Cooling system

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a cooling system includes a cooling plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined between the first surface and the second surface, at least one channel formed in the body portion for a cooling fluid to flow therethrough, an inlet and an outlet in flow communications with the at least one channel for the cooling fluid to enter and exit the at least one channel, respectively. The inlet and the outlet are spatially separated by a distance. The at least one channel defines a flow path of the cooling fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet through the at least one channel. The flow path has a path length substantially greater than the distance between the inlet and the outlet.

1 . A cooling system, comprising:
 (a) a first cooling plate having a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined between the first surface and the second surface, a concave channel recessed from the second surface and formed in the body portion for a cooling fluid to flow therethrough, an inlet and an outlet in flow communications with the channel for the cooling fluid to enter and exit the channel, respectively; and   (b) a second cooling plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface,   
       wherein the second surface of the first cooling plate is adapted for mating with the first surface of the second cooling plate such that as assembled, the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate is fastened together to form a sealed enclosure between the second surface of the first cooling plate and the first surface of the second cooling plate enclosing the channel. 
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is engaged with one end of the channel and the outlet is engaged with the other end of the channel, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are spatially separated by a distance. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the channel is serpentinely formed to define a zig-zag flow path of the cooling fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet through the channel, wherein the zig-zag flow path has a path length substantially greater than the distance between the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein the second cooling plate has a fin serpentinely protruding from the first surface thereof such that, when the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate are fastened together, the fin is placed in the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the second cooling plate is substantially flat. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 5 , wherein the first cooling plate has a fin serpentinely protruding in the channel thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the first cooling plate is adapted for mounting at least one first electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the second cooling plate is adapted for mounting at least one second electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         9 . A cooling system, comprising:
 (a) a first cooling plate having a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined between the first surface and the second surface, a cavity recessed from the second surface and formed in the body portion, and a plurality of first fins protruding from a bottom of the cavity, the plurality of first fins being substantially parallel to each other to form a plurality of channels therebetween for a cooling fluid to flow therethrough, an inlet and an outlet in flow communications with the plurality of channels for the cooling fluid to enter and exit the plurality of channels, respectively; and   (b) a second cooling plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface,   
       wherein the second surface of the first cooling plate is adapted for mating with the first surface of the second cooling plate such that as assembled, the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate is fastened together to form a sealed enclosure between the second surface of the first cooling plate and the first surface of the second cooling plate enclosing the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are spatially separated by a distance. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of channels defines a respective flow path of the cooling fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet through the corresponding channel, wherein the respective flow path has a path length substantially greater than the distance between the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are placed at two diagonal corners of the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the second cooling plate has a plurality of second fins protruding from the first surface thereof, wherein the plurality of second fins are substantially parallel to each other and positioned such that, when the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate are fastened together, the plurality of second fins inserts into the plurality of channels formed by the plurality of first fins. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the first surface of the second cooling plate is substantially flat. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the first surface of the first cooling plate is adapted for mounting at least one first electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the second surface of the second cooling plate is adapted for mounting at least one second electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         17 . A cooling system, comprising:
 a cooling plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, a body portion defined between the first surface and the second surface, at least one channel formed in the body portion for a cooling fluid to flow therethrough, an inlet and an outlet in flow communications with the at least one channel for the cooling fluid to enter and exit the at least one channel, respectively, wherein the inlet and the outlet are spatially separated by a distance, wherein the at least one channel defines a flow path of the cooling fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet through the at least one channel, and wherein the flow path has a path length substantially greater than the distance between the inlet and the outlet.   
     
     
         18 . The cooling system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one channel is serpentinely formed to define a zig-zag flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The cooling system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, attached to the cooling plate such that the second surface of the first plate is substantially in contact with the first surface of the cooling plate. 
     
     
         20 . The cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the first surface of the first plate is adapted for mounting at least one first electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         21 . The cooling system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one first electrical component comprises a first power converter. 
     
     
         22 . The cooling system of  claim 17 , further comprising a second plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, attached to the cooling plate such that the first surface of the second plate is substantially in contact with the second surface of the cooling plate. 
     
     
         23 . The cooling system of  claim 22 , wherein the second surface of the second plate is adapted for mounting at least one second electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         24 . The cooling system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one second electrical component comprises a second power converter. 
     
     
         25 . An electrical device, comprising the cooling system of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         26 . The electrical device of  claim 25 , further comprising a first plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, attached to the cooling plate such that the second surface of the first plate is substantially in contact with the cooling system. 
     
     
         27 . The electrical device of  claim 26 , wherein the first surface of the first plate is adapted for mounting at least one first electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         28 . The electrical device of  claim 25 , further comprising a second plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, attached to the cooling plate such that the first surface of the second plate is substantially in contact with the cooling system. 
     
     
         29 . The electrical device of  claim 28 , wherein the second surface of the second plate is adapted for mounting at least one second electrical component thereon. 
     
     
         30 . The electrical device of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one first electrical component and at least one second electrical component, positioned such that the cooling system is sandwiched between the at least one first electrical component and the at least one second electrical component. 
     
     
         31 . The electrical device of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one first electrical component and the at least one second electrical component are electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel.