Regenerative gas turbine system

Claim 2

A regenerative gas turbine engine comprising, in combination, air compressor means, a combustion apparatus supplied from the compressor means, the combustion apparatus including a combustion products generator having a combustion zone and a dilution zone, turbine means energized from the combustion apparatus connected to drive the compressor means, a heat exchanger, and a turbine exhaust duct connected through one pass of the heat exchanger; the heat exchanger having a second pass in heat exchange relation to the first pass; a first compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means to the combustion zone by-passing the heat exchanger; a second compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means through the second pass of the heat exchanger to the dilution zone, and flow splitter valve means between the compressor and the said conduits reversely throttling the flow into the conduits for dividing the compressor output between the said conduits variably as a function of engine power level so as to direct air unheated by the regenerator primarily to the combustion zone and air heated by the regenerator primarily to the dilution zone so as to minimize the temperature of the air entering the combustion zone to reduce combustion temperature and thereby generation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 3

A regenerative gas turbine engine comprising, in combination, air compressor means, a combustion apparatus supplied from the compressor means, the combustion apparatus including a combustion products generator having a combustion zone and a dilution zone, turbine means energized from the combustion apparatus connected to drive the compressor means, a heat exchanger, and a turbine exhaust duct connected through one pass of the heat exchanger; the heat exchanger having a second pass in heat exchange relation to the first pass; a first compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means to the combustion zone by-passing the heat exchanger; a second compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means through the second pass of the heat exchanger to the dilution zone, means for dividing the compressor output between the said conduits so as to direct air unheated by the regenerator primarily to the combustion zone and air heated by the regenerator primarily to the dilution zone; and flow splitter valve means between the compressor and the said conduits reversely throttling the flow into the conduits for varying the division of air between the said conduits in accordance with a condition of engine operation so as to minimize the temperature of the air entering the combustion zone to reduce combustion temperature and thereby generation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 4

A regenerative gas turbine engine comprising, in combination, air compressor means, a combustion apparatus supplied from the compressor means, the combustion apparatus including a combustion products generator having a combustion zone and a dilution zone, turbine means energized from the combustion apparatus connected to drive the compressor means, a heat exchanger, and a turbine exhaust duct connected through one pass of the heat exchanger; the heat exchanger having a second pass in heat exchange relation to the first pass; a first compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means to the combustion zone by-passing the heat exchanger; a second compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means through the second pass of the heat exchanger to the dilution zone, means for dividing the compressor output between the said conduits so as to direct air unheated by the regenerator primarily to the combustion zone and air heated by the regenerator primarily to the dilution zone; and flow splitter valve means between the compressor and the said conduits reversely throttling the flow into the conduits for varying the division of air between the said conduits in accordance with a condition of engine operation so as to minimize the temperature of the air entering the combustion zone to reduce combustion temperature and thereby generation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 5

A regenerative gas turbine engine comprising, in combination, in flow sequence as recited, air compressor means, a first compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means to the combustion zone of a combustion apparatus, the combustion zone of the combustion apparatus, the dilution zone of the combustion apparatus, turbine means including means driving the compressor means, and a turbine exhaust duct including one pass of a heat exchanger; the heat exchanger having a second pass in heat exchange relation to the first pass; a second compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means through the second pass of the heat exchanger to the dilution zone of the combustion apparatus, flow splitter valve means between the compressor and the said conduits reversely throttling the flow into the conduits for variably dividing compressor output between the said conduits so as to direct air unheated by the regenerator primarily to the combustion zone and air heated by the regenerator primarily to the dilution zone, and means for variably setting the flow splitter valve means as a function of fuel-air ratio in the combustion apparatus so as to minimize the temperature of the air entering the combustion zone to reduce combustion temperature and thereby generation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 6

A regenerative gas turbine engine comprising, in combination, in flow sequence as recited, air compressor means, a first compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means to the combustion zone of a combustion apparatus, the combustion zone of the combustion apparatus, the dilution zone of the combustion apparatus, turbine means including means driving the compressor means, and a turbine exhaust duct including one pass of a heat exchanger; the heat exchanger having a second pass in heat exchange relation to the first pass; a second compressed air conduit leading from the compressor means through the second pass of the heat exchanger to the dilution zone of the combustion apparatus, flow splitter valve means between the compressor and the said conduits reversely throttling the flow into the conduits for variably dividing compressor output between the said conduits so as to direct air unheated by the regenerator primarily to the combustion zone and air heated by the regenerator primarily to the dilution zone, and means for variably setting the flow splitter valve means as a function of fuel-air ratio in the combustion apparatus so as to minimize the temperature of the air entering the combustion zone to reduce combustion temperature and thereby generation of oxides of nitrogen.