Cooling system for power electronics units

A method for assembling a cooling system for a power electronics unit, the method comprising:

• using a heatsink arrangement including a first heatsink and a second heatsink, each of the first heatsink and the second heatsink configured to receive a coolant flow and dissipate heat from one or more power modules of the power electronics unit, the first heatsink including a plurality of first openings and the second heatsink including a plurality of second openings;
• and
• positioning a plurality of blocks between the first heatsink and the second heatsink, each block of the plurality of blocks defining a flow regulation feature such that coolant flows correspondingly between the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings is selectively routed and restricted, wherein
• at least one block of the plurality of blocks is swappable with at least one other block of the plurality of blocks to interchange locations of a first flow regulation feature of the at least one block with a second flow regulation feature of the at least one other block to switch the cooling system between a first configuration and a second configuration, and
• in the first configuration, the first heatsink and the second heatsink are fluidly connected to each other to receive the coolant flow according to a series flow, and, in the second configuration, the first heatsink and the second heatsink are fluidly connected to each other to receive the coolant flow according to a parallel flow.

A machine, comprising:

• at least one power producing device and at least one power consuming device;
• a power electronics unit configured to convert and condition a flow of electrical current between the at least one power producing device and the at least one power consuming device, the power electronics unit, including:
• one or more power modules;
• and
• a cooling system to maintain a working temperature of the one or more power modules of the power electronics unit, the cooling system including:
• a heatsink arrangement including a first heatsink and a second heatsink, each of the first heatsink and the second heatsink configured to receive a coolant flow and dissipate heat from the one or more power modules of the power electronics unit, the first heatsink including a plurality of first openings and the second heatsink including a plurality of second openings;
• and
• a plurality of blocks positioned between the first heatsink and the second heatsink, each block of the plurality of blocks defining a flow regulation feature such that coolant flows correspondingly between the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings is selectively routed and restricted, wherein
• at least one block of the plurality of blocks is swappable with at least one other block of the plurality of blocks to interchange locations of a first flow regulation feature of the at least one block with a second flow regulation feature of the at least one other block to switch the cooling system between a first configuration and a second configuration, and
• in the first configuration, the first heatsink and the second heatsink are fluidly connected to each other to receive the coolant flow according to a series flow, and, in the second configuration, the first heatsink and the second heatsink are fluidly connected to each other to receive the coolant flow according to a parallel flow.