An apparatus for providing forced airflow to a surface of a cylindrical gradient coil in a cylindrical magnet assembly including a cylindrical magnet and a first annular gap between the gradient coil and the magnet, the gradient coil mounted inside the magnet includes a first manifold tube having an annular shape and located in the first annular gap between the gradient coil and the magnet. The first manifold tube includes at least one inlet on a first side of the first manifold tube and a plurality of outlet holes on a second side of the first manifold tube. The apparatus also includes an air source coupled to at least one inlet of the first manifold tube and configured to provide airflow to the first manifold tube. In one embodiment, a second manifold tube may be located in a second annular gap between the gradient coil and the RF coil.