Abstract: Described is a cooling device for cooling an equipment component with the aid of a cooling agent, as well as a method for cooling an equipment component. In at least one embodiment, the cooling device includes a heat source for transferring thermal energy from the equipment component to the cooling agent and a heat sink for dissipating thermal energy from the cooling agent. The heat source and the heat sink are connected to each other. The cooling agent can be supplied via a forward flow line to the heat source and can flow via a return line away from the heat sink. The cooling device includes a control mechanism and two storage containers or a stratified storage tank for the cooling agent. The control mechanism is connected to the two containers and/or the stratified storage tank, the forward flow line and the return flow line.