Method and apparatus for dissipating heat, and radar antenna containing heat dissipating apparatus

A heat dissipation device, comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of inlet plenums, comprising at least a first inlet plenum and a second inlet plenum, and a plurality of outlet plenums, comprising at least a first outlet plenum and a second outlet plenum,
• said housing defining a plurality of heat transfer chambers, comprising at least a first heat transfer chamber and a second heat transfer chamber,
• said first heat transfer chamber communicating directly with said first inlet plenum on a first side of said first heat transfer chamber and with said first outlet plenum on a second side of said first heat transfer chamber,
• said second heat transfer chamber communicating directly with said second inlet plenum on a first side of said second heat transfer chamber and communicating directly with said second outlet plenum on a second side of said second heat transfer chamber;
• and
• at least one heat transfer element positioned in each said heat transfer chamber, each said heat transfer element comprising a base and a plurality of protrusions,
• said housing comprising a housing back wall, said housing back wall defining a plurality of back wall openings, each said heat transfer element being positioned with its base in contact with said housing back wall and its protrusions extending through one of said back wall openings, said base being on one side of said housing back wall and at least a portion of each of said protrusions being on an opposite side of said housing back wall.

A method of dissipating heat, comprising:

• passing fluid through at least a first inlet plenum, then
• passing said fluid across a plurality of protrusions of a heat transfer element, and then
• passing said fluid through at least a first outlet plenum,
• said heat transfer element being positioned within a heat transfer chamber,
• said heat transfer chamber communicating directly with said first inlet plenum on a first side of said heat transfer chamber and communicating directly with said first outlet plenum on a second side of said heat transfer chamber,
• said heat transfer element comprising a base and said plurality of protrusions,
• said first inlet plenum and said first outlet plenum positioned within a housing,
• said housing comprising a housing back wall, said housing back wall defining a plurality of back wall openings, each said heat transfer element being positioned with its base in contact with said housing back wall and its protrusions extending through one of said back wall openings, said base being on one side of said housing back wall and at least a portion of each of said protrusions being on an opposite side of said housing back wall.

A method of dissipating heat, comprising:

• passing fluid through at least a first inlet plenum, then
• passing said fluid across a plurality of fins of a heat transfer element, and then
• passing said fluid through at least a first outlet plenum,
• said heat transfer element being positioned within a heat transfer chamber,
• said heat transfer chamber communicating directly with said first inlet plenum on a first side of said heat transfer chamber and communicating directly with said first outlet plenum on a second side of said heat transfer chamber,
• said heat transfer element comprising a base and said plurality of fins,
• said first inlet plenum and said first outlet plenum positioned within a housing,
• said housing comprising a housing back wall, said housing back wall defining a plurality of back wall openings, each said heat transfer element being positioned with its base in contact with said housing back wall and its fins extending through one of said back wall openings, said base being on one side of said housing back wall and at least a portion of each of said fins being on an opposite side of said housing back wall.