Patent ID: 7185483

Claim:
A method for exchanging heat between a gas turbine compressor discharge air and a gas turbine exhaust gas, said method comprising: providing a heat exchanger having a stack of at least two layers of support structures comprising: forming each support structure layer from a lattice of support members; and forming each support structure layer from at least two sub-layers; and forming each sub-layer from a plurality of support members directly coupled together such that the support members form a plurality of pyramids stacked substantially uniformly in a three-dimensional array; substantially fluidly separating the at least two support structure layers using at least one barrier such that each layer defines a fluid passageway; coupling the heat exchanger between a gas turbine compressor and a gas turbine exhaust assembly; directing a flow of gas turbine compressor discharge air through a first of the fluid passageways; directing a flow of gas turbine exhaust gas through a second of the fluid passageways that is adjacent the first fluid passageway to facilitate increasing a temperature of the compressor discharge air; and channeling at least a portion of the compressor discharge air having an increased temperature to a gas turbine combustor.