Cartridge for aerosol generation system

Abstract

A cartridge for use with an aerosol generating system includes a first compartment containing a solid aerosol-forming material, a second compartment containing a liquid aerosol-forming material stored in a liquid retention element containing loosely packed solid particles configured to retain the liquid aerosol-forming material in the interstices and on the surfaces of the particles, and a breathable separation element separating the solid aerosol-forming material in the first compartment from the liquid aerosol-forming material in the second compartment. The first compartment is disposed downstream of the second compartment such that one or more components of the solid aerosol-forming material disposed in the first compartment are injected into the aerosol vapor generated in the second compartment while the aerosol vapor passes through the solid aerosol-forming material. The loosely packed solid particles are flexibly interconnected, which allows flexibility in the design of the liquid retention element and simplifies manufacturing.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to an electronic aerosol generation system for generating inhalable aerosols such as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, and more specifically, to an electronic aerosol generation system that generates aerosol vapor by electrically generated heat. In particular, the present invention relates to a cartridge for use in an aerosol generation system that includes a solid aerosol forming material and a liquid aerosol forming material. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Personal aerosol generation systems, also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes that generate aerosols without burning tobacco, are considered alternatives to conventional combustible tobacco articles such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. The use of electronic aerosol generation systems has become widespread due to health concerns associated with conventional tobacco products, such as the generation of harmful chemical by-products including carbonyls and carbon monoxide, which are known to be associated with the combustion of smoking articles. 【0003】 Personal aerosol generation systems are battery-powered portable inhaler systems that include a mouthpiece portion, a heating chamber that receives and heats an aerosol forming material, a vaporizer unit, typically a heating element, and a power unit and an electronic control unit. Vaporization occurs when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the vaporization temperature of the aerosol forming material. An example of a conventional aerosol generation system can be configured to vaporize a liquid aerosol forming material such as a nicotine-containing liquid stored in a liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir may be provided as a disposable component in the form of a cartridge that may further include a heating element. Alternatively, the liquid reservoir may be non-removably integrated into the aerosol generating device and configured to be refillable once the aerosol forming material is depleted. 【0004】 To provide users with an experience that more faithfully simulates the experience of consuming tobacco, some devices combine liquid aerosol-forming materials with solid aerosol-forming materials, such as tobacco-based substrates, to impart a tobacco taste to the inhaled aerosol. In such aerosol-generating systems, the aerosol vapor generated from the liquid aerosol-forming material when heated by a heating element is delivered through the solid aerosol-forming material so that aerosols from the solid aerosol-forming material are incorporated into the vapor. Such cartridge configurations are disclosed, for example, in European Patent No. 3145349B1 and European Patent Application Publication No. 3554291A1. In the aerosol-generating systems described above, the cartridge stores the liquid and solid aerosol-forming materials separately in first and second parts of the cartridge to avoid mixing of these aerosol-generating materials within the cartridge. In such a cartridge, the compartment for storing the liquid aerosol-forming material comprises a liquid-holding element, typically a porous material such as porous glass or ceramic, foam, sponge, or fibrous wicking material. Simultaneously, a compartment for storing liquid aerosol-forming material is positioned upstream of a compartment for storing solid aerosol-forming material in the cartridge, so that aerosol vapor generated from the liquid aerosol-generating material is delivered through the solid aerosol-generating material to the mouthpiece air outlet. The cartridge may include a heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming material. The heating element may be integrated into the liquid-holding element. Alternatively, the heating element may be a separate, removable element attached to a reusable part of the aerosol-generating system and may be inserted into the liquid-holding element during use. 【0005】 In such cases, the liquid-holding element may further include a cavity configured to receive a heater when a cartridge is inserted into the device, which can complicate the manufacturing process. Manufacturing cavities in porous materials can be challenging because porous materials can rupture under stress. Furthermore, the manufacturing process may generate residual particles that could pose safety concerns during e-cigarette use. The brittle nature of porous materials may further limit the design of liquid-holding elements. 【0006】 In some cases, it is desirable to provide a cartridge configuration that is simple and relatively easy to manufacture. Furthermore, in order to reduce the environmental impact, it may be desirable to minimize the amount of waste material or increase the amount of reusable material contained in the cartridge. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cartridge for an aerosol generating system is provided, comprising: a cartridge housing divided into a first compartment and a second compartment; a first compartment containing a solid aerosol-forming material; a second compartment containing a liquid aerosol-forming material, wherein the liquid aerosol-forming substrate contains loosely packed solid particles configured to hold the aerosol-forming liquid in the gaps between the particles and / or on their surfaces; and a permeable separation element disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment. 【0008】 A liquid aerosol-forming substrate containing loosely packed solid particles absorbs the liquid aerosol-generating material, resulting in the formation of aggregated particles. In this way, the loosely packed solid particles hold the liquid aerosol-generating material in the gaps between adjacent particles, preventing the liquid from leaking into the first compartment. The liquid aerosol-generating material can be stored in the second compartment without being mixed with the solid aerosol-generating material stored in the first compartment. 【0009】 A permeable separation element positioned between the first and second compartments allows aerosol vapors generated from the liquid aerosol generating material in the second compartment to be transported through the permeable element to the first compartment containing the solid aerosol forming material, while preventing direct contact between the solid aerosol generating material and the liquid aerosol generating material in the first and second compartments during storage and use of the device. 【0010】 In another aspect of the present invention, the aerosol generating system may include an aerosol generating device comprising: a cartridge; a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the cartridge; a heating device configured to heat at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming material in a second compartment of the cartridge; a power supply; and a controller for controlling the power supply from the power supply to the heating element. 【0011】 The heating device may include a heating element positioned within the cavity of the aerosol generator such that the heating device is located near the first compartment of the device. During use, at least a portion of the first compartment is heated by the heating element to a temperature above the vaporization temperature of the liquid aerosol generating material stored in the first compartment. Thus, the aerosol generated in the second compartment is subsequently leached out by one or more components of the solid aerosol forming material stored in the first compartment during the passage of aerosol vapor from the second compartment through the first compartment. 【0012】 The heating device may include an elongated heating element positioned at the distal end of the cavity of the aerosol generator. The elongated heating element may be a blade-shaped heating element. The blade-shaped heating element may be a resistive heating element. Alternatively, the heating element may be a susceptor element. The heating element is configured to penetrate a portion of the first compartment of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generator. 【0013】 In such cases, the cartridge may include a perforated seal configured to be penetrated by a heating element when the cartridge is inserted into the device. The perforated seal may extend across the upstream end of the cartridge. 【0014】 The heating element is preferably made of titanium or stainless steel. Examples of other suitable materials include nickel alloys, chromium alloys, aluminum alloys, and iron alloys. 【0015】 In a liquid-holding element containing loosely packed solid particles according to any embodiment of this invention, particle aggregation is brought about by a surface liquid that forms bridges between adjacent particles, connecting them, thereby allowing the loosely packed solid particles to have flexible interconnections among themselves. This allows the particles containing the liquid-holding element to conform to a heating element inserted into a cartridge. While the heating element is inserted by penetrating a perforated seal attached to the cartridge, the loosely packed solid particles can rearrange their orientation to adapt to the shape of the heating element. This feature can reduce the complexity of the manufacturing process, lower manufacturing costs, and improve the versatility of the cartridge compared to the use of monolithic porous materials that require a cavity to accommodate the heating element. 【0016】 Furthermore, liquid-holding elements containing loosely packed particles can reduce the risk of damaging the liquid-holding structure during the insertion of the heating element. Moreover, the liquid-holding structure can conform to the shape of the heating element, thereby improving heat transfer from the heating element to the liquid. Additionally, this feature may be advantageous in terms of the reusability of the cartridge material compared to liquid-holding elements formed from monolithic porous materials, because the loosely packed solid particles can be relatively easily decomposed, for example, by dispersion in the liquid. As will be discussed later, individual disordered particles can be cleaned using any established cleaning process for solid particles. 【0017】 Alternatively, the cartridge may be configured to be inductively heated by induction. In this case, the aerosol generator includes an induction coil configured to heat a second compartment of the cartridge inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol generator. 【0018】 In an aerosol generation system in which a liquid aerosol-forming material is vaporized by induction heating, the second compartment may further comprise a susceptor element. 【0019】 The susceptor element may include inductively heatable material in the form of strips, discs, rings, plates, particles, flakes, and coils. 【0020】 Suitable materials for the susceptor element may be ferromagnetic metals, alloys, and oxides such as iron, nickel, cobalt, iron alloys, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, and ferrite, or other conductive metals and alloys such as aluminum and stainless steel. 【0021】 Preferably, the susceptor element is embedded in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to achieve efficient heat transfer. The susceptor element may include particles, flakes, strips, or discs, mixed with loosely packed solid particles in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. 【0022】 Alternatively, the susceptor element may be positioned around at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. At least a portion of the housing of the second compartment of the aerosol generator may include the susceptor material. 【0023】 The solid aerosol-forming material may contain tobacco or tobacco-derived materials. The solid aerosol-forming material may contain tobacco-containing beads, powder, fragments, strips, reconstituted tobacco materials, cast tobacco sheets, or any combination thereof. 【0024】 The breathable separation element includes one or more pores, holes, or air channels that penetrate the thickness of the breathable separation element to maintain a physical separation between the solid aerosol-forming material in the first compartment and the liquid aerosol-forming material retained within the loosely packed solid particles in the second compartment, while establishing the transfer of aerosol between the first and second compartments. Preferably, the breathable separation membrane is a mesh, a porous plate, a film or foil, or a breathable membrane. Preferably, the pores, holes, or air channels of the breathable element are small enough to substantially block all individual particles of the loosely packed particles within the liquid holding element. 【0025】 The breathable separation membrane can be stainless steel, titanium, a heat-resistant polymer, PTFE, PEEK, or any material that is stable at the operating temperature of the aerosol generation system and chemically inert to the aerosol-forming material stored within the cartridge and the chemical compounds produced by the aerosol-forming material during use. Thus, the liquid aerosol-generating material can be stored within the second compartment without experiencing an unintended chemical reaction. 【0026】 The loosely packed solid particles include beads, flakes, fragments, fibers, or any combination thereof. 【0027】 Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles are stable up to at least the temperature for the vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming material. Preferably, at least the surface of the loosely packed solid particles is thermally stable up to at least 350°C. Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles or at least the surface of the loosely packed solid particles include a material that is chemically inert to the liquid aerosol-forming material. 【0028】 A chemically inert surface prevents particles from participating in chemical reactions or, in some cases, functioning as a catalyst to initiate unwanted chemical reactions during the storage and vaporization of the cartridge. The chemically inert surface may be the chemically inert surface of the solid particles themselves. Alternatively, the chemically inert surface may be a chemically inert coating encapsulating each solid particle. Chemical inertness is understood herein with respect to not only the chemicals stored within the cartridge but also the chemicals generated while heating the aerosol-forming substrate. 【0029】 A coating that is chemically inert like the particles should be able to withstand at least the temperature for the vaporization of the aerosol-forming material. 【0030】 Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles include a hydrophilic surface. Thus, the liquid aerosol-generating material can be effectively retained in the gaps and on the surfaces of the particles. 【0031】 The hydrophilic surface of the particles may be the surface of the solid particles themselves. Alternatively, the surface of the particles may be coated with a hydrophilic coating, or the surface of the particles may be grafted with a chemical compound containing hydrophilic functional groups such as hydroxy groups, carboxy groups, carbonyl groups, amino groups, sulfhydryl groups, and phosphate groups. 【0032】 Suitable materials for the loosely packed solid particles may include silica, zeolite, glass or quartz, or any combination thereof. 【0033】 Advantageously, the surface of the particles may be porous so as to be able to increase the amount of liquid stored within the liquid retention structure. 【0034】 Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles include particles with a maximum dimension of at least about 2 mm or less. For example, the maximum dimension of the beads may be in the range of about 100 μm to about 1 mm, or in the range of about 200 μm to about 800 μm, preferably in the range of about 250 μm to about 600 μm. The maximum dimension is, for example, about 500 μm. The maximum dimension of the loosely packed solid particles is substantially uniform. Thus, the size of the gaps between adjacent particles is substantially uniform, which results in uniform transfer of the liquid by capillary forces across the liquid-holding element. 【0035】 Advantageously, a cartridge containing loosely packed solid particles for holding liquid aerosol-forming material may be recyclable after use. Because the loosely packed solid particles are not tightly interconnected, they can be easily separated from the cartridge housing and heating element and can be broken down into individual particles, for example, by dispersion in the liquid. The broken-down individual particles may be cleaned by any suitable method for cleaning particles and reused. Conventional liquid-holding materials such as porous materials, microfiber materials, and sponges are generally not easy to clean due to their complex structure, so using loosely packed solid particles may enable a simple recycling process. 【0036】 An example of a cartridge recycling method includes the steps of separating loosely packed solid particles from a used cartridge, dispersing the used particles in a suitable cleaning solution to remove residue of liquid aerosol-forming material, filtering to separate the particles from the cleaning solution, dispersing the particles in a rinsing solution, filtering to separate the particles from the rinsing solution, drying the particles, and recovering the particles for reuse. The cleaning method may further include dry cleaning steps such as plasma cleaning and thermal cleaning. Optionally, the cleaned particles may be subjected to a hydrophilic treatment to improve wettability with the liquid aerosol-forming material. 【0037】 Here, with reference to the following drawings, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with examples. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0038】 [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generator configured to receive the cartridge shown. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating system, which includes the cartridge shown in Figure 1, received inside the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge in another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generator configured to receive the cartridge shown. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating system, which includes the cartridge shown in Figure 4, received inside the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This diagram shows an example of how to recycle cartridges. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0039】 Figures 1 to 3 show an aerosol generation system 1 comprising a cartridge 10 and an aerosol generator 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cartridge is configured to be received in a heating chamber 35 of the aerosol generator 30. The cartridge 10 and the aerosol generator 30 can be removably engaged in a functional relationship. Various mechanisms, including screw engagement, press-fit engagement, interference fit, or magnetic engagement, can be used to connect the cartridge and the aerosol generator. The aerosol delivery system 1 may be substantially rod-shaped when the cartridge 10 and the aerosol generator 30 are assembled. 【0040】 Figure 1 shows a cartridge 10 separated from the aerosol generator 30. The cartridge 10 comprises a cartridge housing 11 and a permeable separation element 16 that divides the internal volume of the cartridge housing 11 into a first compartment 12 and a second compartment 13. The first compartment 12 is located downstream of the second compartment 13 with respect to the airflow direction A. The first compartment 12 contains a solid aerosol forming substrate 20, and the second compartment 13 contains a liquid aerosol forming substrate 21. 【0041】 The cartridge housing 11 comprises a tubular body 22, an upstream end 18, and a downstream end 17. 【0042】 The downstream end 17 of the cartridge 10 may include a filter 15. The filter 15 holds a solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 within the cartridge housing 11. The filter may include rods or plugs of filter material such as cellulose acetate tow and polylactic acid fibers. 【0043】 The upstream end 18 of the cartridge housing 11 is a closed end. The closed end includes a perforated element 16. The perforated element 16 is attached to the cartridge housing 11 such that when the cartridge 10 is inserted into the heating chamber 35 of the aerosol generator 30, the perforated element 16 is penetrated by the heating element 32 of the aerosol generator 30. 【0044】 The downstream end 17 of the cartridge housing 11 may include a mouthpiece 19 that is detachably attached to the downstream end 17 of the cartridge 10. The mouthpiece 19 defines at least one airflow channel including at least one air outlet. The air outlet is in fluid communication with the air outlet of the cartridge via a filter 15 which may be integrated into the mouthpiece 19. In the example of Figure 1, the mouthpiece is attached to the distal end of the cartridge, but the mouthpiece 19 may alternatively be detachably attached to a part of the housing of the aerosol generator 30 such that the mouthpiece covers the air outlet on the filter located at the downstream end of the cartridge. Alternatively, the mouthpiece 19 may be part of the cartridge 10. During use, the user can draw air through the mouthpiece and allow it to flow into the aerosol generating system 1 from the air inlet of the aerosol generator through the cartridge. 【0045】 The permeable separation element 14 is positioned within the internal volume of the tubular cartridge housing 11 to define the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 13. Preferably, the permeable element 14 is in the form of a disc. The diameter of the disc is similar to the internal diameter of the cartridge housing so that the permeable separation element fits into the internal tubular body of the permeable separation element. In this way, the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 13 are defined by the inner wall of the cartridge housing 11 and the surface of the permeable element 14. The permeable separation element 14 may comprise a mesh or a porous plate. The permeable separation element may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body 200, and the separation element can provide physical separation between the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 13 while maintaining aerosol vapor communication between them. 【0046】 The first compartment 12 is located downstream of the tubular body 22 of the cartridge, and the second compartment 13 is located upstream of the tubular body of the cartridge 10. The first compartment contains a solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 containing a solid aerosol-forming material 23, while the second compartment contains a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 21 containing a liquid-holding element 25 and a liquid aerosol-forming material 27 stored in the liquid-holding element 25. The liquid-holding element 25 contains loosely packed solid particles 26. 【0047】 The loosely packed particles 26 are a granular material, which is an aggregate (or collection) of small, microscopic solid particles. When the particles are wetted by a liquid, microscopic liquid bridges are formed in the gaps between adjacent particles, and the capillary forces of these liquid bridges hold the aggregated particles together. Thus, the particle network is flexible and reorganizes when mechanical stress is applied. When a bulky solid element, such as a heater blade, is inserted into the aggregate, the particles move and change their orientation to conform to the heater shape. 【0048】 Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles 26 include particles with a maximum dimension of at least about 2 mm or less. For example, the maximum dimension of the beads may be in the range of about 100 μm to about 1 mm, or in the range of about 200 μm to about 800 μm, preferably in the range of about 250 μm to about 600 μm. The maximum dimension is, for example, about 500 μm. The maximum dimension of the loosely packed solid particles 26 is substantially uniform. Thus, the size of the gaps between adjacent particles 26 is substantially uniform, which results in uniform transfer of the liquid by capillary forces across the liquid-holding element. 【0049】 Regarding the expression "maximum dimension," for example, in the case of an elongated particle like a rod, the maximum dimension is the length of the rod. In the case of a particle with an elliptical cross-section, the maximum dimension is the largest dimension along the principal axis. If the particle is substantially spherical, the maximum dimension corresponds to the diameter. 【0050】 Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles 26 are stable up to at least the temperature required for vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming material, for example, up to 350°C. 【0051】 In the context of this explanation, a material is considered "stable" if its material properties do not change or at least do not undergo significant changes. Material properties include, for example, phase (solid, liquid, gas), mechanical properties (strength, hardness, etc.), crystal structure, and chemical properties (chemical composition, chemical structure of the composition, etc.). 【0052】 Preferably, the loosely packed solid particles 26 or at least the surface of the loosely packed solid particles 26 contains a material that is chemically inert to the liquid aerosol-forming material. 【0053】 The chemically inert surface may be the chemically inert surface of the solid particles themselves. Alternatively, the chemically inert surface may be a chemically inert coating that encapsulates each solid particle. Chemical inertness, as used herein, is understood to mean not only the chemicals stored in the cartridge, but also the chemicals generated while the aerosol-forming substrate is being heated. 【0054】 The coating, which is chemically inert as well as the particles, should withstand temperatures at least up to the vaporization temperature of the aerosol-forming material 27. 【0055】 The loosely packed solid particles 26 are configured to retain aerosol-forming liquid in the gaps between the particles and on their surfaces. More specifically, as described above, the particles aggregate together by liquid bridges formed between them. This phenomenon then maintains the liquid within the aggregated particle structure. The absorption capacity is related to the volume of the liquid bridges formed in the gaps between adjacent particles, which also determines the cohesive force of the particles. 【0056】 The liquid aerosol-forming material 27 includes an aerosol-forming agent. Suitable aerosol-forming agents include polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may include water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extracts, and natural or artificial flavoring agents. 【0057】 The liquid aerosol-forming material 27 contains a tobacco-containing material that includes a volatile tobacco flavoring compound released from the liquid when heated. Preferably, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may also contain non-tobacco materials. The liquid aerosol-forming material 27 does not have to contain nicotine. Alternatively, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may contain nicotine. 【0058】 The solid aerosol-forming material 23 of the solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 may include tobacco or tobacco-derived materials such as tobacco leaves or reconstituted tobacco, in the form of granules, sheets, strips, fragments, pellets, or any other form of tobacco material. The solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 may also be air-filled tobacco mousse or an equivalent tobacco foam. 【0059】 The solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 may contain non-tobacco materials such as granules, capsules, gels, or any other form of flavoring agent. The solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 may also contain tobacco-containing materials and non-tobacco-containing materials. 【0060】 In the context of this specification, the tobacco-containing material may be tobacco leaves, powdered tobacco plants, tobacco mousse, reconstituted tobacco material, and any form of tobacco material. 【0061】 The solid aerosol-forming substrate 20 may contain at least one aerosol-forming agent. Suitable aerosol-forming agents include, but are not limited to, polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin; esters of polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol mono-, di-, or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids such as dimethyl dodecanediate and dimethyl tetradecanediate. Preferred aerosol-forming agents may include propylene glycol and glycerin. 【0062】 Figure 2 shows an aerosol generator 30. The aerosol generator 30 comprises a housing 31, a heating chamber 35 defined by the housing 31, a heating element 32, a power supply 33, and a controller 34. The heating chamber 35 is configured to receive at least a portion of the second compartment 13 of the cartridge 10 by inserting the cartridge 10 along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generator 30. The heating element 32 is located at the lower end 36 (or distal end) of the heating chamber 35. The heating element 32 protrudes into the heating chamber 35. Preferably, the heating element 32 is located substantially in the center of the cross-section of the heating chamber 35. The longitudinal axis of the heating element 32 may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generator 30. The housing 31 of the aerosol generator 30 further includes at least one air inlet (not shown) that is in fluid communication with the air inlet channel of the cartridge 10. 【0063】 During use, as shown in Figure 3, the upstream end of the cartridge 10, corresponding to a portion of the second compartment 13, is inserted into the heating chamber 35 of the aerosol generator 30. In the example shown in Figure 3, the housing 31 of the aerosol generator 30 extends to cover a portion of the second compartment, but the housing can extend to at least a portion of the first compartment, or to the downstream end 17 of the cartridge so that the cartridge is fully positioned within the heating chamber 35. 【0064】 During the insertion of the cartridge 10, the perforable elements 16 on the cartridge 10 are penetrated by the heating element 32, allowing the heating element 32 to be inserted into the second compartment 13. The loosely packed solid particles 26 quickly rearrange their arrangement to conform to the shape of the heating element once the heating element 32 is inserted into the liquid aerosol forming substrate 21. Once the cartridge 10 is fully inserted into the heating chamber 35, the heating element 32 is positioned within the second compartment 13. The length of the heating element 32 is shorter than the longitudinal length of the second compartment 32 of the cartridge 10, so that the heating element 32 inserted into the cartridge 10 does not extend beyond the second compartment 13. 【0065】 Preferably, the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 21 stored in the second compartment 13 is smaller than the internal cavity volume of the second compartment 13, so that the total volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 21 and the insertion portion of the heating element 32 does not exceed the internal cavity volume of the second compartment 13 during and after insertion of the heating element into the cartridge. 【0066】 When the heating element 32 is activated, the liquid aerosol forming substrate 21, which contains the liquid aerosol forming material 27 and loosely packed particles 26 that hold the liquid aerosol forming material 27, is heated to a temperature above the vaporization temperature of the liquid aerosol forming material 27. The vapor generated in the second compartment 13 is then mixed with air from the air inlet and sent through the first compartment 12 to the air outlet of the filter 15. While the mixture of air and vapor passes through the solid aerosol forming substrate 20 in the first compartment 12, aerosols from the solid aerosol forming substrate 20 are incorporated into the mixture of air and vapor. 【0067】 Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a cartridge 40 in another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a second compartment 43 of the cartridge 40 further comprises a susceptor element 44 configured to heat a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 21. The susceptor element 44 may include, for example, an induction-heatable material in the form of a strip, disc, ring, plate, particle, flake, and coil. Suitable materials for the susceptor element may be ferromagnetic metals, alloys and oxides such as iron, nickel, cobalt, iron alloys, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, and ferrite, or other conductive metals and alloys such as aluminum and stainless steel. In this example, the susceptor element 44 includes three ring-shaped susceptor plates 44a, 44b, and 44c, but any number of susceptor pieces may be used, and the type of susceptor may be in other forms such as a disc, strip, plate, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the susceptor element 44 is embedded in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 21 to achieve efficient heat transfer. The susceptor element may include particles, flakes, strips, or discs mixed with loosely packed solid particles in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the susceptor element may be arranged around at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. At least a portion of the housing of the second compartment of the aerosol generator may include the susceptor material. 【0068】 The cartridge housing 41 may include one or more air inlet channels (not shown) configured to supply air into the second compartment 43. The air inlet channels may be located within the tubular body of the cartridge housing 41. 【0069】 Figure 5 shows an aerosol generator 50 configured to receive the cartridge 40 of Figure 4. The aerosol generator 50 comprises a heating chamber 55, an induction coil 52, a power supply 33, and a controller 34. The heating chamber 55 is configured to receive at least a portion of the second compartment 43 of the cartridge 40 by inserting the cartridge 40 along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generator 50. The induction coil 52 is configured to transfer energy to the susceptor element 44 in the cartridge 40 by induction heating. The induction coil 52 is positioned such that when the cartridge 40 is inserted into the heating chamber 55, the coil is located near the second compartment 43 (liquid aerosol forming substrate 21) of the cartridge 40. The induction coil 52 may be embedded in a housing 51, typically in a cylindrical side wall portion of the heating chamber 55. In this example, the induction coil extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the second compartment. The housing 51 of the aerosol generator 50 further includes an air inlet (not shown) that is in fluid communication with the air inlet channel of the cartridge 40. 【0070】 During use, as shown in Figure 6, the second compartment 43 of the cartridge 40 is inserted into the heating chamber 55 of the aerosol generator 50. Once the cartridge 40 is fully inserted into the heating chamber 55, the induction coil 52 surrounds at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 21 within the second compartment 55 of the cartridge 50. 【0071】 When the induction coil 52 is activated, power from the power supply 33 is supplied to the induction coil. The controller 34 controls the power supply to the induction coil 52 at a frequency that enables the induction coil 52 to generate an electromagnetic field for heating the susceptor element 44 to a target temperature or higher. When the susceptor element 44 is heated, at least a portion of the liquid aerosol forming substrate is heated to a temperature above the temperature required to vaporize the liquid aerosol forming material stored in the liquid aerosol forming substrate 21. The vapor generated in the second compartment 43 is then mixed with the air flowing through the cartridge 40. The mixture of vapor from the liquid aerosol forming substrate 21 and air is then transferred to the first compartment 42 through the permeable separation element 14. While the mixture of air and aerosol vapor passes through the solid aerosol forming substrate 20 in the first compartment, aerosols from the solid aerosol forming substrate 20 are incorporated into the mixture of air and aerosol vapor. The mixture of air and aerosol vapor is sent through the first compartment 42 and then through the filter 15 to the air outlet at the downstream end 47 of the cartridge 40. 【0072】 The loosely packed solid particles within the liquid aerosol-forming substrate are not tightly interconnected and can therefore be separated, for example, by dispersion in the liquid. This can be advantageous in terms of cartridge reusability, as the individually separated particles can be effectively cleaned by any cleaning method established for small particles. 【0073】 Figure 7 shows an example of a method for recycling a cartridge containing loosely packed solid particles according to one embodiment. The method described below is for illustrative purposes only, and the method may include alternative steps or one or more additional steps. 【0074】 In step 60, the used cartridge is provided. The loosely packed solid particles that form the liquid-holding structure can then be removed from the cartridge housing and collected in a container equipped with a filtration element (step 61). The container may be a basket containing a metal mesh, metal wire, or plastic mesh. 【0075】 The loosely packed solid particles in the container are then washed in a washing solution (step 62). The particles are immersed and dispersed in a suitable washing solution to remove any residue of the liquid aerosol-forming material and any chemical compounds generated during use of the cartridge. 【0076】 Subsequently, the container containing the particles is removed from the washing solution and brought into the rinsing solution to remove any remaining washing solution from the particles (step 64). The washing and rinsing steps may be repeated. These steps may be performed in combination with ultrasonic vibration. 【0077】 The particles are then dried (step 65). The cleaning method may further include one or more additional steps of a dry cleaning process, such as plasma cleaning, thermal cleaning, or a combination thereof. Optionally, the cleaned particles may be subjected to a hydrophilic treatment to improve wettability to the electroliquid.

Claims

[Claim 1] A cartridge for an aerosol generation system, A cartridge housing divided into a first section and a second section, The first compartment containing a solid aerosol-forming material, The second compartment comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the liquid aerosol-forming substrate has a liquid-holding structure comprising loosely packed solid particles configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming material in the gaps between the particles and / or on their surfaces, A breathable separation element is placed between the first compartment and the second compartment, A cartridge equipped with these features. [Claim 2] The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the solid aerosol-forming material includes tobacco or a material derived from tobacco. [Claim 3] The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the permeable separation element is a mesh, a perforated plate, a film or foil, or a permeable membrane configured to maintain the solid aerosol-forming material within the first compartment, and the liquid aerosol-forming material is held within the loosely packed solid particles in the physically separated second compartment, while establishing the transfer of aerosols between the first and second compartments. [Claim 4] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least the surface of the loosely packed solid particles is stable up to at least the temperature for vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming material. [Claim 5] The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein at least the surface of the loosely packed solid particles is thermally stable up to at least 350°C. [Claim 6] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the loosely packed solid particles or at least the surface of the loosely packed solid particles comprises a material that is chemically inert to the liquid aerosol-forming material. [Claim 7] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the loosely packed solid particles include beads, flakes, fragments, fibers, or any combination thereof. [Claim 8] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the loosely packed solid particles include a hydrophilic surface. [Claim 9] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the loosely packed solid particles include silica, zeolite, glass, or quartz, or any combination thereof. [Claim 10] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the loosely packed solid particles include particles with a maximum dimension of at least about 2 mm or less. [Claim 11] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cartridge comprises a punctureable seal disposed on the cartridge housing of the second compartment. [Claim 12] The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second compartment comprises an induction-heatable susceptor element that can be heated by induction. [Claim 13] an aerosol generation system, A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A cavity for receiving at least a portion of the cartridge, A heating device configured to heat at least a portion of the liquid aerosol forming substrate in the second compartment of the cartridge, Power supply and A controller for controlling the power supply from the power source to the heating device, An aerosol generation system including an aerosol generator, which is equipped with an aerosol generator. [Claim 14] An aerosol generating system, The cartridge according to claim 11, Equipped with an aerosol generator, The aerosol generator, A cavity for receiving at least a portion of the cartridge, A heating device configured to heat at least a portion of the liquid aerosol forming substrate in the second compartment of the cartridge, Power supply and A controller for controlling the power supply from the power source to the heating device, Equipped with, An aerosol generating system comprising an elongated heater configured to puncture the punctureable seal and inserted into the second compartment when the cartridge is received in the cavity of the aerosol generating device. [Claim 15] The aerosol generating system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the heating device of the aerosol generating device comprises an induction coil located near the second compartment of the cartridge when the cartridge is received into the cavity of the aerosol generating device.

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