A tandem fan system with an airflow-straightening heat exchanger removes heat from an airflow while providing optimal airflow pressure. The tandem fan system includes a first fan assembly and a second fan assembly, wherein each fan assembly has an inlet face and an outlet face, and includes at least one fan configured to propel a flow of air from the inlet face to the outlet face. The tandem fan system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the first and second fan assemblies, wherein the heat exchanger includes at least one fin array and one or more heat pipes. The fin array and heat pipe combination is configured to draw heat from a flow of air that flows through the heat exchanger, and to straighten the flow of air so that the flow is perpendicular to the inlet face of the second fan assembly.