Heat exchanger arrangements and related methods

Abstract

A heat exchanger arrangement includes a heat exchange body, a first fluid path extending through the heat exchange body, and a second fluid path extending through the heat exchange body in thermal communication with the first fluid path and fluidly isolated from the first fluid path. A bypass path is arranged externally of the heat exchange body and is fluidly connected in parallel with the first fluid path. A control module is operably connected to the bypass path to control temperature of fluids traversing the first fluid path and the second fluid path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger arrangement, comprising:
 a heat exchange body;   a first fluid path extending through the heat exchange body;   a second fluid path extending through the heat exchange body in thermal communication with the first fluid path and fluidly isolated from the first fluid path;   a bypass path external of the heat exchange body and fluidly connected in parallel with the first fluid path; and   a control module operably connected to the bypass path and configured to control flow rate of fluids traversing the first fluid path and the second fluid path.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass valve disposed along the first bypass path. The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the control module is operatively connected to the bypass valve, 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor in thermal communication with the first fluid path downstream of the heat exchange body. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the control module is connected to the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass valve disposed along the second bypass path. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the control module is operatively connected to the bypass valve. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor in thermal communication with the second fluid path downstream of the heat exchange body. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the control module is connected to the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first fluid path and the second fluid path are in fluid communication with a lubrication circuit of a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first fluid path and the second fluid path are in fluid communication with a fuel circuit of a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first fluid path and the second fluid path are in fluid communication with a bleed air passage of a gas turbine engine compressor section. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to execute instructions recorded on a non-transitory machine readable medium to:
 throttle flow a first fluid through a heat exchange body; and   throttle flow a second fluid through the heat exchange body to thereby allow heat to transfer between the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow to drive temperature of the first fluid flow to a predetermined temperature and to drive temperature of the second fluid flow to a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bypass path is a first bypass path and further comprising a second bypass path, wherein the second bypass path is external of the heat exchange body and is fluidly connected in parallel with the second fluid path, and wherein the control module is operably connected to the first bypass path and the second bypass path to control flow rate of fluids traversing the first fluid path and the second fluid path. 
     
     
         15 . A thermal management system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger arrangement as recited in  claim 1 ;   a first bypass valve disposed along the first bypass path, wherein the control module is operatively connected to the first bypass valve;   a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with the first fluid path downstream of the heat exchange body, wherein the control module is connected to the first temperature sensor;   a second bypass valve disposed along the second bypass path, wherein the control module is operatively connected to the second bypass valve;   a second temperature sensor in thermal communication with the second fluid path downstream of the heat exchange body, wherein the control module is connected to the second temperature sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the first fluid path and the second fluid path are in fluid communication with (a) a lubrication circuit of a gas turbine engine, (b) a fuel circuit of a gas turbine engine, and (c) a bleed air passage of a gas turbine engine compressor section. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the control module is configured to execute instructions recorded on a non-transitory machine-readable medium to:
 flow a first fluid through a heat exchange body;   flow a second fluid through the heat exchange body;   transfer heat between the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow;   drive temperature of the first fluid flow to a predetermined temperature by throttling flow of the first fluid through the heat exchanger; and   drive temperature of the second fluid flow to a predetermined temperature by throttling flow of the second fluid through the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . A thermal management method, comprising:
 throttling flow of a first fluid through a heat exchange body;   throttling flow of a second fluid through the heat exchange body;   transferring heat between the first flowing fluid and the second flowing fluid;   driving temperature of the first flowing fluid to a selected temperature; and   driving temperature of the second fluid flow to a selected temperature.