Heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger in which a liquid coolant and a gaseous flow, for example compressed charge air, are involved in the exchange of heat, with at least two heat exchanger blocks being provided which can be traversed by the coolant and by the gaseous flow. The invention can include inventive solutions for a flat arrangement including at least one gas-side bypass arranged adjacent to or within the first heat exchanger block and/or adjacent to or within the second heat exchanger block. The present invention also provides a method for cooling that divides the gaseous flow into at least two partial flows. One partial flow can be guided past a heat exchanger block, and the other partial flow can be conducted through the other heat exchanger block before the partial flows are finally merged.

1 . A heat exchanger for transferring heat between a liquid coolant flow and a gaseous flow, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a pair of heat exchanger blocks being traversed by the coolant flow and the gaseous flow;   a gas bypass arranged adjacent to or within the first heat exchanger block; and   a gas bypass arranged adjacent to or within the second heat exchanger block, a first partial flow of the gaseous flow being directed through the gas bypass of the first heat exchanger and a second partial flow of the gaseous flow being directed through the gas bypass of the second heat exchanger.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein one bypass is arranged at one side of the first heat exchanger block, and wherein an other bypass is situated at an opposite side of the second heat exchanger block. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein one bypass is arranged at a side of the first heat exchanger block and an other bypass is situated at a corresponding side of the second heat exchanger block. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger blocks are arranged so as to be offset in height with respect to a flow direction of the gaseous flow. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger blocks are arranged at a common height with respect to a flow direction of the gaseous flow. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the blocks are spaced apart, and wherein at least one guide for conducting the first and second partial flows extends through the space between the heat exchanger blocks. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the blocks bear directly against one another and have different heights, and wherein one of the bypasses is arranged at least on or in the flatter block. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein insulation can be provided between the bypass and one of the pair of the heat exchanger blocks. 
   
   
       9 . A method of transferring heat between a gaseous flow and a liquid coolant in a heat exchanger having at least two heat exchanger blocks, the method comprising the acts of:
 dividing the gaseous flow into at least two partial flows;   directing a first partial flow through one of the two heat exchanger blocks;   directing a second partial flow through another of the two heat exchanger block; and   merging the one and the other partial flows.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first partial flow is guided past a first one of the pair of heat exchanger blocks, wherein the second partial flow is conducted through the first heat exchanger block, wherein the first and second partial flows are conducted through the second heat exchanger block, and wherein the first and second partial flows are merged either at the second heat exchanger block or downstream therefrom. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second partial flow is directed past the first heat exchange block, and wherein the first partial flow is directed past the second heat exchanger block through the second heat exchanger block, and wherein another partial flow is guided past the second heat exchanger block before being merged with the second partial flow. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant flow is initially conducted into the second heat exchanger block and subsequently into the first heat exchanger block. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant flow is initially conducted into the first heat exchanger block and subsequently into the second heat exchanger block. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant flow which flows through the one of the two heat exchanger blocks belongs to a different circuit than the coolant flow which flows through the other of the two heat exchanger blocks. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the coolant which flows through the one of the two heat exchanger block being different than the coolant flow which flows through the other of the two heat exchanger blocks. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the coolant which flows through the one of the two heat exchanger block being the same as the coolant flow which flows through the other of the two heat exchanger blocks.