Development, Fabrication and Application of a Primary Surface Gas Turbine Recuperator

Design and manufacturing technology for primary surface gas turbine recuperators has been under development at Caterpillar Tractor Co. for the past 16 years. The key element in the success of this program has been the development of an optimal heat transfer surface which was amenable to low cost fabrication techniques. This paper describes the design and application criteria which guided the development of the primary surface gas turbine recuperator, including heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics, mechanical and thermal loading mechanisms, design life, and materials selection. A review of the recuperator's development history is presented, from early rig tests on handmade heat exchangers to the present commercial fleet of recuperators which were produced in a highly automated manufacturing facility and have compiled over 240,000 total hours of operation as of 02/01/85.