Aerosol generation system that uses the Venturi effect to deliver a substrate to a heater element.

Abstract

To provide an aerosol-generating system in which aerosol is generated by vaporizing a liquid substrate using a heater.SOLUTION: An aerosol-generating system comprising: an air inlet; an air outlet 24; a liquid storage portion that holds a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and has a liquid outlet; an air flow passage 22 from the air inlet to the air outlet past the liquid outlet, the air flow passage being shaped so that there is a pressure drop within the air flow passage at the liquid outlet when air flows from the air inlet to the air outlet through the air flow passage; and a heating element 26 within the air flow passage, positioned between the liquid outlet and the air outlet. The system is advantageously configured so that when air flows from the air inlet to the air outlet through the air flow passage, pressure at the liquid outlet is lower than pressure within the liquid storage portion. Thereby, liquid is drawn out of the liquid storage portion into an airflow and is delivered to the heating element for vaporization.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Claims

1. an aerosol generation system, Air inlet and air outlet; A liquid storage portion for holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the liquid storage portion having a liquid outlet; An air passage from the air inlet to the air outlet, passing through the liquid outlet, wherein the air passage is shaped such that a pressure drop exists within the air passage at the liquid outlet when air flows through the air passage from the air inlet to the air outlet; A heater element in the flow passage, positioned between the liquid outlet and the air outlet, The heater element spans the airflow passage and is fluid permeable so that the airflow always passes through the heater element and reaches the outlet. The aerosol generating system.

2. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the air passage has a cross-section that is reduced at the liquid outlet compared to the air inlet.

3. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid storage portion provides a sealed container for the aerosol forming substrate, preventing the fluid from flowing into or out of the container except through the liquid outlet.

4. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid storage portion includes an air inlet valve, and when the valve is in the open position, air is allowed to flow into the liquid storage portion, and when it is in the closed position, air is not allowed to flow in.

5. The aerosol generating system according to claim 4, wherein the system is configured to control the valve to the closed position when a predetermined flow rate of air flows through the air passage.

6. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid storage portion includes an annular housing, and the air passage extends through the annular housing.

7. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid outlet is annular.

8. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heater element includes a mesh, array, or fiber of heater filaments.

9. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a power supply connected to the heater element, wherein the heater element is resistively heated during operation.

10. An aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a disposable cartridge and a device, wherein the cartridge includes the liquid storage portion.

11. The aerosol generating system according to claim 10, wherein the cartridge includes the heater element.

12. A cartridge for use in an aerosol generation system, Air inlet and air outlet; A liquid storage portion for holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the liquid storage portion having a liquid outlet; An air passage extending from the air inlet to the air outlet, passing through the liquid outlet, wherein the air passage is shaped such that a pressure drop exists within the air passage at the liquid outlet when air flows through the air passage from the air inlet to the air outlet. A heater element in the air passage between the liquid outlet and the air outlet, Includes, The heater element spans the airflow passage and is fluid permeable so that the airflow always passes through the heater element and reaches the outlet. The aforementioned cartridge.

13. A method for generating aerosols from a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, To provide a liquid storage section having a liquid outlet; To provide an air passage that passes through the liquid outlet; The transport involves drawing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid outlet into the airflow in the airflow passage by causing a pressure drop in the airflow at the liquid outlet, and transporting the liquid in the airflow to a fluid-permeable heater element spanning the airflow passage such that the airflow always passes through the heater element to reach the outlet, wherein the heater element vaporizes the liquid and supplies vapor; The method comprising cooling the vapor and supplying an aerosol.

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