GB977584A - Rotary regenerative heat exchangers - Google Patents

Abstract

977,584. Rotary regenerators. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. Nov. 14, 1963 [Dec. 18, 1962], No. 44987/63. Heading F4K. A rotary regenerative heat-exchanger matrix 9 comprises an annular porous body which permits the simultaneous flow of a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated through the body from one side to the other for heat exchange between the fluids by means of the body, the matrix including a plurality of angularlyspaced-apart plates 36 (Fig. 3) lying substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow and porous material between said plates, the plates projecting slightly from the porous material on each of said sides to co-operate with seals, the plates each comprising a flexible sheet extending from one said side of the matrix to the other and two bars 42 and 43 fixed to the sheet and extending generally parallel to the matrix sides, the bars being thick relative to the sheet and transversely narrow relative to the edge to edge distance of the sheet and having different co-efficients of thermal expansion, the bar lying toward the hotter side of the matrix having a lower co-efficient so that the expansions of the bars are approximately equal counteracting the tendency for the sheet to bow at the working temperature. In one rotation of the matrix it passes twice through a diaphragm 11, once at each of the seals 13 and 14. A cool air zone 18 may be supplied with air by the compressor of a gas-turbine engine, said air passing through the matrix to a hot air zone 19. Combustion chambers connected to said hot air zone discharge through a turbine into a hot gas zone 23 from which exhaust gases pass through the matrix to a space 25 and thence the atmosphere. The annular body is held in position by an annular ring 28 and is rotated by a gear ring 29. Stiffeners 31 are located at intervals around the periphery of the drum. The plate 36 may be thin and corrugated, the corrugations being welded to the bars 42, 43.