Patent ID: 7849692

Claim:
A segmented heat exchanger system for transferring heat energy from an exhaust fluid to a working fluid, comprising: a first heat exchanger for receiving incoming working fluid and the exhaust fluid, the working fluid and exhaust fluid traveling through at least a portion of the first heat exchanger in a parallel flow configuration; a second heat exchanger for receiving working fluid from the first heat exchanger and exhaust fluid from a third heat exchanger, the working fluid and exhaust fluid traveling through at least a portion of the second heat exchanger in a counter flow configuration relative to one another; and the third heat exchanger for receiving working fluid from the second heat exchanger and exhaust fluid from the first heat exchanger, the working fluid and exhaust fluid traveling through at least a portion of the third heat exchanger in a parallel flow configuration, the working fluid flowing in series from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger and then to the third heat exchanger.