Patent ID: 7293414

Claim:
In combination, a closed cycle recuperator microturbine having a turbine, compressor, and recuperator, and an opened cycle heat system including a combustor, fuel and a throttle valve for regulating the flow of fuel into the combustor and a fan and means for powering the fan for regulating the flow of ambient air to the combustor for combustion with the fuel, a turbine inlet heater for placing the combusted gases from the combustor in indirect heat exchange with the air discharging from the compressor for heating the air discharging from the compressor and for powering said turbine, said recuperator disposed downstream of said turbine for preheating the compressor discharge air prior to being admitted to said turbine, a first valve fluidly connecting ambient to the inlet of the compressor and a second valve for fluidly connecting ambient to the discharge of said compressor, control means connected to said first valve and said second valve for discharging air from the inlet of the compressor and the discharge of the compressor during low power condition of the operation of the closed cycle recuperator microturbine engine whereby the open cycle heat system maintains the thermodynamic conditions of said closed cycle recuperator microturbine.