Three-way heat exchange module with controlled clamping of panel assemblies

A heat exchanger operable to transfer heat between a heat transfer fluid and air, the heat exchanger comprising:

• panel assemblies arranged in series,
• airflow gaps being defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the air to flow through the heat exchanger, each panel assembly comprising a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel, a heat transfer fluid inlet port, and a heat transfer fluid outlet port, wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet ports define a heat transfer fluid inlet manifold of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid outlet ports define a heat transfer fluid outlet manifold of the heat exchanger;
• and
• clamping assemblies for exerting a clamping force on the panel assemblies, each clamping assembly comprising:
• a tie rod extending through the frames of the panel assemblies and including opposite ends;
• retainers connected to the opposite ends of the tie rod;
• and
• a resilient element positioned between one of the retainers and one of the panel assemblies at one of the ends of the tie rod, wherein the resilient element is deformable to accommodate size variations of the panel assemblies;
• wherein the tie rod of a first clamping assembly extends adjacent the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold and the tie rod of a second clamping assembly extends adjacent the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold.

A heat exchanger operable to transfer heat between a heat transfer fluid and air, the heat exchanger comprising:

• panel assemblies arranged in succession, airflow gaps being defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the air to flow through the heat exchanger, each panel assembly comprising a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel, a first alignment hole, and a second alignment hole, wherein the first and second alignment holes are defined on opposite sides of the heat transfer fluid channel;
• and
• clamping assemblies for exerting a clamping force on the panel assemblies, each clamping assembly comprising:
• a tie rod extending through the frames of the panel assemblies;
• retainers connected to opposite ends of the tie rod;
• and
• a resilient element between one of the retainers and one of the panel assemblies at one of the ends of the tie rod, wherein the resilient element is deformable to accommodate size variations of the panel assemblies;
• wherein the tie rod of a first clamping assembly extends through the first alignment holes of the panel assemblies and the tie rod of a second clamping assembly extends through the second alignment holes of the panel assemblies, wherein each tie rod and the respective alignment holes have a complementing anti-rotation shape.