Recuperator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
Heat exchange apparatus that provides supplemental heating of the heat exchange structure including means that retard a change of temperature to obviate thermal shock thereof comprising in combination a housing having an inlet and an outlet for a heating fluid, inlet and outlet ducts in said housing that direct a fluid to be heated in heat exchange relation with the heating fluid, auxiliary heat generating means connected to the inlet for the heating fluid, means responsive to the temperature of the heating fluid, and means responsive to said temperature responsive means controlling the auxiliary heat generating means whereby the auxiliary heat generating means varies in accordance with the temperature of the heating fluid.
2.
Heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means controlling the auxiliary heat generating means is inversely proportional to the temperature at the inlet whereby the temperature of the air heated by the heat generating means increases as the temperature of the heating fluid decreases.
3.
Heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a timing device that controls the auxiliary heat generating means.




Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recuperative heat exchangers such as those being used in conjunction with gas turbines operate most effectively and have a minimum amount of thermal distortion when they are maintained at an even temperature.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a recuperative type heat exchanger that includes supplemental heating means to maintain the temperature thereof at a continuously high temperature irrespective of operating conditions that prevail in the gas turbine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore relates to a recuperative heat exchange apparatus used in conjunction with a gas turbine.
More particularly, the specific arrangement here defined combines an independently fired heating unit with a recuperative heat exchanger being used for gas turbine operation wherein the heating unit is adapted to supply a quantity of heat necessary to maintain a constant temperature therein when operation of the gas turbine varies