Patent ID: 6968702
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: F01D,F05D,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A microturbine engine comprising: a compressor creating a flow of compressed air; a recuperator preheating the flow of compressed air; a combustor section mixing the preheated compressed air with a fuel and combusting the mixture to create a flow of products of combustion; a radial flow turbine having turbine blades and supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis; a turbine shroud surrounding the turbine; a scroll case surrounding the turbine shroud; a support member; an inlet defined between the support member and the turbine shroud and communicating between the inside of the scroll case and the inside of the turbine shroud; a plurality of inlet guide vanes in the inlet and adapted to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the turbine blades; a plurality of resilient members; a plurality of bolts each having a bolt head and a first dowel portion and a second dowel portion, and each extending through the turbine shroud, one of the guide vanes, the support member, and one of the resilient members, said first dowel portion engaging said one of said guide vanes and said turbine support member, and said second dowel portion engaging said one of said guide vanes and said shroud; and a nut threaded onto each bolt to trap the turbine shroud, guide vanes, support member, and resilient member in a gap defined between the nut and the bolt head; wherein the products of combustion enter the scroll case in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the turbine; wherein the products of combustion enter the inlet, cause the turbine to rotate, and exit the turbine shroud as a flow of exhaust gas in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the turbine; wherein the guide vanes, turbine, and turbine shroud expand in response to being heated by the products of combustion; wherein the resilient members deflect to at least partially accommodate such thermal expansion; and wherein the flow of exhaust gas flows through the recuperator to preheat the compressed air.