Water cooling apparatus

Abstract

In a cooling apparatus, a heating element is thermally connected to a container that defines a first channel through which a coolant flows. A porous block having a large number of pores is accommodated in the container so as to block the first channel. The porous block has second channels formed in the porous block along the first channel and each having an opening on an upstream side of the first channel. Further, third channels are formed in the porous block along the first channel, each have an opening on an upstream side of the first channel, and communicate with the second channels via the pores.

1 . A cooling apparatus comprising:
 a heating element;   a container thermally connected to the heating element to define a first channel through which a coolant flows;   a porous block having a large number of pores formed in the container so as to block the first channel;   second channels formed in the porous block along the first channel and each having an opening on the upstream side of the first channel; and   third channels formed in the porous block along the first channel and each having an opening on an upstream side of the first channel, the third channel communicating with the second channels via the pores.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous block is made of an anisotropic porous material, and the pores are formed in the anisotropic porous material so as to extend in a direction crossing the first channel, and
 the second channels and the third channels are substantially arranged in a grid in a cross section of the first channel.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous block is made of an anisotropic porous material, and the pores are formed in the anisotropic porous material so as to extend in a direction crossing the first channel, and
 the second channels and the third channels are substantially arranged in a zigzag in a cross section of the first channel.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the pores has a diameter of several μm to tens of μm. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the second and third channels has a diameter of 100 μm to 1000 μm. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second and third channels have a first diameter at a side of the heating element and a second diameter at a opposite side of the heating element, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.