Patent ID: 11873994
Assignee: DELTA MOTORSPORT LIMITED
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 16:
17. A method of operating a recuperative gas turbine engine of in a system with a catalytic combustor, the catalytic combustor comprising: (a) an upstream section comprising an electrical heater and (b) a downstream catalyst section, wherein the upstream section and the downstream catalyst section are disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with one another; wherein the upstream section and the downstream catalyst section are integrated in a single unit; wherein the upstream section and the downstream catalyst section each contain pores or channels; and wherein the ratio of the pore or channel surface area of the upstream section to those of the downstream catalyst section are in a range of from about 0.5% to 50%; wherein the system further comprising
(a) a compressor arranged to receive air and to compress the air;
(b) a fuel system operable to supply fuel into the compressor, such that a mixture of compressed air and fuel can be/is discharged from the compressor;
(c) a turbine arranged to receive the combustion gases, when present, from the catalytic combustor and to expand the gases to produce mechanical power that in part, drives the compressor;
(d) a heat exchanger or “recuperator” arranged to receive exhaust gases from the turbine and the air or mixture discharged from the compressor and cause heat exchange there between such that the air or mixture can be/is pre-heated before entering the catalytic combustor,
the method comprising:
(a) compressing at least air in the compressor;
(b) providing energy to the electrical heater to heat the upstream section to a temperature at least equal to an ignition temperature of a mixture of a fuel and the air;
(c) introducing a mass flow of the mixture of the fuel and air to the heated upstream section, such that the mixture of fuel and air is combusted in the upstream section;
(d) increasing the mass flow of the mixture of the fuel and air such that the flow of combusting mixture heats the downstream catalytic section to above an ignition temperature of the downstream catalyst section;
(e) maintaining the mass flow of the mixture of fuel and air through the upstream section and the downstream catalyst section so that the mixture of fuel and air, as it passes through the downstream catalyst section, is combusted therein to form heated combustion gases that exit the downstream catalyst section;
(f) directing at least a portion of the heated combustion gases exiting the downstream catalyst section and the catalytic combustor through the turbine to produce mechanical power, and using the mechanical power in part to drive the compressor;
(g) directing some or all of the heated combustion gases passing through the turbine to the recuperator; and
(h) using the heated combustion gases in the recuperator to preheat the mixture of the fuel and air being introduced to the heated upstream section.