Cooling apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to a cooling apparatus comprising a first cooling element ( 5 ) with first channels ( 6 ) extending between a first manifold ( 1 ) and a second manifold ( 2 ) and with a base plate ( 9 ) with a first surface ( 10 ) for receiving a heat load from an electric component ( 11 ), and a second cooling element ( 14 ) with second channels ( 16 ) extending between a third manifold ( 3 ) and a fourth manifold ( 4 ). A first section ( 21 ) of the second cooling element ( 14 ) is provided with openings ( 19 ) for allowing an airflow ( 18 ) to pass through the first section ( 21 ). The second cooling element ( 14 ) comprises a second section ( 22 ) provided with openings ( 19 ), and the cooling apparatus is configured to conduct the airflow ( 18 ) which has passed through the first section ( 21 ) through the openings ( 19 ) of the second section ( 22 ).

1 . A cooling apparatus comprising:
 a first cooling element with first channels extending between a first manifold and a second manifold and with a base plate with a first surface for receiving a heat load from an electric component and for passing said heat load into a fluid in the first channels, and   a second cooling element with second channels extending between a third manifold and a fourth manifold, the third manifold of the second cooling element is arranged to receive fluid from the second manifold of the first cooling element and to pass the received fluid via the second channels to the fourth manifold, a first section of the second cooling element is provided with openings for allowing an airflow to pass through the first section, the second cooling element comprising a second section provided with openings, and   the cooling apparatus is configured to conduct the airflow which has passed through the first section through the openings of the second section.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second cooling element is curved and wherein the first and second sections of the second cooling element consists of different parts of the curved second cooling element. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section and the second section of the second cooling element are in fluid communication with each other via one or more additional manifolds. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section and the second section of the second cooling element are stacked on top of each other whereby the airflow is conducted straight forward through the openings of the first and second sections without any substantial changes in the flow direction. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cooling apparatus is provided with an intermediate space which the airflow enters once the airflow has passed through the first section, and   the intermediate space is shaped to change the flow direction to conduct the airflow towards the second section.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises a second surface arranged along a part of the flow path of the airflow to dissipate heat directly from the base plate to the airflow. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the base plate conducts the airflow towards the second section by changing the direction of the airflow. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first channels of the first cooling element or of the second channels of the second cooling element are arranged into a plurality of tubes, such that longitudinal walls of the tubes separates the first channels or second channels of one tube, respectively, from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the second cooling element are provided with fins extending between the second channels. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling apparatus is provided with a fan for producing the airflow.