Abstract: The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. A multiplicity of elongated tubes are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers.

Abstract: The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. A multiplicity of elongated tubes are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers.

Abstract: The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. A multiplicity of elongated tubes are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers.

Abstract: The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. A multiplicity of elongated tubes are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers.

Abstract: The several embodiments of a recuperator structure herein defines a matrix consisting of a multiplicity of elongated hollow tubes and solid rods formed of a glass ceramic material that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic structural material, which is particularly useful in combination with an assembly or matrix of integrally fused tubes forming a series of longitudinal parallel passageways. Also disclosed is a method for making such ceramic structural material from rods and frit that are thermally crystallizable into a glass-ceramic. One embodiment of the method involves bundling the rods into a desired configuration, with the frit interposed in the interstices between the rods, and heating the combined rod-frit bundle to sinter or fuse the rods and frit together in a heat treatment schedule that also nucleates and thermally crystallizes the fused rod-frit structure to the final ceramic product. A gas turbine regenerator comprising a combination of the ceramic structural material and a matrix is also disclosed along with the method of making same.