Cooler and semiconductor module using same

A cooler comprising:

• a jacket having a top plate that is a main cooling surface, a bottom plate that is disposed opposite the top plate, and a side wall that connects an outer periphery of the top plate and the bottom plate, the jacket being provided internally with a coolant conduction space that is surrounded by the top plate, the bottom plate, and the side wall, the side wall including a first side wall portion, a second side wall portion that is disposed opposite the first side wall portion, and a third side wall portion other than the first and second side wall portions;
• a coolant inflow pipe connected to a through hole provided in the third side wall portion at a position closer to the first side wall portion than to the second side wall portion;
• a coolant outflow pipe connected to a through hole provided in the third side wall portion at a position closer to the second side wall portion than to the first side wall portion;
• a coolant introduction channel that forms a part of the coolant conduction space and communicates with the coolant inflow pipe, and is arranged such that a coolant can be introduced from the coolant inflow pipe along a first inner side wall provided by the first side wall portion inside the jacket;
• a coolant discharge channel that forms a part of the coolant conduction space and communicates with the coolant outflow pipe, and is arranged such that the coolant can be outflowed from the coolant outflow pipe along a second inner side wall provided by the second side wall portion inside the jacket;
• and
• a fin unit located between the coolant introduction channel and the coolant discharge channel, the fin unit being thermally connected to the top plate and comprising a plurality of fins having (i) main surfaces separated from one another to form a space therebetween, (ii) first end portions disposed to direct the coolant from the coolant introduction channel into the space between the main surfaces, and (iii) second end portions disposed to direct the coolant from the space between the main surfaces to the coolant discharge channel;
• wherein:
• all of the first end portions of the fins are disposed so as to extend away from the coolant introduction channel in a direction that forms an acute angle with a direction of flow of coolant in the coolant introduction channel such that a direction of flow of coolant in the first end portions is inclined toward a direction opposite the direction of flow of coolant in the coolant introduction channel, and
• all of the second end portions of the fins are disposed so as to extend toward the coolant discharge channel in a direction that forms an acute angle with a direction of flow of coolant in the coolant discharge channel such that a direction of flow of coolant in the second end portions is inclined toward a direction opposite the direction of flow of coolant in the coolant discharge channel.