Patent ID: 7493942

Claim:
A heat exchanger comprising: a heat exchanger inlet for receiving flowing heated fluid at an inlet temperature and a heat exchanger outlet for discharging flowing heated fluid at an outlet temperature, the outlet temperature less than the inlet temperature; at least one exhaust plenum for containing flowing heated fluid, each exhaust plenum having at least one inlet receiving flowing heated fluid and at least one outlet for discharging flowing heated fluid, said inlet(s) spaced from said outlet(s); at least one liquid coolant plenum for containing flowing liquid coolant, the liquid coolant plenum contacting one or more adjacent exhaust plenums and having at least one first zone adjacent to at least one inlet of each of the one or more adjacent exhaust plenums, the at least one inlet receiving heated fluid from the heat exchanger inlet, and at least one second zone adjacent to at least one outlet of each of the one or more adjacent exhaust plenums; and at least one tank in fluidic connection with the at least one liquid coolant plenum, the tank comprising at least one of shaping or baffling such that the velocity of flowing liquid coolant in the at least one first zone is greater than the velocity of flowing liquid coolant in the at least one second zone to thereby reduce liquid coolant film boiling; wherein flow is restricted in the second zone relative to the first zone by means of at least one of shaping or baffling.