Patent ID: 7775031

Claim:
A recuperated gas turbine engine system, comprising: a gas turbine engine having: an external air compressor outlet duct exiting a compressor of the engine; an external combustor inlet duct; an exhaust port exiting the engine; and a recuperator, including: an inlet header connected to the external air compressor outlet duct of said engine; an outlet header connected to the external combustor inlet duct of said engine; a core formed from a plurality of microtubes each having a first end attached to said inlet header and a second end attached to said outlet header and extending axially between and fluidly connecting said inlet and outlet headers, wherein said plurality of microtubes are disposed in a parallel orientation and define a corrugated wall extending between the inlet and outlet header, wherein said microtubes have an inside diameter of less than 2.0 mm and a sidewall thickness of less than 0.26 mm; and a housing extending between the headers and surrounding said microtubes, said housing having an exhaust inlet port connected to said exhaust port of said engine and further including an outlet port for connection with exhaust ducting, wherein said housing defines an exhaust duct between said headers.