Patent ID: 8579060

Claim:
A heat exchanger apparatus comprising: (a) a first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a fluid and a gas, the first heat exchanger comprising: (i) a plurality of first tubes through which the fluid can flow, (ii) a plurality of first fins disposed between adjacent first tubes, (iii) a first inlet header in fluid communication with the first tubes at first longitudinal ends of the first tubes, and (iv) a first outlet header in fluid communication with the first tubes at second longitudinal ends of the first tubes; (b) a second heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the fluid and the gas, the second heat exchanger being mounted adjacent to the first heat exchanger and comprising: (i) a plurality of second tubes through which the fluid can flow, (ii) a plurality of second fins disposed between adjacent second tubes, (iii) a second inlet header in fluid communication with (A) the second tubes at first longitudinal ends of the second tubes and optionally (B) the first inlet header, and (iv) a second outlet header in fluid communication with (A) the second tubes at second longitudinal ends of the second tubes and optionally (B) the first outlet header; wherein: (i) the second heat exchanger is disposed on an upstream gas side of the first heat exchanger; (ii) the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are configured to permit a gas flow in a direction from (A) the second heat exchanger and over the second tubes and the second fins thereof to (B) the first heat exchanger and over the first tubes and the first fins thereof in use to provide heat exchange between the fluid and the gas; and (iii) the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged in a parallel configuration to allow a stream of fluid to be separated into two discrete streams of fluid, each of which passes through only one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger before recombining with the other discrete stream of fluid and exiting the apparatus.