Heat exchanger system

A heat exchanger system for use in a vehicle, the heat exchanger system comprising:

• a first heat exchanger configured to cool a first functional component of the vehicle;
• a second heat exchanger configured to cool a second functional component of the vehicle;
• a first cooling fan module provided with a first fan and a first motor configured to drive the first fan to cool the first heat exchanger, the first cooling fan module and the first heat exchanger collectively forming a first heat exchanger assembly;
• a second cooling fan module disposed adjacent to the first cooling fan module and provided a second fan and a second motor configured to drive the second fan to cool the second heat exchanger, the second cooling fan module and the second heat exchanger collectively forming a second heat exchanger assembly;
• and
• at least one controller configured to, responsive to receiving a first demanded heat rejection rate associated with the first heat exchanger and a second demanded heat rejection rate associated with the second heat exchanger,
• direct a first power signal to the first cooling fan module to operate the first motor at a first rotational speed to provide a first flow rate to satisfy the first demanded heat rejection rate,
• direct a second power signal to the second cooling fan module to operate the second motor at a second rotational speed to provide a second flow rate to satisfy the second demanded heat rejection rate while maintaining a rotational speed differential between the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed, such that an acoustic property of at least one of the first heat exchanger assembly and the second heat exchanger assembly is below a predetermined acoustic property threshold.

A method of operating a heat exchanger system for use in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a controller, a first demanded heat rejection rate associated with a first heat exchanger;
• receiving, by the controller, a second demanded heat rejection rate associated with a second heat exchanger;
• directing, by the controller, a first power signal to a first cooling fan module, disposed adjacent to the first heat exchanger, to operate a first motor of the first cooling fan module at a first operational speed to provide a first flow rate to satisfy the first demanded heat rejection rate;
• directing, by the controller, a second power signal to a second cooling fan module disposed adjacent to the second heat exchanger to operate a second motor of the second cooling fan module at a second rotational speed to provide a second flow rate;
• and
• maintaining, by the controller, a rotational speed differential between the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed, such that an acoustic property of the heat exchanger system is below a predetermined acoustic property threshold.