A gas turbine engine including: a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis defining proximal and distal directions; a compressor coupled to the rotor; a turbine coupled to the rotor and disposed distally from the compressor; a combustion chamber; a gas turbine exhaust; and a recuperator comprising: an annular heat exchanger comprising: an axial intake disposed at a distal end of the heat exchanger and an axial exhaust disposed at a proximal end of the heat exchanger; and a radial intake disposed at a proximal end of an inner radius of the heat exchanger and a radial exhaust disposed at a distal end of the inner radius of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger defines a first flow path between the axial intake and the axial exhaust and a second flow path between the radial intake and the radial exhaust .

A gas turbine engine including: a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis defining proximal and distal directions; a compressor coupled to the rotor; a turbine coupled to the rotor and disposed distally from the compressor; a combustion chamber; a gas turbine exhaust; and a recuperator comprising: an annular heat exchanger comprising: an axial intake disposed at a distal end of the heat exchanger and an axial exhaust disposed at a proximal end of the heat exchanger; and a radial intake disposed at a proximal end of an inner radius of the heat exchanger and a radial exhaust disposed at a distal end of the inner radius of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger defines a first flow path between the axial intake and the axial exhaust and a second flow path between the radial intake and the radial exhaust .

A thermodynamic apparatus (10) comprising a compressor module (100), a turbine module (200), and a regenerative heat exchanger (300) centred on a central axis (12). The compressor module (100), turbine module (200) and regenerative heat exchanger (300) are arranged in series along the central axis (12) such that the regenerative heat exchanger (300) is provided between the compressor module (100) and the turbine module (200).

The invention is directed to a process to obtain a compressed gas starting from a starting gas having a lower pressure by performing the following steps: (i) increasing the pressure and temperature of a gas having an intermediate pressure by means of indirect heat exchange against a fluid having a higher temperature to obtain a gas high in pressure and temperature, (ii) obtaining part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as the compressed gas, (iii) using another part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as a driving gas to increase the pressure of the starting gas in one or more stages to obtain the gas having an intermediate pressure for use in step (i). The invention is also directed to a configuration wherein the process can be performed and directed to a process to generate energy using the process.

The invention is directed to a process to obtain a compressed gas starting from a starting gas having a lower pressure by performing the following steps: (i) increasing the pressure and temperature of a gas having an intermediate pressure by means of indirect heat exchange against a fluid having a higher temperature to obtain a gas high in pressure and temperature, (ii) obtaining part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as the compressed gas, (iii) using another part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as a driving gas to increase the pressure of the starting gas in one or more stages to obtain the gas having an intermediate pressure for use in step (i). The invention is also directed to a configuration wherein the process can be performed and directed to a process to generate energy using the process.

A heat exchanger for heat exchange between fluid streams incorporates rotary features to control the passage of the streams.

A heat exchanger for heat exchange between fluid streams incorporates rotary features to control the passage of the streams.

A heat exchanger for heat exchange between fluid streams incorporates rotary features to control the passage of the streams.

A heat exchanger for heat exchange between fluid streams incorporates rotary features to control the passage of the streams.

A thermodynamic apparatus (10) comprising a compressor module (100), a turbine module (200), and a regenerative heat exchanger (300) centred on a central axis (12). The compressor module (100), turbine module (200) and regenerative heat exchanger (300) are arranged in series along the central axis (12) such that the regenerative heat exchanger (300) is provided between the compressor module (100) and the turbine module (200).