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A gas turbine engine recuperator including exhaust passages providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet being oriented to receive exhaust flow from a turbine of the engine and the exhaust outlet being oriented to deliver the exhaust flow to at

A gas turbine engine recuperator including exhaust passages providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet being oriented to receive exhaust flow from a turbine of the engine and the exhaust outlet being oriented to deliver the exhaust flow to atmosphere, the exhaust inlet having a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the exhaust outlet, and a cross sectional area of each exhaust passage progressively increasing from the exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet such as to diffuse the exhaust flow. Air passages are in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust passages and provide fluid flow communication between an air inlet and an air outlet designed to sealingly engage respective plenums of the gas turbine engine.

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1. A recuperator configured to extend within an exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine, the recuperator comprising: exhaust passages providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet being oriented to receive exhaust flow from a turbine of the engine

1. A recuperator configured to extend within an exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine, the recuperator comprising: exhaust passages providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet being oriented to receive exhaust flow from a turbine of the engine and the exhaust outlet being oriented to deliver the exhaust flow to atmosphere, the exhaust inlet having a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the exhaust outlet, each exhaust passage including a curved portion, and a cross sectional area of at least the curved portion of each exhaust passage progressively increasing along a flow direction defined from the exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet such as to diffuse the exhaust flow;air passages in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust passages and providing fluid flow communication between an air inlet and an air outlet, the air and exhaust passages being relatively oriented such as to define a mixed counter flow and double bass cross flow heat exchanger;an inlet connection member defining the air inlet and being designed to sealingly engage a first plenum in fluid flow communication with a compressor discharge of the gas turbine engine; andan outlet connection member defining the air outlet and being designed to sealingly engage a second plenum containing a combustor of the gas turbine engine. 2. The recuperator as defined in claim 1, wherein the recuperator is a plate heat exchanger. 3. The recuperator as defined in claim 1, wherein the recuperator includes a concentric split diffuser extending from the exhaust inlet and aligned therewith, the diffuser including circumferential splitters defining passages therebetween having a cross-sectional area progressively increasing from an upstream end to a downstream end thereof. 4. The recuperator as defined in claim 3, wherein the splitters are oriented progressively from an axial or substantially axial direction at the upstream end to a radial or substantially radial direction at the downstream end with respect to a center line of the recuperator. 5. The recuperator as defined in claim 1, wherein the recuperator comprises a plurality of identical and independent arcuate segments. 6. The recuperator as defined in claim 1, wherein the exhaust passages have an arcuate profile in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the recuperator to reduce a swirl of the exhaust flow. 7. A gas turbine engine comprising: a compressor section having a discharge in fluid flow communication with a first plenum;a combustor contained in a second plenum;a turbine section in fluid flow communication with the combustor;an exhaust duct in fluid flow communication with the turbine section; anda recuperator located in the exhaust duct, the recuperator defining:exhaust passages providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet and exhaust outlet extending across the exhaust duct with the exhaust inlet being in fluid flow communication with the turbine section, the exhaust inlet having a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the exhaust outlet, each exhaust passage including a curved portion, and a cross sectional area of at least the curved portion of each exhaust passage progressively increasing along a flow direction defined from the exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet such as to diffuse the exhaust flow, air passages in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust passages and providing fluid flow communication between an air inlet and an air outlet, the air and exhaust passages being relatively oriented such as to define a mixed counter flow and double pass cross flow heat exchanger,an inlet connection member defining the air inlet and sealingly engaging the first plenum to receive pressurized air from the compressor, andan outlet connection member defining the air outlet and sealingly engaging the second plenum containing the combustor. 8. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7, wherein the recuperator is a plate heat exchanger. 9. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7, further including a concentric split diffuser extending within the exhaust duct upstream of the exhaust inlet, the diffuser including circumferential splitters defining passages therebetween having a cross-sectional area progressively increasing from an upstream end to a downstream end thereof. 10. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 9, wherein the diffuser extends from the exhaust inlet and forms part of the recuperator. 11. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 9, wherein the splitters are oriented progressively from an axial or substantially axial direction at the upstream end to a radial or substantially radial direction at the downstream end with respect to a center line of the recuperator. 12. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7, wherein a cross sectional of the exhaust duct progressively increases from the turbine section to a downstream end, the recuperator having a shape substantially conforming to that of the exhaust duct. 13. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7, wherein the recuperator comprises a plurality of identical and independent arcuate segments. 14. The gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7, wherein the exhaust passages have an arcuate profile in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the recuperator to reduce a swirl of the exhaust flow.