Aerosol generating device

Abstract

The invention discloses an aerosol generating device, which comprises a shell, a power supply, a control circuit and an electromagnetic induction heating assembly, and is characterized in that the electromagnetic induction heating assembly is powered under the control of the control circuit; the sensing heater can generate heat energy in an alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil and is used for heating an aerosol generating product which is arranged in the aerosol generating device and is in thermal contact with the sensing heater, and when a part of the aerosol generating product is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the sensing heater is longitudinally inserted into the aerosol generating product; the sensing heater is parallel to the magnetic line direction of the alternating magnetic field and meets Rgt; r. The aerosol generating device has the advantages of efficiently heating and completing the preheating process, meanwhile, the requirement for the frequency of the alternating magnetic field can be lowered, the service life of the smoking set can be prolonged, and the influence on the surroundings can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of novel tobacco, and in particular relates to an aerosol generating device. Background Art

[0002] Aerosol-generating articles (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, etc.) burn tobacco to produce tobacco smoke during use. People have tried to replace these tobacco-burning products by making products that release compounds without combustion. Products such as heating components can generate aerosols by heating rather than burning smokeable materials.

[0003] There are aerosol generating devices, for example, so-called electric heating non-burning smoking devices, which can form an aerosol generating system together with the cigarette-shaped consumables inserted therein. There are various heating methods. The heating devices for heating cigarettes currently on the market mainly use the principle of resistance heating, and the heating methods mainly include inner core heating, outer periphery heating and internal and external mixed heating. Resistance heating usually causes the smoke medium close to the heating element to be overheated during the heating process of the aerosol generating product, while the smoke medium far from the heating element is difficult to be heated, resulting in uneven heating of the aerosol generating product.

[0004] As an efficient heating principle, electromagnetic induction heating is very suitable for heating aerosol generating devices. Induction heating means that the alternating current generated by the induction heating power source generates an alternating magnetic field through an inductor (usually a coil), and a magnetically conductive object is placed in it to cut the alternating magnetic field lines, thereby generating an alternating current, i.e., eddy current, inside the object. The eddy current causes the atoms inside the object to move irregularly at high speed, and the atoms collide and rub against each other to generate heat energy, thereby achieving the effect of heating the object. When an alternating current is passed through a spiral coil, the alternating magnetic field generated by the changing current will cause eddy currents inside the heated conductor, and the distribution of eddy currents on the cross section of the conductor is no longer uniform. At this time, the current (i.e., eddy current) will mainly concentrate on the surface of the conductor, and decay exponentially from the surface to the center. In order to measure the attenuation degree of electromagnetic waves in the conductor, the depth at which the field intensity amplitude decays to the amplitude 1 / e (e is the base of the natural logarithm) at the surface is usually called the penetration depth. The penetration depth is related to multiple physical quantities, that is, the penetration depth of the sensing heater is different for devices with different conductors and different frequencies. The existence of penetration depth directly affects the overall heating efficiency of the aerosol generating device. At the same time, since it is an electromagnetic induction device, electromagnetic spillover will inevitably cause energy loss, and may even bring other adverse consequences, such as affecting the normal operation of other surrounding devices.

[0005] Therefore, how to solve the influence of penetration depth on the heating efficiency of such aerosol generating devices and determine the selection of sensor heaters accordingly has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently in this field. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an aerosol generating device to achieve the purpose of improving the heating energy efficiency of the heating device.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0008] An aerosol generating device comprises a shell, a power supply, a control circuit and an electromagnetic induction heating component, wherein the shell is used to accommodate the power supply, the control circuit and the electromagnetic induction heating component, the electromagnetic induction heating component comprises a sensor heater and an induction coil extending in a longitudinal direction, the power supply is electrically connected to the control circuit and the electromagnetic induction heating component, and the electromagnetic induction heating component is powered under the control of the control circuit, the sensor heater can generate heat energy in the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil and is used to heat an aerosol generating product placed in the aerosol generating device and in thermal contact with the sensor heater, when a part of the aerosol generating product is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the sensor heater is longitudinally inserted into the aerosol generating product and is parallel to the magnetic field lines of the alternating magnetic field, and is characterized in that the sensor heater satisfies:

[0009] R>r

[0010] Wherein, r is the maximum inscribed circle radius of the cross section of the sensor heater, in cm; R is the minimum circumscribed circle radius of the cross section of the sensor heater, in cm.

[0011] Furthermore, the cross section of the sensor heater is a convex polygon.

[0012] Furthermore, the cross-section of the sensor heater is square, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal.

[0013] Furthermore, each corner of the square, rectangle, pentagon or hexagon is rounded.

[0014] Furthermore, the penetration depth D of the alternating magnetic field into the sensing heater satisfies:

[0015] D≥14.0

[0016] Where D is the penetration depth in μm.

[0017] Furthermore, the alternating magnetic field f satisfies:

[0018] f≤600

[0019] Wherein, f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil, in KHZ. Further, f of the alternating magnetic field satisfies:

[0020] 300≤f≤600

[0021] Wherein, f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil, in units of HZ.

[0022] Furthermore, the sensor heater satisfies:

[0023]

[0024] Wherein, ρ is the conductivity of the sensor heater, in Ω·cm; μ r is the relative magnetic permeability of the inductive heater, which is a dimensionless parameter; f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, in Hz.

[0025] Furthermore, the sensor heater satisfies:

[0026] R / r≥1.5.

[0027] Furthermore, the sensor heater satisfies:

[0028] 7≤R / r≤20.

[0029] Among them, the aerosol generating device is a device used to interact with the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol.

[0030] Preferably, the aerosol generating device is a smoking device which interacts with an aerosol generating substrate of an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol which is directly inhalable into the lungs of a user through the user's mouth.The aerosol generating device may be a holder for a smoking article.

[0031] The heating method of the smoking device can utilize the principle of resistance heating, infrared heating and electromagnetic induction heating. Resistance heating mainly includes inner core heating, outer periphery heating and inner and outer mixed heating. Infrared heating mainly includes outer periphery heating. In the present invention, the aerosol generating device adopts electromagnetic induction heating. The heating component includes an induction coil and a sensor heater, the sensor heater is generally also called a sensor heater, and the induction coil is generally also called an inductor. The sensor heater as a part of the heating component can be set on the aerosol generating device or in the aerosol generating product.

[0032] The susceptor heater is made of a material that can convert electromagnetic energy into heat. When located in a fluctuating electromagnetic field, eddy currents induced in the aerosol generating device result in heating of the aerosol generating device. When the elongated susceptor heater is positioned in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-forming substrate is heated by the susceptor heater.

[0033] The aerosol-generating article is designed to be engaged with an aerosol-generating device including an induction heating source. The induction coil generates a fluctuating electric field to heat a susceptor heater located within the fluctuating electromagnetic field. In use, when the induction heater is disposed in the aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating article is engaged with the aerosol-generating device such that the susceptor heater is located within the fluctuating electromagnetic field generated by the induction heater.

[0034] The length dimension of the sensor heater is greater than its width dimension or its thickness dimension, for example greater than twice its width dimension or its thickness dimension. The sensor heater can therefore be described as an elongated sensor heater. The sensor heater can be arranged approximately longitudinally within the aerosol generating substrate or around the aerosol generating device. This means that the length dimension of the elongated sensor heater is arranged approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, for example within plus or minus 10 degrees parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating substrate.

[0035] Preferably, the elongate susceptor heater may be located in a radially central portion of the aerosol-generating article and extend along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

[0036] The susceptor heater may be made of any material that can be heated by induction to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0037] Preferably, the susceptor heater comprises metal or carbon.

[0038] Preferably, the susceptor heater may comprise a ferromagnetic material, such as ferrite, ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel. Suitable susceptor heaters may be or may comprise aluminium.

[0039] Preferably, the susceptor heater may be made of 400 series stainless steel, such as 403 grade, 410 grade, 420 grade or 430 grade stainless steel.

[0040] Different materials will consume different amounts of energy when placed in an electromagnetic field with similar frequency and field strength values. Therefore, the parameters of the susceptor heater, such as material type, length, width and thickness, can be changed within a known electromagnetic field to provide the desired energy consumption.

[0041] The susceptor heater may have an outer protective layer, such as a ceramic protective layer or a glass protective layer encapsulating the elongated susceptor heater to form a complete heating body. The susceptor heater may include a protective coating formed of glass, ceramic or inert metal, which is formed on the core of the susceptor heater material.

[0042] The sensor heater is arranged in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substance. When the sensor heater generates heat, the aerosol-generating article is heated and forms an aerosol for the consumer to inhale. Optionally, the aerosol-generating device or aerosol-generating article may include a single or multiple elongated heating bodies.

[0043] The aerosol generating device can generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field between about 1 MHz and 30 MHz, such as between 2 MHz and 10 MHz, such as between 5 MHz and 7 MHz, through an induction coil. The induction coil material should be selected from materials with good electrical conductivity, such as metals. When the fluctuating electromagnetic field propagates in the sensing heater, its amplitude decays continuously. In order to measure the attenuation degree of electromagnetic waves in the metal plate, the depth at which the field intensity amplitude decays to 1 / e (e is the base of the natural logarithm) of the amplitude at the surface is usually called the penetration depth d.

[0044] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0045] The aerosol generating device of the present invention has the advantages of efficiently generating heat and completing the preheating process, and can reduce the requirements for the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, which can not only increase the service life of the smoking device, but also reduce the impact on the surroundings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The above content of this patent and the following specific implementation methods will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are only examples of the technical solutions claimed for protection.

[0047] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating system;

[0048] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sensor heater;

[0049] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the AA section of the circular cross-section sensor heater 1;

[0050] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the AA section of the square cross-section sensor heater 1';

[0051] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the AA section of a flat square cross-section sensor heater 1”;

[0052] The reference numerals are described as follows:

[0053] Feel the heater: 1; 1'; 1"

[0054] Aerosol generating products: 8

[0055] Induction coil: 9

[0056] Maximum inscribed circle radius: r

[0057] Minimum circumscribed circle radius: R. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] The specific implementation of the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific implementation described here is only used to illustrate and explain the embodiment of the present invention, and is not used to limit the embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0060] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, an aerosol generating device of the present invention comprises a housing, a power supply, a control circuit (not shown in the figure) and an electromagnetic induction heating component, wherein the electromagnetic induction heating component comprises a sensor heater 1, 1', 1" and an induction coil 9 extending in the longitudinal direction, the power supply is electrically connected to the control circuit and the heating component, and the electromagnetic induction heating component is powered under the control of the control circuit, the sensor heater can generate heat energy in the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil 9 for heating an aerosol generating product 8 placed in the aerosol generating device and in thermal contact with the sensor heater, and when a part of the aerosol generating product 8 is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the sensor heater is longitudinally inserted into the aerosol generating product 8 and is parallel to the direction of the magnetic lines of force of the alternating magnetic field. The sensor heater satisfies:

[0062] R>r

[0063] Wherein, r is the maximum inscribed circle radius of the cross section of the sensor heater, in cm; R is the minimum circumscribed circle radius of the cross section of the sensor heater, in cm.

[0064] In one embodiment, the cross-section of the sensor heater is a convex polygon.

[0065] In one embodiment, the cross-section of the sensor heater is square, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal.

[0066] In one embodiment, each corner of the square, rectangle, pentagon or hexagon is rounded.

[0067] In one embodiment, the penetration depth D of the alternating magnetic field into the sensing heater satisfies:

[0068] D≥14.0

[0069] Where D is the penetration depth in μm.

[0070] In one embodiment, the alternating magnetic field f satisfies:

[0071] f≤600

[0072] Wherein, f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil, in KHZ. In one embodiment, f of the alternating magnetic field satisfies:

[0073] 300≤f≤600

[0074] Wherein, f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil, in units of HZ.

[0075] In one embodiment, the sensor heater satisfies:

[0076]

[0077] Wherein, ρ is the conductivity of the sensor heater, in Ω·cm; μ r is the relative magnetic permeability of the inductive heater, which is a dimensionless parameter; f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, in Hz.

[0078] In one embodiment, the sensor heater satisfies:

[0079] R / r≥1.5.

[0080] In one embodiment, the sensor heater satisfies:

[0081] 7≤R / r≤20.

[0082] Heater energy efficiency test

[0083] Several heated cigarettes of the same specifications as aerosol generating products were prepared for testing, wherein the tobacco segment used as the aerosol generating matrix had a length of 2.5 cm and a radius of 0.35 cm. Before the cigarette test, a thermocouple was inserted in the middle, and the thermocouple was connected to the data acquisition system.

[0084] Prepare a heating smoking device for the experiment, based on the commercially available electromagnetic induction heating smoking device SUGU, connect its control power supply to a regulated DC power supply, connect an external programmer to the controller to change the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil according to the experimental needs, remove its induction heater from the mounting base and change the mounting base into a clamping base.

[0085] Heater Energy Efficiency Test Example A

[0086] A 403 stainless steel wire with a radius of 0.12 cm was cut into a sample with a length of 2.8 cm as the sensing heater 1, which was clamped on the clamping seat of the experimental heating smoking device, with a length of 2.5 cm exposed so as to be fully inserted into the experimental cigarette.

[0087] At room temperature of 25°C, the alternating magnetic field frequency f was set to 200kHZ, 400kHZ, 600kHZ, 800kHZ and 1000kHZ respectively, the data acquisition system was turned on and the experimental heating device was started, and the change of the thermocouple temperature over time was recorded, especially the preheating time from the start of the heating device to the first recording of the target temperature of 260°C by the thermocouple. The test data of each group are shown in Table 1.

[0088] It can be seen that although the transmission efficiency of electromagnetic field energy is improved by increasing the alternating magnetic field frequency f, the penetration depth D caused by the skin effect will also be reduced, so that the heating area is concentrated in the shallow layer of the heater surface. Therefore, when the alternating magnetic field frequency f is greater than 600k, the heating speed is not significantly increased, but it is more likely to cause energy spillover loss and other adverse consequences.

[0089] Table 1: Experimental results of Example A

[0090]

[0091]

[0092] Heater Energy Efficiency Test Example B

[0093] A 403 stainless steel sheet with a thickness of 0.12 cm was cut into a sample with a length of 2.8 cm and a width of 0.12 cm as a sensor heater 1 ′, which was clamped on the clamping seat of the test heating smoking device, with a length of 2.5 cm exposed so as to be fully inserted into the test cigarette.

[0094] At room temperature of 25°C, the alternating magnetic field frequency f was set to 200kHZ, 400kHZ, 600kHZ, 800kHZ and 1000kHZ respectively, the data acquisition system was turned on and the experimental heating device was started, and the change of the thermocouple temperature over time was recorded, especially the preheating time from the start of the heating device to the first recording of the target temperature of 260°C by the thermocouple. The test data of each group are shown in Table 2.

[0095] It can be seen that after the circular cross-section is changed to a square cross-section, as the radius R of the circumscribed circle increases, the overall magnetic flux of the heater increases, so that the magnetic field frequency f can be preheated in 2.5s at 600k, and the rounded corners of the four corners are also beneficial to the passage of surrounding current.

[0096] Table 2: Experimental results of Example B

[0097]

[0098] Heater Energy Efficiency Test Example C

[0099] A 403 stainless steel sheet with a thickness of 0.12 cm was cut into a sample with a length of 2.8 cm and a width of 0.36 cm as a sensor heater 1", which was clamped on the clamping seat of the test heating smoking device, with a length of 2.5 cm exposed so as to be fully inserted into the test cigarette.

[0100] At room temperature of 25°C, the alternating magnetic field frequency f was set to 200kHZ, 400kHZ, 600kHZ, 800kHZ and 1000kHZ respectively, the data acquisition system was turned on and the experimental heating device was started, and the change of the thermocouple temperature over time was recorded, especially the preheating time from the start of the heating device to the first recording of the target temperature of 260°C by the thermocouple. The test data of each group are shown in Table 3.

[0101] It can be seen that after the square cross-section is changed to a rectangular cross-section, as the radius R of the circumscribed circle increases, the overall magnetic flux of the heater increases, so that the magnetic field frequency f can be preheated in 2.5s at 400K or even 300K.

[0102] Table 3: Experimental results of Example C

[0103]

[0104]

[0105] In summary, the aerosol generating device of the present invention generates heat efficiently and completes the preheating process, while being able to reduce the requirements for the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, which can not only increase the service life of the smoking device, but also reduce the impact on the surroundings.

[0106] In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms “center”, “longitudinal”, “lateral”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential”, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0107] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0108] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral one; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or communication with each other; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0109] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0110] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0111] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is to be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and vary the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising a shell, a power supply, a control circuit and an electromagnetic induction heating component, wherein the shell is used to accommodate the power supply, the control circuit and the electromagnetic induction heating component, the electromagnetic induction heating component comprises a sensor heater and an induction coil extending in the longitudinal direction, the power supply is electrically connected to the control circuit and the electromagnetic induction heating component, and the electromagnetic induction heating component is powered under the control of the control circuit, the sensor heater can generate heat energy in the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil and is used to heat an aerosol generating product placed in the aerosol generating device and in thermal contact with the sensor heater, when a part of the aerosol generating product is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the sensor heater is longitudinally inserted into the aerosol generating product and is parallel to the magnetic field lines of the alternating magnetic field, characterized in that The sensor heater meets the following requirements: R>r Wherein, r is the maximum inscribed circle radius of the cross section of the sensor heater, in cm; R is the minimum circumscribed circle radius of the cross section of the sensor heater, in cm.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross section of the sensor heater is a convex polygon.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cross section of the sensor heater is square, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each corner of the square, rectangle, pentagon or hexagon is rounded.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The penetration depth D of the alternating magnetic field into the sensing heater satisfies: D≥14.0 Where D is the penetration depth in μm.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The alternating magnetic field f satisfies: f≤600 Wherein, f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil, and the unit is KHZ.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The alternating magnetic field f satisfies: 300≤f≤600 Wherein, f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil, in units of HZ.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor heater meets the following requirements: Wherein, ρ is the conductivity of the sensor heater, in Ω·cm; μ r is the relative magnetic permeability of the inductive heater, which is a dimensionless parameter; f is the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, in Hz.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor heater meets the following requirements: R / r≥1.5。 10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9, characterized in that The sensor heater meets the following requirements: 7≤R / r≤20。

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