhaust passages and the air passages within the exhaust duct.

8 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the rigid connection is contained in the engine.

9 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the floating connection is contained in the engine.

10 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the relative movement of the segment within the exhaust duct allowed by the floating connection is defined along different, non-parallel directions with respect to a central axis of the gas turbine engine.

11 . The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the relative movement of the segment within the exhaust duct allowed by the floating connection is defined along axial and radial directions with respect to the central axis of the gas turbine engine.

12 . The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the relative movement of the segment within the exhaust duct allowed by the floating connection is defined along axial and tangential directions with respect to the central axis of the gas turbine engine.

13 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein forming the rigid connection includes forming the only rigid connection between the segment and all elements of the gas turbine engine not forming part of the recuperator.

Assignees

• Pratt & Whitney Canada

Inventors

• Eleftheriou Andreas
• Menheere David
• Alecu Daniel

Classifications

• F28F9/0236

  floating elements · CPC title

• F28F2230/00

  Sealing means · CPC title

• F28F9/26

  Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators (connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 {, connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246}) · CPC title

• F28F21/087

  from nickel or nickel alloys · CPC title

• F28D21/001

  for thermal power plants or industrial processes · CPC title