Heat Exchanger with Multiple Internal Diverters

Abstract

The present application provides improved heat exchangers for controlling the rate of flow through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes an inlet coolant box, and an outlet coolant box, wherein the inlet coolant box and the outlet coolant box are separated by a partition, wherein the partition comprises a first diverting device and a second diverting device, and wherein the range of flow rates over which the first diverting device diverts fluid is different then the range of flow rates over which the second diverting device diverts fluid.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet coolant box; and   an outlet coolant box;   wherein the inlet coolant box and the outlet coolant box are separated by a partition,   wherein the partition comprises a first diverting device and a second diverting device, and   wherein the range of flow rates over which the first diverting device diverts fluid is different then the range of flow rates over which the second diverting device diverts fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first diverting device comprises a first lift valve and the second diverting comprises a second lift valve. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the first lift valve comprises a first lift disk positioned over a first opening in the partition and the second lift valve comprises a second lift disk positioned over a second opening in the partition. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the first lift disk is mounted on a first guide rod and the second lift disk is mounted on a second guide rod. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the first lift disk comprises a first mass, and the second lift disk comprises a second mass. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the first opening comprises a first area, and die second opening comprises a second area. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the first lift disk comprises a first mass, the second lift disk comprises a second mass, the first opening comprises a first area, and the second opening comprises a second area. 
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet coolant box; and   an outlet coolant box;   wherein the inlet coolant box and the outlet coolant box are separated by a partition,   wherein the partition comprises a first lift valve and a second lift valve,   wherein the first lift valve comprises a first lift disk positioned over a first opening in the partition and the second lift valve comprises a second lift disk positioned over a second opening in the partition, and   wherein the first lift disk comprises a first mass, and the second lift disk comprises a second mass.   
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the first lift disk is mounted on a first guide rod, and the second lift disk is mounted on a second guide rod. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the first opening comprises a first area, and the second opening comprises a second area. 
   
   
       11 . A method of exchanging heat comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger comprising an inlet coolant box and an outlet coolant box, wherein the inlet coolant box and the outlet coolant box are separated by a partition;   feeding a fluid into the inlet coolant box at a total rate of flow, wherein the total rate of flow varies over time between a minimum and a maximum;   diverting a first portion of the fluid across the partition and into the outlet coolant box during periods of time when the total rate of flow is above a first rate of flow between the minimum and the maximum; and   diverting a second portion of the fluid across the partition and into the outlet coolant box during periods of time when the total rate of flow is above a second rate of flow between the minimum and the maximum.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the step of diverting the first portion of the fluid comprises opening a first lift valve of a first diverting device; and   wherein the step of diverting the second portion of the fluid comprises opening a second lift valve of a second diverting device.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first lift valve comprises a first lift disk positioned over a first opening in the partition and the second lift valve comprises a second lift disk positioned over a second opening in the partition;   wherein the step of opening the first lift valve comprises lifting the first lift disk off the first opening in the partition; and   wherein the step of opening the second lift valve comprises lifting the second lift disk off the second opening in the partition.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first rate of flow is different than the second rate of flow.