Cooling system and method for cooling a heat generating unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling system for cooling a heat generating unit comprising an exchangeable heat sink unit being arranged removably connected to the heat generating unit in an assembled state of the cooling system, wherein further comprises a heat dissipation structure and a heat output connector arranged in the heat generating unit, where the heat dissipation structure is arranged to dissipate heat from at least one heat generating componentin the heat generating unit to the heat output connector, where further the exchangeable heat sink unit comprises a heat sink and a heat sink heat dissipation structure and a heat input connector, where the heat input connector is arranged to connect to said heat output connector to dissipate heat from said heat output connector via the heat sink heat dissipation structure to the heat sink. The invention also relates to a method for cooling a heat generating unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Cooling system ( 2 ) for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ), the cooling system ( 2 ) comprising an exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ) being arranged removably connected to the heat generating unit ( 4 ) in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ), wherein the cooling system ( 2 ) further comprises a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) and a heat output connector ( 8 ) arranged in the heat generating unit ( 4 ), where the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) is arranged to dissipate heat from at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ) to the heat output connector ( 8 ), where further the exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ) comprises a heat sink ( 10 ) and a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) and a heat input connector ( 14 ), where the heat input connector ( 14 ) is arranged to connect to said heat output connector ( 8 ) to dissipate heat from said heat output connector ( 8 ) via the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         2 . Cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating unit ( 4 ) is a radio unit. 
     
     
         3 . Cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a component on a PCB or a Power Amplifier arranged in the heat generating radio unit ( 4 ). 
     
     
         4 . Cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ) is arranged in thermal contact with the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ). 
     
     
         5 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) is a heat pipe arranged to transfer heat from the at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) to the heat output connector ( 8 ). 
     
     
         6 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) is made of a material with high heat conductivity arranged to transfer heat from the at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) to the heat output connector ( 8 ). 
     
     
         7 . Cooling system according to  claim 6 , wherein the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) is made of graphite, copper or gold. 
     
     
         8 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat output connector ( 8 ) and the heat input connector ( 14 ) are arranged to be connected against each other in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ) thereby allowing for heat transfer by conduction from the heat output connector ( 8 ) to the heat input connector ( 14 ). 
     
     
         9 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat output connector ( 8 ) is one end of the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat input connector ( 14 ) is one end of the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ). 
     
     
         11 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) is a heat pipe arranged to transfer heat from the heat input connector ( 14 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         12 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) is made of a material with high heat conductivity arranged to transfer heat from the heat input connector ( 14 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         13 . Cooling system according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) is made of graphite, copper or gold. 
     
     
         14 . Cooling system according to  claim 12 , wherein heat from the heat sink ( 10 ) is arranged to be transferred to ambient air ( 16 ) surrounding the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         15 . Cooling system according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) is a coolant loop for coolant ( 22 ) arranged to transfer heat from the at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) to the heat output connector ( 8 ). 
     
     
         16 . Cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein the heat output connector ( 8 ) is one end of the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ). 
     
     
         17 . Cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein the heat input connector ( 14 ) is one end of the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ). 
     
     
         18 . Cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein the heat output connector ( 8 ) and the heat input connector ( 14 ) are arranged to be connected against each other in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ) thereby allowing for heat transfer between the heat generating unit ( 4 ) and the heat sink unit ( 6 ) by mass transfer of coolant ( 22 ) between the heat generating unit ( 4 ) and the heat sink unit ( 6 ). 
     
     
         19 . Cooling system according to  claim 18 , wherein the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) is a coolant loop for coolant ( 22 ) arranged to transfer heat from the heat input connector ( 14 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         20 . Cooling system according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) comprises a coolant output connector ( 24 ) and the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) comprises a coolant input connector ( 26 ). 
     
     
         21 . Cooling system according to  claim 20 , wherein the coolant output connector ( 24 ) is further connected to the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) which is a coolant loop for coolant ( 22 ). 
     
     
         22 . Cooling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the coolant input connector ( 26 ) is further connected to the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) which is a coolant loop for coolant ( 22 ). 
     
     
         23 . Cooling system according to  claim 22 , wherein coolant output connector ( 24 ) and the coolant input connector ( 26 ) are arranged to be connected against each other in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ) thereby allowing for mass transfer of coolant ( 22 ) between the heat sink unit ( 6 ) and the heat generating unit ( 4 ) from the coolant output connector ( 24 ) to the coolant input connector ( 26 ). 
     
     
         24 . Cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein the dissipation structure ( 18 ) and the heat sink dissipation structure ( 12 ) form two sub-loops that in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ) are arranged to be connected to form a coolant system loop ( 28 ) wherein coolant ( 22 ) is circulated between the heat generating unit ( 4 ) and the heat sink unit ( 6 ), the coolant transferring heat from the heat generating unit ( 4 ) to the heat sink unit ( 6 ). 
     
     
         25 . Cooling system according to  claim 24 , wherein an active part ( 30 ) is arranged in the heat sink unit ( 6 ) to circulate coolant ( 22 ) in the coolant system loop ( 28 ). 
     
     
         26 . Cooling system according to  claim 24 , wherein the active part is a pump or a compressor. 
     
     
         27 . Cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein the coolant ( 22 ) is liquid or air or a 2-phase liquid-gas combination, or liquid metal. 
     
     
         28 . Cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein heat from the heat sink ( 10 ) is arranged to be transferred to ambient air ( 16 ) surrounding the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         29 . Method for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ) with a cooling system ( 2 ) comprising an exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ) being arranged removably connected to the heat generating unit ( 4 ) in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ), wherein the method comprising: arranging a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) and a heat output connector ( 8 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ), arranging the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) to dissipate heat from at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ) to the heat output connector ( 8 ), arranging a heat sink ( 10 ) and a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) and a heat input connector ( 14 ) in the exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ), connecting the heat input connector ( 14 ) to said heat output connector ( 8 ) to dissipate heat from said heat output connector ( 8 ) via the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ). 
     
     
         30 . Method for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ) according to  claim 29 , where the step of arranging a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ) comprises the step of arranging a heat pipe as a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ). 
     
     
         31 . Method for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ) according to  claim 29 , where the step of arranging a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ) comprises the step of arranging a material with high heat conductivity as a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ). 
     
     
         32 . Method for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ) according to  claim 29 , where the step of arranging a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) in the exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ) comprises the step of arranging a heat pipe as a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) in the exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ). 
     
     
         33 . Method for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ) according to  claim 29 , where the step of arranging a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) in the exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ) comprises the step of arranging a material with high heat conductivity as a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) in the exchangeable heat sink unit ( 6 ). 
     
     
         34 . Method for cooling a heat generating unit ( 4 ) according to  claim 29 , where the step of arranging a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ) comprises the step of arranging coolant loop for coolant ( 22 ) arranged to transfer heat from the at least one heat generating component ( 20 ) to the heat output connector ( 8 ) as a heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) in the heat generating unit ( 4 ), where further the step of arranging a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) in the heat sink unit ( 6 ) comprises the step of arranging a coolant loop for coolant ( 22 ) arranged to transfer heat from the heat input connector ( 14 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ) as a heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) in the heat sink unit ( 4 ), where further the step of dissipating heat from said heat output connector ( 8 ) via the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) to the heat sink ( 10 ) comprises the step of transferring heat between the heat generating unit ( 4 ) and the heat sink unit ( 6 ) by mass transfer of coolant ( 22 ) between the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) and the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ), further comprising the steps of arranging the heat sink heat dissipation structure ( 12 ) with a coolant output connector ( 24 ) and arranging the heat dissipation structure ( 18 ) with a coolant input connector ( 26 ), and connecting the coolant output connector ( 24 ) and the coolant input connector ( 26 ) against each other in an assembled state of the cooling system ( 2 ) thereby allowing for return mass transfer of coolant ( 22 ) from the heat sink unit ( 6 ) to the heat generating unit ( 4 ).