Gas turbine engine and counterflow heat exchanger with outer air passageway

Claim 2

A gas turbine engine comprising a compressor having an impeller, said compressor having a radial outlet, a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation about the same axis as the impeller, said turbine having an axial inlet, a burner aligned with said axis, said turbine rotor being positioned between said impeller and said burner, means for directing the products of combustion from said burner in a path substantially annular in cross section axially to said turbine, means between the compressor and turbine rotor for thereafter reversing the flow of said exhaust gases in a reverse axial path, means defining an axially extending annular exhaust passageway spaced radially outwardly from and surrounding the turbine rotor and spaced axially with respect to said compressor for receiving the exhaust gases from said last-mentioned means, means for directing air directly from said compressor in a substantially annular axial path radially outwardly from and surrounding the axial exhaust passageway and in the direction of the passage of exhaust gases through said passageway, and counterflow heat exchange means associated with said exhaust passageway for thereafter directing said air toward said compressor in heat exchange relationship to said exhaust passageway, and means for thereafter directing said air radially inwardly and thereafter axially of said axial exhaust passageway to said burner.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchange means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced plates, first corrugated members in alternate spaces between said plates, second corrugated members in the remaining spaces between said plates, said first corrugated members between alternate plates having their passages extending axially to define said exhaust passageways, said second corrugated members between the other plates having their ends closed and their passages extending generally axially and terminating short of the ends so that they communicate with air from said compressor and said burner to define air directing passages for receiving air from said air directing means at one end of said heat exchange means and for delivering air at the other end to said air directing means for directing air to said burner.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchange means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced units, each said unit having longitudinally extending axial passages communicating with the turbine whereby the exhaust gases may pass therethrough, and a plurality of longitudinally extending axial air passages in heat exchange relationship to said last-mentioned passages.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for directing a stream of air in heat exchange relationship to the axial exhaust path and said means for directing the exhaust gases in an axial exhaust passageway comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced units, each said unit comprising a plurality of spaced generally radially extending plates, first corrugated members in alternate spaces between said plates, second corrugated members in the remaining spaces between said plates, said first corrugated members between alternate plates having their passages extending axially, said second corrugated members between the other plates having their passages extending generally radially, said means for directing the exhaust gases communicating with said axial passages formed by said corrugations of said first members, and said means for directing flow of air communicating with the radial passages formed by the corrugations of said second members in a counterflow generally sinuous path.

Claim 6

A gas turbiNe engine comprising a compressor having an impeller, said compressor having a radial outlet, a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation about the same axis as the impeller, said turbine having an axial inlet, a burner aligned with said axis, said turbine rotor being positioned between said impeller and said burner, means for directing the products of combustion from said burner in a path substantially annular in cross section axially to said turbine, means between the compressor and turbine rotor for thereafter reversing the flow of said exhaust gases in a reverse axial path, counterflow heat exchange means spaced radially outwardly from and surrounding said turbine and spaced axially with respect to said compressor for receiving the exhaust gases from said last-mentioned means, said heat exchange means comprising a plurality of axial passageways communicating with said means for reversing the exhaust gases, means surrounding said heat exchange means defining a substantially annular path for directing air directly from said compressor axially away from the compressor, said heat exchange means including means for receiving air from said last-mentioned annular path defining means and directing it through said heat exchange means in counterflow heat exchange relationship to said axial exhaust gas passageways, and means for receiving air from said heat exchange means and thereafter directing air from said heat exchange means radially inwardly and thereafter axially to said burner.

Claim 7

A gas turbiNe engine comprising a compressor having an impeller, said compressor having a radial outlet, a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation about the same axis as the impeller, said turbine having an axial inlet, a burner aligned with said axis, said turbine rotor being positioned between said impeller and said burner, means for directing the products of combustion from said burner in a path substantially annular in cross section axially to said turbine, means between the compressor and turbine rotor for thereafter reversing the flow of said exhaust gases in a reverse axial path, counterflow heat exchange means spaced radially outwardly from and surrounding said turbine and spaced axially with respect to said compressor for receiving the exhaust gases from said last-mentioned means, said heat exchange means comprising a plurality of axial passageways communicating with said means for reversing the exhaust gases, means surrounding said heat exchange means defining a substantially annular path for directing air directly from said compressor axially away from the compressor, said heat exchange means including means for receiving air from said last-mentioned annular path defining means and directing it through said heat exchange means in counterflow heat exchange relationship to said axial exhaust gas passageways, and means for receiving air from said heat exchange means and thereafter directing air from said heat exchange means radially inwardly and thereafter axially to said burner.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said heat exchange means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced plates, first corrugated members in alternate spaces between said plates, second corrugated members in the remaining spaces between said plates, said first corrugated members between alternate plates having their passages extending axially to define said exhaust passageways, said second corrugated members between the other plates having their ends closed and their passages extending generally axially and terminating short of the ends so that they communicate with air from said compressor and said burner to define air directing passages for receiving air from said air directing means at one end of said heat exchange means and for delivering air at the other end to said air directing means for directing air to said burner.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said heat exchange means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced units, each said unit having longitudinally extending axial passages communicating with the turbine whereby the exhaust gases may pass therethrough, and a plurality of longitudinally extending axial air passages in heat exchange relationship to said last-mentioned passages.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for directing a stream of air in heat exchange relationship to the axial exhaust path and said means for directing the exhaust gases in an axial exhaust passageway comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced units, each said unit comprising a plurality of spaced generally radially extending plates, first corrugated members in alternate spaces between said plates, second corrugated members in the remaining spaces between said plates, said first corrugated members between alternate plates having their passages extending axially, said second corrugated members between the other plates having their passages extending generally radially, said means for directing the exhaust gases communicating with said axial passages formed by said corrugations of said first members, and said means for directing flow of air communicating with the radial passages formed by the corrugations of said second members in a counterflow generally sinuous path.